HOUSTOn, TX. (www.meca-houston.org) - This will be the 23rd anniversary of Pancho Claus, which began in 1981. What started as a children's play has evolved into a separate 10-piece rhythm and blues show band and a two week toy cruise throughout the inner city. This does not include dozens of personal appearances Pancho Claus makes at area parades and Christmas happenings, including an appearance on the Bravo Network, a national article in the December Readers Digest, and appearances at the Alley Theatre,
George R. Brown Convention Center, Reliant Arena, Houston's Downtown Thanksgiving Day Parade, and numerous performances at area schools and community centers.
MECA, Union Pacific and the Alley Theatre will sponsor this year's Pancho Claus season.
One of the most interesting aspects of Pancho Claus 2004 is the return of Rodney Alejandro as musical composer for the revival of the play. In 1981, Rodney performed as an actor, creating the role of the young boy. Later he was instrumental in beginning the Pancho Claus Band. After graduating from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, he went on to graduate summa cum laude from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Living in San Francisco, Las Vegas and now Los Angeles, he has performed and collaborated with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Lauryn Hill. Other alumni of Pancho Claus include former president of Houston Community College, Abel Davila, and current City Council Member Carol Alvarado. Both were youthful performers in the Pancho Claus play.
Of course the best hip-hop and break-dancers in Houston and the nation will continue to be a part of all Pancho Claus performances. These young men and women have gone on worldwide tours to Japan, Russia, France, England and Spain. They travel as judges, exhibition performers and competitors in worldwide hip-hop contests. They have been showstoppers as part of the Pancho Claus Band and it was only natural to include them in the revival of the Pancho Claus play. Many are now members of local jazz or contemporary dance groups.
Richard Reyes, now living in Los Angeles, is collaborating there with Rodney Alejandro on the writing of the musical version of Pancho Claus and many of Houston's professional musicians are involved in the production.
Who: Pancho Claus
What: Band and Play
When and Where:
Wednesday Nov. 24, 2004 4:00 p.m. Settegast Park
Thursday Nov. 25, 2004 10:00 a.m. WaMu Thanksgiving Day Parade
Sunday Nov. 28, 2004 2:00 p.m. Latin Fantasy Car Show
Thursday Dec. 09, 2004 7:30 p.m. Alley Theatre (play only)
Friday Dec. 10, 2004 10:00 a.m. Alley Theatre (play only)
Friday Dec. 10, 2004 12:30 p.m. Alley Theatre (play only)
Friday Dec. 10, 2004 7:30 p.m. Alley Theatre (play only)
Saturday Dec. 11, 2004 2:30 p.m. Alley Theatre (play only)
Saturday Dec. 11, 2004 7:30 p.m. Alley Theatre (play only)
Sunday Dec. 12, 2004 2:30 p.m. Alley Theatre (play only)
Saturday Dec. 25, 2004 10:00 a.m. Latin Fantasy Christmas Toy Cruise
For more information, please visit www.panchoclaus.com.
