A hilarious and heartwarming journey through the afterlife that invites community members to remember loved ones through audience participation and interactive exhibits.
San Jose, CA – Teatro Visión’s 13th annual Día de los Muertos play, La Muerte Baila by Rebecca Martinez and the Milagro ensemble, is a powerful, participatory play full of traditional Jarocho music and dance. It’s a heartwarming story about forgiveness, about remembrance, and about choosing how we live our lives, playing October 9-19 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza.
The play follows a recently departed soul named Alejandro who has just arrived in Mictlán, the land of the dead, on the eve of el Día de los Muertos. But la Muerte notices that something is different about this soul’s arrival—he can’t remember anything about his past.
Meanwhile, los muertitos—the dead—can’t wait to get back to the land of the living to visit their loved ones. But the portal to the other land is blocked, and they discover that one of them is holding them back! To cross in time for the holiday, los muertitos have to help Alejandro resolve his unfinished business. Otherwise, they might be stuck until next year…
Director Rodrigo García says, “La Muerte Baila is a poignant story of love and forgiveness that shows us how we can overcome challenges in life—or death—with a helping hand from those around us. This ravishing play devised by Rebecca Martinez and the Milagro Theatre ensemble uses levity and humor to remind us that laughter is a powerful medicine para el corazón.”
La Muerte Baila invites audiences to connect with the play in meaningful and unique ways. This year, we’re asking our community members to share photos of their dearly departed so that we may honor their memory at the show. The participatory aspect of the play begins with activities in the lobby beforehand, in which audiences continue the tradition of honoring their lost loved ones. Throughout the play’s comedic twists and turns, the characters interact directly with the audience, running through the audience and joking with them. The audience participates in Alejandro’s healing process by sharing things they’d miss from Earth in the afterlife, culminating in an invocation honoring those who have left us. The overall effect is complex – funny yet simultaneously personal, poignant, and introspective.
La Muerte Baila unites the talents of dozens of San José-based artists, musicians, and performers. Within our brilliant cast, we’re excited to have local activist and well-known artist, Ugho Badú. As the actors bring the story to life, the incredible musicians, which consists of Russell Rodriguez, Lolis Garcia, and Claudio Vega, play Son Jarocho music, which often includes call and responses, improvisation, and is accompanied by zapateados. Influenced by Spanish, Indigenous, and African cultures, the vibrant blend of rhythms and melodies transports the audience into another world. The talent goes further as the costume designs are from Veracruz. The amount of detail within the embroidery is simply extraordinary. The vivid scenery is inspired by El árbol de la vida – The Tree of Life – as well as modern art. Come for the story and talent, stay for the beautiful visuals and music.
You can see La Muerte Baila live and in person, October 9-19, at the Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater. Tickets are $10 to $40, on sale now at www.teatrovision.org/lamuertebaila or (408) 294-6621. La Muerte Baila is directed by Rodrigo García and features music direction by Russell Rodriguez. In Spanish with supertitles in English and Spanish.
Tickets and Information: visit www.teatrovision.org/lamuertebaila, email italia@teatrovision.org, or call 408- 294-6621.
Live Performance Venue: The School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José, CA 95116
Performance Schedule: Thursdays – Saturdays, Oct. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 8:00pm. Sundays, Oct. 12, 19 at 2:00pm.
Ticket Prices: choose your own price tickets: $10 – $40.
La Muerte Baila is an original Milagro Día de los Muertos production devised by Rebecca Martinez and the Milagro Ensemble.
La Muerte Baila is presented by Teatro Visión in association with the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Teatro Visión’s operations and this production of La Muerte Baila are made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José; the National Endowment for the Arts; the County of Santa Clara; SV Creates; David & Lucille Packard Foundation; Silicon Valley Community Foundation; the Kenneth Rainin Foundation; the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation; Opera San José; Heritage Bank of Commerce; La Oferta; and El Observador.
