The Mariachi Ghost has been thrilling international audiences with their unique blend of Mexican folklore, prog-rock, and theatrical flair for close to 10 years. This Winnipeg-based band, composed of a supernatural and magical team of musicians and dancers have expanded their artistic vision to develop Rencor Vivo – a ghost story set in Old Mexico that brings the literary traditions of Magical Realism to life on stage in a unique musical theatre production.

Prismatic commissioned this new work as part of the Level Up Project and is proud to present the debut of Rencor Vivo at Prismatic 2018.

Created in the style of Magical Realism, Rencor Vivo is a high-energy combination of musical theatre, a ghost story, and cultural hypnosis. The production brings the sounds and atmosphere of 19th century Mexico to an English-speaking contemporary stage through this story about the rancor of life in a ghost town set in Old Mexico. Rencor Vivo honors the elements of Magical Realism and takes audiences through an epic landscape full of characters motivated by bitterness, hope, lost promise and dreams.

Written and conceived by The Mariachi Ghost’s lead singer, Jorge Requena Ramos, Rencor Vivo is influenced by Requena Ramos’ childhood in Mexico and by the Magical Realism literary traditions of Latin America. Works such as ‘Doña Bárbara’ by Rómulo Gallegos, ‘Pedro Páramo’ by Juan Rulfo, and ‘100 Years of Solitude’ by Gabriel García Márquez found their way into Requena Ramos’ hands and soul. He connected these stories to the family tales told by his Grandfather, which echo the characters and events in Rulfo’s ‘Pedro Páramo’ – which is not surprising given that Jorge Requena Ramos grew up close to the town where Rulfo’s work is set.