Backstage.Zoot Suit 1978 Mark Taper Forum
Early in 1978, I was invited to do a reading at the Mark Taper Forum of a new play by Luis Valdez called Zoot Suit. The binder was about 3 inches thick and I wasn’t sure we would finish it that nite. But we did.
Gordon Davidson was in attendance at this reading, along with various members of the Mark Taper Forum’s staff and THE NEW THEATRE FOR NOW crew.
Subsequently the play was chosen to be a part of the new season.
I believe we rehearsed about one month.
The run through of the first act was amazing. We knew we had something quite unique, historic. The whole Taper staff was there and when the first act was finished, there was quiet. Music and dancing had been added. Our choreographer was amazing. I thought perhaps the silence meant that they didn’t like it. However, they did! After that run thru, there was great excitement about ZOOT SUIT.
There were “cuts” that came in after that run through. . We all held on to our breathe and our scripts and wanted to do our best. Eddie Olmos at lunch remind us that this was a really important step for all of us including the Taper. There was a great feeling that we were part of something more than our production of ZOOT SUIT.
I remember going to the Box office after a couple of previews. to make sure tickets for my family had been put aside. There was a huge line for tickets outside the box office waiting to get any “cancellations”. They were all young people from neighboring High Schools. (Roosevelt, Garfield). It was remarkable
The first Zoot Suit premiered April 20-30, 1978.
