Yearly, lots of of individuals collect in downtown L.A.’s cathedral for the Latino Theater Firm’s annual vacation pageant, “La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin.”
The nonprofit theater firm has placed on its rendition of La Virgen de Guadalupe and Juan Diego’s story each December for the reason that Cathedral of Our Girl of the Angels opened in 2002. Over the past 20 years, the free efficiency has grow to be one of many metropolis’s largest vacation occasions.
Based in 1985, the Latino Theater Firm is devoted to portraying the Latino expertise onstage year-round. The group hosts round seven performs yearly, however the vacation present is the one one it performs totally in Spanish.
“For us, it’s a present to town. Spanish-speaking audiences don’t get a lot. So, throughout the holidays, it’s so vital,” says Latino Theater Firm Creative Director José Luis Valenzuela. “Individuals come yearly, with their grandparents and their youngsters. However, this yr feels particular.”
In mild of the continuing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and the quantity of worry in L.A.’s Latino communities, Valenzuela, who directs the pageant yearly, says now could be the time when “we have to be collectively as a group.”
The Latino Theater Firm could have its annual vacation efficiency, “La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin,” Friday and Saturday on the Cathedral of Our Girl of the Angels.
(Photograph from Latino Theater Firm)
Written by actor and playwright Evelina Fernández, the present is customized immediately from the mid-Sixteenth century textual content the “Nican Mopohua.” It tells the story of Juan Diego, a peasant of Chichimeca descent who was visited a number of instances by the Virgin Mary. In 2002, he was canonized by Pope John Paul II, changing into the primary Catholic saint from the Americas.
Over 100 actors, singers, Aztec dancers and area people members will take the stage to carry out the miraculous story via tune and dance. De Los caught up with Valenzuela forward the vacation present, happening this Friday and Saturday. The occasion is free and open to the general public.
This interview has been condensed and edited for readability.
There are just a few days till the performances. How are these ultimate rehearsals feeling?
It’s an advanced present, as a result of there are such a lot of folks. We’ve got the youngsters, the principals [lead actors], and the choir all rehearsing individually. That is the week after they all come collectively, and we now have to work on coordinating all of the sound, the lights, the blocking — every thing.
That is all in the great thing about doing theater, although. All of it must be good. There are numerous issues that go into the ultimate product, and proper now, it’s numerous shifting components.
You’ve been directing this similar pageant for over 20 years. Will there be any new components this yr?
There will likely be a brand new tune and a few larger dances. We’ve got 30 youngsters [in the play], which is probably the most we now have ever had. They’ve slightly tune and dance. We normally have the choir sing it with them, as a result of there weren’t sufficient youngsters to have the ability to hear them. However this yr, they’re going to do it with out the assistance of the choir. I do know it’ll be magical as a result of it’s not solely in Spanish, however there’s some Nahuatl in there.
However general, we have to be collectively as a group. We’ve been so aggressively attacked and focused [by recent ICE raids]. We’ve been reminded of who we’re and have been instructed what our place on this society is. This yr, the pageant goes to be extra significant.
Even in my very own theater, we introduced in 80,000 folks final yr. This yr, we misplaced 10,000 folks due to the worry of gathering and being outdoors. It’s horrifying for the group to really feel that manner. What this manufacturing does is solidify the concept we are able to come collectively and that we now have goals and wishes.
The Latino Theater Firm could have its annual vacation efficiency, “La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin,” this Friday and Saturday on the Cathedral of Our Girl of the Angels.
(Photograph from Latino Theater Firm)
Are you anxious that the turnout may not be as massive as a result of ongoing ICE raids?
I hope that it’s going to be larger. Individuals know what that is, they usually have to be in group. We’d like to have the ability to sing collectively, and see our tradition with delight, with humanity, with love and with expertise. We aren’t criminals.
Past the skilled actors and dancers, this efficiency features a bunch of area people members. What do you discover about those that volunteer to be within the present?
They renew their thought of religion, not solely their religion in La Virgen, however religion in themselves, of their dignity and their very own tradition. That’s why they do it. I’ve individuals who have achieved it for all 20 years. We have to see ourselves on this manufacturing to see how lovely and proficient we’re. We have to see how a lot the group desires to be collectively.
Serious about the story of Juan Diego and La Virgen, why do you suppose it’s vital to revisit it yearly?
It’s all about understanding that via perseverance and braveness, Juan Diego was capable of succeed as a result of he created the miracle. He persevered and by no means gave up. As I direct the present yearly, I study one thing new. There are some years, I concentrate on the doubts Juan Diego had, or his braveness or his humility. However as all of us change from yr to yr, there’s at all times one thing new to know from it.
What have you ever realized from the story this yr?
This yr, I’ve observed a necessity for compassion. The society that we stay in proper now could be so laborious. It’s all about blame and hate. However Juan Diego’s story can present consolation and pleasure. There’s this concept that he was in some way understood and got here out victorious by creating a fantastic miracle.
Is there something you hope folks take away from this group efficiency?
I need folks to know that our historical past is wonderful. It has been a historical past of battle, however we undergo our struggles with pleasure — we sing. That’s the wonder that I need folks to stroll away with.
