Eli Santana, who plays Alessandro, and Shirley Casillas, who is Ramona, are seen Thursday, April 18, 2024, during a “Ramona” performance for fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. The outdoor play’s 101st season begins Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
A local tradition returns to the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet this week.
“Ramona” is “America’s longest continuously running drama,” according to the Ramona Bowl’s website.
Ivan Colomo cheers Thursday, April 18, 2024, during a “Ramona” performance for more than 4,000 fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. The outdoor play’s 101st season begins Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Daniel Martinez, playing Juan Canito, reacts as Eli Santana, who plays Alessandro, lifts him up during a performance of “Ramona” for more than 4,000 fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet on Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Ramona, played by Shirley Casillas, performs Thursday, April 18, 2024, with Kathi Anderson, who plays Senora Moreno in a show of “Ramona” for more than 4,000 fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Children bring decorations for the fiesta during a Thursday, April 18, 2024, performance of “Ramona” for fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Shirley Casillas, who portrays Ramona, dances during a Thursday, April 18, 2024, performance for more than 4,000 fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Shirley Casillas as Ramona and Kathi Anderson, who plays Senora Moreno, share a scene Thursday, April 18, 2024, during a “Ramona” performance for fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Shirley Casillas, who portrays Ramona, dances Thursday, April 18, 2024, with Mark Rogers, who plays Felipe, during a performance of “Ramona” for fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Danny Martinez rides a horse off stage during a performance of “Ramona” for fourth graders Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Linda Greilich sings Thursday, April 18, 2024, during a fiesta scene in “Ramona.” More than 4,000 fourth graders attended the show at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
“Ramona” actors are seen Thursday, April 18, 2024, during the fiesta scene in a performance for 4,000 fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
The Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet is filled during a Thursday, April 18, 2024, “Ramona” performance for more than 4,000 fourth graders. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Eli Santana, who plays Alessandro, and Shirley Casillas, who portrays Ramona, share a scene during a Thursday, April 18, 2024, performance for more than 4,000 fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Senora Moreno, played by Kathi Anderson, holds a sword during a Thursday, April 18, 2024, “Ramona” performance for fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Monica Reichl is seen during a Thursday, April 18, 2024, performance of “Ramona” for fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
Eli Santana, who plays Alessandro, and Shirley Casillas, who is Ramona, are seen Thursday, April 18, 2024, during a “Ramona” performance for fourth graders at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre near Hemet. The outdoor play’s 101st season begins Saturday, April 20, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)
The play is is based on Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel of the same name, and tells the story of fictional lovers Ramona, a Scottish-Native American girl, and Alessandro, a Native American. The story weaves in references to real conflicts between Native Americans and settlers in late-1800s Southern California.
The Thursday, April 18, performance took place before an audience of thousands of local fourth graders, a field trip that has become an annual tradition of its own.
