Somewhere Over the Border

“A new kind of magic... cleverly transforms this beloved tale into a different kind of American story: that of a young woman from El Salvador making the dangerous trek to the United States to build a better life in a new home... Though based on the real-life experiences of Quijada’s mother, its messages of hope, sacrifice and family are highly relatable... homes in on the human drama while retaining the magical qualities of Baum’s classic novel — a winning combination that proves to be deeply moving.” – Chicago Tribune

“Using the framework of The Wizard of Oz and a score (also composed by Quijada) that combines cumbia, hip-hop, Mexican boleros and pop, it’s an exhilarating, smart and soulful show that wears its parallels to L. Frank Baum’s tale well... Somewhere Over the Border offers one woman’s story, but the love and humor and warmth that Quijada brings to Reina’s tale stand as a defiant rejoinder to the xenophobic forces that dehumanize and criminalize Brown people at our border and in our own everyday towns.” – Chicago Reader

“A superior musical has taken the Chicago stage by storm! Teatro Vista’s Somewhere Over the Border is a world premiere triumph that combines a story about Latinx migrants who illegally travel northward to the United States and Dorothy’s dream-state in The Wizard of Oz. What an impressive and impeccable mashup!” – Around the Town Chicago

“Using an iconic American movie as a lens allows Quijada to make his mother’s story familiar and palatable to audiences who might otherwise have trouble seeing themselves in a teenage refugee’s story... The characters’ pain is acknowledged, but the show also gives them moments of joy, friendship and hope.” – Rochester City News



“Evocative... a charming, if sometimes harrowing, fairy tale... Quijada’s songs slide effortlessly from Latin and Central American styles into American musical theater, with occasional side trips into hip-hop.” – Syracuse.com