Our Stories
TMM’s inspiration to create Latino theatre also came from playwright Luis Valdez and his brother Daniel, who cofounded the Teatro Campesino in 1965 during the Delano Grape Strike led by César Chávez’s United Farm Workers Union. This traveling troupe used their performances to communicate with farmworkers in the fields and the public about the need to improve farmworkers’ working conditions. We are proud to claim that San Diego’s longest-running holiday theatrical tradition is “La Pastorela,” which started its run with a workshop reading at The Old Globe Theatre’s 1989 Teatro Meta educational program. “La Pastorela” was produced from 1990-93. In 1994, The San Diego Repertory Theatre provided us with the opportunity to perform “La Pastorela” annually for more than two decades on their stage. The Rep’s cofounder, Sam Woodhouse, embraced TMM’s vision. We remained in residence for more than 20 years and co-produced several works by first-time playwrights, such as Josefina Lopez’s, “Real Women Have Curves.” But as sweet as it was at the Rep, we still didn’t have a permanent year-round home. Finally, Casa Familiar in San Ysidro built a housing development in 2019 that also included a theatre home for us, El Salon. We have yet to occupy it since Covid closed everything in 2020. But we hope to open the doors in late 2022. I have been blessed to have had a wonderful career in the performing arts and the opportunity to mentor many students. I encourage them to pursue their theatrical dreams even when the journey may be bumpy.
I am an example of someone who didn’t give up. Born with a disability, I underwent more than 30 surgeries and wore leg braces. I was finally able to walk at the age of five. I had loving parents. My Mexican German father, Roman, was an airline executive, and my Mexican mother, Margarita, was a famous poet in Mexico City. My first audience was my brother Ricardo and my sister Martha.
TMM Outreach Camp El Colonia de Eden Garden for youth and families (Photo courtesy William A. Virchis)
Left to right: Daniel Valdez, William A. Virchis and playwright Luis Valdez – “Zoot Suit” (Photo courtesy William A. Virchis)
At the age of seven, my family moved to San Diego from Mexico City in 1951. When I was 11, I fell in love with theatre, after seeing the “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at The Old Globe. Although accepting a college wrestling scholarship in New York almost got in the way. But that’s another story, for another time.
I am still hopeful that the mainstream playhouses will look at how they can incorporate more of our stories in their productions.
La Pastorela, Old Globe Theatre 2003 San Diego Repertory Theatre (Photo courtesy Old Globe Theatre)
Diversity must become a priority as Latinos and other diverse communities continue to grow. That’s how we will begin to understand and appreciate one another, on the stage and beyond.
Left to right: William, Martha (sister) and parents, Margarita and Roman Virchis (Photo courtesy William A. Virchis)
TMM Board of Directors (Photo courtesy William A. Virchis)
156
San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 5 – The Chicano Cultural Renaissance
157
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator