Moreno

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

August, 2016. The NFL is being shaken by Colin Kaepernick's monumental decision. While other players join him in taking a knee, star running back Luis Moreno is all about his game – and his pay check. When a destructive new reality hits close to home, Luis is forced to ask whether politics have a place on the field, and if he is willing to risk his career to take a stand for his own community.

Image: 2022 Theatre503 Production (Tristram Kenton)

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Cast Size

4m
Duration

More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
Target Audience

Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)

Accolades

Winner! 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award

Details

Summary

August, 2016. The NFL is being shaken by Colin Kaepernick's monumental decision. While other players join him in taking a knee, star running back Luis Moreno is all about his game – and his pay check. A record-breaking season is in sight... but America's leadership is changing. When a destructive new reality hits close to home, Luis is forced to ask whether politics have a place on the field, and if he is willing to risk his career to take a stand for his own community.

Pravin Wilkins' stunning debut play was the winner of the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. It was chosen out of 1,719 scripts sent in from 45 countries by a group of independent readers, the 503 team and a panel comprising Erica Whyman (Chair of Theatre503 and deputy artistic director, RSC), producer Caro Newling, actor/director Daniel Evans, arts journalist and reviewer Sam Marlowe, playwrights Roy Williams and Vinay Patel, and Theatre503 artistic director Lisa Spirling.

History

Moreno premiered at Theatre503, London in March 2022. Directed by Nancy Medina, the production featured Sebastián Capitán Viveros, Joseph Black, Hayden Mclean and Matt Whitchurch.

Cast Attributes

Keywords

Performing Groups

LUIS MORENO – Twenty-six-year-old Chicano NFL running back. Short, lean, cut. Cocky and materialistic in a “new money” sort of way. Media darling. Has a good heart, buried under more than a few layers of self-absorption.
EZEKIEL WILLIAMS – Thirty-three-year-old Black NFL linebacker. Tall and muscular – he’s a big dude. No-nonsense. Self-educated and politically knowledgeable.
CRE’VON GARCON – Twenty-three-year-old Haitian-American cornerback. A lanky motherfucker. Street smart; quick-witted. The kind of guy who would get in a fight, lose, and still walk away talking shit. Extremely empathetic beneath this exterior.
DANNY LOMBARDO – Thirty-two-year-old white quarterback. Very tall; handsome by white beauty standards. Football is life: nothing before 1892 has meaning. The stadium is a temple.

Time Period Contemporary
Setting An NFL locker room, sideline, and field. The 2016/2017 football season.
Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
Cautions
- Drugs
- Strong Language
- Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Wilkins’ writing feels fresh in its focus on racism in sport.” — The Guardian

“The play is as much about politics as it is about the macro impacts on the players’ personal lives of their micro actions on the pitch.” — The Stage

“Through powerful use of language and smart choices in the narrative, Wilkins attacks his theme like a master debater.” — Reviews Hub

“Hugely entertaining and politically sparky” — Evening Standard

“A satisfying debut from Pravin Wilkins... This is a compelling evening of theatre that is enjoyable even for those who don’t know the first thing about American football.” — The Upcoming

Videos

Moreno – Afridiziak interview with Pravin Wilkins and Nancy Medina

Photos

Image: 2022 Theatre503 Production (Tristram Kenton)

Licensing & Materials

Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

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Authors

Pravin Wilkins

Pravin Wilkins is a playwright, poet and fiction writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania whose works typically deal with race and class struggle – and the many intersections between. He began writing plays during his time at the University of California, San Diego, as an u ...

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Moreno