LA BAMBA Screens at The Granada Theatre

"Cine en Domingo" Film Series presents La Bamba on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 3:00 pm. A program of The Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement, "Cine en Domingo" films are presented in Spanish with English subtitles. Assemblymember Monique Limón and actor Andy Valdez will host a compelling dialogue discussing important thematic elements of La Bamba, the 1987 film that tells the story of singer Ritchie Valens and his rise to fame with his chart-toping hit, "La Bamba." The "Cine en Domingo" series as a whole showcases both classic and contemporary Spanish language films, with compelling titles chosen to engage the Latino community and all who love this genre of filmmaking.

La Bamba follows the life of Chicano rock 'n' roll star Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips) as he rises to fame in the 50's. Valens' life changes after his hit songs "La Bamba" and "Donna" reach the top of the Billboard charts, and he must adapt to his new lifestyle. The film depicts the effect Valens' career had on the lives of his half-brother Bob Morales, his girlfriend Donna Ludwig and the rest of his family, until his tragic and untimely death in 1959. In 2017, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. "La Bamba" proved to be Valens' most influential recording, not only by becoming a pop chart hit sung entirely in Spanish, but also because of its successful blending of traditional Latin American music with rock. La Bamba is rated PG-13 and has a run time of one hour and 48 minutes.

Assemblymember Monique Limón and local media personality Andy Valdez will host a pre-screening conversation with the audience. Assemblymember Limón was elected to the Assembly in November 2016 and represents the 37th district. Along with partnering with the Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement, she works continuously to serve the Santa Barbara community as an educator, leader, and advocate for causes that advance the quality of life for the community. Actor and media personality Andy Valdez began his successful career in Spanish television and film at a very young age, and continues today to serve as a leader in the industry.

A Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement initiative, "Cine en Domingo" features both classic and contemporary Spanish language films from Latin America. Each "Cine en Domingo" screening also features a captivating dialogue between Assemblymember Monique Limón and local media personality Andy Valdez about the films' themes prior to the screenings. These pre-screening conversations are conducted in Spanish. "Cine en Domingo" films are presented in Spanish with English subtitles.

Tickets are $10 or $20 (loge) and are available through The Granada Theatre's Box Office - please click here to purchase or call the Box Office at (805) 899-2222.

The learn more about the Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement events and opportunities, please contact David Grossman, Director of Community Engagement, at (805) 899-3000 or DGrossman@granadasb.org.

To learn more about how to support The Granada Theatre, please contact Hayley Firestone Jessup, Vice President for Advancement, at 805-899-3000 or hjessup@granadasb.org. For more information, please visit www.granadasb.org.

About The Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement

The Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement, a program of the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts, identifies unmet community needs related to the performing arts and by appropriate fulfillment of those needs, ensures the community is actively engaged with, and inspired by, The Granada Theatre.

Irma and Morrie Jurkowitz, one-time owners of The Granada Theatre and Tower, established the Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement at the SBCPA in honor of their daughter and grandson, Debbie and Michael Nesbit, beloved mother and son who loved the performing arts and music education.

About The Granada Theatre

The Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts (SBCPA), a privately-funded 501(c)(3) corporation established in 1983, is dedicated to providing best-in-class production, sales and administrative support to arts organizations from throughout the Santa Barbara region, including its Historic Theatre District partners (Lobero Theatre and the New Vic Theatre) as well as its eight resident companies (CAMA, Music Academy of the West, Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet, Theater League and UCSB Arts & Lectures).

The SBCPA's most visible service is operation of The Granada Theatre. Purchased by the SBCPA in 2003, restored and reopened in 2008, The Granada Theatre has state-of-the-art electrical, sound, lighting and fly systems, large and up-to-date dressing rooms, as well as contemporary audience amenities. By providing a world-class venue with skilled house management staff, production staff, marketing and ticketing services staff, the SBCPA is making it possible for many of Santa Barbara's finest performing arts organizations to present their programs with the highest level of contemporary production support and audience comfort. For more information please visit www.granadasb.org.