Since its initial release into theaters two years ago, Disney/Pixar’s Coco has worked its endless charm on audiences across the globe, bringing the wonder and reverence of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos to life (and afterlife) with memorable characters and catchy tunes.
And on Friday and Saturday of this past weekend at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, a cast of Latin-American superstars came together with a live orchestra to perform the music of Coco live in concert— along with numerous other toe-tapping hits– in coordination with the movie as it played on three large screens above the stage.
Multi-instrumentalist Rudy Mancuso opened the show with a chilling rendition of “Remember Me” on guitar, keyboard, drums, and other musical implements.
Next, a cavalcade of performers in Dia de Muertos costumes accompanied giant colorful puppets of Pepita and Dante from the side of the stands up to the stage.
Our hosts for the evening were Coco star Benjamin Bratt (voice of Ernesto de la Cruz) and Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria.
Once the movie got rolling, Bratt returned to the stage to sing “Remember Me” while Miguel watched clips of Ernesto de la Cruz in his secret attic hideaway.
During the film, the Hollywood Bowl’s enormous curved proscenium was illuminated by immersive projection effects that corresponded with each location in the story.
When it came time for the scene where Hector and Miguel visit Chicharrón, Rudy Mancuso came back out to perform the humorous “Everyone Knows Juanita.”
And though the original voice of Miguel, Anthony Gonzalez, has outgrown the role, his younger brother Alex was able to step in to take over the part on stage, delivering fantastic takes on the songs “Un Poco Loco” and “The World Es Mi Familia.”
Other performers during the evening included Jaime Camil (Jane the Virgin), musicians Natalia Jimenez and Carlos Rivera, social media personality Lele Pons, frequent Disney collaborators Mariachi Divas, and the incredibly talented voice of Mamá Imedla Alanna Ubach. And after the movie ended, the participants came back out for an encore of other recognizable songs from Latino culture.
Overall, it was a wonderful night out at the Hollywood Bowl in celebration of one of Pixar’s newest (but already immeasurably beloved) additions to its unparalleled filmography.
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