Teatro Luna Presents A VERY LUNA CHRISTMAS, Now thru 1/6

Tired of the same old Christmas stories? Can't bring yourself to buy tickets for The Nutcracker again? Looking for a hilarious and poignant Christmas event for the whole family? Look no further than Teatro Luna's A Very Luna Christmas. This family-friendly play is presented mostly in English with a sprinkle of Spanish and is perfect for abuelos, amores, amistades and everyone else in between!

"You can definitely bring your kids, but you'll love the jokes that go over their heads," says Executive Director Alex Meda of the company's first foray into a devised twist on traditional holiday theater. As an ensemble of women, Teatro Luna is committed to building opportunities to engage mothers and families and is proud to present its first kid-friendly show. "But it's still hilarious and smart," Ensemble member Kristiana Colón injects, "it's so different from anything we've ever done, but it's still such a Luna play." A Very Luna Christmascontinues Season 12's journey into families, traditions, and how they evolve in clans of rebellious Latina women, with the fast-paced incisive humor you've come to expect from the company's ensemble devised work.

Teatro Luna's 12th season dares to get introspective and kicks off a year of plays about self-definition within family units, -traditional, military, artistic-and A Very Luna Christmas is no exception. What happens when you bring your girlfriend to meet Mami for the first time, when you try to celebrate the first Christmas without your spouse or when your teenage daughter tries to evangelize the whole family, just in time for the birth of Christ? A Very Luna Christmas uses Teatro Luna's incisive wit and humor to tell our holiday stories the way our audiences love to hear them - and through them explore the diversity of womanhood and Latinidad. As the organization matures, A Very Luna Christmas hopes to be the first in an annual series of holiday shows for the Latino/a community.

As the Holiday Season kicks into full swing, Teatro Luna invites Chicago to laugh, cry, and reminisce on holidays past with A Very Luna Christmas, a holiday show the whole family is sure to enjoy.

A Very Luna Christmas features Artistic Associates Amanda de la Guardia (Living Large..., PUTAS!) and Alyssa Vera Ramos, Teatro Luna favorites Jazmin Corona (Crossed), Angelica Roque (PUTAS!) and Ashley Alvarez (PUTAS!), and Luna newcomers Diana Campos and Sindy Castro.

Who/What: Teatro Luna, Chicago's All-Latina Theatre Company Presents A Very Luna Christmas, a holiday show for the whole family developed and directed by Paula Ramirez** and Abigail Vega**, produced for Teatro Luna by Alexandra Meda*. Featuring: Ashley Alvarez, Diana Campos, Sindy Castro, Jazmin Corona, Amanda de la Guardia**, Alyssa Vera Ramos**, and Angelica Roque. Design by Mac Vaughey**, Dylan Marks, Sarah N. Ramos.

* denotes Ensemble Membership ** denotes Artistic Association

Performances take place at Luna Central, 3914 N. Clark St. (Mainstage Space), Dec. 3, 2012 - Jan. 6, 2013, Thurs-Sun, matinee and prime time. ALL THURSDAYS ARE PAY WHAT YOU CAN. Tickets are $20 advanced sale, $25 at the door. Visit www.teatroluna.org for more details on special events and other ticket prices.

This play is presented mostly in English with a sprinkle of Spanish.

Teatro Luna is Chicago's only all-Latina theatre dedicated to creating original devised and single-author work by Latinas that honors Latina lives and showcases the talents of Latina/Hispana artists.

Founded in 2000, Teatro Luna is dedicated to expanding the range of Latina/Hispana roles visible on the Chicago stage and beyond. Some of our most well-known work includes: Generic Latina, The Maria Chronicles, S-E-X-Oh!, Lunatic(a)s, Machos, GL2010: Not Your Generic Latina, & Crossed (Immigrant = Mexican?). TL tours colleges/universities, festivals and venues across the country with a blend of ensemble-created performances, workshops, and lectures.

Central to its mission is Teatro Luna's commitment to nurture Latina talent and develop new plays, and this is primarily served by our ambitious Luna Labs. Additionally, our education department offers unique year-round programs to both Adult Women of Color and Youth. Teatro Luna is the country's only Pan-Latina Theatre Company to have a physical home. Come and spend some time with the Ladies of Luna at Luna Central: An Arts Center for New & Diverse Work - 3914. N Clark St.