A chihuahua with a big appetite and an even bigger imagination is taking center stage in San Antonio this week. Teatro Palo Alto is staging the world premiere of Bella Goes to Tamalli Land, a play based on a children's book written in San Antonio, following an energetic chihuahua named Bella whose love of food sends her tumbling into a dream world built entirely around tamales.
According to KSAT, the story follows Bella as she eats too much, gets a tummy ache and dreams her way into Tamalli Land. Once there, she picks up lessons about self-discipline and about sharing food with the people she loves, according to the same report. The outlet also captured rehearsal footage showing cast members sniffing out chicken, pork and sweet tamales as they brought the fantastical world to life.
From Page to Palo Alto Stage
The production comes from Teatro Palo Alto, the producing arm of the Palo Alto College drama program, per the Palo Alto College Performing Arts Center. Benito Lara Villarreal adapted the children's book for the stage, the college notes. The script didn't come together in isolation, either — during the spring semester, students and community members brought the story to life through a series of staged readings joined by the book's original author, and their ideas and reactions helped shape the script into its final form, according to the college.
Amyra Tristan and Emily Valladares-Orellana play Bella and Priscilla, respectively, KSAT reports. Performances are set for the Palo Alto Performing Arts Center, with 7:30 p.m. shows tonight and Saturday and 10 a.m. performances Monday through Thursday next week, continuing through Nov. 19.
A Real Chihuahua Behind the Story
The character of Bella traces back to a real dog. Author Priscilla Vargas was born and raised in San Antonio, according to News 4 San Antonio, and her chihuahua Bella lived to be 17 years old and went everywhere with her. The outlet reports that these adventures with Bella inspired Vargas to write her stories, turning a personal bond between a woman and her dog into a book — and now a play — that carries lessons about discipline, generosity and family for young audiences.
