Knocking on the theater door

Young Chang

Oranges stewed in vats of hot sangria-like punch during Carla

Jimenez’s childhood.

They fragranced the whole house around Christmas-time, harmonizing

with the smells of tamales and other edible Latino traditions.

Today, the oranges fragrance Jimenez’s memories of her girlhood

posadas -- an annual Christmas procession commemorating the New Testament

story of how Joseph and Mary searched for a place to rest prior to the

birth of Jesus.

Posadas brought Jimenez’s family together every year. Brought back the

older sisters and their kids and the nearby relatives who wanted to walk

through the Catholic ritual together.

South Coast Repertory’s eighth production of “La Posada Magica” is

said to have that same magnetic draw.

Jimenez and fellow cast member Sol Castillo agree that the Second

Stage show attracts a Latino majority on some nights. Every year, the

connections run deeper -- one family attending for the seventh year in a

row brings another family attending for the fifth time, who brings a

brand new family convinced that the “Posada” must become their holiday

theater thing.

“It’s grown to be more of a family experience,” Castillo, 28, said.

“It’s very family oriented and in the cast, everyone has known each other

for many years.”

The musical play, which opens Dec. 9 and runs through the 23rd,

showcases a cast of seven, directed by Diane Rodriquez. The theater

company commissioned the play from Octavio Solis, with music by Marcos

Loya, nine years ago.

“La Posada Magica” tells the story of 14-year-old Gracie (played by

Tiffany Ellen Solano) and her experience with a posada on Christmas Eve.

Her little brother has died, making Gracie mad, sad and adverse to

celebration. But neighbors bring posada by her home, sweeping the girl

along with them.

Gracie blows out the processional candles, causing a set of

misadventures. The group gets lost, meets bad guys and, through a

miracle, relearns the meaning of Christmas.

Castillo, who plays procession member Refugio for the second

consecutive year, said the warmth of last year’s cast and the eclectic

mix of mariachi and jazz music brought him back this time around. He gets

a rock ‘n roll/blues solo called “I’m Your Lovin’ Santa” during the show.

The Irvine resident remembers wondering whether people would actually

fill the seats last year. Castillo, who is double cast as bad-boy

Buzzard, was surprised to meet veteran viewers both Latino and not, some

of whom had attended since year one.

Castillo has never participated in a real posada, which is

traditionally held every Christmas Eve, but says he would like to.

“I think it would be spiritually fulfilling and heartwarming,” he

said.

Jimenez, 27, said her personal history with the tradition makes her

role as Caridad, a godmother, worth the traffic-jammed commute from her

Sherman Oaks home. The spiritual relevance is what brought her back for

the second year.

“It’s kind of nice to do a play that has to do with my heritage,” she

said.

FYI

What: “La Posada Magica”

When: Dec. 9-23. 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday

and 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Previews will begin Dec. 7.

Where: South Coast Repertory’s Second Stage, 655 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

Cost: $14-$34

Call: (714) 708-5555