Star struck: National Institute of Flamenco's 'La Estrella' brings the journey of The Three Kings to stage

Sometimes you have to look to the past to bring something into the modern world.

Marisol Encinias knows first hand the work it takes.

While she was an undergrad student at the University of New Mexico, Encinias came across the 12th century mystery play “Auto de los Tres Reyes Magos” in one of her classes.

Star struck: National Institute of Flamenco's 'La Estrella' brings the journey of The Three Kings to stage

“It’s just a medieval piece of literature,” she said. “I thought that it would be really cool to create work about the three kings and somehow tie it together to the posadas that we do here in New Mexico.”

The idea kicked around in Encinias’ head for years.

Around 2017, the executive director of the National Institute of Flamenco began working with Alejandro Rodriguez, who was also at UNM.

“He’s in the theater department and he helped us come up with a script,” Encinias said. “He really utilized the parts of the 12th century section of the literature and created a story filled with a lot of diversity.”

The result is “La Estrella: A Flamenco Story of the Kings’ Quest.” It was first staged in 2018.

The NIF will present the piece for the sixth year at Rodey Theatre on UNM’s campus. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14, as well as a 2 p.m. matinee show on Sunday, Dec. 15.

“La Estrella” dramatizes the journey of The Three Kings.

The production is based on the 12th century mystery play — which is the earliest known play in Spanish.

Many cultures celebrate Día de Los Reyes Magos, Encinias said.

In Mexico, Día de Los Reyes Magos (known elsewhere as Epiphany) is celebrated on Jan. 6 to honor the Three Wise Men, also called The Three Kings.

This holiday represents the day the Three Wise Men – Los Tres Reyes Magos – gave gifts to Jesus Christ, and the day closes the Christmas festivities.

Children in Latin America and Spain receive the majority of their gifts from The Three Kings, rather than from Santa Claus at Christmas.

Before going to bed, the children place their old shoes with a wishlist on top for The Three Kings.

In the morning, the shoes are filled with toys and gifts from The Three Kings.

The show features flamenco dance and music, villancicos (Christmas carols), Spanish regional dances, escuela bolera, African dance and Las Posadas, Encinias said.

“We had always wanted to do a holiday show, but so many people were doing ‘Las Posadas,’” she explained. “We also wanted to do a holiday production that would incorporate the institute’s students and professional dancers and musicians.”

NIF students will join performers from Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, as well as singer María del Mar Fernández from Cadiz, Spain, guitarist Ángel Ruíz, from Córdoba, Spain, and guitarist Estevan Pacheco from Albuquerque.

Madrid, Spain-based flamenco dancer Ricardo Moro will join Carlos Menchaca and Joaquín Encinias as they portray The Three Kings, Encinias said.

“We have a huge cast of 130 performers,” Encinias said. “There are over 500 costumes for the performance and over 300 cues for the performers. It’s a controlled chaos.”

With “La Estrella,” NIF has been able to create a tradition and community, Encinias said.

“This year, we have a grandmother and grandchild in the show,” she added. “It’s where everything comes together and we all learn from each other. The story is one of peace and understanding. It’s what we always need in the world.”