Mary Moody Northen Theatre at St. Edward's University presents the Austin premiere of Cesar & Ruben, an entertaining and poignant play that honors the lives of workers' rights advocate César Chávez and LA Times writer Ruben Salazar. Filled with the music of Ruben Blades, Enrique Iglesias, Carlos Santana and other well-known musicians, Cesar & Ruben is a celebration of love, family, friendship and passionate activism. The play was written and is co-directed by award-winning actor and activist Ed Begley Jr. as a tribute to his friend Chávez.

Begley was a student of Assistant Professor of Music Brother Gerald Muller, CSC, when he taught previously at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Their longtime friendship led Begley to bring his production to St. Edward's University. After receiving six Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the hit series St. Elsewhere, Begley has excelled in feature, television and theater projects. His feature film credits include A Mighty Wind, Batman Forever and The Accidental Tourist.

St. Edward's in conjunction with the Mary Moody Northen Theatre offers one of the only pre-professional undergraduate Theater Arts programs of its kind in the United States . Designed for the student-artist, the program offers theater-based academic training with a rigorous liberal arts curriculum.

Cesar & Ruben runs Sept. 28 through Oct. 9. Advance tickets — $10 for St. Edward's University faculty, staff and students, and $12 for general adult admission — are available by calling the box office at 512-448-8484. Tickets also may be purchased at the door for $15.