'Journey of the Skeletons'

Dia de los Muertos Theater Favorite “Journey of the Skeletons” Returns to San Diego

Former La Jolla Playhouse hit was the region’s first Día de Muertos theater comedy

“Journey of the Skeletons,” the Dia de los Muertos comedy that started as a San Diego County educational project and became an international hit, is back. So is the cast of multicultural spirits, the Aztec god of death and one very testy underworld jaguar.

“Journey of the Skeletons” will run Nov. 1 and 2 at The Chrysalis Theater in the Monarch Center for the Arts, 1805 Main Street in Logan Heights. Curtain is 7 p.m. The Chrysalis is a new 100-seat performing arts space built to support the Monarch School for homeless students and provide arts opportunities for the Logan Heights community.

“It’s a great project and a cool space,” said director Hector Rivera. “This show remains a wonderful way to learn about the beautiful Dia de los Muertos holiday going back to its Aztec origins. It’s fun for the entire family.”

Written by Southwestern College professor Dr. Max Branscomb, the playwright of “La Pastorela” for 33 years and the 47-year-old Bonitafest Melodrama, “Journey of the Skeletons” has been produced throughout California, Northern Mexico and at the Cultural Olympics in Sydney, Australia. It had a sold-out run in 2014 at the La Jolla Playhouse. It was commissioned in 1996 by the San Diego Council for Arts Education.

“Journey of the Skeletons” is the story of Memo, a Latino angel who invites two Heavenly buddies – one White, one Black – to join him on his Dia de los Muertos journey to Earth to meet his familia and indulge in the offerings left on his altar. Along the way they encounter the Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli (Luis Angel Prado), and his evil jaguar, Colmillos (Ella Aldridge), who threaten to lock them away for eternity in the underworld. Cagey Memo bets that the skeletons can trick the uber-competitive Mictlantecuhtli in a life-or-death game just as Quezalcoatl had eons earlier.

“‘Skeletons’ is one of my fave shows and Hector directs it with a very nice touch,” Branscomb said. “It is an honor to produce it at the Monarch Center for the Arts. We’ve got an excellent cast of international actors who have come together to create a meaningful work of theater art for our community.”

Branscomb said he has always loved Dia de los Muertos, but admitted he was nervous when approached to write a play about death rituals of America and the borderlands.

“You know I write musical-comedies, verdad?” he recalled telling SDCAE staff. “But I was inspired by reading Octavio Paz and the Latino concept of laughing about death and celebrating it as an inevitable part of life. People in New Orleans and other parts of the world have similar customs, so the idea of multicultural angels came together nicely.”

Rivera, Rhys Green and Joe Nogra play the angels/skeletons. Green performed in the La Jolla Playhouse production in 2014.

Actor/writer Ella Aldridge, a 16-year-old junior at the San Diego School of the Creative and Performing Arts, said she learned much about the traditions of Dia de los Muertos playing Colmillos the jaguar.

“It’s an ancient tradition and very heartfelt,” she said. “Making altars for loved ones is a lovely practice that came from Mexico and is now part of San Diego County culture. They are so beautiful and the belief that the love and caring that goes into them nourishes the spirits of ancestors is so powerful.”

Tickets are $21 general admission, $15 for early birds, seniors, students, military and educators. Children 12 and under are $12. To purchase tickets call (619) 227-4686 or go to journeyoftheskeletons2024@gmail.com.

Max Branscomb
mbranscomb@swccd.edu
drmaxbranscomb@outlook.com
(October 29 – November 4)
(619) 997-9054

Ella Aldridge
(619) 931-4751
egrace0052@gmail.com