May 29-30, 2027
Saturday May 29, 2027 | 7:30PM
Sunday May 30, 2027 | 3:00PM
320 South Mission Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Run time: Approx. 1 hour 25 minutes with no intermission.
Presented in Spanish & English with dual-language supertitles.
Music by: José “Pepe” Martinez
Lyrics by: Leonard Foglia and José “Pepe” Martinez
Book by: Leonard Foglia
Featuring: Mariachi Los Camperos
World-famous Mariachi Los Camperos electrify the stage.
A genre-defying story of family, memory, and home.
Opera meets mariachi in Cruzar la cara de la luna (“To Cross the Face of the Moon”), a groundbreaking work that blends soaring classical voices with the vibrant sound of traditional Mexican mariachi. Presented at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, this emotionally powerful production tells a deeply human story of immigration, family, sacrifice, and love across generations.
Grammy Award–winning Mariachi Los Camperos, one of the world’s most celebrated mariachi groups, delivers an electrifying performance that brings authenticity, warmth, and cultural resonance to the stage. The sound of Mariachi Los Camperos intertwines seamlessly with operatic storytelling, creating an experience that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Sung in Spanish and English, Cruzar la cara de la luna follows a Mexican family separated by borders but bound by memory and music. As past and present collide, the opera explores what is gained, what is lost, and what is carried forward when generations cross cultures in search of a better life.
It’s opera for seasoned fans, first-timers, mariachi lovers, and anyone drawn to powerful storytelling told through music.
See Mariachi Los Camperos in action!
SYNOPSIS
As 75-year-old Laurentino lies gravely ill, his family gathers at his bedside, and memories of a life lived between Mexico and the United States begin to surface. Through music and memory, Laurentino revisits his youth in Mexico, his marriage to the spirited Renata, and the difficult decision to leave home in search of opportunity across the border—setting in motion years of separation, sacrifice, and longing for the family he left behind.
Spanning decades and generations, Cruzar la cara de la luna traces the emotional journey of a family divided by borders but bound by love. As past and present intertwine, long-buried truths emerge and estranged loved ones are given a chance at reconciliation. In the end, music and memory guide Laurentino home, reminding us that even across distance and time, family and heritage endure.
Plan Your Visit
Venue
Parking
320 South Mission Drive
The Mission Playhouse owns and operates its own private parking lot during events. The current parking fee is $15.00 per day (Visa & Mastercard accepted). Ample public parking is also located just north of The Playhouse, as well as street parking in The Mission District.
.avif)