‘There’s an Angel Inside Everybody’

The event: Opening night party Sunday for the fifth anniversary presentation of South Coast Repertory’s “La Posada Magica,” a play by Octavio Solis, with music by Marcos Loya.

The production--on SCR’s Second Stage through Dec. 27--is based on las posadas, a Latina American tradition in which Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging is commemorated with a candlelight procession.

Post-performance magic: After watching a play about a young girl whose negative view of the world is transformed by her participation in a posada, the audience joined cast members in the lobby for holiday cheer and a buffet of enchiladas, black beans, cilantro-fla

vored rice and flan catered by El Torito Grill in Costa Mesa.

On view in the reception area: a twinkling Christmas tree and a display of colorful santos, including images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, arranged by SCR supporters Sylvia Krenzien, Alice Rumbaugh and Teri Rocco.

“We developed this play to be a counterpart to our annual production of ‘A Christmas Carol,’ playing now on our Mainstage,” said Martin Benson, the Costa Mesa theater’s artistic director.

VIP guests: Ten wide-eyed students from Washington Elementary School in Santa Ana, winners of a school essay contest on the meaning of Christmas, rubbed elbows with the play’s stars.

After a little encouragement from his teacher, Robert Gama, 8, marched up to singer-actress Crissy Guerrero (who played Gracie, the girl around whom the plot revolves) and asked her to autograph his program.

Robert loved the play, he said. “I liked when [Gracie], who was sad after her little brother died, got happy when a security guard told her there was an angel inside everybody.”

Quote: “This is a play about hope,” said Guerrero, who as a child also attended an elementary school in Santa Ana. “The message of the play is that everything happens for a reason--God takes care of us.”

Guest list: Event co-chairs Karen Merced Willner, Socorro Vasquez and Pablo Prietto; SCR trustee Cathey Kazanjy; MaryAnne Sirotko-Turner, who represented American Express, the play’s underwriter; Ernie Vasquez; Ruben Martinez; Elizabeth George; Roger Willner; and Anita Prietto.

Other attendees: Cast members at the party included Jorge Galvan, Benito Martinez, Teresa Velarde, Armando Duran, Thom Rivera, Denise Blasor, Yolanda Lloyd Delgado, Marcos Loya and Lorenzo Martinez.

For play tickets, (714) 708-5500.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Meaning of Christmas

The meaning of Christmas to me is to celebrate the day Jesus was born and to spend time with my family. I also enjoy decorating the tree and house. I wish it could be Christmas every day because then I could spend time with my family and get to know them better.

I wish my family and I could go to Mexico every Christmas because then we could spend more time with each other. I could also play games with my cousins. I also like to go to Mexico because I get to play with my cousin’s dog and then I don’t get bored.

I love how my mom decorates our house. She puts a Christmas tree in our living room and puts a lot of Christmas lights on it. She even puts Jesus with his mom and dad and the three wise men with gifts on the tree.

Christmas is not just about giving presents to each other. It is about spending time wth your family thinking about the day Jesus was born. These are the things that Christmas means to me.

Fabiola Samayoa

Ms. Hoss’ fourth-grade class

Washington Elementary School

Santa Ana