Monarch: A Mexican-American Musical Makes a Poignant and Timely Entry Into Public Consciousness

The Monarch Butterfly is known for its autumnal instinctive migration between the Northern United States and Mexico, during which it travels thousands of miles. The butterfly is also the embodiment of change and transformation, and thus the perfect symbol for the journey of Luis, the hero of Monarch: A Mexican-American Musical.

The handyman is a “Luis of All Trades,” beloved by the community. But, he is also an undocumented immigrant, making him a target in turbulent times. Officer Castelo of ICE makes it his life’s obsession to pursue Luis, echoing the arc of the iconic Inspector Javert of Les Misérables. Luis is forced to seek sanctuary in a local church where he relates the story of his life. We are introduced to his daughter Ana (who sings “Dreamer”), who came to America as an infant and is now 20 when circumstances grow grim for the dreamer family; and his beloved wife Amanda, who passed before Luis had left Mexico but is still a powerful presence in his life. The titular Monarch (The Nagual, meaning Spirit or Shaman) is the narrator, relating the story of the butterfly’s journey while Luis’ story unfolds in song. “The Monarch, the most amazing creature, my darling,” he croons. “That’s what you are.”

In a time when the fate of the undocumented Dreamer is in considerable danger, Monarch reminds us that these are human beings who are only looking for a better life, as is the story of all who came to America since it was founded centuries ago; our ancestors were all once Luis.

As crafted by Alfonso Molina (music, lyrics and book) and Mayu Molina Lehmann (lyrics and book), the score runs the gamut of musical styles, from the Leonard Bernstein-recalling piano Overture to the operatic tones of the solo numbers, to the classic Broadway of the rousing ensemble pieces. The lyrics are direct and necessarily unsubtle in depicting the points-of-view of Luis’ hopeful family, as well as the “only following the law” Castelo. The production is a testament to the power of words and music to tell the story of the human experience, in a desperate time when we need creative activist voices more than ever.

Monarch boasts a cast of 13 and a total of 51 musical pieces over two acts, as presented at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in December 2023. An abridged reading was performed at Open Jar Studios in NYC in November 2024.