Chicano+Theatre

Chicano is a term often used to describe an American citizen with Mexican descent. Chicano Theatre is referred to as groups that sponsor the Chicano community and use both English and Spanish with some colloquialisms to give an extra "regional flavor." Usually improvised, the plays and sketches (regularly called //actos//) focus on regular difficulties the average Chicano face such as unemployment, education, and racial discrimination. The beginning of the art dates back to 1955, when workers found California's Teatro Campesino, which was a group of farmers that were on strike and used little skits (//actos//) to convince other workers to join them. It took two years for the movement to spread throughout the United States, and broke off from the union to experience more things and solve issues that affected the whole community.
 * Overview**

Over the years, even up to current time, Chicano groups have developed the courage to speak their mind. One of the main groups is the Taco Shop Poets. Beginning in 1994, the Taco Shop Poets was found by Adolfo Guzman Lopez, and started out as a poetry series (Taco Shop Poetry) which took place in San Diego (Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park). The series engaged musicians and writers to reclaim public space and use it as a stage to talk about the familiar environment of the taco shop. Nowadays the Taco Shop Poets are a group of over 30 performers and use El Campo Ruse as their headquarters.
 * Groups**

Another very famous group is El Teatro Campesino. A group founded in 1965 by Luis Valdez, after the Delano Grape Strike. The only thing on the group's mind is social change. It is all about the music, and has always been from the beginning. The group also likes to classify themselves as a "poor people’s theater realized with sweat, faith, love and sense of humor." They have produced about 5 movies, 3 music albums, and over 10 literary pieces.

For these groups to start certain individuals had to inspire their troops somehow before doing what they do. One of these individuals is Luis Valdez, the brain behind El Teatro Campesino. Luis' goal from the beginning was to introduce the life of a Chicano to any American. He now works in the workshops that the theatre group holds. His awards include Medal of the Arts Award, Aguila Aztec Award, Governors Award of the California Arts Council, and many other prestigious awards.
 * Important People**

Another important person would be Cesar Chavez, and even thought he did not play a role in any theatric group or play, Cesar Chavez played a major role in helping the voice of migrant workers strengthen. He was the leader of the United Farm Workers, and worked for the improvement of working conditions for immigrants. Why is Cesar important? His job during the Delano Grape Strike helped found the theater group: El Teatro Campesino.

The last important person in the list is Adolfo Guzman-Lopez. Co-founder of the Taco Shop Poets, Guzman-Lopez has been a full time reporter since 2000 for a California radio station. Before becoming a reporter, he was a writer for the San Diego Union Triuben and the Chicago Tribune. He started the Taco Shop Poets as a poetry series, and got the group in a documentary in the Sundance Film Festival. His writing has been featured in many places and written works.

•  • • Theatre - Guide to Chicano Theatre | Encyclopedia.com: Concise Oxford Companion to Chicano the Theatre." __Encyclopedia - Online Dictionary |__ __Encyclopedia.com: Get facts, articles, pictures, video__. 12 Oct. 2009  . • ".::The Taco Shop Poets::.." __.::The Taco Shop Poets::.__. 14 Oct. 2009  . • El Teatro Campesino On-line 2.0 (About Luis Valdez)." __Welcome to El Teatro Campesino On-line__. 14 Oct. 2009  . • El Teatro Campesino On-line 2.0 (History)." __Welcome to El Teatro Campesino On-line__. 14 Oct. 2009  .  • "Cesar Chavez." __America's Story from American Library__. 15 Oct. 2009 <www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/chavez>. • <span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: 'ＭＳ Ｐゴシック'; msohansifontfamily: Arial;">Adolfo Guzman-Lopez - Movie Miento." __Home Page - KCET Online__. 15 Oct. 2009 <span style="color: #333399; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msocolorindex: 5; msofareastfontfamily: 'ＭＳ Ｐゴシック'; msohansifontfamily: Arial;"> <http://www.kcet.org/local/blogs/movie_miento/2008/09/adolfo-guzman-lopez-bio.html>.
 * Bibliography**