Dead Girl's Quinceanera Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...I just hope Pharel, a true poet with a wicked sense of humor, will strike out from the nonprofit-MFA mainstream, not worry so much in the future about hitting every perceived righteous button, and let her deeply spirited and richly individualized characters tell her where they themselves want to go, rather than feel like an authorial mouthpiece. A model there would be fellow Goodman playwright Jocelyn Bioh, whose “School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play,” now on Broadway, shows us a group of teenaged girls who have minds of their own."

Let's Play Theatrical Reviews - Highly Recommended

"...Phanésia Pharel's Dead Girl's Quinceañera is a brilliantly scripted dark comedy that explores the unsettling truths of sexual abuse, family trauma, and the silencing of young victims who fear speaking about unspoken family secrets. With themes of teenage friendships, self-discovery, and independence, the play blends comedic wit with an engaging narrative about young women's fierce determination to take matters into their own hands when the adults in their lives fail to protect them."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...In this story, Maria ( played to perfection by Andrea Ferro) has not been seen since her Quinceanere. It seems the party ended early, and despite all efforts, Maria has not responded to any messages. It has been close to 24 hours. Her three best buddiesCarmen Berkely, Ariana Burks, Jacqueline Guillen, without any adult supervision, are going to solve the case and find out what might have happened to her, caused by what other party and make sure they do so, with great haste."

Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended

"...Filled with humor, teenage bravado and a mystery that theatergoers will be trying to solve before the three super sleuths in the play, DEAD GIRL’S QUINCEANA presents a new world and culture to many theatergoers. Phanesia Pharel’s first full-length play is most promising. As directed by Melia Bensussen it gives audiences an entertaining and chilling brain twister that’s perfect for this time of year. The one-act is liberally laced with unexpected comedy, and it’s brought to life by a quartet of lovely, extremely talented Latina actresses. But it all comes down to the question of the evening: What happened to Maria?"

The Fourth Walsh - Somewhat Recommended

"...Maria celebrated turning 15 with a festive quinceañera. No one has seen her since the party. She’s not responding to texts. Her friends fear foul play. They set up a case board to determine suspects and motives. They deconstruct the evening for clues and interview likely assailants. As the hours pass from Maria’s disappearance, it gets closer to Selma’s own quinceañera. Can they solve the mystery before strategy strikes… again?"

Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended

"...The Goodman Theatre is elevating the female’s voice with Phanésia Pharel’s play Dead Girl’s Quinceañera. This marks the company’s eighth collaboration with Chicago Latino Theatre Alliance, alongside the alliance’s ninth annual famed Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. Rich with Latina, female and queer representation, Dead Girl’s Quinceañera’s Chicago premiere brings laughter, mystery and heartfelt emotion to its audience."

Entertaining Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...A playful mystery about three teenage girls determined to uncover what happened to their missing friend, Dead Girl’s Quinceañera uses the language of true crime to explore friendship, girlhood, and what happens when young people see things the adults around them don’t."

Splash Magazine - Recommended

"...Each of the 4 performers is believable and sincere- they effectively use dialect, slightly accented Spanish and English, song and dance, posturing, eye-contact and physical comedy to transform a smartly worded script into an engaging disquisition on friendship, loyalty, and growing up. The piece is fun to watch, engaging, even charming."