People’s Light Ends 49th Season with Musical ‘Somewhere Over the Border’ by Brian Quijada

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Beginning July 17, Malvern-based theatre People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355) concludes its 49th season with the regional premiere presentation of Somewhere Over the Border by Emmy Award-nominated playwright, actor, and composer Brian Quijada. Presented as a co-production with Pittsburgh’s City Theatre and Pittsburgh CLO, the Cumbia hip-hop musical is inspired by the true story of Quijada’s mother’s journey from El Salvador to the U.S. retold as a riff on L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Laura Acalá Baker, the musical’s cast features actors Gloria Vivica Benavides, Isabella Campos, Bobby Plasencia, Jerreme Rodriguez, Arusi  Santi, and Ariana Valdes. Somewhere Over the Border runs from July 17 to August 11, with 28  performances presented on the Leonard C. Haas Stage, a 340-seat venue housed in an 18th-century stone barn.  

Brian Quijada is an up-and-coming, Emmy-nominated playwright, actor, and composer whose original work has been developed and produced all across the country. His hip-hop solo show Where Did We Sit  on the Bus? has received numerous award nominations and been produced at numerous theatres,  including Ensemble Studio Theatre, TeatroVista, and a digital production at Actors Theatre of Louisville.  His play Kid Prince and Pablo premiered at The Kennedy Center in 2019.  

Most recently, his musical Somewhere Over the Border had a critically acclaimed rolling world premiere at Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre, and TeatroVista in 2022, before Pittsburgh, PA company City Theatre presented it as a co-production with Pittsburgh CLO and People’s Light in October 2023. It was hailed by onStage Pittsburgh as “overflowing with heart and urgency” and “a timely musical that spreads joy and portrays sorrow in equally compelling measure,” drawing glowing comparisons to Lin Manuel Miranda’s breakout musical In the Heights. 

In Somewhere Over the Border, the allure of the American Dream beckons Reina Quijada (Campos) along a very different yellow brick road from El Salvador to the United States. Along the way, she makes  friends, dodges imminent danger, and searches for the almighty “wizard” in this nod to Oz. With onstage  musicians weaving together cumbia, Mexican mariachi, boleros, American rock, and hip-hop, Quijada honors his mother in a fantastically true tale of determination, family, and friendship.  

“When People’s Light produced Mushroom in 2022, we heard from our community partners how much they wish they could bring their families,” said Zak Berkman, Producing Artistic Director. “Somewhere Over the Border offers that opportunity to our partners and our broader audience, who have expressed a great desire for additional music and musicals on our campus. Brian Quijada is a huge talent whose visibility is fast-rising around the country. His work is vibrant, accessible, fun, poignant – just the right mix for this time in our world.” 

The cast of Somewhere Over the Border reprise their roles from the City Theatre presentation last fall, and will all make their People’s Light debut with this production. The musical features New York City based actor Isabella Campos as Reina Quijada, Mexican actor and musician Arusi Santi as the show’s narrator, and multi-hyphenate performing artist Ariana Valdes as Julia. They are joined by actors Gloria Vivica Benavides, Bobby Plasencia, and Jerreme Rodriguez.  

Quijada’s musical is helmed by Chicago-based director and new work developer Laura Acalá Baker,  marking the first time she’s led a People’s Light production. She is an ensemble member of Steep  Theatre in Chicago, and a proud former member of the Alliance of Latinx Theatre Artists. Acalá Baker was nominated for “Best Casting Director” and “Best Director: Brava” at the ALTA Awards. She has  directed productions at numerous theatres in the Chicago region, including the Steppenwolf Theatre,  Steep Theatre, and First Floor Theater. 

Acalá Baker leads the production’s creative team, which features Music Director Michael Meketa  Sanchez, Scenic Designer Chelsea Warren, Costume Designer Damian Dominguez, Lighting Designer Cat  Wilson, Sound Designer Stefanie Senior, Projection Designer Joe Spinogatti, and Intimacy Coordinator  Tomé Cousin. Taylor Meszaros serves as Stage Manager.  

TICKET INFORMATION 
Preview performances for Somewhere Over the Border are from Wednesday, July 17, through Saturday,  July 20. The production opens with a performance on Sunday, July 21, at 2 p.m. and runs through  Sunday, August 11. Tickets start at $37, including fees. People’s Light also offers a range of ticket  discounts, including youth tickets, 50% off Access Nights, 25% off for educators and military, and  discounted student and industry tickets. The Access Night performances for Somewhere Over the Border are Friday, July 19, at 7 p.m. or Tuesday, August 6, at 7 p.m. 

People’s Light hosts a variety of ancillary events to further engage with audiences around its  productions. For Somewhere Over the Border, the theatre continues its post-show talkback series,  AfterWORDS, where audience members have a chance to process and ask questions about the piece  they just experienced. Every Thursday night performance will conclude with a panel moderated by a  People’s Light staff member, who may be joined by a member of the cast or creative team. AfterWORDS for Somewhere Over the Border are available on July 18 and 25, then August 1 and 8. 

Learn more about available ticket discounts here. To purchase single tickets, visit peopleslight.org or call the box office at 610-644-3500. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase group tickets, call the People’s Light Box Office at 610-644-3500 or email tickets@peopleslight.org.  

Somewhere Over the Border has an estimated runtime of 2 hours with an intermission and is  recommended for audiences ages 10 or older. Actors, prices, productions, performance dates, and times are subject to change.