Celebrate the culture at a Las Nuevas Tamaleras show Now through Dec. 15, Friday-Sunday, 411 SW 24th St, (210) 434-6711, lastamaleras.com Las Nuevas Tamaleras is as much tradition in San Antonio as The Nutcracker, but obviously in a more puro San Antonio way. The play follows the story of three ladies as they attempt — both hilariously and sincerely — to make tamales for the first time, joined by spirits who occasionally try to help. You can catch this show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at OLLU. Tickets range from $15 to $25, depending how good you want your seats to be. Photo courtesy of Burras Finas Productions Credit: Courtesy of Burras Finas Productions

It’s almost December, and that means one thing — it’s time for the tamalada, y’all!

Back in 1993, Alicia Mena immortalized San Antonio’s favorite holiday tradition in Las Nuevas Tamaleras, a one-act comedy about three Mexican-American women who dive headfirst into tamale-making. The catch? This is their very first time!

Las Nuevas Tamaleras has become a tradition of its own, with annual productions in San Antonio, as well as a bevy of performances all over Texas. Last year, the trio of Nuevas Tamaleras were even featured in their own H-E-B commercial.

Youtube video

On Friday, November 29, the production returns to Our Lady of the Lake University’s Thiry Auditorium starring Mena as Doña Mercedes alongside Ruby Nelda Perez as Doña Juanita and Patricia Zamora as Sylvia.

$15-$25, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays November 29-December 15, Thiry Auditorium, Our Lady of the Lake University, 411 S.W. 24th St., (210) 434-6711, lastamaleras.com.
Get our top picks for the best events in San Antonio every Thursday morning. Sign up for our Events Newsletter.

Related Stories

This article appears in Shop Local 2019.

Kelly Nelson was a digital content editor for the San Antonio Current.