A musical drama “The Cactus Chronicles,” the story of one family’s profound mark on the Garland community and its culture, will be performed live at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at Garland’s Plaza Theatre. The Plaza Theatre is located at 521 West State Street in downtown Garland.
With an original score and eight original songs, “The Cactus Chronicles” focuses on the family of Manuel and Maria Valle, who arrived in Garland almost a century ago as the town’s first Latino dwellers, with the Latino population here now having grown to 42%.
The musical is scheduled for the 90th birthday weekend of Garlandite Pascual Valle, the last remaining sibling of the Valles’ eight children. It is told through the challenges and victories of Pascual and his wife, Sylvia, as they experienced the community evolving in acceptance and
equity toward the Hispanic minority.
The musical is sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of Garland’s Historic Magic 11th Street, which in 2019 produced the sellout and award-winning musical drama “Becoming Garland Avenue” at the Plaza Theatre and in 2020 produced the “Becoming Garland Avenue—2020 Revival” movie.
Several actors will play their ancestors in the production. Among them is Lacey Valle, portraying her real-life great-grandmother, Maria Valle, who along with her husband spurred the family toward education, honor and service to country; Richard Valle, portraying his real-life father, Valle sibling Jesus Valle; and Hal Ticknor III, portraying his father, Hal T. Ticknor Jr., as a high-school student.
Tickets are on sale in person at the Granville Arts Box Office at 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland during office hours and performances, by calling 972-205-2790 or online at garlandartsboxoffice.com. All tickets are reserved and sell for $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets for the simultaneously live stream performance are available at The Cactus Chronicles.
The performance is funded in part by a grant from the Garland Cultural Arts Commission.