Latino Heritage Tour: GALA Hispanic Theatre
Over the past 46 years of operation, the GALA Hispanic Theatre has produced roughly 240 plays in Spanish and English for diverse audiences in Washington DC.
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Established in 1976, GALA (Grupo de Artistas LatinoAmericanos) initially emerged as an eclectic group of artists, dancers, writers, and performers operating out of a townhouse in Adams Morgan. The ultimate goal of the original group was twofold: "to bring Spanish and Latin American plays to the attention of the Spanish-speaking people in Washington; and to make the English-speaking public aware of the richness and variety of Hispanic theater."
Co-founders Hugo Medrano (an Argentine-born actor who directed productions in Spain) and Rebecca Read (a dancer who came to Washington from New York City) married shortly after creating GALA. They spent time traveling the country to absorb ideas and returned to the city inspired. At the start, GALA's approach to plays was entirely bilingual. Most productions were presented in both Spanish and English--this proved too challenging to maintain, so the theatre began presenting most plays in Spanish with English translation available via headset.
GALA narrowed its focus to become GALA Hispanic Theatre within its first decade of operation, and grew into what many considered "the country's leading Spanish-language theater." Despite high awards and a loyal following, GALA struggled to find a permanent home until 2005, when the company moved into the historic Tivoli Theatre in Columbia Heights (building completed in 1924). GALA serves the surrounding community faithfully and continues to produce artistic content that represents the diversity of Latino cultures in the neighborhoods of Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights.
SOURCES
Blankenship, M. (2009, Aug 03). "Washington, D.C.'s GALA Hispanic Theatre Celebrates Latin Artists." The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, pages 12-13. Retrieved from Proquest.
