‘Elizabeth’

Praise for ‘Elizabeth’

“The dialogue is rich with subtext and rarely feels [expositional] – a massive feat for a play grounded in so much historical context. The language is poetic, but never indulgent.”

Elizabeth

“In January of 1947, Elizabeth Short’s body was discovered in an abandoned Los Angeles lot. She had been brutally murdered by an unknown killer. In the 77 years that have since passed, countless books and movies have been written about the case– mostly by men and mostly inaccurately. While men continue to center themselves in her narrative and profit from her death, her case is still no closer to being solved. 'Elizabeth' recenters Elizabeth in her own story, follows the events leading up to her death and the investigation that followed it. Tracking two timelines– pre- and post-murder– this play follows Aggie Underwood, a famous female reporter in the post-murder timeline and Elizabeth herself in both timelines.”

Praise for ‘Elizabeth’

“This is a very strong piece of work. [Alaniz explores] the death of Elizabeth with a clear feminist stance, and the non-linear structure displays a confidence of dramatic form that allows for complexity, mystery and suspense… [Alaniz counters] a typically male-dominated storytelling form by enriching the portrayal of Elizabeth, and by keeping her alive in the play’s dramaturgical conception, [ensuring] that she is able to speak with her own voice.”