Sing-along Colma: The Musical

“A giddy, unexpected pleasure: There is more wit, energy and imagination in any one frame of Colma: The Musical than in an entire decade’s worth of lame Hollywood attempts to revivify the genre.” —Scott Foundas, LA Weekly

After making a raucous world premiere at SFIAAFF ’06, Colma: The Musical went on to pick up awards and critical buzz (including Gotham Award and Independent Spirit Award nominations). Now, the film returns to where it all began, in a special sing-along presentation including live components and a few new surprises from director Richard Wong and writer/composer/star H.P. Mendoza.

In the town of Colma, where the dead outnumber the living one thousand to one, best pals Rodel, Billy, and Maribel find themselves in a state of limbo; fresh out of high school, they are just beginning to explore a new world of part-time mall jobs and crashing college parties. As newfound revelations and romances challenge their relationships with one another and their parents, the trio must assess what to hold onto, and how to best follow their dreams.

Wong and Mendoza complement each other like few collaborators can, with Wong finding imaginative, resourceful cinematic expression (like the nearly eight-minute, single-take “Crash the Party” sequence) for Mendoza’s super-catchy pop songs. If you’ve already seen the film, perhaps you’re already having trouble getting those infectious songs out of your head. Cure yourself, then, by belting them out at what promises to be a one-of-a-kind moviegoing experience.