Zoot Suit

Zoot Suit is a musical play by written by Luis Valdez, featuring music from Daniel Valdez and Lalo Guerrero, the "father of Chicano music." When in debuted in 1979, Zoot Suit was the first Chicano play on Broadway. In 1981, Luis Valdez also directed filmed version of the play.

Story

In Zoot Suit, Luis Valdez weaves a story involving the real-life events of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial — when a group of young Mexican-Americans were wrongfully charged with murder — and the Zoot Suit Riots. In the play, Henry Reyna (inspired by real-life defendant Henry Leyvas) is a pachuco gangster and his gang, who were unfairly prosecuted, are thrown in jail for a murder they did not commit. The play is set in the barrios of Los Angeles in the early 1940s against the backdrop of the Zoot Suit Riots and World War II.

Broadway production

The Broadway production of Zoot Suit debuted at the Winter Garden Theater on March 25, 1979, and closed April 29 after 41 performances. This production was directed by Luis Valdez. The production was noted for Edward James Olmos' dynamic portrayal of El Pachuco, a mythical figure that acts as a sort of Greek chorus to the action.

Awards

The stage production received two award nominations, resulting in one win. Edward James Olmos was nominated for the 1979 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Olmos won the 1979 Theatre World Award.

See also

• Zoot Suit, the 1981 filmed version of the play
• Zoot suit
• Zoot Suit Riots
• Sleepy Lagoon murder

External links

• In-depth information about the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial
• Zoot Suit at the Internet Broadway Database

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