'La Posada Magica' Returns to South Coast Rep Dec 7-23

Blending the traditions of Mexican street theater and Latin Jazz, La Posada Mágica (The Magical Journey) returns to South Coast Repertory for its 14th consecutive holiday season.  This contemporary counterpart to A Christmas Carol is written and directed by Octavio Solis with music by Marcos Loya.

Performed in English, La Posada Mágica runs on the Julianne Argyros Stage from December 7 – 23. Low-priced previews begin December 7.  Opening Night is December 9 at 4:30PM.  Tickets to La Posada Mágica may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Playwright Solis based La Posada Mágica on the traditional Latin American Christmas observance in which community members make a procession through their neighborhood to commemorate Mary and Joseph's search for lodging.  Jazz musician/composer Loya will perform his songs and music live at every performance.

"Set on Christmas Eve, La Posada Mágica is the story of Gracie, a 15-year-old girl who has lost her connection with the holiday after her baby brother's death earlier in the year.  Despondent over the loss, she shuns her family's attempts to celebrate.  When a posada of her neighbors arrives at her home, she is reluctantly swept along by their enthusiasm.  Along the way Gracie blows out each procession candle, sending the march off course and onto an amazing journey.  By its end, she and the others have re-discovered Christmas and community," explain press notes.

Thanks to the generosity of Target, this year's presentation of La Posada Mágica includes a special Target Family Performance on December 22 at 11:00 a.m.

Octavio Solis has written numerous plays including Man of the Flesh, Prospect, El Paso Blue, Santos & Santos, El Otro, Dreamlandia, Bethlehem, Gibraltar, The Seven Visions of Encarnación and The Ballad of Pancho which have been mounted at theaters nationwide.  Shiner, his collaborative project with Erik Ehn, was presented by Undermain Theatre in Dallas, and his most recent project is Marfa Lights, a new play written for West Texas State A&M.  Solis has received an NEA Playwriting Fellowship, two playwriting grants from the Kennedy Center, the Will Glickman Playwright Award, the 1998 TCG/NEA Theatre Artists in Residence Grant, the 1998 McKnight Fellowship grant from The Playwrights' Center and the 2000-2001 National Theatre Artists ResidenCy Grant.  His feature film Prospect has screened at the Film Arts Festival in San Francisco.

Marcos Loya is an accomplished musician, composer and a master of acoustic guitar.  His debut CD, "Love is the Reason," garnered an Independent Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year nomination.  His film music is featured in director Robert Rodriguez' Once Upon a Time in Mexico as well as Deep Cover, The Waterdance, A Million to Juan, Old Gringo, Vibes, Stand and Deliver, Born in East LA, Hold Me, Kiss Me, Thrill Me and Kiss Me a Killer (for which he received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award).  With Madonna, he recorded "La Isla Bonita" and appeared in the video.

The cast of posaderos features Denise Blasor (Consuelo, Widow), Danny Bolero (Papi, Jose Cruz), Sol Castillo (Refugio, Buzzard), Gloria Garayua (Gracie), Miguel Najera (Horacio), Erica Ortega (Mariluz, Mom) and Teresa Velarde (Caridad, Widow).  Joining Loya onstage is guitarist Lorenzo Martinez.

The creative team for La Posada Mágica includes Christopher Acebo (scenic design), Shigeru Yaji (costume design), Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz (lighting design), Marcos Loya (musical director), Linda Kostalik (choreographer) and Jamie A. Tucker (stage manager).

Tickets to La Posada Mágica (The Magical Journey) can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.  Performances begin on December 7 – 23.  Ticket prices range from $14 to $35.  Low-priced preview performances are available from December 7-9.

Performance times: Previews Friday December 7 at 7:45PM, Saturday December 8 at 3PM & 7:45PM and Sunday, December 9 at 12:30PM & 4:30PM.  Regular Performances are Tuesday - Friday evenings at 7:45PM; Saturdays December 15 at 3PM & 7:45PM and December 22 at 11AM & 3PM.  Sundays December 16 at 12:30PM & 4:30PM and December 23 at 12:30PM.  Discounts are available for children 12 and under and groups of 15 or more.

South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Folino Theater Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.  Parking is available off Anton Blvd. on Park Center Drive.

Octavio Solis (seated) directs the script he wrote with jazz composer Marcos Loya (standing). Photo by Henry DiRocco