Sacramento’s Latino center puts a modern twist on familiar Christmas tale: Where to see it

One of the world’s oldest stories gets a modern twist in a seasonal play put forth by the Latino Center of Art and Culture, imagining shepherds traveling to meet infant Jesus as four people seeking better lives in America.

‘La Pastorela’ will take place on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Latino Center of Art and Culture at 2700 Front Street and will be performed in English.

‘La Pastorela’ is a folk play derived from the original 2014 script by Manuel Pickett and Marie Acosta. The play describes the journey of a group of shepherds traveling to find the newborn Jesus Christ, all while encountering temptations and trials which are put forth by the devil himself.

Although ‘pastorelas’ are commonly a reenactment of this biblical journey, the Latino Center of Art and Culture has put its own twist on the tale by reflecting on situations minority communities encounter today.

Carissa Gutierrez, the director of the Latino Center of Art and Culture, said the characters portrayed in this year’s pastorela are individuals found in our communities.

“This specific pastorela, and every year we update it and change it to speak on specific things that are happening at the federal level, at the state level,” Gutierréz said.

Gutierréz said the original script of La Pastorela goes back to the idea of immigration, and through this play the center hopes to bridge the conversation between communities on the other side of the border and communities in the U.S.

This year, the group of shepherds will consist of Esperanza, played by Giselle Colmenares Vizcarra; Falcita, played by Lucy Garcia; Derechos, played by Pano Roditis; and Campos, played by Angel Rodríguez.

The shepherds have unique backgrounds varying from topics such as the American Dream, social class status, activist work and community advocacy.

“I hope people walk away with a greater sense of community,” said Roditis, who is in his fifth year of participating in La Pastorela.

This outdoors, family-friendly event requires a ticket purchase through eventbrite and will also feature different street vendors, food vendors and crafts from local shops in Sacramento.