Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez

846 Words2 Pages

“Zoot Suit” by Luis Valdez

Based on the infamous 1942 “Sleepy Lagoon” murder mystery and the resulting “Zoot Suit Riots” in Los Angeles , playwright Luis Valdez weaves fact and fiction to depict the fate of 22 young Mexican Americans brought to trial for a murder they did not commit.

“Zoot Suit” brings together unforgettable characters such as the irreverent El Pachuco and the charismatic Henry Reyna, an unsuspecting gang leader who finds himself caught in the middle of the racially turbulent events that rocked Los Angeles during the early 1940s.
Valdez says this production exemplifies the evolution of American society.
“The essence about the American experience is about cultural fusion,” Valdez says. “’Zoot Suit’ has influences that were brought on during the evolution of jazz, when you saw African American talent mixed with the American experience. The Hispanic influence is amplified through the story, style and attitude, which are really influences that every culture can relate with.”
Created by playwright Luis Valdez, “Zoot Suit” made its world premiere in 1978 at the Mark Taper Forum where it ran for an unprecedented twelve-weeks. “Zoot Suit” broke all attendance records at the Taper and subsequently moved to the larger Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood to accommodate audience demand. Coinciding with the Hollywood run, this critically acclaimed production opened on Broadway in 1979. In 1981, Valdez adapted “Zoot Suit” for the screen and then directed the Golden Globe...

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