Pacific Crest honors artist’s work with “The Broken Column”

Art can be a vessel for many things. It can be a release from life’s daily challenges, a deep passion, or a way to express one’s innermost thoughts. 

For Pacific Crest, art — more specifically, artist Frida Kahlo’s work — provided a golden opportunity for the corps’ staff to step outside of their creative comfort zone and build a new visual identity.

“One thing that really gravitated me to the show title and theme was how can we make this visually and musically different than what you would expect,” artistic director Gabe Escobedo said. “I think we have a great design team, and I wanted to give them the opportunity to think outside the box and explore a thematic concept.”

Kahlo’s life and work, and the opportunity it provides for visual creativity, serves as the inspiration behind Pacific Crest’s 2024 production, “The Broken Column.” 

Born in the Coyoacan neighborhood of Mexico City, Kahlo was a painter whose work rose to worldwide prominence following her death in 1957. Kahlo began painting while recovering from an accident, which she used as a theme in many of her works. 

The show’s title is the exact title of one of her paintings where she visually depicts pain she experienced daily due to her spinal injury. The resilience Kahlo displayed throughout her life is what spoke to the staff of the Pacific Crest during the design process. 

“It’s powerful content in many ways,” program coordinator Dave McGrath said. “She didn’t have an easy life. She overcame a lot. It was just an inspiring concept, and it lent itself as we explored deeper.” 

Rather than detailing specific moments in Kahlo’s life, “The Broken Column” will explore the different emotions she felt during important life events. The opener features musical selections like John Adams’ “Harmonielehre” and “California Counterpoint” by Cindy McTee. Drawing from Kahlo’s tragic accident, drum corps fans can expect a dark mood with the corps’ opener. 

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Introduction

Benediction and Dream
by Elliot Goldenthal

Part I

Burning Bed
by Elliot Goldenthal

Harmonielehre
by John Adams

California Counterpoint: The Twittering Machine
by Cindy McTee

Part II

Ramalama Bang Bang
by Matthew John Herbert, Roisin Murphy

Part III

Passage
by Cynthia Yih Shih

Part IV

...And the Mountains Rising Nowhere
by Joseph Schwantner

Part V

Harmonielehre
by John Adams

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The production then flips the switch and presents a more whimsical second movement featuring “Ramalama Bang Bang,” which McGrath thinks will “turn into one of the audience’s favorites.”

Vienna Teng’s “Passage” is this year’s ballad, which was selected due to how the song mirrored the events of Kahlo’s later life. Pacific Crest also utilized Teng’s “Watershed“ in 2023 as the ballad movement for its production, “Goddess.”

“It emotionally felt like it fit perfectly with the arch of her timeline and the struggles that were thrown her way,” McGrath said. 

The final movements of the show, in McGrath’s words, grow dark and angular with Joseph Schwantner’s “...And The Mountains Rising Nowhere,” but ultimately circle back to the first movement and connect the dark musical themes of the show with a more uplifting mood. 

“There’s an arc and a connection to the way the music flows that will make it a very accessible and enjoyable journey for the audiences,” McGrath said. 

Visually, “The Broken Column” will pull inspiration from choreographer Martha Graham’s “Appalachian Spring.” Taking place in 19th century Pennsylvania, the ballet’s main set piece was a home with walls that look similar to picture frames. In addition to that, Pacific Crest will incorporate easter eggs from Kahlo’s artwork. 

The 2023 season was a major leap forward competitively for Pacific Crest, but it was also the first step in finding the corps’ identity from a design standpoint under the leadership of a new creative team. With a year of working together under their belt, the group found itself ready for a fresh challenge in 2024. 

“We’re starting to forge an identity as a team now, and we wanted to challenge ourselves and the performers,” McGrath said. “We wanted the performers to feel like, ‘Wow, we dangled the carrot pretty far.’ They learned a lot and they grew a lot.” 

Pacific Crest will have the chance to put its talents on display for drum corps audiences across the country starting June 28 in Walnut, California. 

View Pacific Crest's 2024 Tour Schedule