In Conversation with Alex Alpharaoh

ALEX ALPHARAOH was only 2-months old when he and his 15-year old mother were almost killed in a bomb blast at a bus stop in the violent streets of the infamous “Limonada” colony, in the slums of Guatemala City, Guatemala. This began their brutal journey to the United States.

Most of his life Alex was forced to live in the shadows of society and, through his perseverance and determination, went on to achieve a college degree and become a well-respected social worker in a specialized field, as well as a spoken word artist, well-trained actor, writer, director, and producer.

He earned his reputation as an Emcee and Spoken Word Artist by honing his skills in various venues throughout Los Angeles, and eventually throughout the country.  His 85-minute solo performance piece, WET: A DACAmented Journey, tells the story of living his whole life in the United States as an undocumented American.

Since opening in the fall of 2017, WET received rave reviews, was nominated for several awards, and won Best Solo Performance of 2018.  The play captures the desperation that DACAmented individuals feel when considering the very limited options of adjustment of status, by being forced to navigate through a broken U.S. Immigration System. The play also examines the mental, emotional, and psychological hardship one man has to endure in order to secure his livelihood in the only home he has ever known: Los Angeles.

It is the story of what it means to be an American in every sense of the word, except for one: on paper.