Born and raised in Los Angeles, Héctor Armienta identifies himself as neither Mexican nor American but Mexican American. “I exist in and in between these two cultural worlds,” he writes, “incorporating music from both sides of the border.” His Zorro—drawn, we’re told from real life and pulp fiction (there’s a difference?)—takes place in Armienta’s native city over 200 years ago, when the territory still belonged to New Spain. The hero, a Spanish aristocrat, is a latter-day Latin Robin Hood, hiding his true identity behind a mask and flamboyant swordplay. Romance threads through the score in high-spirited mariachi and flamenco strains. From its premiere in Fort Worth three years ago, Zorro has gone on to Albuquerque (where it was taped live for national radio distribution) and Santa Barbara, with Phoenix and Tucson to follow in the fall. In San José, Xavier Prado stars as Diego de la Vega and his dashing double. —Matthew Gurewitsch