- Tickets Now On Sale for the ¡VivaFest! World Premiere: “Once Upon A Time, Erase Una Vez”…A Mariachi Musical
- Second Concert “The Sound of East LA Meets the Kings of Latin Swing” On Sale July 14
San José’s Mexican Heritage Corporation (MHC), producer of the largest Mexican heritage festival of its type in the nation, celebrates a new brand identity on its 20th anniversary with an unprecedented line-up, a new website, new sponsors, a “mariachi college bowl” and two premieres – one in film and one in musical theatre – for its signature event: ¡VivaFest! the 20th Annual San José Mexican Heritage and Mariachi Festival, presented in 2011 by El Mexicano Brand Cheeses. A full schedule of events is available at the festival’s new website, www.vivafest.org.
Festival Highlights:
“Once Upon A Time, Érase Una Vez,” a mariachi musical with the legendary Vikki Carr and Los Lobos’ Cesar Rosas will premier at ¡VivaFest! September 25, 2011 at the HP Pavilion. Staged and directed by Dan Guerrero, the new musical celebrates Mexico’s diverse folk tales and fables, and highlights the unique musical genres and dance traditions of Mexico.
Mariachi Nuevo Tecatitlan will also make their first appearance in Northern California from Guadalajara. The show will include Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernandez, and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. Also in their 20th appearance at the San José Mariachi Festival, founders Mariachi Cobre will perform, as will the award-winning Los Lupenos de San José. Tickets go on sale today at www.ticketmaster.com or www.vivafest.org.
“This world premiere original musical celebrates the cultural diversity of our Latino heritage,” stated Executive Producer Marcela Davison Aviles. “We are showcasing the “back story” of our culture – the wonderful folktales that form the heartbeat of our heritage. No matter what part of the world we come from folklore, legends and ancient stories share a universal theme of yearning for love, opportunity and the well being of our children. This production unveils the common ground we all share through the prism of our childhood dreams.”
On Friday, September 23 at 8 PM at the San Jose State University Event Center, ¡VivaFest! presents “The Sound of East LA Meet the Kings of Latin Swing” – a concert with The Orchestra of Spanish Harlem, special guest Tito Puente, Jr., and “mystery artists” from East LA who will be announced early August.
On Saturday, September 24, at 7 PM will be the Northern California premier of Eva Longoria’s film “The Harvest,” which is a documentary about children farm workers, directed by Roberto Romano. Ms. Longoria is the Executive Producer. A Q&A with the film’s director will follow at 8 PM.
A full schedule of music and dance workshops, including the Festival’s first “mariachi college bowl,” special events, outdoor celebrations and community conversations is available at www.vivafest.org.