72 Miles to Go...

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

72 Miles to Go...

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 2m

Hilary Bettis

72 Miles to Go... follows one family over a decade as they come of age, fall in love, fight in wars and fight for each other – against the backdrop of deportation, DACA and changing immigration laws.

Image: 2020 Roundabout Theatre Company Production (Jeremy Daniel)

72 Miles to Go...

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Finalist: 2019 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize

Details

Summary
72 miles. It’s the distance between Tucson, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico – and the distance between deported immigrant Anita and her American-born husband and children. 72 Miles to Go... follows one family over a decade as they come of age, fall in love, fight in wars and fight for each other – against the backdrop of deportation, DACA and changing immigration laws.
History

72 Miles to Go... premiered off-Broadway on March 10, 2020 at the Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre. Directed by Jo Bonney, the production featured Maria Elena Ramirez, Triney Sandoval, Tyler Alvarez, Jacqueline Guillén and Bobby Moreno.

Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
BILLY – Chicano, 47-55, pastor at a Unitarian church.
ANITA – Mexican, 42-50, living in Nogales, Mexico.
CHRISTIAN – Chicano, 23-31, dreams of being a Marine.
EVA – Chicana, 17-25, the caretaker.
AARON – Chicano, 14-22, loves science.
  • Time Period New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting Tucson, Arizona. 2008-2016.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol
    • Strong Language
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“The kind of play we need to see, telling a story that needs retelling.” – New York Theatre Guide

“This play is about being American, with or without the documentation to prove it... Its power is in its simplicity.” – The New York Times

★★★★ “The work follows, quite effectively, one Tucson, Arizona family from 2008 to 2016 as they fight the currently worsening United States immigrant policies and their effect on families involved” – New York Stage Review

“Humanizes a predicament more often reduced to Washington debates.” – Time Out New York

“Hilary Bettis puts five human faces on a national disgrace that most New York theatergoers only read about or see in news snippets on MSNBC... Bettis’ big moments remain devastating to watch.” – The Wrap

“The play creates a believable family whose longing to be whole sits at odds with the cold fact that life must go on, often in the most mundane ways... can veer from hilarious to heart-wrenching with whiplash speed.” – Houston Chronicle

"The story of a family that wants more than anything to blend in, to live regular American lives. The play’s poignancy lies in how mercilessly difficult that is, and how precarious for all of them.” – The New York Times

Videos

  • Hilary Bettis on 72 Miles to Go... youtube thumbnail

    Hilary Bettis on 72 Miles to Go...

  • 72 Miles to Go... Roundabout Trailer youtube thumbnail

    72 Miles to Go... Roundabout Trailer

  • 72 Miles to Go... Roundabout Promo youtube thumbnail

    72 Miles to Go... Roundabout Promo

  • CBS Interview with Hilary Bettis youtube thumbnail

    CBS Interview with Hilary Bettis

Photos

  • 72 Miles to Go...

    Image: 2020 Roundabout Theatre Company Production (Jeremy Daniel)

Licensing & Materials

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

Scripts

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Authors

Hilary Bettis

Hilary Bettis

From writing captivating characters and storylines for film and television to delving into complex relationships of everyday people brought to life on stage, award-winning writer Hilary Bettis has quickly become a force in the entertainment industry.

In 2022, Bettis’ play 72 m ...

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