Located downtown at the Music Center of Los Angeles (adjacent to the Ahmanson Theatre and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion) is the Mark Taper Forum. Conveniently located just off the 110 Freeway headed northbound, this award-winning bastion of theatre has hosted some of the most premier and popular plays of its time—including Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit (1978). The Mark Taper Forum was built in 1967 as part of a cultural initiative led by Dorothy Chandler and others. Architect Welton Becket built the Forum with no set plan as to its function, but Mrs. Chandler soon convinced theatre producer Gordon Davidson to “rent out the place” (Pincus-Roth).
The Mark Taper Forum has produced award-winning plays such as Children of a Lesser God, The Kentucky Cycle, and Angels of America under Davidson. These plays, as Charles Marowitz, director of "The Importance of Being Earnest" at Los Angeles Theatre Center commented in an L.A. Times article: "The Mark Taper Forum is the temple for the middle-class, middle-aged, middle-brow public in Los Angeles, and a reflection of the worst features of that public” (Thoughts on the Mark Taper Forum). Considering that Latinos made up a small percentage of theatre subscribers (2% in 1997), many of the plays produced followed traditional Western styles of theatrical production. Luis Valdez’s play Zoot Suit broke away from tradition and brought in a different clientele to the Forum, proven by the unprecedented twelve-week run and breaking of all former attendance records at the Mark Taper Forum (Romero). The play centers around the 1942 “Sleepy Lagoon” murder mystery and the consequent “Zoot Suit Riots” in Los Angeles, following the story of 22 young Chicanos who are brought to trial for a murder they did not commit. Through its use of Chicano language and cultural markers, the play introduces its audience to the new Chicano generation—a generation vocal and active about the injustices they face as non-White people. The young characters in the play (Hank Reyna and company) are immersed in the pachuco style, which is at the center of conflict with parental figures and mass media outlets that portray young Chicanos as rebellious criminals.
Consistent with themes of identity formation and the process of racialization, Zoot Suit provides a concrete example of the tough realities faced by the new Chicano generation. The success the play had at the Mark Taper Forum showcases the interest Latino people have in attending the theatre for plays that are relatable to their community.
Sources:
Pincus-Roth, Zachary. “A Los Angeles Theater Is Renovated, Relieving Headache-Inducing Quirks”. 26 August. 2008, New York Times, ProQuest. Web. 23 Apr. 2012.
"Thoughts on the Mark Taper Forum" Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) 5 Apr. 1987, Los Angeles Times, ProQuest. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.
Romero, Manny. Valdez Brings Stylish ‘Zoot Suit’ to Gammage. Arizona State University Website. Web. 24 Apr.2012.
Submitted By: Stephanie L, Raquel P, and Albertina B.
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