Teatro Paraguas Presents A MUSICAL PINATA FOR CHRISTMAS

Teatro Paraguas presents the sixth annual A Musical Piñata for Christmas with a new and exciting line-up of acts to welcome in the winter holidays.

The family-friendly show begins with a bilingual one-act play entitled The Holy Season, by Alix Hudson, which is inspired by Las Posadas, current events, and Circle of Wonder by N. Scott Momaday.

The story of one family's traditional preparations for Christmas Eve is interspersed with the travails of a group of animals (played by Teatro Paraguas' Young Actors Ensemble) searching for a new home during a snowstorm. Will the animals find shelter, and is there too much manteca in the masa?

The Teatro Paraguas Orchestra will perform seasonal songs under the direction of Roxanne Tapia. Trio Latino featuring Thelma Arguello and Mario Reynolds adds a Latin American flavor to the musical mix as well.

The young Lightning Boy Hoop Dancers of Nambe Pueblo will present their dazzling hoop dances. The Lightning Boy Foundation honors the memory of Valentino Tzigiwhaeno "Lightning Boy" Rivera, and represents many tribal youth, including world champions. Drummer Edwin Felter, also of Nambe Pueblo, has composed some of the songs which include lyrics about lightning in Tewa.

It's rumored that Santa will be on hand with a couple of Cheech and Chong look-alikes, and there will be dances performed by the young dancers of Casablanca Studios, as well as seasonal poetry performed by Teatro Paraguas actors.

And, as always, the celebration culminates with a piñata for the children.

Performances begin Friday, December 6, with shows Friday evenings at 7:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 16, and may be purchased online at MusicalPinata6.brownpapertickets.com, or tickets may be reserved and purchased at the door by calling 505-424-1601. For more information, please visit teatroparaguas.org.

This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Dept. of Cultural Affairs, National Endowment for the Arts, Santa Fe Arts Commission and the 1% Lodgers' Tax, and the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry.