Bob Baker created Fiesta more than fifty years ago as a “love letter to Los Angeles.” He took inspiration from his neighbors, as well as from his majority Latinx team of puppeteers, to craft a show that featured dancing cacti, brightly colored birds, and a traditional hat dance, among others. Over the decades, the Theater’s community has grown and changed– and the current staff of Bob Baker Marionette Theater is working to update the show to reflect the tremendous influence of Latin American voices, cultures, and traditions in the City of Los Angeles.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater Executive Director & Head Puppeteer Alex Evans is joined in this radio program by Alexandra Lippman, anthropologist, DJ, and visiting assistant professor at Pomona College. Together they explore the original soundtrack from Bob Baker’s “Fiesta,” examining its origins and exploring alternate sonic selections from the era in which the show was conceived, along with suggestions for the 2022 revitalization and presentation of an updated “Fiesta” show at the Theater.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.