American Mariachi

Written by José Cruz González

Conceptual Costume and Scenic Design by Lucy Elkin in collaboration with Melanie Queponds

We set this piece in Boyle Heights, a historic Mexican-American neighborhood in Los Angeles. It’s designed to invoke the feeling of community in a town center and gathering place. The landscape is decorated with murals paying homage to the rich history of street art and murals in Boyle Heights, and the stage deck is modeled after Mariachi Plaza.

Lights are embedded in the wall and hidden in the murals so that scenes can emerge from the set.

The garage-style door opens and furniture rises through the stage deck to create Lucha’s family living room.

Soyla’s salon is where the women form their own mariachi band. It’s forms around the stage left platform that also serves as a stage thought the play.

When Amalia sees the ghost of her Tia Carmen, the balcony lights up.

When Amalia plays the violin again before dying, roses made of light emerge from all throughout the set as she is reunited with her love of music. A doorway full of warm light also appears at center stage and Tia Carmen is waiting inside to escort Amalia to the afterlife.

After Amalia walks though the center stage door, light on stage dies, and shapes of gravestones appear on the walls as cold light comes through the doorway. A trap opens up to signify the grave and Federico is alone onstage. Lucha then comes onstage wearing her traje for the first time. Shen she plays the violin in memory of her mother, and her mariachi band’s music breaths life and joy back into the world for the musical finale.