A RITCHIE VALENS MUSICAL: Plays in Process
Seattle Rep presents an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at their forthcoming production of A RITCHIE VALENS MUSICAL by Octavio Solis, David Hidalgo, and Louie Pérez, directed by Tony Taccone, on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 7:30 PM as part of their new Plays in Process series. Librarians at Seattle Public Library created this list of books, films and music to enhance your experience of this program.
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Retablos
Playwright Octavio Solis, who wrote the book for A RITCHIE VALENS MUSICAL, recalls his childhood growing up Latinx in the border town of El Paso, TX in this compelling and richly detailed memoir.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Complete Ritchie Valens
This CD collects all of the studio recordings Valens made before his untimely death at age 17, including "Donna," "Come On, Let's Go" and of course, "La Bamba."
Format: Music CD
Availability: Available
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Seattle Rep's website for A RITCHIE VALENS MUSICAL: Plays in Process
n 1958, Richard Steven Valenzuela, a teenager from the San Fernando Valley, went from obscurity to celebrity overnight. Within weeks of being discovered fronting his band at a high school dance party, he became rockstar and teen idol Ritchie Valens. And then on February 3, 1959, Valens and music icons Buddy Holly and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson tragically perished in a plane crash while on tour—later called “The Day the Music Died." Through Plays in Process, Seattle Rep will explore the creation of A RITCHIE VALENS MUSICAL, which imagines a world where the plane landed without incident and Valens’ skyrocketing career would have continued unabated. Get a glimpse at the early creative process behind this new world premiere musical following the life of a pioneer in Latin rock music.
View Seattle Rep's website for A RITCHIE VALENS MUSICAL: Plays in Process