Bonitafest Melodrama to Focus on 2010 Controversy at Southwestern College
- Media
- Sep 22
- 2 min read
A courageous stand that preserved not only a college newspaper but an entire college is the tale told in words and music when the 48th annual Bonitafest Melodrama opens Wednesday for a four-day run in Chula Vista.
The musical “Here Comes the Sun” was written by Melodrama Artistic Director and Southwestern College journalism professor Max Branscomb, along with some collaborators on the music. The cast of students includes 17-year-old Ella Aldridge, who has appeared in Melodrama productions since she was 9.
Returning to the year 2010, “Here Comes the Sun” looks back on the wake of reporting by student journalists at the Southwestern Sun newspaper that exposed mass corruption among leaders in three South Bay school districts.
“This was the most important story that the Sun ever covered. It was traumatic. They came after us hard. They threatened my job. They threatened my family. They threatened my students.”—Max Branscomb, the Sun’s adviser for more than 30 years.
Students and the Southwestern College community stood strong and ultimately more than two dozen defendants — public administrators, trustees and others — were charged with felony or misdemeanor crimes. “Here Comes the Sun” honors the perseverance of those student journalists while also sounding cautionary notes that resonate today. “We can lose things very quickly,” Branscomb said.
“We can lose our democracy easier than we think is possible. We can lose community institutions if we don’t keep an eye on the leaders. We almost lost Southwestern College.” —Max Branscomb
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sept. 27 at the Southwestern College Performing Arts Center, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista. Tickets are sold at the door. Call 619-850-7126.
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