Where Did We Sit on the Bus? presented by Teatro Vista at Storefront Theater

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Ultimately, though, what comes through clearly in "Where Did We Sit on the Bus?" is that Quijada, like so many children of immigrants before him, has forged his own bridge as a storyteller over the gap between what he knows of his family's past and where he wants his own future children to go in the future. With verbal dexterity and warmhearted charm, Quijada shows us that the journey can get better, if you find the right dream as a roadmap."

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...Quijada, whose conception and birth scenes rival those in Noah Haidle’s play “Smokefall,” is a child of immigrant parents from El Salvador. One of four sons — only he and another brother were born in the United States — his first home was a trailer in Glenview. He was still young when the family moved to a “real house” in Highwood, where they were seen as outsiders to some among that town’s large Italian community."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

".... Mining memories from early childhood to present-day Chicago, Quijada uses this autobiographical one-man show to grapple with life, liberty, and the paradox of the American dream. In the vein of John Leguizamo's Ghetto Klown, the 90-minute performance, directed by Chay Yew, is as funny as it is poignant: expertly crafted, deftly poetic, and unabashedly authentic. You'll laugh, cry, cheer-your only regret will be that you didn't get to do it longer."

Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended

"...So much went into this presentation that added to the impact of the performance. The lighting design by Diane Fairchild, the video projections design by Liviu Pasare, Andrei Onegin’s scenic design; the graphic design by Angelica Acebedo-Frint – all add depth and smoothness to the flow of the dialogue. And it was our good fortune to speak with the Director, Chay Yew, who talked about meeting Brian in Denver several years ago and saw him perform, whereby they formed a bond to fully develop the material we saw opening night. Partnerships come to fruition and this one brought entertainment and thought provoking dialogue to an attentive audience that I hope will be repeated through the entire run. This would also be a great play for school students to help them understand the world a little better and, perhaps, differently."

NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...In “Where Did We Sit On The Bus?” writer-performer Brian Quijada explores the latter question as he and his new fiancé try to reconcile what life will be like for their mixed-race child. Chay Yew directs an engaging autobiographical portrait of Quijada, which seeks to reconcile his own identity as a Latino man in America to sufficiently answer the questions of his future child. As a solo performer, Quijada is a charming guide. He creates a fascinating live soundtrack of his life by creating instrumental loops right before our eyes."