When Yago Salas García was seven years old, Miliki was a name he did not yet know. He had never heard of TV clowns. He wasn’t mumbling along to familiar phrases like Susanita has a mouse or Don Pepito and Don Jose. It was the moment of a casting for a circus that sparked the spark: sweetness, experience, and a deep desire to create something joyful. After being selected, the young hopeful would meet the famous clown through recordings and videos that captured Miliki’s spirit long before the live performance began.
“It was very cool and I found it very funny,” says the young star Yago Salas García, who embodied Miliki’s dream from the start. Miliki’s life began with a simple wish to spread smiles and happiness across the world, a dream that eventually came true in a spectacular way.
The show Smile Makers at the Teatro Principal is a homage to that dream and can also be enjoyed in Alicante until January 8. It carries the signature of Emilio Aragón, who created and directed it as a tribute to his father and as a journey into nostalgia and wonder. “What would we be without dreams? I followed my father’s dream when he was a child, imagining stages, dressing rooms, and circuses around the world. He finally realized many of those dreams because he dared to chase them. This is a tribute to everyone who keeps their own dreams alive because they are the engine of life,” the voiceover of Aragón in the production proclaims, linking past inspiration with a present-day celebration of imagination.
This is a show you might already know from its resonant opening since its Madrid premiere on Christmas of 2021. Its current run in Alicante is almost sold out, with performances planned to continue as audiences flock to relive the magic.
23 artists in total
The cast totals 23 performers, including five children who rotate on stage to accommodate age restrictions while delivering a diverse, dynamic show. These young artists join a troupe from seven nations, weaving a vibrant tapestry of talent that brings magic, acrobatics, and a seamless blend of music, theatre, and circus artistry. They perform a program that intersperses technically difficult numbers with beloved songs from the Tele Clowns repertoire, including classic tunes like Once Upon a Time There Was a Circus and Hello Don Pepito, Hello Don José, with moments that evoke a tiny, magical voyage in a walnut shell boat.
One of the most memorable moments comes from the Circlassica segment, a highlight captured in the show’s intimate, painterly number that has audiences smiling and clapping in rhythm. — Pilar Cortes
For seven-year-old Yago, who has previously appeared in other musicals, including Jungle Book and Alice in Wonderland, the journey is a reminder that youth can carry vast dreams. Despite his age, he brings substantial experience to the stage, with a background in acting, dancing, and singing. When asked about his dream, he shares a clear path: he wants to be an artist who sings and acts with conviction, drawing inspiration from icons of performance and popular culture. His ambition is to keep creating moments that resonate with audiences of all ages.
Beside him stands Luigi Belui, who performs as Don José and has collaborated on several Smile Makers productions. If there is one element he highlights about the show, it is the way it unites three generations in the same space. Grandparents and parents relive memories while children absorb the songs that once filled their parents with wonder. Belui notes that the shared experience is a beautiful message about connection and memory, a reason not to miss this immersive celebration of nostalgia, emotion, laughter, and humor in equal measure. The two-hour production presents a family-friendly, well-executed showcase that keeps the audience engaged with a procession of masterful performers at the top of their craft.
Emilio Aragón’s most intimate project to date, Smile Makers is described as a deeply personal tribute to his father and uncles. It stands out as a rare, heartfelt work that carries a strong sense of family legacy, underscoring how no one else could have brought this particular show to life in the same way. The result is a performance that feels both timeless and deeply personal, inviting viewers to discover the enduring magic of a shared dream brought vividly to the stage.