East LA Repertory Theatre Company Invites you to a benefit fundraiser at the Avenue 50 Studio A Necessary Conversation with Jorge Huerta, Ph.D.
Moderated by Diane Rodriguez
Saturday, May 17, 2008, 7 – 10 pm
East Los Angeles Repertory Theatre Company (East LA Rep) brings together renowned Chicano Theatre scholar, Dr. Jorge Huerta,
and prominent director/producer, Diane Rodriguez, for an evening of necessary conversation
regarding the impact Latino theatre has made on the American theatre. Dr. Jorge Huerta is a professor of theater at UCSD,
and has also been appointed Associate Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer of UCSD.
In July of 1990, I wrote an op-ed for The Chronicle of Higher Education, entitled "Colleges Should Expose Their Students to the Tradition of Hispanic-American Theater." In that essay I argued for what the title implies: more recognition in theatre and drama curricula of what Latinos and Latin American theatre artists have been doing in the Americas (which includes the United States) for centuries. I pointed out the fact that during the 1980s the regional theatre companies seemed more interested in the theatrical expressions of these communities than did the theatre departments that were training and educating artists, scholars, and audiences. Well, the 1980s have passed and by 1994, I was bemoaning the fact that many of those mainstream theatres were no longer producing plays by Latina or Latino playwrights and if they were, they rarely hired Latina or Latino directors or other members of the production team. As a consequence, they often produced disastrous results. Funding sources had turned their attention to other causes and the mainstream "Hispanic Projects" as well as the Latina/o theatres were left to fend for themselves. . . .
Join us for an evening of insightful conversation, beautiful art, live music, and refreshments
as we reminisce the early years of Latino Theater, and look forward to the future.
This Necessary Conversation Series is a benefit fundraiser for East LA Rep
Refreshments provided by Taxquito
With 'son jarocho', music from Veracruz, Mexico by Grupo Chucumite
Donation $50 per person or $75 per couple
RSVP & Information: Mercy Castro, (323) 223-1529, mcastro@eastlarep.com Please join us at: Avenue 50 Studio, Inc. A 501(c)(3) non-profit art gallery 131 No. Avenue 50
Highland Park, CA 90042
323/258-1435
