La Guagua 47 is a bilingual musical about Lucía, a fifteen-year-old Puerto Rican girl whose father loses his job and moves the family from the mountains of Jayuya to Philadelphia. She leaves behind her abuelita, her friends, and the only home she's known. Feeling invisible in a new city, she boards the #47 bus — and begins a journey to answer the question she can't escape: will I ever belong?
It started with a real bus ride in 1985, became a song, then a film made with 300 community members, now a full musical headed to the stage in 2027.
We need your help to get there.
La Guagua 47 is more than a musical — it's a community arts project that brings theater to people who may never set foot in a traditional theater, through free performances, workshops, and cultural programs.
Your gift supports:
- Musical development — artists, arrangements, workshops
- Community performances — La Guagua 47 en Vivo in parks, schools, festivals
- La Guagua Creativa — free arts programs across Philadelphia
Coming in 2025–2026: Music showcase with Philadelphia Theatre Company. Arte En Las Calles Festival at Esperanza Arts Center. Community performances and workshops citywide.
Our partners: Pew Center for Arts & Heritage | Philadelphia Theatre Company | Taller Puertorriqueño | Fulton Bank | Mural Arts Philadelphia | Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Donor recognition: $100+ name on website | $250+ t-shirt | $500+ t-shirt + mug | $1,000+ t-shirt, mug, and tote bag
Give today and help bring La Guagua 47 to the stage and to the community.
Donations are tax-deductible through Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
¡Móntate!
— Alba Martínez, Creator and Playwright
www.laguagua47musical.com