Sara Guerrero

What is magic? Are we magic? And if so, how do we hold it? In this part biographical, part magic, love letter to a Pocha-Chicana-Latina, coming-of-age time of roller-skating, family, friendships, sex, love, abortion, self-discoveries, how does one keep and find their magic? –all under the shadow of "The Magic Kingdom," (or “The Tragic Kingdom”) in central Orange County, California in the summer of 1994.

An excerpt from Guerrero’s one woman show "Calzones Cagados," a coming of age tale of young Estrellita desperately searching for her missing “Johnnie,” her beloved purple bike. Through the tale’s twist and turns much is revealed of Estrellita, her hand-me-down saggy ​chonies​, a Mexican "Yoda" grandma, a homemade merkin, a secret addiction, marriage and divorce, weekends with dad, and much disappointment that all add up to a lot of family dysFUNction.

“One dark night, Kiki, a resident of Pleasure Trails Senior Living Complex, is confronted about the whereabouts of a certain Mr. Tinkles. “

"The result blends oral and journalistic history, original dialogue, a fourth wall-breaking narrator, mariachi, and original (even a dash of punk) and classical music that doesn’t underscore so much as stop the narrative flow as each piece is introduced in its historical context. But all of it reinforces a narrative throughline of people standing together to get shit done; although marginalized and maligned for much of Anaheim’s history, the contributions of Mexican Americans make Mouse Town far more Brown Town. It’s a decidedly more truthful, historically based Our Town. " - JOEL BEERS, OCTOBER 3, 2019, OC WEEKLY

“Canto de Anaheim” is a multi-disciplinary look at the city’s past told through the stories of its unsung heroes, of several immigrants from Anaheim’s past and present who have had a substantial impact on their community...
Guerrero, who is taking on the gargantuan task of pulling it all together..."
- By PETER LEFEVRE August 23, 2019, VOICE OF OC

"It’s a great play, and the epitome of a collaboration: I did nearly all the research, Sara Guerrero of Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble [and did more research] wrote the play, and Long Beach Community Band head Greg Flores was guest conductor.
Sara Guerrero, a personal friend from years back, is turning into Orange County’s August Wilson" - Gustavo Arellano’s Weekly, Canto LXXVIII: Get Off Book

Commissioned under the Pacific Symphony and City of Anaheim.

"Guerrero’s storyline centers around a boy and girl who lose their aunt to a fatal disease and start to build an altar to remember her. Their mother, who is still grieving, is not ready to participate. Eventually, her children convince her to bring her sister back to celebrate the holiday with them.

“I love to be able to share this story,” said Guerrero, a theater artist, teacher, founder of Breath of Fire Latina Theatre Ensemble and part of the artist-in-residence program at CSUF’s Grand Central Art Center. “Growing up I didn’t celebrate this holiday. It is only as an adult that I came into this holiday and I write it from that perspective.” - By SUSAN GILL VARDON, The Orange County Register

A commission under the Pacific Symphony