El Teatro’s traditional Christmas show opens Nov. 27
With a cast of nearly 50 people ranging in age from 5 to 70, El
Teatro Campesino is presenting
”
La Pastorela
”
by Luis Valdez from Nov. 27 through Dec. 20 at Mission San Juan
Bautista.
”
We’re taking the show back to a traditional performance that
includes more Spanish,
”
said Stephanie Woehrmann, El Teatro Campesino’s publicist and
producer of
”
La Pastorela
”
2009.
”
English librettos (subtitles) will be written up, and it will be
more visual and dynamic with dance and acoustic music. In the past
there was a more electric influence. About two years ago it was
rock and roll. This year we’re going back to the folk
tradition.
”
El Teatro’s traditional Christmas show opens Nov. 27
With a cast of nearly 50 people ranging in age from 5 to 70, El Teatro Campesino is presenting “La Pastorela” by Luis Valdez from Nov. 27 through Dec. 20 at Mission San Juan Bautista.
“We’re taking the show back to a traditional performance that includes more Spanish,” said Stephanie Woehrmann, El Teatro Campesino’s publicist and producer of “La Pastorela” 2009. “English librettos (subtitles) will be written up, and it will be more visual and dynamic with dance and acoustic music. In the past there was a more electric influence. About two years ago it was rock and roll. This year we’re going back to the folk tradition.”
Staging “La Pastorela” in the Mission as opposed to El Teatro Campesino’s theater comes with its own set of complications, Woehrmann said, which includes a large cast and crew, and the construction of a new box office.
“There are absolutely challenges,” she said. “The Mission is a historical sight – we have to be careful and be respectful. We are honored to be able to perform there.”
There is always the element of danger in staging a production, she said.
“The power has gone out before a show, and we had to cancel,” Woehrmann said. “The power has gone out during the show. There has been an earthquake during a show. In the early ’90s an actor fell and split his head open. He was ready to go the next night. We are now well aware [of what can go wrong.] We are thrill seekers … the show must go on.”
El Teatro Campesino was created in 1965 by Luis Valdez, who is known as the father of Chicano theater, Woehrmann said. Valdez is most famous for his play “Zoot Suit,” which was produced on Broadway and as a movie, as well as for writing and directing the Ritchie Valens biopic “La Bamba.” Valdez’s brother, Daniel Valdez , played the lead character Henry Reyna in the 1981 movie version of “Zoot Suit.”
“Family continues to be a strong influence on El Teatro Campesino,” she said. “Many actors are born into this, and we are very community oriented.”
Through the years, Valdez’ three sons have been involved in the shows as actors, directors and writers.
“[El Teatro Campesino] began to tour in their first year to raise funds for farm workers involved in the picket strike,” Woehrmann said. “The idea was to join the movement through theater. El Teatro Campesino is like a museum … a lot has changed but a lot hasn’t … the plight of the farm worker has not really changed.”
She said in the beginning when the theater started up in the ’60s, some of the actors couldn’t read so Valdez would say, “This is what you are going to say now,” Woehrmann said.
“The Christmas play is the way we celebrate the holidays … Christmas is near and dear,” she said. “‘La Pastorela’ opens the day after the Thanksgiving holiday.”
Woerhmann went on: “Community is a creator of theater and theater is a creator of community. Luis used to say theater sucks. It sucks you in.”
For more information, call 623-2444 or visit www.elteatrocampesino.com. Performances run Nov. 27 through Dec. 20 Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Nov. 29, Dec.6, and Dec. 13 performances are available at a reduced priced at $15. Ticket prices for all other shows are $32/Priority, $22/Adults, $18/Seniors and Students, and $14/Children under 12. Shows are performed at the historic Mission San Juan Bautista, located at 406 Second St., in San Juan Bautista.
