Act 1, Part 1 Summary

Prologue. A narrator called El Pachuco appears, dressed in a zoot suit from the Forties. He checks his appearance, making sure he's perfect in every detail as he models his clothes. He poetically describes the "Pachuco" as part mythic hero and part heroic joke, telling us it was the secret wish of every young Chicano in the Forties barrio to live the powerful pachuco dream of being a proud and visible Chicano while simultaneously fitting in with American culture and society.

Scene 1. A dance in the barrio. El Pachuco sings about the stylish zoot suit as Henry, Henry's girlfriend Della and other members of his gang dance animatedly. Members of a rival gang, the Downeys, appear and watch. This creates tension, and then Rafas, the leader of the Downeys, shoves Rudy, Henry's brother. The dance continues.

Scene 2. Sirens blare and flashbulbs...