About the Show

Houses on the Moon's drama tells the true story of a teenaged boy from Guatemala who faced deportation after fleeing to the U.S. to escape gang life. Part of New York Theatre Workshop's 'Next Door at NYTW' series.

At fourteen, Edgar Chocoy fled Guatemala City and traveled over 3,000 miles in search of his mother, who left him when he was a baby to find work in the United States. Detained by the Department of Homeland Security, he pleaded with a Colorado judge not to deport him to Guatemala, where the gang he left had sentenced him to death. 'De Novo' provides a rare glimpse into the life of an 'unaccompanied alien minor' with a documentary play crafted entirely from immigration court transcripts, letters, and extensive interviews.

Critic Reviews (9)

“A powerful piece of political theater...Deftly directed by Solomon...Those documents make compelling dialogue, rendered tenderly human...The play re-argues Edgar’s deportation case, and in its tragedy demands that we consider who’s allowed to make a home in this country free of intimidation, and who we as a society are willing to fight for rather than against.”
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"Compassionately delivered by a nimble ensemble...Houses on the Moon bravely chooses a case guaranteed to evoke ambivalence...Solomon stages Edgar's complex story with efficient theatricality...One need not embellish to convey just how heartbreaking these cases are, and Houses on the Moon never does. By delivering a clear-eyed yet still deeply moving presentation of just one, the company proves that it takes a certain amount of willful ignorance to see these kids as just statistics."
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“Under Solomon's direction, this true tale of our times is given an unsensational presentation that, at first, seems a little dry but gradually gains force as Edgar progresses through the stages of his personal hell. The four-person cast underplays skillfully, aware that the facts of the story provide all the drama that is needed...Watching ‘De Novo’ is a very sad experience; be prepared for it to haunt you for days after you've seen it.”
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“Heart-wrenching and important...I cannot begin to say how thoroughly good the ensemble is...They are what makes this show so powerful and enjoyable...If there is any critique to level at ‘De Novo,’ it is that this is not a story that is particularly unpredictable...That takes away from the ability to feel true shock. But this predictability only adds to the beautiful difficulty of watching this true story unfold...It successfully humanizes a very big problem...It inspires.”
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"A Magnificently talented group of actors...With the use of screens and projections, Jeffrey Solomon’s direction is savvy and compassionate...Houses on the Moon Theater Company and its members have raised their voices in dissent. They have resisted tyranny and bureaucracy and you can too by bearing witness to this devastating and miraculous play."
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“’De Novo’ seeks to shed light on the 1.1 million undocumented minors in this country, by using this story to add heart...The cast is excellent, the play well directed and superbly done. Ureña as Edgar makes us feel for him...The rest of the cast play multiple roles and are adept at creating realistic characters, thanks to playwright and director Solomon."
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“Whether the potential for highs and lows are neutered intentionally because the production is based on dry documentary evidence is uncertain, but the drama is delivered and received with limited emotional range. The slideshow of actual footage throughout the production is powerful punctuation...It can feel like an imposition of political persuasion, and might not be for everyone...'De Novo' would benefit from a wider reach and, perhaps, some agitation."
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“A documentary play...There are moments in De Novo where Solomon’s drawing on primary source text proves dramatically potent...Though 'De Novo' is undoubtedly moving, I wonder how the play might have changed if Solomon had been willing to take more creative risks...It held me in its grip, but didn’t make the leap of forcing me to question either my assumptions about what I know or how I experience the world.”
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