Center Theatre Group, LA’s leading non-profit theatre company, presents ¡SÍ SE PUEDE! this month, a new play by Eliana Pipes. ¡SÍ SE PUEDE! tells the story of trailblazing activist, Dolores Huerta, on her journey to improve conditions for farm workers. From co-founding the United Farmworkers with Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong, to boycotts, marches, and high-stakes negotiations–her unwavering commitment to justice changed the course of history.
"Her life is an example for all of us to find courage and work together to make a better world. ¡Sí se puede! is not just a slogan, it’s a call to action,” says Jesus A. Reyes, Center Theatre Group’s Director of Learning and Community Partnerships.
The 40 minute play features a blend of movement, music, and actos inspired by El Teatro Campesino, and is part of the CTG:FWD initiative, a series of special events and programming that began in 2023 with Brindell & Milton Gottleib Artistic Director Snehal Desai’s tenure at CTG. CTG:FWD projects aim to bring captivating storytelling by and for Angelenos to community spaces, libraries, and schools across Los Angeles so members can experience narratives that uplift and reflect the people, events, and themes important to Los Angeles.
Playwright Eliana Pipes, a writer, filmmaker, performer and LA local, has crossed paths with many of Snap’s grantees as a young artist; she’s a proud 4th grade alum of Young Storytellers (where she is now a Board Member), made her professional debut as a performer in The Actor’s Gang (where she is now a Board Member), made her professional debut as a performer in Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. As a screenwriter her pilot THE YOUNG LORDS was selected for the FX Imaginar TV Incubator with NALIP and Film Independent, and her feature screenplay FAUXRICUA was a finalist for the Humanitas Angell College Comedy Prize.
This run of performances, directed by Sara Guerrero, marks the world premiere of ¡SÍ SE PUEDE!. Performances for the public will be occurring around LA including the Palms-Rancho Library (2920 Overland Ave.) on Saturday, March 21 at 4PM, Boyle Heights City Hall (2130 E. 1st St.) on Thursday, April 2 at 3:30PM, the Culver City Julian Dixon Library (4975 Overland Ave.) on Saturday, April 4 at 2PM, and the Wabash Recreation Center (2765 Wabash Ave.) on Friday, April 10 at 6PM. All public performances are free and presented in English with some Spanish and includes a post-show Q&A.
In addition to performances for the public, ¡SÍ SE PUEDE! will also be performed for student audiences at four schools throughout LA as part of CTG’s commitment to the Angeleno community through CTG:FWD.
To learn more about CTG or RSVP for a performance of ¡SÍ SE PUEDE! near you, visit the webpage here.
