Book Description

Luis Valdez studies the life and work of this Chicano playwright, director, performer, and producer along with the implications of his legacy for Chicana/o/x communities and for all who engage with his work. Valdez’s work broadened the scope of theater and arts in the Chicano community, and his formation of El Teatro Campesino brought together students and farmworkers. This volume highlights his professional work and writings. It offers a unique investigation of Luis Valdez, his life, his oeuvre, and his contributions to the theater in the United States and beyond. This book combines: an in-depth biographical overview of Valdez’s life and career, focusing on defining experiences that set his trajectory into motion; an exploration of Valdez’s key writings—the 1973 epic poem Pensamiento Serpentino and the unpublished lecture The Power of Zero which articulate his philosophy of the Theatre of the Sphere; a stylistic analysis of his key works, including Soldado Razo and Zoot Suit as well as their critical reception; and a selection of improvisation and dance-based warm-ups, embodiment exercises, and an acto writing practicum adapted to experiment with Valdez’s works. As a first step towards critical understanding, and as an initial exploration before going on to further, primary research, Routledge Performance Practitioners offer unbeatable value for today’s students.