Bringing a Day of the Dead celebration to life with Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure

What is Day of the Dead?

¡Feliz Día de Muertos! Despite its name, it’s a joyful occasion. Typically taking place on November 1 and 2, the holiday is a celebration of life for family members and friends who have died. It combines Indigenous Mexican traditions with later cultural influences, creating a time for remembrance, storytelling, food, music, and community. Families often build ofrendas, or altars, decorated with photographs, candles, marigolds, sugar skulls, and favorite foods of their loved ones.

Rather than focusing on loss, Día de Muertos celebrates the enduring bonds between generations and the belief that memories keep loved ones close. Actress Yuliana Sleme, who plays Vita in Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure, says, “When we celebrate Day of the Dead — I know that sounds scary — but it’s more about celebrating the life that was lived. It’s not just mourning. It’s a festivity that encompasses joy, and remembrance, and even silliness with your family and community.”

What is Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure?

Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure is a touring bilingual/bicultural musical for young audiences and families that uses traditional regional music and dance from Mexico to tell the story of 12-year-old Vita Flores.

Vita thinks her family has gone loco planning a celebration for deceased loved ones. Why throw a party for the dead? But when a spirited candy skeleton suddenly springs to life, Vita finds herself on a magical, musical journey to unravel the true meaning of Día de Muertos. With her skeletal new friend, Sugar Skull, Vita dances with ancient ancestors, sings with a sorrowful sorceress, escapes the trickster Chaneques, and even meets the famous Catrina Calavera. But can this clever youth gather the missing pieces needed for her family ofrenda before it’s too late?

The origin story: From passion project to national tour

The roots of SUGAR SKULL! are just as inspiring as the story it tells. The production was developed by Rhythm of the Arts, Gregory Van Acker, Sinuhé Padilla, and Elena Aráoz, with Mexico Beyond Mariachi, a cultural organization dedicated to sharing authentic Mexican music and traditions with audiences of all ages.

Development began in New York City in November 2017, when the group of artists recognized a need for stories that celebrated Mexican culture. SUGAR SKULL! successfully completed its inaugural two-week, nine-city tour in the fall of 2018. It resonated so much that the team launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to raise the money to take it on a wider tour. In 2019, the tour exploded into a 30 city, 13 state cross country tour. Audiences were craving culturally authentic storytelling, and the show delivered.

In their Kickstarter project, the team said: “We wanted to create a narrative that would counter that negativity by taking audiences on a journey into the vivid richness of Mexican culture, all while featuring a strong brown girl on a journey of self-discovery! We also wanted to lovingly address the topics of childhood grief and loss with great tenderness. In short, a show about death that jubilates in the celebration of life.”

Today, the show continues that mission by helping audiences discover the history, symbolism, and spirit behind one of Mexico’s most beloved celebrations, now as a national touring experience that introduces audiences across the country to the rich traditions of Día de Muertos through live performance.

What can audiences expect?

True to the Mexico Beyond Mariachi mission, most of the music and dance in SUGAR SKULL!  goes outside the popular Mexican stereotype. Many of these originate from the blend of indigenous, African, and European traditions that weave the story of the Mexican experience.

Each stop on Sugar Skull and Vita’s journey takes them deeper into an authentic experience that can leave audiences with a new appreciation for the holiday and its cultural traditions. The show uses live music, with instruments authentic to each dance and geographical area represented.

When Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure visits the Orpheum Theater on October 14, 2026, audiences can come early for family-friendly activities in the lobby. The runtime of the show is approximately 75 minutes. Tickets start at $28.

You can also start the fun the day before on October 13 for Mexico Beyond Mariachi: Music & Dance with Sugar Skull! This Choose-What-You-Pay workshop invites community members of all ages to experience the music and dance of Mexico through an interactive session with the touring artists.

FAQs

Are there any age restrictions for Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure or its connected community event, Mexico Beyond Mariachi: Music & Dance with Sugar Skull!

These events are for all ages and family-friendly.

How long is Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure?

Approximately 75 minutes.

What free community events are connected?

Mexico Beyond Mariachi: Music & Dance with Sugar Skull! is part of Omaha Performing Arts Voices AMPLIFIED! series. It’s an opportunity for the organization behind SUGAR SKULL! to share their mission with Omaha audiences as they engage and educate through authentic Mexican music, dance, and storytelling.