Tales of Tila, the New and Original Musical!

  This is the one-woman musical I began writing twenty years ago, after finding and reading my Grandma Tila Miera Trujillo’s autobiography.  Her story about her difficulties making the daily tortillas, as her parents and older brothers labored in the fields nine miles away from Taos, and praying in the cornfield for help captivated me.  I knew I had to do something creative with it.  Once I resumed writing the script and began composing the music, the Magic began.

In 2016, after producing my third CD of original music, I asked myself, “What shall I do next?” I then answered myself, “Finish writing the Tortilla Tale!”, which was what I had called this play for two decades. I had to find the script first, because it had been several moves and computers ago that I’d written it.  It took me weeks to find it, and once I did,  then every month , I’d research and gather notes from earlier interviews with my Mom, Nora Trujillo Chatwin, about her experiences growing up in Taos, NM.  I found a twenty year old transcription of  what I’d considered to be the juicier parts of what my Grandma Tila and Grandpa Trujillo had written to each other in the Ledger.  I wish I’d transcribed more back then, because by 2016 and 2017, the writing had seriously faded.  I own a digital copy of this priceless book, and am sworn to secrecy as to the location of the hard copy.

After completing the recording of Tales of Tila and producing it on a double CD set, as well as distributing it digitally online through various retail sources, I wondered what else to do with it.  My guitar teacher, Lisle Crowley, suggested I do a podcast with the seven episodes.  What a great suggestion, Lisle!  Thank you!

This past January, I had the great privilege to share the stage with veteran and renowned film actor, Wilford Brimley, in the Stage Door production of Harvey.  Wilford played the part of Elwood P. Dowd, the gentleman whose best friend is a six foot tall invisible rabbit named Harvey.  I played Veta Simmons, Elwood’s sister, who tries to commit her brother into a sanitarium, and is inadvertently committed there instead. If you’ve seen the movie, Jimmy Stewart plays the part of Elwood.

At rehearsal, Wilford would tell stories and recite cowboy poetry.  We learned that he’d owned a ranch and had lived in New Mexico, just east of where I’d grown up.  It took me awhile to gather up the courage to ask if he’d be interested in listening to my play, as it was set in northern New Mexico the first half of the 20th century.  He’d said, “Of course, I’m interested. I’ll listen to it.”  He listened, fell in love with the everyday truth in the stories, and told me, “I’m going to put you on the stage, and  I’ll produce it for you.”

So every few weeks, I visit Wilford and Beverly Brimley in their beautiful home.  They are gracious hosts and I really love our visits.

This production of Tales of Tila will run two nights in October at the Electric Theatre, on Tabernacle Street in St. George, UT,  Friday the 12th, and Saturday the 13th.  7:30 pm. The seating is not assigned, and tickets are available online at

showtix4u.com

Ticket price is $18 adults,  $15 seniors over 60, military, and children 18 and under.

The show length is 80 minutes, not including intermission.

Local artist, Miriam Rawson has illustrated each of the seven scenes, and the paintings will be on exhibit in the lobby of the Electric Theatre.  Miriam grew up in southern Colorado, associated with my sister and brother in their teen years, and knew my Trujillo grandparents.

This is a one-woman musical.  I wrote 23 songs to move the stories along. My good friend, Lauretta Swansborough is directing me. John Houston a multi talented musician and recording engineer has made this sound track beautiful.  Guitarist, Lisle Crowley contributed his classical styling, Gordon Strang added percussion excellence, and Ryan Tilby added cultural nuance with the bouzouki and mandolin.