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December 2024
Celebrate the magic of the season.
As the year winds down, let's savor the simple joys of the season—whether it's the sparkle of holiday lights, the aroma of freshly baked treats, or the company of loved ones.
Make your plans now to join us in celebrating the holiday season with a show that's perfect for the whole family— Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico! with famed Mariachi Garibaldi De Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico Del Rio Grande.
View the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center 2024/2025 Presents Season to plan your holiday season.
Artist Spotlight
A Magical and Memorable Story of the Christmas Season
By Rhiannon Cochrane
December 14, 7:00 pm
December 15, 2:00 pm
Coughlin Theater
“It's a journey through Mexico and a journey through time in Mexico.”
Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande Director Miguel Peña describes Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico! as an unforgettable program, where every note and dance step embodies the rich, cultural tapestry of Christmas in Mexico.
Alongside Jimmy Cuéllar of Mariachi Garibaldi de JaimeCuéllar, the pair teams up to bring audiences a vibrant show that interlaces beloved Mexican traditions of Mariachi music, classic Christmas tunes such as “Jingle Bells,” and folkloric dance.
“For instance, there's a segment in the show inspired by my own family around Christmas time, where we would just sit around and sing some songs,” Cuéllar said. “Sometimes the songs were Christmassy, sometimes they were just really good songs that people who like Mariachi music would sing. So, we have a little bit of that in the performance, you know, bringing it home, kind of sharing that home feel of Christmastime in our homes, and then combining that with some of the traditions from Mexico.”
Campana Sobre Campana, Peña said, is going to include some classic Christmas music alongside the more traditional songs originating from all across Mexico. “We’re going to (also) portray a pastorella, which is very traditional image from Mexico.” A pastorella tells the story of shepherds traveling to Bethlehem to see the newborn Jesus.
So what makes the Campana Sobre Campana performance a true night of excitement and entertainment? Cuéllar said the fact that they spotlight both the Mariachi musicians and the Ballet Folklorico dancers.
“We have moments where just the Mariachi is performing on their own, and then we do some big hits, some favorites, and really engage the crowd,” Cuéllar said. “And then bring the Ballet … out, and they just wow everybody with the dress and the choreography and performance.”
Peña said the key element of how Campana Sobre Campana differs from other more classic Christmas shows is the “deep connection to Mexican cultural traditions and the unique showcasing of the holiday through authentic Mexican folkloric dance and music.”
Peña said Campana Sobre Campana audiences can expect the folkloric dancers to be in bright, colorful, traditional costumes made in Mexico. He describes the performance as “very colorful and very energetic,” with the goal of putting a smile on audience members’ faces.
“We want the audience to leave the venue happy and sometimes even informed, because there (are) people that (have) never seen a traditional Mexican dance,” Peña said.
Cuéllar said audeinces should come prepared to listen to “very high-energy trumpets, violins, and rhythms … that vary from calm, romantic ballads to just energetic, in your face solos, and energy.”
“Although someone may not know what we're singing about, the harmonies and the heartfelt melodies really portray what we're trying to say,” Cuéllar said.
Campana Sobre Campana is an event for the entire family to come and enjoy, even if you don’t speak Spanish.
Peña said the performance is a unique blend of cultures that you will not want to miss. “Just come out and enjoy the journey to Mexico and experience Christmas in Mexico.”
Staff Spotlight
Jon Carlson, Production Manager
As Production Manager for the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, Jon is typically backstage in one of the two performance venues overseeing an impressive inventory of equipment and instrumentation. He works with faculty, students, and guest artists to schedule and prepare for a wide variety of performance events. His professional training is from the Yale School of Drama where he earned his MFA. He has worked in technical theatre for 25 plus years with stops at CUNY-Queens College, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho along the way. Many of his former students are now working as stage managers, set, lighting, and sound designers, high school drama teachers, and one or two “stand-up” comedians (he takes no credit for the latter) all around the country. Jon is enamored of the many creative lighting designers he’s studied with and worked for, impressed by the technical knowledge retained by audio engineers in the Biz, and is always eager to assist performing artists get their creative work to the stage. He feels incredibly fortunate to work for GU’s MWPAC with its amazing venues and state-of-the-art technology. He commends the administration, the faculty and staff, and Miss Woldson on their unwavering support of the Arts for the university and the greater Spokane community. Jon has two college-aged sons, Chris and Scott, whom he watches with anticipation as they “flap their wings” and show their creative selves to the world.