Introduction: Shakespeare and Latinidad

The introduction offers a contemporary history of the intersections of Shakespeare and Latinidad, from Latinx theatre-makers to Latinx-themed productions and adaptations. Offering a history of Latinx Shakespeares as both grounded in mid-twentieth-century American theatre and situated in present-day theatrical and political contexts. The editors address how their work is informed by their participation in the Latinx Theatre Commons and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Latino/a Play Project. The introduction addresses tropes that are applied to Latinx peoples in the context of Shakespeare, including the role of Caliban in The Tempest. The introduction provides a layout of the collection in its four parts: Shakespeare in the US Latinx Borderlands, Making Shakespeare Latinx, Shakespeare in Latinx Classrooms and Communities, and Translating Shakespeare in Ashland. An alternative roadmap is provided, one that traces paths throughout the collection for those interested in acting, playwriting, directing, vocal training, and scholarship.