El Teatro Campesino
CELEBRATING 59 years of teatro chicano
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Upcoming Events at the ETC Playhouse
APr
13
TEATRO FAMILY DAY FUNDRAISER
Annual Family Day Event with games, food, raffles, entertainment and more! Proceeds support our Community Arts programming offered year round.
May
2025
“ADIOS MAMA CARLOTA” by Luis Valdez
Luis Valdez’ latest work will be performed at the ETC Playhouse!
Previews May 2, 3, 4, 9
Performances May 10 – June 2, 2025
AUG
2025
PALABRA ARTIST SHOWCASE
Our Annual Artist Showcase returns. Open call for submissions this Spring.
NOV
2
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Annual Event filled with celebrations and cultura for our dearly departed. Free Community Event and Procession!
DEC
2025
“LA PASTORELA” Biennial Holiday Tradition
Performances inside the ETC Playhouse
November 28 – December 21
Upcoming Programs & Opportunities for Engagement
Jun -AUG
TEATRO DE NOSOTROS
Free Youth Theater Program for Watsonville Youth.
TBA
COMMUNITY CIRCULOS: CREATORS IN COMMUNITY
View our 2025 Calendar
About El Teatro Campesino
Our History
Since its inception, El Teatro Campesino and its founder and artistic director, Luis Valdez, have set the standard for Latino theatrical production in the United States. Founded in 1965 on the Delano Grape Strike picket lines of Cesar Chavez’s United Farmworkers Union, the company created and performed “actos” or short skits on flatbed trucks and in union halls
OUR MISSION
It is our mission to make teatro a creator of vibrant community
Be Part of our Vibrant Community of Volunteers
COVID-19 IMPACT ON PROGRAMS
As of NOV 2023, ETC HAS ENTERED IT’S FULL RETURN TO IN PERSON PROGRAMMING INSIDE OUR THEATER.
Luis Valdez to be awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities by President Obama
We are proud to announce that Luis Valdez will be awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities by President Obama for bringing Chicano culture to American drama. The NEA has awarded more than $5 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity,...
Our Core Areas of Programming
From flatbed trucks to the Broadway stage, for over fifty-seven years now, El Teatro Campesino has been at the forefront of using theater as an artistic generator of social change. The spheres of ETC’s work can be summarized into three core areas: Professional arts, Community arts, and Arts Education.
Professional ARTS
Providing unique opportunities to experience the
Performing Arts
Community ARTS
Accessible programming and productions that help create vibrant communities
ARTS EDUCATION
Teatro integrated lessons that help equip the next generations with creative tools to succeed
Luis Valdez, Founding Artistic Director & Playwright
Photo credit: Robert Eliason
“It’s absolutely essential for every generation to capture that social responsibility. Injustice grows like weeds. The injustices of the world are like weeds, and if you do nothing they’ll choke your whole garden…”
Thank You To Our Funders
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