Cruz has stated in numerous interviews that she is a child of the South Bronx and her works exhibit her experience there. How much of a role does setting play in Telling Tales? Do you get a strong sense of place?

Learn more about the Latino literary and theater movements. Analyze Cruz's role and the role of her stories within these groups.

Read another play by Cruz and compare it with her treatment of issues of racial identity in Telling Tales.

Which aspect is more significant in Telling Tales: Cruz's status as a woman or her status as a Puerto Rican?

Conduct research about what it was like to grow up in the South Bronx in the 1960s and 1970s. Create a fictional character and write a monologue for that person, exploring and developing the experiences and mentalities encountered in your research...