St. Mary’s Academy was selected to participate in the ‘Zoot Suit’ Student Matinee Program! Between February 21-23, 2017, approximately 2,000 students from the Los Angeles area attended Center Theatre Group’s Zoot Suit performances at the Mark Taper Forum.  Zoot Suit is about young Chicanos in 1940s Los Angeles fighting for justice, self-identity and racial acceptance during a time the media stigmatized the zoot suit fashion.

School educators who participated in the program attended a conference to delve in to the play in order to prepare class discussions and reflections on the students’ viewing experience. Our students engaged in a variety of activities before and after their trip to the Taper Forum and even received a class visit from one of the actresses from the play! Following the performance, the students from various schools were able to ask questions to the actors and actresses. One of our Belles asked the actresses how they were able to show a strong female presence in a male dominated play. The actresses appreciated the question and informed the students that they felt compelled to bring a stronger presence to the stage because there was a predominantly male cast and were fortunate to be mentored from other female cast members to bring energy and passion to the stage. The Zoot Suit play would not be as impactful without our female  artists!

SMA Belles participated in the Center Theatre Group’s Instagram challenge as to what our students #TakeAStand on in the face of adversity. Our Belles #TakeAStandCTGLA for female power and equality!

Acting teacher, Ms. Gorder wrote about the experience-

“Estela Garcia, a teaching artist with Center Theatre Group LA, came to our class to introduce the themes of Zoot Suit to our SMA Belles. She felt right at home here, as she also grew up in South LA! During her first visit, we played lots of theatre games that were created by El Teatro Campesino to introduce theatre to farm workers. On her second visit, we discussed the play as a whole and created short scenes with our own endings to the play. We were very thankful for this opportunity from Center Theatre Group. Next week, we will be putting together a mock trial similar to the Sleepy Lagoon Murder Trial discussed in Zoot Suit.”