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PSJA Tri-City Theatre thespian students will dive into the 1940’s Zoot Suit Riots on stage with a performance of Luis Valdez’s “Zoot Suit.”
Focusing on the Zoot Suit Riots in the 1940s, the production depicts several different characters that tell the story of Mexican-Americans wrongfully accused of murder. The characters, inspired by real life people, demonstrate what they had to go through and what they had to overcome.
The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of violent clashes that took place from June 3-8 in 1943 in Los Angeles. It involved American servicemen stationed in Southern California and young Mexican-American residents who wore zoot suits, a sign of defiance in the era.
The riots were related to the hostilities of the coverage of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and triggered similar attacks against Latinos in San Diego, Oakland, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City.
PSJA Early College High School Head Theatre Director Jaclyn Benavidez said the production features over 50 students from all the district’s high schools.
“We were just excited, just to kind of show off the rich kind of culture of the 1940s and, you know, we just really wanted the students to understand the cultural pride behind zoot suit and also, unfortunately, the racial tensions that actually happened during those eras in that time,” Benavidez said. “So it brings a sense of pride of understanding and most importantly, just an educational perspective for these students to take in and experience.”
Having a sold out opening night last week with a car show with vehicles from the era, she said the students had a radiant energy on stage and “blew it out of the water”.
“Something that is great about (PSJA Tri-City Theater) is that they also hire consultants and professionals from across the country to come down to give these students an experience that they’re going to remember,” Benavidez said.
Receiving a crash course in the history around zoot suits and the riots, students such as PSJA freshmen Israel Frias who played Joey Castro, a pachuco in the production, said this was the first time he had heard about the event but felt pride being able to participate.
“Once I saw the script, I started learning about it,” Frias said. “That’s what made me want to audition for a role … because it’s Mexican-American, Hispanic heritage. I wanted to be involved in a story that’s going to get told, and that’s going to be inspiring to other people … I take away pride, honor to be inside of the production. From what I learned from the Zoot Suit Riots, some parts got me a little sad, some parts got me a little angry because It wasn’t right.”
With this being Frias’ first big production in his young career, he encourages other students and the community to come to a show and learn about Mexican-American history.
“Zoot Suit” performers take the stage at PSJA North ECHS Gilberto Zepeda Jr. Performing Arts Center every day Thursday through Monday at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of Friday. There’s also a Saturday performance at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and can only be bought online at hometownticketing.com by searching PSJA ISD-Fine Arts.
