History
East
L.A. Classic Theatre's beginnings reach back to 1992, when
a group of multi-cultural arts professionals, Tony Plana,
Robert Beltran, Ruben Sierra, and Julie Arenal, launched
the company as a forum where classically trained Latino
and minority artists could investigate the classics in culturally
specific productions and adaptations. ECT was incorporated
as a non profit in 1995. Its debut—as the resident
professional company at Cal State Los Angeles—was
a Mexican-American adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s
"A Touch of the Poet". Later productions included
"The Price", "Mirandolina" and "Hedda
Gabler".
A tour of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was so well
received that it launched ECT's Beyond Borders program in
the Montebello Unified School District, a program in full
operation today and funded by a Federal Title VII grant.
Later productions included "Cyrano de Bergerac",
a Zoot Suit version of "Romeo & Juliet" and
a pop-musical adaptation of "Twelfth Night".
By 1999, Beyond Borders was fully established through contracts
with the Los Angeles and Montebello. The Beyond Borders
program presently serves 900 students in seven middle schools.
ECT's
Language in Play Drama Camp has been in operation since
October of 2004. It presently serves 500 students in six
elementary schools.
ECT's
current theatre productions of "Much Ado About Nothing"
and "Romeo & Juliet" continue to attract a
diverse, inter-generational audience with great enthusiasm.
