Luis Valdez Summary

Valdez, Luis (1940—) Luis Valdez is considered to be the father of Chicano theater. He is the instigator of the contemporary Chicano theatrical movement and its most outstanding playwright. Val... Read more

In the following essay, which was written in 1970, Valdez attempts to define a uniquely Chicano theater. What is Chicano theatre? It is theatre as beautiful, rasquachi, human, cosmic, broad, deep, ... Read more

In this essay, the authors trace the origins and evolution of El Teatro Campesino and Valdez's work with the group. San Juan Bautista is a very ordinary, small town in central California. It... Read more

Here, Huerta surveys Valdez's career, stressing the playwright's continual questioning of notions of reality and identity. It is a pleasure to introduce the reader to Zoot Suit, Bandi... Read more

In the following interview, Valdez discusses his career as a playwright and the roles of politics and mysticism in his work. One month into the 1965 Delano grape strike, which solidified the power ... Read more

In the following excerpt, Huerta traces Valdez's maturation as a playwright and director, and discusses the defining qualities of his work. For some, Luis Valdez needs no introduction; for o... Read more