“La Vispera” – a community-created play at 24th STreet Theater – Los Angeles theater review

A unique holiday play about love and sacrifice, created from stories shared by members of the University Park immigrant community during workshops with professional theater artists, is playing for one more weekend.

This is the second year of Teatro del Pueblo del Teatro 24 and the result is La Vispera / The Eve — a wonderful theatrical production peopled by members of the community (non-professional actors) who worked in collaboration with a handful of experienced theater practitioners.

As the Artistic Director of the 24th STreet Theatre, Jay McAdams, remarked before the show (translated into Spanish for the largely Spanish-speaking audience), “We call it a ‘play’ but it’s so much work! These guys have worked so hard, for many months. We started in the Spring, bringing adults from the community into the theater — many for the first time. They worked with Victor Vazquez, the professional playwright, along with two experienced directors Jesús Castaños-Chima and Sayda Trujillo.”

Jay added that all the technical and backstage staff were professional, as well, adding, “one thing that is so beautiful is that this project reminds us professionals what it means to be human.”

Jay went on to describe the process that emerged: “Everybody hugs everyone when they get here. Then we don’t work until we eat! There was music and dancing, too!” Jay says he found he had to add a social factor to rehearsal time. Called ‘convivo’ the company ate, danced, devised theater but — above all — lived.

La Vispera / The Eve

24th STreet Theatre

1117 W 24th Street,

Los Angeles, CA 90007

Performances:

Sábado/Saturday 3pm: Dec 13

Domingo/Sunday 3pm: Dec 14

BOLETOS / TICKETS:

Pagar lo que quires / pay what you will

Vecinos / Neighborhood residents: 24 centavos / 24 cents

Las reservas requiren / Reservations required

Teatro del Pueblo del Teatro 24 (24Th Street Theatre) regresa en este 2014 con el estreno mundial de La Víspera, otra conmovedora obra de fin de año, divertida y única, sobre el amor y el sacrificio. Creada a partir de historias compartidas por los miembros de la comunidad local durante talleres con artistas profesionales de teatro.

Teatro del Pueblo (“Theater of the Village”) returns in 2014 with the world premiere of “La Víspera (The Eve),” another warm, funny and unique holiday play about love and sacrifice created from stories shared by members of the local community during workshops with professional theater artists.

Escrito por Víctor Vázquez, co-dirigida por Jesús Castaños-Chima y Sayda Trujillo, y apoyado por laFundación James Irvine Fondo para Exploración del Enlace, La Víspera tendrá cuatro funciones del 6 al 14 de diciembre en el Teatro 24 en el centro de Los Ángeles. Todas las presentaciones son en español con súpertítulos en inglés, y la entrada es de sólo 24 centavos.

Written by Victor Vazquez, co-directed by Jesús Castaños-Chima and Sayda Trujillo, and supported by The James Irvine Foundation Exploring Engagement Fund, La Víspera gets four performances Dec. 6 through Dec. 14 at 24th STreet Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. All performances are in Spanish with English supertitles, and admission is pay what you want, or only 24 cents for neighborhood residents.

Written by Victor Vazquez, co-directed by Jesús Castaños-Chima and Sayda Trujillo, and supported byThe James Irvine Foundation Exploring Engagement Fund, La Víspera gets four performances through Dec. 14 at 24th STreet Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. All performances are in Spanish with English supertitles, and admission is pay what you want, or only 24 cents for neighborhood residents.

Después de cada actuación, se invitará al público a unirse a los artistas a una Posada (procesión de Navidad) por el barrio antes de regresar al teatro donde habrá tamales caseros, ponche caliente (punch) y la tradicional piñata en forma de estrella.

Following each performance, the audience will be invited to join the performers for a Posada (Christmas procession) around the neighborhood before heading back to the theater for homemade tamales, warm ponche (punch) and a traditional star-shaped piñata.