“Once Upon A Tra’ in Puerto Rico” is a hybrid play which aims to celebrate Puerto Rico’s rich musical traditions while telling a story that explores how a whole generation decided to stop the assimilation and start the decolonization of their culture. I say the play is a hybrid, cause it’s easier to understand. It has big musical moments, but it is not a musical. It is a Puerto Rican story, and as such I want it to feel like a Puerto Rican is telling it. We use our hands, we are very musical and physical, and we say everything with deep passion to the point of beautiful ridiculousness. If you had a Puerto Rican tell you a story, you know what I am talking about, and that’s exactly how I want it to look on stage. The play takes place in three different years (1998. 2002, 2025) and follows Miguel as he tries to tell a story to his newborn but is confronted by his past selves who feel he is embezzling. As the three of them help each other tell the truth, the audience will experience Miguel’s growth while he navigates colonialism and his identity.