Ugly Little Monkeys: A True American Story

Opening night screening, Friday, February 20 at 7:00pm (doors at 6:00pm) will feature a pre-show Live Performance by Los Changuitos Feos and a post-film Q&A! Tickets for the opening night screening are on sale now: $20 general admission; $10 student admission.

Ugly Little Monkeys: A True American Story will run as a regular engagement at The Loft Cinema for one week, Friday, February 20 – Thursday, February 26. Showtimes and tickets for the week-long engagement will be available soon. Regular admission pricing will apply to all screenings other than the opening night screening, which has special event pricing.

The documentary Ugly Little Monkeys: A True American Story tells the inspiring tale of a group of young men in Tucson, Arizona, some as young as nine, who are formed into the first youth Mariachi in the United States by an Irish Catholic priest.  “Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson” (The Ugly Little Monkeys of Tucson) was the name chosen for the group by Father Rourke. The group eventually perfected the music and toured across the country and into Mexico. While the visibility and popularity of the Changos grew, Father Rourke’s immoral conduct began to surface: alcoholism, questioning of his faith, chronic absences at performances, and even worse. As a result of Father Rourke’s behavior, the young men were forced to assume leadership roles. Through their love for and dedication to Mariachi music, Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson became world-renowned, launching the phenomenon known as the “Youth Mariachi Movement,” which has grown from the local seed of Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson to blossom into an international sensation. Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson continues to perform today, celebrating over sixty years of existence. (Dir. by Enrique Castillo & David E. Valdez, USA, 2026, 109 mins., PG-13)