Scene from “The Journey of the Skeletons.”
LA JOLLA–A multiracial trio of angels never had a clue they could get into so much trouble when they decided to head to Earth to take part in the Dia de los Muertos ceremony.
They have to deal with skeletons in their closets while fighting for their souls with the lord of the Aztec underworld and his evil black jaguar.
Director William Virchis and playwright Max Branscomb, the creators of Teatro Máscara Mágica’s enormously popular “La Pastorela” franchise, have teamed up on the award-winning comedy “The Journey of the Skeletons” at the La Jolla Playhouse. Performances are June 11 to 22 at the Shank Theatre.
Memo, a chatty Latino angel, invites his African-American friend Marcelus and Anglo buddy Kenny to travel back to his family home and partake of the altar assembled by his family. Unfortunately for them, the evil underworld lord Michlantecutli and his nasty jaguar, Colmillos, resent the intrusion by “foreigners” and set up a diabolical version of Operation Gatekeeper to snare the trio.
“Journey of the Skeletons” is part of a one-year residency for Teatro Máscara Mágica at the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse. TMM recently produced the Josefina Lopez drama “Detained in the Desert” at the Shank Theatre.
“We are very fortunate for the opportunity to present at the La Jolla Playhouse,” said Virchis, the co-founder of TMM. “We are happy for the opportunity to produce plays about our unique borderlands community outside of the South County and to share the great culture of the border area in the northern part of the county.”
Branscomb said “Journey of the Skeletons” is a family comedy that honors many ancient traditions of Mexico.
“We have two giant, beautiful cultures blending together along the border communities of the United States and Mexico into something that is unique to our region,” he said. “Like all American immigrants, Latinos are struggling with the cultural pressures they face. Most want to embrace the culture of the United States while concurrently preserving many of the beautiful traditions of the Mexican culture.”
Journey of the Skeletons will be performed at the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive in La Jolla from June 11 to June 22. Limited seating, performances will be at 7:30 p.m., and at 2 p.m. for matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are $25 general admission, $15 students/military, $10 for seniors/children 12 years and under, and groups of 10 or more.
To order tickets, call (800) 838-3006, or visit www.brownpapertickets.comevent/616709.
