From Poverty on the Agricultural Fields to Renown Playwright to Recipient of the Presidential National Medal of Arts
By Belinda Quesada
There is no other figure in the theatrical and film arts who has impacted social change for Latinos as much as Luis Valdez has. He is unique in his role as father of Chicano Theater and community activist. A living legend who has conquered Hollywood and Broadway. On September 22, 2016 he was recognized by President Barack Obama as one of twelve distinguished Americans to receive the National Medal of Arts Award at a White House ceremony. Acknowledged for “For bringing Chicano culture to American drama. As a playwright, actor, writer, and director, he illuminates the human spirit in the face of social injustice through award winning stage, film, and television productions.”
The Father of Chicano Theater
In Northern California’s Silicon Valley, they are immensely proud of Luis Valdez and have adopted him as their native son. It is where the Valdez family visited often to work the fields and eventually settled. It’s where Luis spent his formative teen years and graduated from college. San José has always held a special place in his heart.
For those who are unfamiliar with Chicano history or too young to remember, Luis is much more than the founder and artistic director of the internationally renowned El Teatro Campesino (ETC) theater in San Juan Bautista, California. He is an activist, playwright, author, actor, director, and lifelong educator.
Chicano theater was literally born on the fields of California farmlands, where as the name implies, Teatro Campesino (the farmworker theater) was born and whose original audiences were workers in the fields. ETC has remained a mecca for creative storytelling, super talented actors, and a shrine to Chicano history that has to be seen to be believed. Last year, they celebrated their 50th anniversary.
Acknowledged as the father of Chicano theater, Luis has achieved many first in his illustrious entertainment career.
Before Lin-Manuel Miranda or John Leguizamo, Luis Valdez was the first Mexican-American to write and stage a play on Broadway, that musical drama was Zoot Suit. A dramatic, original musical about the social injustice of the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder trial set in 1943, Los Angeles.
The highly successful play ran a combined eleven months at the Los Angeles Mark Taper Forum theater and the Aquarius theatre in Hollywood. In an unprecedented move, Valdez and Gordon Davidson, the Artistic Director of the Mark Taper Forum stunned the theatrical world by opening the production on Broadway, while it continued to run at the Aquarius Theater in L.A. It opened at the Winter Garden Theater on March 25, 1979. This, my friends, was huge.
While the NY Broadway production did not break box-office receipts and closed after a month, it accomplished the unthinkable: A Chicano/Latino production, starring a predominantly Latino cast and about a predominately Latino subject matter. Outstanding by any measure. When it opened on Broadway, the President of México sent Mariachis to serenade their opening night performance. Can I hear a grito and get an amen?
Luis has gone on to write, direct, and produce dozens of other original productions for film, television and the stage, including the films Zoot Suit, La Bamba (which held the record of being the highest grossing film about Latinos for over 20 years) and The Cisco Kid. His theater productions include Corridos, Día de Los Muertos, La Virgen del Tepeyac, Popol Vuh, Valley of the Heart, and many more. He continues his creative genius to this day (Check out his industry bio).
Early Years of Poverty
Luis was born into extreme poverty to loving parents, Francisco and Armida Valdez. Literally born in the barn on the farm where his parents worked and many farm workers would stay, sometimes multiple families occupying one small space. The family worked tirelessly in the fields as migrant workers. There were ten children in all because that’s what you did back then. Family was everything. There were no birth control pills and all able bodied family members worked to help one another.
His first brother, Francisco (Pancho/Frank) was 3 years older, and brother number two, Manuel, was next. Born with congenital intestinal problems. Manuel only lived about a year and a half. Makes you wonder about the extreme toxic working conditions. Back in the 1940’s, farm workers did not have worker’s rights, much less knew anything about the dangers of pesticides. Who did back then? Now there are education programs and labor laws against human rights violations, and much more. Astonishingly just four short months ago, farmworkers won the legal right to receive overtime pay when working past their full eight-hour day. These rights were unconceivable back them.
In the summer of 1940, Luis was born, baby boy number three and six months after Manuelito’s passing. In a freak accident in the barn when he was about a year old and just learning to walk, Luis was scalded with hot water on his back and head. Burned severely, he was rushed to the emergency room at the local hospital. Since there were no burn units back then, they released him the next day into the care of his parents.
Terrified and probably fearing she might lose another son, his young mother who was only twenty years old, cradled little Luis on her chest every night for a year until his skin grew back. It must have been torturous for both mother and son and a sacrifice for all family members.
Recently when he lost his oldest brother Frank to cancer, Luis reminisced about their special bond growing up.
“We were very, very, close for many years. We were dirt poor, but he and I loved to talk about the meaning of life. He was an intellect and a philosopher and loved to discuss ideas. I am so fortunate to have had my brother on those dark nights’ way back when, when we were struggling to survive. He lifted me up and allowed me to see life on a whole different level. I love and respect him for that.”
A favorite ‘dicho’ or expression Valdez uses is ‘the way to the mind is through the heart’ and now you know why. At age 76, he remains humble and appreciative of a life well spent with Lupe, his loving compañera and biggest fan of nearly 50 years. Together, they raised a family of three boys, inspired thousands of others through creative arts, social justice causes, and education while staying true to their Chicano roots. Proving Valdez’s truism, which he has believed all his life, that imagination and inspiration are the basic tools needed to succeed.
And what does Luis Valdez think after the whiplash election of president-elect Donald J. Trump?
Upon reflection, Luis quotes Benito Juárez, 26th President of México who said, “Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz,” meaning “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others peace.”
Never silent on social injustice, Luis continues, “I believe that the negatives in life can convert into positives and sometimes in shockingly obvious ways. A Trump Administration will result in the enlightenment of millions of Americans, through the inevitable result of mistakes and misjudgments by a bumbling new president. However, I still believe that the constitutional spirit of the American republic is strong enough to internally resist and prevent the power grabs of a potential dictator. In short, I expect that Trump will initially be stumped by the overwhelming challenges of the presidency, particularly in foreign affairs. Whether he grows or collapses in office remains to be seen. But all Americans cannot afford to lower their guard for the foreseeable future.”
Órale pues. Spoken like the thoughtful, intellectual giant he is.
Valdez admits it has been a brutal year and a half with some of the worst and most divisive politics he’s ever witnessed.
As a pacifist and lifelong social justice champion, Luis reflects, “what amazes me is how blissfully ignorant people are of their own history. I see how that in America a playwright, an American of Puerto Rican mixed background, can create a play (a musical) that is able to reveal a piece of American history about the first United States Secretary of Treasure, Alexander Hamilton, is a beautiful thing. For better or worse, he has done it.”
“I’m a nut about history and knowing how politics work. If anything, politics have revealed the popularity of Donald Trump and has been reduced down to what the guy looks like or sounds like. It has demeaned the role of president by acknowledging someone like Donald Trump. When I was on the National Council of the Arts Board in Washington some years back, I got to see first-hand how politics work. I’ve seen how deals are struck and people make compromises every day. America has to find it’s heart. Get past the racism and hate speech.”
“We all have to turn negatives into positives. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade, if it gives you avocados, make guacamole!” laughs Luis.
What’s Next For El Teatro Campesino
Fiercely intelligent and passionate about American and Mexican history as well as the Chicano experience. ETC is staging their next play, the biennial La Virgen del Tepeyac, a must see for the entire family. The original play, adapted to theater by Luis, has run for nearly four decades. It is a traditional holiday favorite seen only at the historical and beautiful Old Mission San Juan Bautista. (One of the 21 Spanish Missions remaining in California.) The play dramatizes the four Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Indian messenger Juan Diego in the early 1500’s. Accompanied by perfect acoustics, glorious music, beautiful costumes, and Aztec dancers; it is a stunning recreation not to be missed. La Virgen del Tepeyac runs from Nov. 27-Dec. 20th.
For now Valdez is busy with the revival of a new staging of Zoot Suit, back at the Mark Taper Forum where the hit play originated. Luis has been invited to return some 40 years later to re-staged his powerful, award-winning dramatic musical, Zoot Suit.
If you loved it the first time around or never saw it, now is your chance to see the rival. It is the play that re-introduced and solidified our love of Chicanismo culture, dress, and music. It launched many successful Latino acting careers and put Luis Valdez on the Hollywood map. The play broke box office records and branded the Pachuco culture for new generations. Because of this play, Luis went on to write, direct, and produce countless original feature films and television and theater productions.
Zoot Suit runs from January 31st – March 12, 2017. Click Here for tickets.
Always a strong believer in collaboration, El Teatro Campesino has a partnership with San José Stage Company. Valdez has been commissioned to write a new play. Look for, Adiós Mamá Carlota, premiering 2018.
Luis Valdez receiving the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama
Valdez on Valdez
Valdez knows he’s blessed and for him it has never been about the money or the fame; it has been about the work. He believes he is simply beginning another phase in life. And would like to be remembered as part of the continuum and believes in ‘The Wave’ principle.
Explaining, “We are all a part of the wave. It is a regenerative faith. If a baby is born, it doesn’t matter how much money it has or where it is born. You are given life. It is up to you to make due and create your own life. El Teatro Campesino was born out of nothing; it was born on a picket line. If I can help others and illuminate the human spirit, then I have lived a good life.
Photo Credits: “Teatro Campesino 50th Anniversary”
About The Writer
Belinda Quesada is a freelance writer who lives and thrives in Silicon Valley. She is an original San Jose Homegirl and a Menlo College graduate. She is known for her in depth interviews of Latino celebrities and human interest stories. She has a background in communications and is a contributing writer for Latin Heat and other publications. Her most prized role is of Grandmother of fraternal twin girls.
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