In the new musical ‘Somewhere Over the Border’ by Teatro Vista, the ‘Wizard of Oz’ story gets a new kind of magic – Chicago Tribune

Dorothy’s fantastical journey down the Yellow Brick Road to find her way home in L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” may be one of the most quintessentially American stories. “Somewhere Over the Border,” a new musical now in its world premiere at Teatro Vista, cleverly transforms this beloved tale into a different kind of American story: that of a young woman from El Salvador making the dangerous trek to the United States to build a better life in a new home.

Brian Quijada, who wrote the book, lyrics and music and stars as the Narrator, drew inspiration from his mother’s own experience of immigrating to the U.S. in the 1970s. Heartwarming and poignant, his work questions the idea of the American dream while honoring those who sacrifice everything to pursue it and recognizing the heartache of family members who live thousands of miles apart.

American discourse on the topic of immigration is too often dehumanizing, whether through racist language or bad-faith arguments such as the recent, misleading claims that migrant children are being prioritized over citizens in the ongoing baby formula shortage. The beauty and necessity of works like “Somewhere Over the Border” lie in their power to draw audiences into a personal story, moving them emotionally and exploring the complexity of human experience in ways that political headlines cannot capture.

Quijada’s musical, directed by Denise Yvette Serna, centers on 17-year-old Reina (the charming Gabriela Moscoso), a new mother to a baby boy, Fernando. Living in Chanmico, El Salvador, with her older brother (Tommy Rivera-Vega) and their single mother, Julia (Claudia Quesada), it becomes increasingly difficult to make ends meet as civil unrest grips the country and war looms. When a neighbor returns from visiting her daughter’s family and tells Reina of their happy life in California, she begins to dream of making her own way to the U.S.

Reina boards a northbound bus and leaves her infant son, for whom the trip is too dangerous, in the care of her unsuspecting mother, intending to return for him as soon as possible. On her journey through Guatemala and Mexico, she meets three new friends who offer hilarious, fresh takes on Dorothy’s famous companions.

Floppy-limbed and sweet-tempered Cruz (Tommy Rivera-Vega) is a banana farmer who longs to earn a degree in agricultural science. Silvano (Andrés Enriquez), the owner of a dilapidated inn whose wife and kids left him to move to America, spends his days drinking to numb his broken heart. Leona (Amanda Raquel Martinez), a Catholic nun, dreams of becoming a rock star but has never had the courage to leave the convent. This unlikely quartet teams up to find the wizard figure — in this version, a notorious human smuggler called El Gran Coyote de Tijuana — who arranges for them to cross the border after a terrifying trip over the desert on foot.

Meanwhile back in El Salvador, Julia cares for her young grandson and prays for God to bring her daughter home safely. (The influence of Catholicism in Central America is repeatedly referenced.) As Reina struggles to get by doing menial jobs in her new country, Julia’s storyline exposes another frayed edge of the American dream: for every dreamer who leaves for a better life, loved ones are left behind to hold things together at home.

The cast members, all talented singers, bring passion and pathos to Quijada’s lively score, which draws on influences ranging from cumbia and Mexican mariachi boleros to American rock and hip hop. A three-piece band, joined by the composer on guitar and vocals, plays center stage throughout. I suspect most audience members found themselves tapping their feet to the music or swaying along to Kasey Alfonso’s engaging choreography.

Quijada’s lyrics are also highly effective, lending the characters an appealing emotional openness. In the first number and its reprise at the end, the lyrics emphasize the importance of telling the stories of “extraordinary, everyday people” like Reina. This song also makes the point that anyone, anywhere, could be forcibly displaced or feel the need to emigrate someday. Civil unrest and war can happen in the most unexpected times and places, as the world news daily reminds us.

This argument against the othering of immigrants establishes one of the musical’s most compelling themes: that Reina’s tale is both specific and universal. Though based on the real-life experiences of Quijada’s mother, its messages of hope, sacrifice and family are highly relatable. The politics are less explicit than one might expect in a show about immigration; Quijada’s writing is rarely didactic. A gifted storyteller, he homes in on the human drama while retaining the magical qualities of Baum’s classic novel — a winning combination that proves to be deeply moving.

Review: “Somewhere Over the Border”

When: Through June 12

Where: Teatro Vista at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Rd.

Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Tickets: $15-$49.50 at teatrovista.org