For Madera Theatre Project, ‘American Mariachi’ brings a tuneful taste of culture
By Donald Munro
Just two performances remain of José Cruz Gonzales’ play “American Mariachi.” The Madera Theatre Project production kicks off the company’s summer season.
I checked in with the show’s co-directors, Elena Navarrette and Thomas Estrada, to talk about this sunny, big-hearted show, which rounds out its second weekend with 7 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday at the Matilda Torres High School Performing Arts Center.
Q: Madera Theatre Project performed Gonzales’ “Harvest Moon” in 2022. What was the response to that show, and did it impact your decision to do “American Mariachi”?
Navarrette: Much of José Cruz Gonzales’s work deeply resonates with the Madera community. Harvest Moon explored the lives of a migrant working family, with each family member offering a unique and personal perspective. The play unfolded like a dreamlike fairytale, capturing the layered experience of being first-generation — the struggle to adapt to a culture not your own, the weight of family expectations, and the harsh reality of confronting racism head-on. With Madera being a primarily Latino community made up largely of migrant families, it’s easy to see how deeply Harvest Moon struck a chord with so many.
Pictured above: Eneyssa Contreras is part of Madera Theatre Project’s “American Mariachi.”
So when you ask if “Harvest Moon” influenced our decision to produce American Mariachi? ABSOLUTELY. We were fortunate enough to have José Cruz Gonzales visit Madera in 2022 for a talk-back after a performance of “Harvest Moon.” Thomas and I had the honor of facilitating that conversation. At the end of the discussion, we casually asked him what new projects he was working on — and that’s when we first learned about “American Mariachi.” We even jokingly called out, “WE CALL DIBS!” which made Gonzales and the rest of the room laugh. I distinctly remember him giving us each a hug at the end and saying, “I hope you guys do it someday.”
Q: I remember Gonzales visiting the Fresno State theater department many years ago. Were you there?
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Navarrette: Yes! In the early 2000s, he visited. Theatre for Young Audiences, led by Roxanne Schroeder-Arce at the time, produced one of Gonzales’s children’s plays –“Calabasas Street.”
I can’t even begin to express how kind and humble he was. Even then, his work deeply resonated with so many of the Latinx students involved in that production. And now that I think about it, that’s actually when I first learned of Harvest Moon! Clearly, I’ve been following a pattern without realizing it.
Q: What is the plot of “American Mariachi”?
Estrada: It follows Lucha’s emotional journey to help her ailing mother, Amalia, escape the grip of dementia. Set in the 1970s, the story begins with Lucha caring for her mother during their usual daily routine, with visits from her spirited cousin, Boli. One day, they discover an old mariachi record that Lucha’s father, Federico, once recorded. When they play it, something remarkable happens—Amalia suddenly comes to life, singing along and reconnecting with her past self.
However, this moment of joy is interrupted when Federico returns home and, fearing the painful memories the music stirs — especially those of Amalia’s late Tía Carmen — he smashes the record in a panic. Determined to restore this spark in her mother, Lucha sets out to create a new record that could revive Amalia once more.
This mission leads Lucha and Boli into the world of mariachi — a space traditionally closed to women, especially in the 1970s. Despite the obstacles, including skepticism from their reluctant mentor, Mino, and the fact that neither of them plays an instrument, they persevere. Along the way, they recruit other women, forming an unlikely all-female mariachi group and challenging cultural and gender expectations.
The play weaves themes of hardship, family conflict, memory, persistence, and the transformative power of music. At its heart, “American Mariachi” beautifully explores how music can awaken the soul, heal wounds, and remind us of what it truly means to be alive.
Q: Do your actors play mariachi instruments live?
Thomas Estrada: The use of live music in this production is especially meaningful, as it is a play with music rather than a full musical. The majority of our actors and actresses perform live on stage. In particular, the Mariachi Spirits play throughout the show, led by Diana Garcia, who also portrays Tía Carmen. Ms. Garcia plays the vihuela during moments when Amalia recalls her Tía Carmen, triggering vivid and lucid memories of the past. Beloved and recognizable mariachi classics such as “Son de la Negra” and “La Madrugada” are performed with pride and passion. In addition to these iconic pieces, many other songs and instrumental solos are brought to life by our talented students and community members with mariachi experience, making the music an authentic and heartfelt element of the story.
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Q: There’s an intergenerational aspect to the storyline. What are your thoughts about mariachi being able to connect generations?
Thomas Estrada: Like storytelling, Mariachi passes down the songs our grandmothers and grandfathers once danced and sang to as they lived the best moments of their lives. In the Mexican and Latinx community, storytelling is woven into our blood—it’s how we share who we are. Passing music from our childhood to our own children is a sacred tradition.
When we hear this music, we must dance — we must feel the absolute joy of connecting to something greater than ourselves. In those moments, we are linked to our ancestors, hearing what they once heard, living what they once lived. It’s emotional. It’s powerful.
We don’t just hear the voices of the past—we feel them with our whole being. These songs heal us, soothe our hardships, and reignite the fire in our souls. Our ancestors dance alongside us, giving us the strength to endure anything.
Mariachi is more than music. More than notes, rhythm, or entertainment. It is Amor, Familia, y Tradición.
Q: Anything else you’d like to say?
Elena Navarrette: It’s such a beautiful story — one that we hope touches the hearts of everyone who comes to see it. In a world facing so many challenges, where frustration and uncertainty seem ever-present, this play offers a much-needed balance of light and shadow, love and compassion, family and community. These are the very things we need more of right now. Our hope is that audiences leave feeling a little more connected, a little more hopeful, and reminded of the enduring power of human kindness.
