A LATINO MUSICAL ODYSSEY INSPIRED BY
IMMIGRATION AND THE WIZARD OF OZ

A heartfelt journey centered on resilience,
with fantasy touches along the way

The Cygnet Theatre is presenting the local premiere of Somewhere Over the Border, a Latino musical by playwright Brian Quijada. He based his story on his mother’s real-life struggles in the 1970s to move from her impoverished home in El Salvador to the United States in search of a safer life. Quijada garnishes the narrative with references to Dorothy’s journey to a similar promised land in the 1900 classic The Wizard of Oz.

Crissy Guerrero, Vanessa Orozco

Quijada’s young heroine is Reina (Vanessa Orozco). Reina is 14 years old and, unhappily, pregnant. At 16, she decides to immigrate to the United States, leaving her child with her mother, Julia, as caretaker until she can return successfully from the U.S.

(back) Crissy Guerrero, Luis Sherlinee, Edward Padilla, Luzma Orti, (front) Vanessa Orozcoz

On her travels, Reina is first joined by Cruz (Luis Sherlinee), a young farmer and hopeful college student who presumably echoes the Scarecrow in the Oz story. The group is completed by the addition of Silvano (Edward Padilla), who may represent the Tin Man, and a boisterous nun (Luzma Ortiz) as the Cowardly Lion. A narrator (Fernando Vega) weaves in and out of the action, also appearing as the evil witch.

Edward Padilla, Luis Sherlinee, Vanessa Orozco, Luzma Ortiz

However, the resemblances between Reina’s companions and the characters in The Wizard of Oz are minimal. The play ultimately belongs to Reina. Though Crissy Guerrero delivers a powerful performance, singing two emotional numbers—“What I Know” and “Red Skies”—that are showstoppers.

Fernando Vega, Vanessa Orozco, Luis Sherlinee

The heart of Somewhere Over the Border is the grueling trek to the United States, particularly an appalling journey through the heat-drenched deserts of Arizona. The play ends 10 years later, with Reina returning to her original home. She has presumably managed a better life in America and is reunited with her son Fernando (Dhani Solorio), now 12 years old and thrilled by his mother’s gift of a new pair of Michael Jordan gym shoes.

Luis Sherlinee, Crissy Guerrero, Vanessa Orozco, Luzma Ortiz, Edward Padilla

Somewhere Over the Border benefits from a first-class production at the new Cygnet Theatre, headed by director and choreographer Carlos Mendoza. The design team includes Tanya Orellana (scenery), Ryan Fallis (lighting), Janet Pitcher (costumes), Blake McCarty (projections), Jordan Gray (sound), Peter Herman (wigs and makeup), and Jaeonnie Davis-Crawford (props).

Luzma Ortiz, Edward Padilla, Luis Sherlinee, Vanessa Orozco

An all-Latin quintet performs a wide range of musical styles—from rock and roll and hip-hop to mariachi, boleros, and cumbias. Positioned behind a large screen above the stage, the musicians each make strong contributions: Lyndon Pugeda (conductor and keyboards), Michael Reyes and Nikko Nobleza (guitar), Martin Martiarena (bass), and Danny Chavarin (percussion).

Somewhere Over the Border premiered four years ago, at a time when social attitudes toward immigrants may have seemed more accommodating. The story’s triumph-of-the-human-spirit over adversity now plays against a more turbulent contemporary backdrop, giving the production an added layer of resonance.

Vanessa Orozco

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

photos by Karli Cadel Photography

Somewhere Over the Border
Cygnet Theatre Company
Joseph Clayes III Theater (280 seats)
Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center (“The Joan”), 2880 Roosevelt Rd.
Wed-Fri at 7; Sat at 2 & 7; Sun at 2; Wed at 2 (March 11)
ends on March 15, 2026
for tickets ($44 and up), call 619-337-1525 or visit Cygnet

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦