Pinellas Park – From November 12 through November 22, First United Methodist Church’s community room will host a one‑woman memory play titled A Bodega Princess Remembers La Fiesta de los Reyes Magos, 1998. The production is presented by local site‑specific theater company Story Keepers and stars playwright‑performer Iraisa Ann Reilly.
Local roots, cultural celebration
Reilly grew up in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, where her Cuban mother and American father raised her in a tight‑knit Latino neighborhood. Her grandparents owned Pepe’s, the town’s only bodega, and the family’s presence made her a “bodega princess” in the community. The play revisits the annual La Fiesta de los Reyes Magos celebration at St. Nick’s Catholic Church, a tradition observed on Jan. 6 that marks the visit of the Three Kings with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
“It’s a religious celebration, but it’s also really cultural,” Reilly explains. “The holiday brings singing, dancing, food and profound merriment for Hispanic families.” In the show, she narrates her own childhood memories, sometimes slipping into the role of her eight‑year‑old self, while reflecting on the broader changes in her hometown.
Critical praise and artistic credentials
The play first appeared in Ensemble Studio Theatre’s New York production in 2025, where Theatremania.com called it “a vivid portrait of an American community in transition.” Reviewers highlighted Reilly’s “dry delivery and warm stage presence,” noting that the piece feels like a beloved Christmas movie worth revisiting each year.
Beyond the stage, Reilly teaches theater in New York City schools and serves as an adjunct professor at NYU Tisch. She holds a Master’s in Dramatic Writing from NYU and is an Underground Resident Playwright at Roundabout Theatre Company. The work was commissioned by the Lucille Lortel Theatre, Latinx Playwrights Circle, and Ensemble Studio Theatre, and it earned a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Original Production during a workshop run with Philadelphia’s Simpatico Theatre Company.
Intimate setting and audience interaction
Story Keepers’ director Jose Aviles says the church’s community room provides an intimate space that mirrors the play’s setting. “There’s audience interaction, so it feels like I’m just up there having a conversation with the audience,” Reilly says. Seating is extremely limited, making each performance a close‑up experience for those who attend.
Tickets and showtimes are available through the Story Keepers link provided in the original announcement. The production offers Pinellas Park residents a chance to celebrate a vibrant Hispanic tradition while supporting a local theater company dedicated to site‑specific storytelling.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
