‘Rey de la Luna’: El Paso’s Cosmic Barrio Takes the Stage

El Paso — When local playwright and filmmaker Diego Muñoz Holguin takes the stage this December with Rey de la Luna, he’s not just premiering a new play; he’s lifting an entire community toward the stars. Presented as part of the Jewel Box Series at the Philanthropy Theatre in downtown El Paso, Rey de la Luna marks the latest evolution of Muñoz Holguin’s storytelling, a fusion of filmic vision, barrio realism, and a cosmic dream.

Two performances are scheduled on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., offering audiences a chance to experience what organizers are already calling “El Paso’s new holiday tradition, where the barrio reaches for the cosmos.”

A Story Rooted in the Barrio, Aiming for the Stars

Set in a Mexican-American neighborhood, Rey de la Luna follows a young man whose dream of becoming an astronaut collides with the weight of family expectations, love, and loss. “It’s really a story about following your dreams no matter where you come from,” Muñoz Holguin said in an interview. “Even if you’re not Mexican, the play is about pursuing what seems impossible and finding meaning in the relationships that shape you.”

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Originally conceived as a very different script, the play underwent a complete transformation. “The original version had another direction entirely,” he explained. “When I rewrote it, I realized the main character needed a much stronger goal; his dream of space, and a deeper conflict with his father. That relationship became the heart of the story, inspired by things I’ve lived myself.”

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Love, Loss, and the Language of Understanding

Emotionally, Rey de la Luna rides on currents of friendship, love, and tragedy. “If audiences walk away with a sense of how these emotions connect us; how love and understanding can exist even within loss, that’s the play’s purpose,” said Muñoz Holguin. “The ending deals with grief, but it’s also about reconciliation. It’s never too late to mend a broken relationship.”

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That focus on emotional authenticity carried into his direction. “The hardest part was making sure the characters were honest,” he said. “I didn’t want them to sound polished or written. They needed to speak to each other, not about each other.”

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Authenticity On and Off Stage

For casting, Muñoz Holguin sought actors who could embody their characters with conviction. “I needed people who believed in who they were playing,” he said. “Authenticity and belief were everything. I’m always painting a picture on stage—every movement, every look matters.”

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His visual instincts come from years behind the camera. Known primarily as a filmmaker, he brings cinematic sensibility to the theater, blending live performance with projections and lighting that blur the line between reality and imagination. “This production combines mixed media; film projections and live action, and that’s what excited the selection committee for the Jewel Box Series,” he said. “They wanted something that pushed what local theater could look like.”

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Community, Collaboration, and Cosmic Vision

Collaboration has been central to the production. Muñoz Holguin praised his design team, particularly lighting and set designer The Cutt, for shaping the atmosphere of the show. “He’s doing an incredible job,” he said. “We debate, discuss, and learn from each other. It’s a real partnership where I trust his eye and he respects my vision.”

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He also credited the El Paso Community Foundation for supporting the play’s development and championing local voices. “They were amazing,” he said. “They really believed in giving El Paso stories a stage. We have enough of our own stories to share with the world.”

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A New Tradition in the Making

While Rey de la Luna reflects deeply personal themes, it also aims to become part of something larger, a seasonal celebration of hope and creativity rooted in El Paso’s cultural landscape. “It’s about where we come from and where we’re going,” said Muñoz Holguin. “If the barrio can look up and reach for the moon, maybe everyone can.”

The production, developed in just a few months, may also be the start of a larger journey. “We’d love to see it travel to other theaters,” he said. “But I want this original cast to get the credit, they’re the heart of it.”

As for what comes next, Muñoz Holguin remains both ambitious and grounded. “The challenge is what excites me the most,” he said. “Each project should scare you a little. That’s how you know it’s worth doing.”

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Event Information

What: Rey de la Luna by Diego Muñoz Holguin

When: Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 — 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Where: Philanthropy Theatre, 125 Pioneer Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901

Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster and the Philanthropy Theatre box office.