Padua Hills Theatre — The Mexican Players
The Plays

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Plays Images #1 & 2 — Photo attributed to Irene Welch Garner Los Californios® Collection Historic Postcard of Padua Hills Theatre Stage about 1960 Members of The Mexican Players, left to right: #1 _____, #2 _____, #3 _____, #4 _____, #5 _____, #6 _____, #7 Rogelio Alfaro, #8 _____, #9 _____, #10 _____, #11 _____, #12 _____, #13 _____

The description on the back of this postcard reads: “The Mexican Players in a scene from a comedy of the state of Michoacan in Mexico. The sets, the costumes, the music and the dances are always authentic for the region represented. Whether in Spanish or English the plays are written for, and are easily understood by English speaking audiences.”

Plays Image #3
Los Californios^® Collection

It Rained in Ixtlan del Río — a two-act play performed by The Mexican Players. This play was also performed in 1936.

Plays Image #4
Los Californios^® Collection

This flyer characterizes the play as “The dramatic story of a brother’s valiant sacrifice.”

Plays Image #5
Los Californios^® Collection

Celaya Stop — “A comedy of a Mexican Railway Station.” This play was also performed in 1947.

Plays Images #6, 7 & 8
Los Californios^® Collection

Note the participation of Jesse Ruíz in this production in the character of Chon. Through much of the 1990s Jesse was still directing and producing the Padua Hills version of the pastorela in San Diego, California: in Old Town, at churches, and at Sherman Heights Community Center — with Los californios^® playing the music as remembered by Jesse. For more about the Padua Hills annual productions of the pastorela, “Las posadas,” go to posadas.loscalifornios.net.

Plays Images #9, 10 & 11
Los Californios^® Collection

The “Festivales” program provided a venue to showcase songs and dances from various areas in Mexico. For a picture of the cast for this performance, please see the lead picture on the Home Page at loscalifornios.org. This program was repeated on a regular basis, including in 1947, 1948, 1951, 1956 and 1957.

 

Plays Images #12 & 13 — Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection

Many subject matter experts visited Padua Hills Theatre to bring authentic dances, music and costuming for programs. This artist came in preparation for the Festivales program in 1950.

Plays Image #20
Los Californios^® Collection

“A comedy of a girl, two suitors, and three fiestas ^{. .} the Day of the Three Kings, Candelaria, and Carnival.” Many productions included educational components about Mexican culture.

   

Plays Images #16, 17, 18 & 19
Los Californios^® Collection

Plays featuring pride in their Mexican history and heritage were a staple of The Mexican Player’s repertoire. Also note the annotation on the front of the program that this is the group’s 166^th production.

Plays Image #21
Los Californios^® Collection

“Viva la Fiesta” — performed by The Mexican Players. “Mexico pictured through its celebrations, songs and dances.”

Plays Image #22
Los Californios^® Collection

“Mexican skies. If you are Mexican ... take pride in it.” — performed by The Mexican Players.

Plays Image #23
Los Californios^® Collection

“A comedy of romantic Michoacan” — performed by The Mexican Players. Las Canacuas was also performed in 1935, 1940, 1941, 1956 and 1958.

Plays Image #24
Los Californios^® Collection

“Veracruz: Life, Love and Music of a Tropical Village” — performed by The Mexican Players.

Plays Image #25 — Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection

Characters and their costumes might appear in multiple productions — like this example of San Miguel and the hermit showing up outside of Las Posadas.

Plays Image #26 — Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection

Do you recognize this play or the performers? If so, please let us know so we can add that information to this site.

If your family has recollections of Padua Hills Theatre that you would like to share on this web site, please contact Los californios® at info@loscalifornios.com.   © Vykki Mende Gray, 2007   All rights reserved.    Los californios® is a registered trademark   belonging to San Diego Friends of Old-Time Music, Inc.,   a California non-profit corporation.