La Pastorela
To read audience reviews of La Pastorela click here
To view photos of La Pastorela click here
La Pastorela: Arisonora La Pastorela is a theatrical cultural immersion event in which the audience enjoys a traditional Mexican experience with with a twist of the Southwest Chicano influence.
Narrated by “el Diablo”, La Pastorela is the classic struggle between good and evil, staged in Spanish and English. Intermittenly throughout the play, the Devil rears his head in desperate, yet unsuccessful, attempts to prevent the shepherds from accomplishing their goals.
Thursday December 11 & Friday December 12th 7:30pm
Memorial Hall
Steele Indian School Park
300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix 85012
For tickets call: 480.834-5731
Wednesday & Thursday December 17th & 18th 7:30pm
The Outback Theater
1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, AZ 85202
MCC Box Office 480-461-7170
La Pastorela: The Shepherds’ Odyssey “La Pastorela: The Shepherds´ Odyssey” is a centuries-old secular Latino Christmas tale that combines music, dance and comedy to recreate the journey of a shepherds´ family who set off for Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus.
Through the magic of theater, 2007’s Pastorela will take place along the Arizona-Mexican border in the Sonoran desert. It is a classic struggle between good and evil with a message of hope and brotherhood. Starring Zarco Guerrero as El Diablo..
Najera is a seasoned actor, playwright and journalist from Phoenix. His review of the production is commentary that gives the cast the highest compliment, “This is community theater at its finest involving intergenerational actors and bilingually spoken”. Participants of the Cultural Arts Coalition were out in force to support this holiday event. Grandchildren, elders, adults, teens and little people populated the audience. The costuming and mastery of Zarco’s masks worn by “Diablo and his associates” brought magic to the stage.
The play opens with an interlude of music: holiday songs song by Happy Frejo of the Pawnee and SEminole Nations of Oklahoma and Bruno Cisneros with accompaniment by Tizoc Guerrero. This music in both English and Spanish engages the audience in familiar songs to “Sing Along”. The production dialogue weaves statements that are both poignant and when one listens carefully, with political commentary. Children will be enchanted by the visual imagery and energy including the choreographed moves instructed by Tizoc who utilizes his skills of “CAPOERIRA”, Brazilian Marshall arts/dance movement. Adults will be engaged thoughtfully by the characters’ dialogue and the vibrancy of the costumes and masks.
This kind of community production keeps alive the “SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY ARTS”.
