Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Celebration

Danza Azteca Kuauhkoatl and Alejandro Meraz Chichiltekolotl

Danza Azteca Kuauhkoatl is an Aztec dancers group found in 2021 and based in San Diego, California dedicated to keep alive, teach and promote the Aztec Dance Tradition. Its teacher Alejandro Meraz has been an Aztec dancer for over 30 years and taught about his indigenous culture for over 20 years in Mexico and US. He’s collaborated with local theater companies as Teatro Izcalli, Teatro Máscara Mágica y Teatro Tierra Caliente as a dancer, choreographer, musical directors and wardrobe department adviser. He’s also collaborated in music videos with multiple artists. As indigenous musician he’s played ancient flutes with the well known flute maker and player Mac Lopez and with Red Warrior Kiowa drummers. He’s worked with several photographers and international make up artist as indigenous model and some of his pictures have been exposed in shows in US, Mexico and Spain as well as in magazines, academic websites, cultural flyers and billboards. He’s performed in multiple South California Pow Wows and In the Gathering of Nations in New Mexico, the biggest Pow Wow in the world as well as in national and international dance festivals. He’s the teacher and founder of Danza Azteca Kuauhkoatl which offer all ages free clases in San Diego and North Escondido.

Las Cancioneras

Zully Martínez Soprano / Scene Director / Vocal Coach / Producer. She started her studies as a singer at age 7. At 19 years old, she begins her formal studies in music with a master's in voice at a music conservatory in Tijuana, Mexico. She has performed in tours in Mexico and the Unites States as soloist and ensemble member. Some of her main roles: “Le Nozze di Figaro”, “La Boheme”, “La Canterina”, “Cossi fan tutte”, “Mary Poppis”, “La luna te lo dira”, amongst others. Has worked as scenic director for the companies: Opera de Tijuana, Opera Ambulante and Festival Opera en la Calle, performing “The Medium” in 2012, “La verbena de la Paloma” and “The magic flute” in 2013, “Le nozze di Figaro” in 2014, “Il barbiere di Siviglia” in 2015, “Suor Angelica” in 2016. Since 2016 she has prepared singers for the following productions: "Mary Poppins" In 2017, "Matilda" in 2018, “Peter Pan" in 2019, "Oliver Twist" in 2022, "The Wiz" in 2023. In 2004, she begins her company that produces Concerts, Operas, Cabaret and original plays, “ZUMA Productions”.

Gabriela Bojórquez Singer, producer, and composer. Recognized by her intimate and sensible , and yet powerful voice. Her influences come from Boleros, Mexican songs, Brazilian music, Trova, and contemporary popular songs. A trajectory of 23 years in the musical medium of Baja California, considered as one of the region's favorite voices. Has recorded eight independent albums and has produced poetic theater, musical theatre and cabaret shows. Has collaborated with important Mexican orchestras and artists. Her outstanding participation in “La Luna te lo Dirá” directed by Luis Martín Solis, and her collaborations with the “Orquesta de Baja California” have spread her fame. She has been invited on three occasions by the Mexican Institution of New York University to perform. Has performed in diverse stages and festivals in Mexico as well as abroad.

Gastón Morineau
coLAB Performance: "Cuentos de el Altar" Artist and Creator

A local puppeteer and educator, has performed in San Diego schools, libraries, the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, and various venues. He's thrilled again to collaborate with the Old Globe and Veronica Burgess for their original production, "Tales from the Altar".

Veronica Burgess
coLAB Performance: "Cuentos de el Altar" Artist and Creator

Veronica Burgess is a local artist. As a theater graduate from SDSU, she enjoys playing on stage through various mediums, from acting & directing, to stand-up and puppets. She is honored to be collaborating with The Old Globe & Gastón Morineau on this original creation of tales.

Host: Vanessa Flores Cabrera

Vanessa is a performer, producer, and educator from the San Diego-Tijuana border region. She holds a double Bachelor’s in Theatre and Dance from the University of California San Diego. She has recently been seen onstage in Camino 23's Stoneheart as Jojo, La Jolla Playhouse & Optika Moderna's La Lucha as Lucha, and dancing at the latest San Diego Dance Theatre's Trolley Dances. When she's not onstage Vanessa is a teaching artist at the San Diego Opera.

The San Diego Guild of Puppetry and Drummers Without Borders

The San Diego Guild of Puppetry offers a wide array of  high quality programs for all ages: performances, education outreach, camps, exhibits, giant puppet parades, Two are highlighted here today: a butterfly puppet making booth, as butterflies represent the spirits of those who have passed beyond this life, returning to celebrate Dia de los Muertos with their loved ones, and a giant puppet parade created by one of our collaborative, member troupes, Drummers Without Borders.

Soroya Rowley

Soroya Rowley has been practicing applied theatre in San Diego since 2008 and was a co-founder of the theatre company Circle Circle dot dot (CCdd) that produced original community-based theatre between 2011 and 2020. CCdd has been in residence at Arizona State University and the La Jolla PlayHouse. In 2021 Soroya earned a Master’s in Peace and Justice Studies and is now teaching at the University of San Diego and the Old Globe Theatre. Soroya is interested in how theatre can be applied to address conflicts in our society, particularly the intersecting global issues of racial justice, the climate crisis, and rising authoritarianism.

Markuz Rodríguez

A San Diego native, Markuz has been acting, writing and directing professionally for the last 16 years in this beautiful, dynamic community.  Favorite local credits include: Normal Heights (Loud Fridge Theatre Group); Witchland, Stage(Backyard Renaissance); Las Cuatro Milpas (Tuyo Theatre); All in the Timing, A Bright New Boise, Good People (Onstage Playhouse); Sweat, A Christmas Carol, Corridos REmix (San Diego Repertory Theatre); The Madres (Moxie Theatre); Under Construction (Sledgehammer Theatre); Speech & Debate (Diversionary Theatre); Seven Spots on the Sun (InnerMission Productions); Punks (Ion Theatre); Wally & His Lover Boys, Midnight Alley, Bedrooms & Boyfriends (Compulsion Dance & Theatre). Mr. Rodriguez has studied on-camera performance with Robert Dahey, commedia dell'arte with Gale McNeeley, and most recently completed two years of the Meisner technique at Studio 4/Playhouse West in North Hollywood, California, leading workshops in the technique at high schools throughout the county since 2017.  A teaching artist with Playwrights Project, he devotes much of his time to the development of new work for stage, film, television, radio/podcast, and the interwebz at large.  He is a longstanding member of Amigos del REP and a founding member of the Latinx theatre collective Camino23. Instagram: @markuz_ohreallyus.