El Teatro hosts Dia de Los Muertos procession on Nov. 6
At El Teatro Campesino, the tradition of celebrating Dia de Los
Muertos (Day of the Dead) dates back to the 1960s and ’70s. The
troupe has been more public about its celebration in the last few
years and this year has again expanded the activities.
”
We started doing it with other groups
”
in San Francisco and Sacramento, said Phil Esparza, a member of
the ETC board of directors.
”
On and off, we have done something internally. But there has
been a rebirth with the younger generation. It ties into our
indigenous roots, recognizing death as part of life
– as part of that cycle.
”
El Teatro hosts Dia de Los Muertos procession on Nov. 6
At El Teatro Campesino, the tradition of celebrating Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) dates back to the 1960s and ’70s. The troupe has been more public about its celebration in the last few years and this year has again expanded the activities.
“We started doing it with other groups” in San Francisco and Sacramento, said Phil Esparza, a member of the ETC board of directors. “On and off, we have done something internally. But there has been a rebirth with the younger generation. It ties into our indigenous roots, recognizing death as part of life – as part of that cycle.”
The activities started Oct. 29, with altars on display at the El Teatro Campesino playhouse from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The altars, which are artistic displays created in honor of lost loved ones, are created by current and former members of El Teatro Campesino, as well as some friends.
“We are recognizing our various families, and El Teatro is a family of families,” Esparza said. “It is constantly growing – an expansion of programs.”
Some of the altars honor members who have passed away or relatives who have died. Richie Valens’ family has one up in his honor.
“It is very personal, and at the same time very communal,” Esparza said.
The altars feature a lot of skeletons, the traditional bread offering and sugar skulls.
“Being performance artists, there are a lot of visual aspects,” he said.
Esperanza del Valle, a dance troupe, performed three nights last week and will perform again Nov. 5-7, basing some of their dances around the Dia de Los Muertos theme. The main event will be Nov. 6, when the audience will process through San Juan Bautista with members of El Teatro and Esperanza del Valle as they perform traditional dances, actos (one-act plays) and other activities. They will assemble at 6 p.m. and start the procession at 6:30 p.m.
“As Phil was saying much like the various offerendos, food or articles to those who are departed, our performance is an offering in much the same way,” said Chas Croslin, a musical artistic associate.
Christy Sandoval, an El Teatro ensemble member, is co-producing the event and is staging the short performances that will take place along the procession route.
Croslin said the show will be full of mischievous tricksters with whom people can identify.
“They let off steam,” Croslin said. “People like them. They are like the clowns of death.”
The event will feature mariachi as well as an older tradition of having horns and marching drums. Though he didn’t want to give away all the surprises for the procession, Croslin said it would feature some original El Teatro tunes from as far back as the ’70s, traditional Dia de Los Muertos pieces and some corridos (ballads.)
“Another thing that is typical is the aesthetic of poking fun at popular culture and politicians,” Croslin said. “Although the election will be over, all those figures will show up anyway … We will play with some of that and some recent pop stars and pop music that is familiar.”
He added that the group will also poke fun at themselves.
“It is a celebration of life that again we do to honor those who came before us,” Croslin said. “We sing and dance and do those things, all to carry on tradition, and continue the traditions.”
El Teatro Campesino also has a special guest artist in residence from San Antonio, Texas, Adriana Garcia, who has been involved in creating art for the procession. Garcia has created processional figures and puppets.
“It is really being added in and is a welcome addition this year,” Esparza said. “It’s really wonderful to have some of those pieces that you don’t see too much.”
Esparza estimated that as many as 500 people would show up for the procession.
“It’s a challenge because – if you’ve never done something like this – it’s a traveling production,” he said. “There are safety concerns and logistics.”
Dia de Los Muertos
El Teatro Campesino will be hosting Dia De Los Muertos with Esperanza Del Valle, Nov. 5-7. The event will include a gallery of traditional and artistic altars and other festivities at the El Teatro Playhouse. Admission to view the altars is free, but tickets for the performance are $8-15. On Nov. 6 only, there will be a procession through old San Juan Bautista. For more information, call 623-2444 or visit www.elteatrocampesino.
