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Malena Cano, 'La Perla,' steps down after 20 years of producing musical '¡Viva Mexico!' [El Paso Times, Texas](El Paso Times (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 21--"¡Viva Mexico!" represents the heart and soul of Malena Cano's musical legacy. " '¡Viva Mexico!' is my baby," she says. "The culture of Mexico is so rich. "But I would like to tackle something different." Cano is stepping down, saying adios after 20 years of producing and directing "¡Viva Mexico!," the popular seasonal musical tracing more than 500 years of Mexican history and culture. She will stage "¡Viva Mexico!," with a cast of more than 60 singers, musicians and dancers, a final time Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-28, at the Chamizal National Memorial Theater. Cano has spent more than 50 years as a ranchera singer on stages across the United States and Mexico. She also acts and teaches on the side and supports a number of causes. Over the years, Cano has said, she discovered that singing in front of a room full of microphones and recording equipment is not the same as performing in front of a live audience. "I feed from the audience, from the energy of the people," Cano said. "I can actually feel the heat of the people listening to me. The bigger the audience, the more comfortable I feel." Best known by her stage name "La Perla," Cano is among the most popular mariachi vocalists in the El Paso-Juárez area. She is enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute's national archives as a Texas folk artist and has performed on the same bill over the years with giants in the Spanish-language music industry: Cornelio Reyna, Cuco Sanchez, Vikki Carr, Lucha Villa, Vicente Fernandez, Rosenda Bernal and others. Cano has "retired" and returned to the stage many times in the past. This time, she hopes to continue spreading her passion for Mexican culture and traditions with schoolchildren. "I'd like to try and bring something else to people, perhaps prepare something still about Mexico but different," Cano said. Jose Manuel Lara, one of the soloists in the 2 1/2 -hour show, has been associated with Cano and the production for nine years. "I have witnessed how she, supported by her husband, Mario, has personified professionalism and total dedication to its production," Lara said. "Her goal has always been, as it was with her mentor Magda Garcia, to give the most authentic representation of Mexican history so that the public may experience at least a fundamental sense of where we, Hispanics, came from -- our roots." Lara applauded Cano for the countless hours she has spent on research to make sure the musical comes across as an authentic representation of Mexican history. "One regret that I, and most of the cast have, is that we were not involved in this great production from its inception. The greatest regret is that it is coming to an end," Lara said. "After this year, I and most of the cast will keep our cell phones close by in the hope that by some miracle we receive a call from Mrs. Cano saying she has decided to continue and not let it die just yet." Cano and the late Magda Garcia, a muralist, singer and composer, started "¡Viva Mexico!" after both participated in a revival of the musical show "Revolucion" at the Chamizal. Garcia was the production's first artistic and musical director. Cano often says "Viva Mexico!" emerged after one of her daughters came home from school and asked her to explain Cinco de Mayo, the celebration of a famous Mexican battle. "Sad to say but I didn't know. I was embarrassed that I didn't know," she said. Lilly Jacquez, an El Paso small business owner, started supporting the musical production in 2004 and later also donated to Cano's theatrical productions. At one point, her son and daughter participated in "¡Viva Mexico!" as performers in Arturo Guerrero's folklorico group. Jacquez and others within Cano's circle of friends convinced her to keep going when she first started talking about retiring the show three years ago. "Malena has this passion within her and uses it in acting and singing to translate a story con todo corazon y con mucho amor," she said. "She writes and prepares the scripts, helps with designing costumes, and selects the music." Jacquez noticed that Cano was becoming increasingly stressed with the responsibility of staging the production every September. She even suggested that Cano turn over the production to a nonprofit group. "Malena has come to accept that she can no longer continue this show on her own," Jacquez said. "Malena has not been able to find anyone that has the passion nor the determination to continue with '¡Viva Mexico!' Unless someone or some group in this field of talent is willing to step into Malena's heels, we will suffer an immense loss." Jacquez laments that losing the musical production would be a heartbreaking loss not only to the current El Paso-Juárez community but also to future generations. "Malena made '¡Viva Mexico!' a traditional event for the whole family. It would have us smiling, laughing and crying while learning about our history," she said. "Those that have attended her musical production on our Mexican culture have been truly blessed." Cano sometimes is reluctant to talk about her numerous accomplishments in music and Spanish-language theater. So she often deflects questions to her husband, Mario, who has supported her lifetime devotion to music and theater, often behind the scenes as stage manager. "I've always loved Mexico, and its music and traditions," she said. "I want to be remembered for '¡Viva Mexico' as a singer, actress and director." After all these years spent entertaining people in theatrical and musical productions, Cano is convinced that someone else could probably take over the musical -- with one glaring exception. "It's going to be hard to find someone with the passion I had for '¡Viva Mexico!,' " she said. Ramón Rentería may be reached at 546-6146. Make plans What: El Paso singer Malena Cano will perform in her final production of the musical "¡Viva Mexico!" When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26-28. Where: Chamizal National Memorial Theater, 800 S. San Marcial. How much: $12. Tickets may be bought in advance at All That Music & Video, 6800 Gateway West; Andale Restaurant and Cantina, 9301 Gateway West; Casa Blanca Flowers & Gifts, 3500 N. Mesa; and CheeZies Pizza, 12379 Edgemere and 12102 Montwood. Information: 772-3905, 329-7774 or 227-1609. ___ (c)2014 the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) Visit the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) at www.elpasotimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |