Posadas, a Cross-Cultural Play for the Christmas Season, in English y en español by Jerome McDonough with Spanish translation by Betty Alderete.

Here is a unique and highly effective way of presenting a bilingual play. Families in Mexico participate in a Posada on each of the nine nights before Christmas Day, enacting Mary and Joseph's search for a room in Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve. The play was written to introduce this Hispanic tradition to the U.S. It depicts a modern family being turned away for many modern reasons: fear, snobbery, indifference, and other reasons which make life today cold and anti-social. The bilingual aspect will appeal to all audiences, whether they know both languages or not. Virtually all lines of dialog are performed in one language by the character and in the other language by a narrator/translator. For bilingual audiences, or for students studying either Spanish or English as a foreign language, this process is a delight. The play may be presented in its entirety in either Spanish or in English. Simply leave out all the lines printed in the other language and assign the character names for the chosen language. Obviously, the play is only half as long if this option is exercised.

The Living Cyclorama employs the actors and actresses in the play as a "backdrop curtain" before which the show takes place. The performers form a large arc upstage of the performance space itself. Any actor not involved in the current scene will stand on this arc, facing away from the audience. This "Cyc" will be constantly changing as actors move out and in. Props and costume elements are placed at the Cyc location where they will by needed. No other scenery or set props are needed.

Suitable for all ages of actors and audiences. Place, Our world and a tiny glimpse of a better one; Time, the present.

Other McDonough Christmas plays: Carol* A Christmas, A Christmas Carol (1-act); It's Sad, So Sad When an Elf Goes Bad; The Nearest Star, Not Even A. Mouse; O, Little Town

See also: Christmas Plays (Non-Musical)

Other bilingual plays: Tres Cerditos, Gemelarela, Juanillo y la Planta de Frijoles, Señor Scrooge, El Sueño Navideño, La Bella Durmiente