Latino students at Fresno State continue the holiday season on a light-hearted note with the 22nd annual presentation of “La Pastorela” by Teatro of Raza Towards Involvement in Local Latino Awareness (TORTILLA) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 in the Satellite Student Union at Fresno State.
The event is free and open to the public.
La Pastorela, an original play of El Teatro Campesino of San Juan Bautista, is a parody based on the shepherds’ journey to Bethlehem, but with a twist.
The bilingual screenplay, which is primarily in Spanish, uses the teatro technique of satire to shed light on Latino issues such as chasing the American Dream. The Fresno State version was rewritten and directed for the first time on campus in 1992 by brother and sister Juan and Maria Hernandez when they were students.
“La Pastorela promises free laughter while raising awareness and educating the community about political, social and economic issues affecting the Latino community,” said Fabiola Ramirez, a junior mass communication and journalism student who was the director last year. She now mentors younger cast members.
She said the 15 actors in “La Pastorela” represent various academic disciplines and alumni. The performance will be directed by club president Claudia Martinez, a student in the master’s program for marriage and family therapy.
Also performing will be the band Los del Valle. This band consists of Fresno State student Abdel Salazar; Eric Argueta, a Roosevelt High School senior; and Francisco Sanchez, a Washington High School alumnus.
Refreshments, including the Mexican beverage canela (cinnamon) tea, will be served with traditional pan dulce (sweet bread).
Public parking is in lot P15 at Barstow and Maple avenues or lot P6 on Woodrow Avenue (access from Barstow or Shaw avenues). Parking is $3 for a day permit from dispensers at the University Police Department on Barstow or in lot P6 (see map).
For more information, contact Ramirez at framirez28@mail.fresnostate.edu.
