The World Premiere of Zapata: A Folklórico Superhero Musical was held at The Whisenhunt at Zach Theater, the longest-running professional theater in Texas. The family series musical is conceived, written, and composed by Jesse J. Sanchez, an award-winning composer-lyricist, writer, and music director for theater and opera. The musical ran from March 27th to 29th, with special events, and was well attended by a diverse audience. The musical will continue until April 26, 2026, in The Whisenhunt at Zach.
Developed in Austin at Zach Theater by Jesse J. Sanchez, this new musical shows us that when cultura y coraje collide, a hero rises… and todo es paw-sible. It is directed by Anna Skidis Vargas with musical direction by Benjamin Dia and choreography by Mayra Agis. The musical was originally commissioned by Zach Theater as part of the nationwide initiative by TYA/USA and the BIPOC Superhero Project, led by playwright and Zach alumnus José Casas. After receiving grant support from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), Zapata’s developmental journey included a reading at the 2024 Austin Latinx New Play Festival, participation in The Orchard Project, and selections for both the 2025 NAMT and 2025 Live & In Color.
Playwright Sanchez, via Zack Theater publicity, said, “I always dreamed of writing a superhero musical centered on folklórico dance and wondered, ‘Why not create a superhero story rooted in Latino heritage?’ Zapata became that answer.”
He continued, “This production blends puppetry, traditional folklórico dance, and Broadway-style songs (intertwined with Mariachi, Cumbia, Pop, & more) into a story that celebrates identity, family, and community. My hope is that audiences walk away feeling empowered, knowing that their culture is their superpower and that we can build a world where everyone belongs.”
In this musical adventure, Xochitl dreams of dancing folklórico con todo su corazón. But while her mamá wants her focused on fitting in and getting ahead, Xochitl feels the rhythm of something bigger calling her. When she’s suddenly swept into a misión fantástica, complete with a scheming army of gatos, a villain named Helado, and a talking chihuahua, she uncovers her true origin story: she holds the power of Zapata within her, ¡y nada la puede detener!
The cast features Lucero Garcia, Olivia Rodriguez, Michael Reyna, Zaid Ricarte, and Diana Alcaraz, each taking on multiple roles throughout the production.
The cast is small, yet mighty as they each interpret various characters in the production. The venue lends itself to the story’s flow, as each character comes in and out with a costume change to distinguish them within the story. The costume change is subtle yet distinctive, capturing the personality and the individual’s intent. Of note, the great musical selections enhance scenes that can be loving with certain characters to menacing with those who insist on securing what they want, even by force. The actors are very talented and have strong voices, some of whom sound like trained mariachi vocalists, and most are proudly dancing baile folklórico steps.
The production stands out for its use of stage lighting on the circular theater floor. It can almost feel like another character in the story, especially in the scene between adult siblings early in the story.
The additional production team includes scenic and video design by Max Estudillo Cantú; properties design by Brady Flock; costume design by David Arevalo; lighting design by AJ Rose; sound design by Johann Solo; stage manager Brennah Crowley-Galvin; and assistant stage manager Victoria Salazar.
Public performances beginning April 4th are on Saturdays at 11am and Sundays at 12:00pm through Sunday, April 26, 2026, with an ASL Performance at 12:00pm. Tickets start at $23 (youth) and $29 (adult) and are available at Zach’s box office by phone, 512-476-0541 x1, or online at zachtheater.org. For school performances, please contact 512-476-0541 x2. The Whisenhunt at Zach is located at 1510 Toomey Rd., Austin, TX 78704.
Age Recommendation: Ages 5 and up. Run Time: 60 minutes with no intermission.
Single tickets start at $23 (Youth) and $29 (Adult) and are available online at zachtheater.org or by phone at 512-476-0541 Tuesday through Friday, 12–5 p.m.
About Zach Theater
Zach Theater is the longest-running professional theater in Texas and one of the ten oldest in the country. Founded in 1921 as Austin Community Players, incorporated in 1932 as Austin Little Theater, and sometime later became Austin Civic Theater; it was renamed the Zachary Scott Theater Center in 1968. Zach is a nonprofit arts organization that creates theater, education, and training programs designed to ignite connections between artists, audiences, students, and the community. Learn more at zachtheater.org.
Source: Zach Theater, Jesse J. Sanchez