"To succeed in life you need three things-
a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone."
-Reba McEntire
Oedipus el Rey
WRITTEN BY
Luis Alfaro
DIRECTED BY
Rod Oden
This production is the final part of Three Bone Theatre's commitment to produce Luis Alfaro's groundbreaking Greek Trilogy
Dates
May 1-17, 2026
Venue
The Arts Factory at West End Studios
run time
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission
content
True to the original Greek tragedy of Oedipus, the play includes mature situations, sexual content, partial nudity, violence, and depictions of incarceration. There is adult language in both English and Spanish. Oedipus el Rey is recommended for adult audiences.
About the Show
As he approaches the end of a lengthy prison sentence, Oedipus is ready to taste his long-awaited freedom. But liberation comes at a price, and life on the outside proves its own kind of prison ruled by a cruel and violent fate. Based on Sophocles’ classic tale, Oedipus El Rey is an urgent examination of modern institutions, social barriers and the power of storytelling for those bold enough to challenge the gods of our time.
Oedipus El Rey is published as part of The Greek Trilogy of Luis Alfaro. Based on Sophocles' Electra and Oedipus, and Euripides' Medea, Alfaro's Electricidad, Oedipus El Rey, and Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles platform the concerns of the Chicano and wider Latino communities in Los Angeles and New York through ancient drama. Three Bone Theatre is proud to produce all three works of this trilogy across three seasons.
What People Are Saying
Praise from previous productions
TheatreMania
"An adaptation that feels both urgently relevant and timeless…Alfaro illuminates the ancient themes of the Oedipus story in thrillingly modern ways, giving us a new appreciation for the myth.”
San Jose Mercury News
“…OEDIPUS EL REY dazzles…[it] strikes to the bone of one of our more disturbing ancient legends and gives it new, breathtakingly vital life.”
The New York Times
“What Sophocles left offstage—the violence, the sex—[OEDIPUS EL REY] confidently stages…This gives [the play] swagger, oomph and economy... a grim and dynamic reminder that…stories matter, old ones and new ones, true ones and fake ones.”
Get Tickets
Advance Purchase Online: $30 inclusive of all taxes and fees
Night of Show at the Door: $35 inclusive of all taxes and fees
Students and Educators: $20 inclusive of all taxes and fees
Volunteers: We welcome volunteers to help with ushering and concessions at each performance. Volunteers get to see the show for free. Please visit our Volunteer Registration page to sign up.
Discounted pricing available for groups of 10 or more, contact us at info@threebonetheatre.com to learn more
Individual Tickets will go on sale September 15
flex passes available now!
Meet the Artists
Luis Alfaro
Playwright
Luis Alfaro is a Chicano playwright known for his work in theater, performance, poetry, and journalism. Born and raised in the Pico-Union district of downtown Los Angeles, he also works as a director, curator, producer, educator, and community organizer. He is the first playwright-in-residence in the 83-year history of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the largest repertory company in the United States, serving for six seasons (2013-19) through the generous support of the Andrew S. Mellon Foundation. He was mentored by the founding artistic director of the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, Gordon Davidson, where he spent 10 years as associate producer, director of New Play Development, and co-director of the Latino Theatre Initiative. Alfaro studied playwriting under the influential Latina playwright, María Irene Fornés, and he is a professor at the University of Southern California. Alfaro is the recipient of a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation “genius grant.” He is a recent Joyce Foundation Fellow and the only artist to have won two awards in the same year from the Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays. He is featured in over 25 anthologies, has an award-winning spoken word CD, down town, and an Emmy-nominated PBS short film, Chicanismo. He is a member of New Dramatists in New York and an associate artist with Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago and Playwrights Arena in Los Angeles.
Supporting Materials
Digital Program
Download the full program to learn more about the artistic team and our community partner.
Discussion Guide
Keep the conversation going with our show-specific discussion guide developed by our Education Manager.
Learn More
Enlace- Connective Latinx Together
Community Partner
Enlace acts as a bridge between members, the Latino community, and the greater community of Charlotte-Mecklenburg to identify needs, create collaborations and promote unity among its members. Within Enlace, organizations target issues of importance that need immediate and long term attention in the Latino community.