ABSTRACT
This chapter, “Down the Yellow Brick Road to Querencia,” explores the genesis of the hit 2022 musical Somewhere Over the Border by writer, composer, and librettist Brian Quijada and its connection to the notion of utopia; the dramaturgical choices of music, history, and text; producing the rolling world premiere in two predominantly white institutions (PWIs), Syracuse Stage and Geva Theatre Company, and a culturally specific institution, Chicago’s Teatro Vista; and discusses the intended desires for the producing the musical. The musical is part biography, based on the undocumented immigration journey of the author’s mother, and also an adaptation, somewhat inspired by the American parable L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Kristen Leahey, the author of the article, served as the dramaturg for the musical, from the early drafts of Somewhere Over the Border to the three first productions.
