Bonitafest Melodrama Returns for Annual Production Honoring South Bay History

South County’s Bonitafest Melodrama returns for its 47th annual production with “Thin Skins and Hayseeds,” a musical comedy which was first produced in 1978, now freshened up and still rich with South Bay history.

The musical presents the true story of the Sweetwater Valley Flood of 1916 with a side of poetic license, including a touch of “Romeo and Juliet.”

“The flooding of the Sweetwater and Otay Valleys in January 1916 remain the most remarkable historical events of this region,” said Max Branscomb, Bonitafest Melodrama’s artistic director and journalism professor at Southwestern College.

“Weeks of epic rain caused the Sweetwater Dam to wash out and the Otay Dam to fail. Hundreds of people were killed and everything in the path of the water was destroyed.”

Though the backdrop of the story was a dark moment in South County history, the production is driven by catchy songs and humor, said Branscomb.

“It is definitely a fun family show that we hope will leave our audiences humming the tunes and curious about our region’s amazing history,” said Branscomb.

The Bonitafest Melodrama debuted in 1978 and is now San Diego County’s longest-running
theatrical production. Branscomb — then a 20-year-old San Diego State University journalism student — teamed up with 26-year-old Bonita Vista Junior High School drama teacher Loren Lindsey to create the original production.

It was staged in a rented circus tent pitched on Bonita Road at the site of what is now the Bonita-Sunnyside Library.

“We literally had hay bales on the stage and straw on the dirt floor,” said Branscomb.

“It was low budget and absent of any real production values, but people liked the story and the songs. (Lindsey) and I thought it was going to be a one-off project, but here we are 47 years later, still creating shows about our community.”

Branscomb extended the original script in 1984 and updated it again this year with the assistance of 16-year-old actor-singer-writer Ella Aldridge, a Bonita native and third-year at the San Diego School of the Creative and Performing Arts.

She also stars as Sadie, the Juliet-tinged lemon farmer’s daughter.

“It was fun to contribute some ideas and new moments to the show,” said Aldridge, who
performed in “Thin Skins and Hayseeds” in 2018 as a 10-year-old. “This was one of my first
shows.”

The Bonitafest Melodrama, which is funded in part by the San Diego County Community Enhancement Program, has been honored for theatrical excellence, providing opportunities for underrepresented performing artists, promoting community, teaching history, and reflecting multiculturalism.

The musical is showing Sept. 25-28 at the Sweetwater Church Theatre at 5305 Sweetwater Rd.

Curtain time is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling (619) 850-7126.