Inspired by a newspaper article detailing a mysterious discovery inside the womb of an elderly woman, MUMMIFIED DEER is a haunting and moving tale of 84-year-old Mama Chu, whose story spans nearly a century of Mexican and Californian history. The play weaves together secrets, ancestral memory, trauma, and the spirit world, carrying audiences into the ancient Yaqui villages of the Sonoran Desert in northern Mexico. As long-buried truths come to light, Mama Chu’s family must confront its past to find healing.
CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNING: This production contains strong language and mature themes. Mentions of sexual violence, sexual assault, genocide, and self-harm. Please be advised.
“Valdez is one of those rare writers who can give a political history lesson and infuse it with such unpretentious conviction that it works as art.” – Variety
El Teatro Campesino Playhouse Performance Dates
PREVIEWS:
-
Friday, August 14, 2026 – 8pm
Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 2pm
PREVIEW PRICES
ALL TICKETS: $17.85
(price include fees)
PERFORMANCES:
-
Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 8pm
Sunday, August 16, 2026 – 2pm
Friday, August 21, 2026 – 8pm
Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 2pm
Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 8pm
Sunday, August 23, 2026 – 2pm
Friday, August 28, 2026 – 8pm
Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 2pm
Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 8pm
Sunday, August 30, 2026 – 2pm
PERFORMANCE PRICES
- PREFERRED SEATING $55.20
- (seated in first 3 rows + one drink)
- ADULTS: $39.19
- SENIOR (60+): $33.85
- STUDENTS (w/ID): $28.52
- CHILD (3-12yrs): $17.85
Price includes fees. Tickets purchased at the door or over the phone are still subject to fees
Discounts available for Groups of 10 or more. Not applicable on Previews, Preferred Seating, or 8/29 & 8/30 Matinees.
Call the ETC Box Office for more information M-F 12pm-5pm (831) 623-2444.
The Cast
Katrina Valdez
Julio Gonzalez
Yatzil Ruiz
Ramon Rios
Anthony Gutierrez
Maddie Jeul Farias
Sammy Cardoza
Michael Chemers
Jaime Garcia
Isabel Cruz
Kassandra Zarate
The Creative Team
PLAYWRIGHT — LUIS VALDEZ
DIRECTOR — KINAN VALDEZ*
COMPOSERS — DANIEL E. VALDEZ & EMILIANO VALDEZ
COSTUME DESIGNERS — HEATHER MURILLO & ZOA LOPEZ
SCENIC & LIGHTING DESIGN — PAUL SKELTON
SOUND DESIGN — DANTE CARBALLO
**The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union
The Production Team
PRODUCER — CHRISTY SANDOVAL
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER — NOEMI ROMERO
MASTER STAGE MANAGER — DAVID ALVAREZ
LIGHT BOARD OP — RYAN TERRY
SOUND OP — TIZOC RAMIREZ MARQUEZ
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