National News

Playing for a limited time in the month of December!
Saturday 5pm, December 10th

“La Pastorela de la Mariposa”
Funded by the San Diego County Community Enhancement Program

La Pastorela 2022
By Dr. Max Branscomb
Music Director Ken Santillan
Engineered for radio by David Rivas
Produced by Kerie Muller

“La Pastorela de la Mariposa” is the third collaboration with the Teatro Pastorela theater company and KNSJ radio. It has been produced for 33 years in the region and is San Diego County’s longest-running holiday production.

Like all of our shows, this year’s production uses contemporary references, humor, beautiful holiday music and the wondrous tradition of Mexico’s Pastorela to advocate for human rights, equity and dignity among all people.

Chantal Branscomb, David Rivas and Tim Evans star as the evil devils who try to knock the humble shepherds off track. Alexis Luna and Ella Aldridge are the glorious angels who fight for the shepherds’ souls. Featured shepherds are Paul Araujo, Vanessa Lopez, Kieler Avery Muller, Syara Platero and Lily Hobson.

La Pastorela is Mexico’s most popular form of theater and dates back to the 1500s. There are more than 2,500 known productions of the show in Mexico and the form is growing in popularity in the United States. The first known Pastorela produced in the United States was in San Diego’s Old Town circa 1865 by the Bandini Family.

San Diego’s productions of “La Pastorela” have been honored by state and regional human rights and Chicano organizations for promoting civil rights, multiculturalism and peace.