“The Pachuco was existential - for he was an actor in the streets - both profane and reverential” 

-Pachuco

Concept Statement:

    Zoot Suit is both a historical play and a lively musical. Chicanos express their personas for the world with a head tilted up and lean in their stride. Zoot Suit is unapoligetically loud and in your face. Luis Valdes walks a line between fiction and realism to present a one of a kind experience. 

    The story of Henry Reyna is a reflection of the real life character of Enrique Leyvas as well as a majority of the shows characters. Luis Valdez challenges the audience by creating these “real people” and placing them alongside the embodiment of all that it means to be Chicano. Using the lighting as an instrument to enforce both the emotion and tone of each setting while doing little to hide that you are watching a play. Following the wisdom of the author with his Teatro Campesino, the lights are a part of the audiences experience. Framing the stage is an arc resembling a jukebox that transports the audience into the analogue era of the 40’s. As the audience takes their seats they are greeted to footlights on the rails in front of them, at the foot of the stage, the structures of the house itself, and on the set itself. Being able to see these elements serves to remind the audience that this is first and foremost a show. In a strange way, this relief from conventional restrictions allows the audience to become more invested in the content being presented. Using warmer colors for the front light and highside system conventionals allowed the impression of a warm tinge that you might see and associate to when looking at an old photograph or film. Incandescents breathe life into this show. The use of LEDs is merely a tool of the extraordinary images presented. The consistent warmer tones ground the piece, while colors in the smoke filled air are used to be embodiments of the characters emotions and dilemas.