Latin History for Morons
May 23 – June 8, 2025
Written by John Legiuzamo
Directed by Herbert Siguenza
Starring Rick Najera
Opening Night Reception: May 23 at 7 pm
Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm (except first weekend) & 8 pm, Sundays at 3 pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Preview Night – Friday, May 23
$20
Opening Night with Champagne Toast after Show
– Saturday, May 24
$50
Military Matinee – Sunday, May 25
2 free tickets for Military & Veterans with ID
Artist Talkback – Saturday, May 31
Industry Night – Monday, June 2
$20
“Now I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve always felt like my history was being kept from me: on TV, movies, textbooks, practically everywhere.”
Latin History for Morons is a hilarious and insightful exploration inspired by the glaring absence of Latinos in American history textbooks. In this uproarious show, Rick Najera embarks on a frenetic quest to uncover a Latin hero for his son’s school project. With his comedic flair, he delivers a whirlwind recap of the Aztec Empire and shines a light on the unsung Latin patriots of the Revolutionary War and beyond, distilling 3,000 years of history—from the Mayans to Pitbull—into 110 irreverent and uncensored minutes that are both entertaining and enlightening.
OTC’s production of Latin History for Morons marks the first professional staging in San Diego outside of Leguizamo’s original touring production. Previously, the show made its local debut at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2016, followed by a one-night-only performance at the San Diego Civic Theatre in 2019.
Disclaimer: Latin History for Morons contains mature themes, strong language, and irreverent humor and is recommended for mature audiences.
Cast & Creative Team
Herbert Siguenza
DIRECTOR
(He/Him)
Herbert Siguenza was recently the Playwright in Residence for the San Diego Repertory Theatre thanks to a generous grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Herbert is also a founding member of the performance group CULTURE CLASH. Along with Richard Montoya and Ric Salinas, Culture Clash is the most produced Latino theater troupe in the United States. Founded in San Francisco in 1984, Culture Clash has performed on the stages of America’s top regional theaters including the Mark Taper Forum, The Kennedy Center, The Arena Stage, The Alley Theater, The Berkeley Repertory, Yale Repertory, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, and Syracuse Stage, The Huntington Stage and countless universities and colleges. Mr. Siguenza has co-written, and or performed in the following Culture Clash plays: Bordertown Now, American Night (Commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Palestine New Mexico, Water and Power, Chavez Ravine (all three commissioned by the Mark Taper Forum) , Peace (Commissioned by The Getty Villa), Zorro in Hell! (Commissioned by the Berkeley Rep), The Birds (Commissioned by the Berkeley Rep and South Coast Rep), Bordertown (commissioned by the San Diego Rep), Radio Mambo, Nuyorican Stories, Anthems, S.O.S., A Bowl of Beings, The Mission and others.
As a solo writer and performer Mr. Siguenza has produced Cantinflas! , A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, Steal Heaven, El Henry (Best new play San Diego Critics Circle Award 2014), Manifest Destinitis, Beachtown and Bad Hombres/Good Wives.
Mr. Siguenza is also an accomplished visual artist and has exhibited both nationally and internationally. He has a BFA in printmaking from the California College of Arts, Oakland, California. TV and Film credits: Ben Ten Alien Swarm (Cartoon Network), Larry Crowne feature film directed by Tom Hanks. His voice was prominently featured in Pixar’s 2017 Oscar-winning animation feature, Coco.
Rick Najera
RICK
(He/Him)
Rick Najera is a creative force whose pen has carved bold, brown lines across Broadway stages, Hollywood screens, and the national conversation on Latino identity. A true original, Rick’s storytelling blends sharp wit, deep heart, and fearless cultural commentary. From the bright lights of Latinologues on Broadway—his groundbreaking work that gave voice to untold Latino stories—to the writer’s room of In Living Color and Mad TV (where he worked with Key and Peel and Jamie Fox and Jenifer Lopez), Rick has always led with authenticity.
His Showtime comedy specials, Diary of a Dad Man and Legally Brown, showcase his rare ability to make you laugh while cracking open truths about family, faith, and identity. A writer, actor, producer, and cultural visionary, Rick’s credits span television, film, and theater—including work with Fox, Hulu, Warner Bros., and major studios—while never losing sight of his mission: to elevate the Latino narrative.
As the creator and host of Latino Thought Makers, Rick has become a leading voice in the dialogue around Latino excellence and empowerment, speaking across the nation to inspire the next generation, interviewing Dr. Cornel West and Dolores Huerta and Danny Trejo and many more. Whether it’s behind the scenes or center stage, Rick Najera doesn’t just tell stories—he builds bridges, breaks barriers, and makes sure we all laugh along the way. Latin History for Morons marks the second time he has worked with Leguizamo. He wrote the holiday classic Nothing Like the Holidays starring John Leguizamo. Most recently, he wrote and directed Sweet 15, his interactive Quinceanera that played to audiences in Miami and Chicago. With two Writers Guild nominations for his work in comedy, he is a rare writer that finds brave stories that make you laugh. His new historical novel Love Truth and Loyalty will be published in the fall.