Hillsboro will host the Oregon premiere of what Houston Grand Opera calls the world's first mariachi opera on July 24, when "Cruzar la Cara de la Luna" takes the stage at Shute Park in a free outdoor performance.

The show runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 750 S.E. Eighth Ave. and closes out the city's 2026 Showtime Concert Series, a summer music program that has filled the park for more than 30 years. It's the only Friday-night concert in a series that otherwise runs on Thursdays.

Opera in the Park Portland, the nonprofit presenting the production in partnership with Hillsboro Parks & Recreation, has been staging free grand opera in Pacific Northwest parks since 2003. The organization says it has drawn more than 72,000 attendees over that span, with its annual concert now pulling crowds of 7,000-plus.

A family story in two languages

"Cruzar la Cara de la Luna" translates to "To Cross the Face of the Moon." Performed in Spanish and English, the 90-minute opera follows three generations of the fictional Velasquez family as they navigate migration, cultural identity, and generational divides.

The story opens in present-day Texas, where an elderly Laurentino Velasquez reflects on the wife and child he left behind in Mexico after immigrating to the United States.

The late José "Pepe" Martínez, former music director of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, composed the music and lyrics. Leonard Foglia wrote the libretto. Houston Grand Opera commissioned the work and premiered it in 2010 to mark the centennial of the Mexican Revolution and the bicentennial of Mexico's War of Independence.

"Where is home? Is it where we are born? Or where we live most of our lives?" Foglia wrote in describing the opera's central question.

Since that Houston premiere, companies across the United States and Europe have staged the production. The Hillsboro performance will feature a full orchestra, chorus, and seven soloists, according to event organizers.

Food, activities, and what to bring

Before the curtain, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation will host pre-show activities. Mexican food vendors confirmed for the evening include Laury's Tacos, Super Tacos Ochoa, Rosas Churros, and Nieve Casera Villegas.

Admission is free. No alcohol is permitted. Guests should bring chairs or blankets for seating.

Remaining Showtime Concert Series dates

The series wraps up with two final performances:

• Thursday, July 16 — Taken By the Sky
• Friday, July 24 — Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (Oregon premiere)

All Showtime concerts run 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Shute Park, 750 S.E. Eighth Ave.