This article was last updated on May 25, 2022
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USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…Zoot Suit — The Real-Life Story of the Zoot Suit Riots
Hobbs Hall (Los Angeles, CA)
Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit is inspired by the real life story of the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial, in which a group of Chicano youths were charged with a murder they did not commit, and the resulting “Zoot Suit Riots.” This landmark piece of Chicano theater was the first of the genre to be produced on Broadway. Set in the barrios of Los Angeles in the 1940s, the play follows Henry Reyna, a “pachuco,” defined by his flamboyant dress and street connections, as well as his Chicano heritage. On the night before he is set to join the Navy, Reyna is accused of the murder of a rival gang member and is wrongfully imprisoned for the crime. Henry’s story as he seeks help from a beautiful legal aide is supplemented by the mythical character of “El Pachuco,” the ultimate zoot suiter, who serves as a Greek chorus and a reporter who transmits the events of the outside world in the form of news headlines.
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