The Nativity Story According to St. Matthew and St. Luke - La Historia de Navidad de Acuerdo a San Mateo y San Lucas
In the Heart of the Beast is taking the Nativity story to the streets!
- Come experience the Christmas Story as you’ve never done before. The story of the holy child being born in our midst – here in Midtown Minneapolis.
- This unique holiday show combines street theatre, puppetry and a torch-lit procession based on the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas. And you'll be part of the action!
"What an extraordinary experience! ... It was the best, most moving, most spiritual telling of the Christmas story that I have ever seen. Like the three wise men who thought they were following a star and wound up face-to-face with God, I thought I was just going to a play. I cannot thank you enough." -Patrick D & Family
Audiences will move with the performers among three different locations:
- First, meet “Maria and José” in the Mercado Central.
- Across the street in the Avalon Theatre, you’ll discover shepherds and star-seekers.
- Then, in a colorful torch-lit procession, follow Maria & José as they look for refuge down 15th Avenue to St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, where all will be welcomed for the Nativity.
- Finally, join the fiesta in St Paul’s Fellowship Hall - complete with music and snacks.
Told with HOBT’s signature visual beauty and soulful live music, “La Natividad” will be an utterly unique community celebration.
Come join us!
photos by Bruce Silcox
“There might not be a place in the Twin Cities where you get more bang for your aesthetic holiday buck than at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre's roving production of La Natividad... there's something raggedy and warm and heartbreakingly sweet about this production.
Perhaps, despite the larger-than-life puppets, it's the idea that this telling of the Nativity story comes from an acutely human perspective.
Maybe it's the movement and the final, literal coming in from the
cold. Whatever the reason, there's something scruffily divine about La
Natividad - both in the aesthetic and theological
senses of the word.”
-Dominic Papatola, Pioneer Press
Read
the full review
Performance Info
- Performed in English and Spanish.
- Audiences must be mobile and dressed appropriately for the outdoors; the procession is 2.5 blocks long.
- Please notify us of any special needs at least one week in advance.
Audience comments
“Se ve muy lindo y me dio mucho gusto verlo. Especialmente me intereso la conexion con la injusticia en aquella epoca y nuestro tiempo. Muchisimas gracias.”
“Beautifully done. Loved the intergenerational and multicultural cast. I appreciate the culturally relevant depiction of the Nativity scene/story. Great job!”
“Unique and well-performed. Really engaging for all ages in my group 7-50.”
“Heartwarming on a cold December night.”
“Delightful, prayerful, educational, welcoming. Thank you!”