For the Southern California corps’ 2025 DCI Summer Tour, artistic director Gabe Escobedo sparked the idea of creating a show based on, as he put it, “the first woman ever.”
Inspired by the Biblical story of Eve — most notably known for biting the forbidden apple — Pacific Crest’s 2025 program, “It Sin Our Nature,” explores human nature and the moral weight of our decisions.
“We went into the seven deadly sins,” Escobedo said, “and really asked, ‘what led Eve to bite the apple?’”
Pacific Crest’s 2025 program follows the corps’ recent pattern of utilizing themes that highlight famous women. For instance, the corps’ 2024 production revolved around Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and its 2023 program centered on the Greek goddess, Aphrodite.
While Escobedo and program coordinator David McGrath noted that the show will not touch on all seven of the vices outlined in the teachings of Christianity, there will be various elements within the performance that hint at the theme as a whole.
“It’s not really a story so much as it’s a portrayal of and a sort of a kaleidoscopic view of Eve,” added McGrath, “of the nature of humanity, and of these seven deadly sins that we hear about all of our lives.”
Musically, the production will include works such as “Fantasie” by Oskar Schuster, “Symphony No. 10” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “How I’d Kill” by Cowboy Malfoy, and, from the soundtrack to “The Lion King,” “To Die For” by Hans Zimmer. Additionally, the show will also have pieces that hint at individual deadly sins, such as “Jealous” by Labyrinth, “Better Have My Money” by Rihanna, and “Dies Irae” by Giuseppe Verdi.
According to show designers, the corps’ visual offerings will focus around a life-like tree with roots that sprout across the field, as well as various animal depictions that tie to the deadly sins theme. Gold and golden-brown color guard uniforms will also add to the aesthetics and colors that bring the production to life.
“The color guard are the characters of Adam and Eve,” Escobedo said. “We do take a nod into religious attire in terms of how we’re dressed.”
Escobedo noted an overall positive and motivated mindset since corps members moved in for spring training rehearsals on June 9.
“I’ve been there almost every day with them, and they’re ready,” he said. “We had a huge return rate from last year’s membership, and then the new members who came in this year are excited. The design staff and the educational staff [are] mostly all returning as well, so we’re ready to take the next step.”
After finishing 13th a season ago with a score of 86.350 — both all-time highs for the Southern California corps — and less than two points shy of attaining a first-ever DCI World Championship Finals bid, Pacific Crest is looking to continue an upward trend into 2025. 2023 also saw Pacific Crest set its own competitive records, before breaking those again a year later.
“I think that kids who are looking into marching here see that we’re on this forward trajectory,” McGrath said. “Our new members are older; they’re a little bit more mature as performers. While most of the staff is back, we did tweak some things that are very noticeable.”
Pacific Crest’s notable staff changes include additions to its brass instructional team, as well as the introduction of drill designer Lindsey Schueller, who, as McGrath noted, has had a major effect on the corps so far.
“The biggest impact she’s had is how proactive she is and how involved she wants to be,” McGrath said. “I think she’s going to make us more efficient designers and more efficient teachers in addition to giving us a great product.”
Overall, Escobedo and McGrath summed up the corps’ mindset for the 2025 DCI Tour — which kicks off July 3 in Oxnard, California — in two words: eagerness and hunger.
“I think everyone is hungry to not rest on the achievements of the last two years, but to see how much further we can take this,” McGrath said.
