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¡PASAJE!

An immersive play about Los Angeles, and a young man's passage to discover his family.

October 4, 2024 - November 3, 2024

Sierra Madre Playhouse
87 W Sierra Madre Blvd
Sierra Madre, CA 91024

Experience the sights, smells, and sounds of South El Monte! Pasaje, meaning "Passage", is a captivating journey of self-discovery and family revelations. Written by J Quiroz, with music by Grammy-winner Asdru Sierra, and directed by Benjamin Perez. As 18-year-old Andy unravels deep family secrets, he faces truths about his identity and community, guided by dancer Marcelina and Don Miguel. This coming-of-age musical explores the Latin American diaspora and the complex nature of family, blending drama, music, and heartfelt discovery.

Artists

Seth Keller

Seth Keller

Andy Martin

Sandra Dar

Sandra Dar

Angela Martin

Maximiliano García

Maximiliano García

Freddy

Itzel Ximena Gonzalez

Itzel Ximena Gonzalez

Ensemble/Hustler Uno Understudy

Ixchel Valiente

Ixchel Valiente

Marcelina

Lisa Rodríguez

Lisa Rodríguez

Beatriz Gonzalez

Pablo Milla

Pablo Milla

Ensemble/Hustler Dos Understudy

Benjamin Perez

Benjamin Perez

Director

Karol Avila

Karol Avila

Hustler Uno

Noah Peralta

Noah Peralta

Guicho

Andrew M. Garcia

Andrew M. Garcia

Ensemble/Andy Understudy

Asdru Sierra

Asdru Sierra

Composer

Daniel Moises

Daniel Moises

Hustler Dos

Joshua Duron

Joshua Duron

Don Miguel

Luzma Ortiz

Luzma Ortiz

Ensemble

*Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre, Sierra Madre Playhouse, and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

About

On the eve of his 18th birthday, young Andy discovers that everything he believes in – his ethnicity, his family, his upbringing – are lies that have been told to him since birth. These lies lead Andy to South El Monte, where he meets a beautiful dancer, Marcelina, and the community patriarch, Don Miguel, who help him unearth long-buried secrets, propelling him to a poignant revelation about the Latin American diaspora and ultimate acceptance of his true self. In the end, he discovers his family is both flawed and redemptive.


Runtime: 3 hours including a 15-minute intermission.

CONSUMER ADVISORY: some language, use of prop guns, mentions of abuse.


TICKETS: $12-45


Friday, Oct 4 (8:00 PM)

Saturday, Oct 5 (8:00 PM)

Sunday, Oct 6 (4:00 PM)

Friday, Oct 11 (8:00 PM)

Saturday, Oct 12 (8:00 PM)

Sunday, Oct 13 (4:00 PM) - Masks Required

Friday, Oct 18 (8:00 PM)

Saturday, Oct 19 (8:00 PM) - Noche Nuestra

Sunday, Oct 20 (4:00 PM)

Friday, Oct 25 (8:00 PM)

Saturday, Oct 26 (8:00 PM)

Sunday, Oct 27 (4:00 PM)

Friday, Nov 1 (8:00 PM)

Saturday, Nov 2 (8:00 PM)

Sunday, Nov 3 (4:00 PM)


Deeply rooted in South El Monte near East LA – both literally and figuratively – ¡Pasaje! honors Southern California’s vivid and diverse Latiné community. Written by San Gabriel Valley-native J. Quiroz, a first-generation Salvadoran American, ¡Pasaje! is a one-of-a-kind experience that promises to be poignant, heartrending, and magical. It features music and lyrics by multi-GRAMMY winner Asdru Sierra, co-founder of LA’s renowned Latin rock band, Ozomatli. The Sierra Madre Playhouse production is directed by Benjamin Perez, who was raised in Hacienda Heights (five minutes from South El Monte). Perez acted in national tours of In the Heights and Nice Work If You Can Get It, and directed several productions of In the Heights in regional theatres. The music director is Greg Porée, whose credits include working with Sonny & Cher, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as 8 years on Dancing with Stars. The choreographer is Tania Possick, whose choreography credits include Arena: A House Musical (Scenie Award for Best Choreography), Sister Act, Disney's Beauty and the Beast (which earned her an NAACP Best Choreography award), Aladdin Dual Language (Scenie Award for Best Choreography) and In The Heights.


FAQs

Q: What does “pasaje” mean?A: “Pasaje” is Spanish for “passage.” It reflects the main character, Andy’s, journey to discover his family and culture, signifying a passage into a new chapter of his life.

Q: What is this show about?A: 18-year-old Andy was raised in Arizona by his mom, but when he discovers a hidden letter from his dad, he decides to embark on a journey to South El Monte to discover his family and heritage, building new friendships along the way.

Q: What language is the show in?A: English, but with bits of Spanish mixed in.

Q: Is there going to be food or drinks?A: Yes! There will be tacos and refreshments served by a local South El Monte business. Be sure to arrive early to chow down before the show!

Q: How long is the show?A: 2 hours including an intermission.

Q: Where should I park?A: There is a parking lot behind the building (off of Auburn Ave), and there is also plenty of (free and metered) street parking.

Q: Can I buy a ticket at the door?A: Yes!

Q: What should I wear?A: Whether you want to get dressed up or simply wear what you’ll be most comfortable in, everyone is welcome at the theatre. Traditional attire representing your Latiné heritage is also encouraged! We recommend bringing a jacket in case it’s chilly in the theatre.

Q: Should I expect anything else at this event?A: Prepare to experience the sights, smells, AND sounds of South El Monte! In addition to the incredible set and music, this immersive show will also bring in the smell of tacos from a real, locally-owned South El Monte taco truck.

October 19th is...

Join us for a special evening dedicated to celebrating Latiné arts and culture through theater at Sierra Madre Playhouse. This unique event centers on the powerful play ¡PASAJE!, a moving story that explores identity, belonging, and the Latiné experience. LEARN MORE

Genesis of ¡PASAJE!

The origin of ¡Pasaje! is, itself, a unique story. It was initially conceived in 2008 and began in 2011. A group of South El Monte High School drama students and alumni set out to write a Mexican/Central American story reflecting their lives, people, community, and culture, drawing inspiration from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, a story about Miranda’s experience in his community of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. J. Quiroz was among the original group of eight high school students and recent graduates who, in the summer of 2011, took up the challenge and spent hours every Sunday at the South El Monte Senior Center writing their script, the initial draft of which they completed that summer.


Their plan was to introduce Broadway audiences to their Latiné community through the eyes of a non-Latiné teenager from out of state who knew very little about his culture. That character, Andy, was a young man who had just graduated from high school and came into their community looking for his dad.


Following the first draft, Quiroz – who subsequently attended community college, where he further honed his writing skills – continued as the lead writer on the project, making dozens of major revisions to the script over the years with input from others along the way, including many in the original student group. ¡Pasaje! is Quiroz’s first major production credit.


Among others drawn into the ¡Pasaje! sphere was Ozomatli’s Asdru Sierra, who immediately grasped the essence of the musical when the writers/actors from South El Monte reached out to him about becoming involved in the project. Over pizza, the enthusiasm and genuine interest of these young people about the Mexican/Central American community convinced Sierra. He enthusiastically agreed to write the music, explaining, “I knew that the music had to be authentic to Los Angeles and its diverse Latiné culture. As part of that community myself, I wanted to represent the community and to be in service to the play’s story telling.” Sierra’s striking music embraces his trademark musical style and reflects the characters’ thoughts and emotions while giving the story of ¡Pasaje! a truly original sound and scope. “There’s definitely a head-nod factor to the play’s music,” Sierra notes.


Quiroz reflects, “I was faced with the challenge of writing a show about ‘culture.’ I was intimidated by the word until I realized culture really refers to ‘family.’ We may all be raised differently, but we all understand family. The good, the bad, and especially the crazy, that’s family. I’m proud to have had that realization, and it has only been confirmed as the ¡Pasaje! family grows. I’m honored to have the Sierra Madre Playhouse now part of that family. I can’t wait to see the audiences become part of that family.”


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