ChUSMA
(featuring Co-Founders Gustavo Chavez and Alberto Ibarra)
one of the nation's up and coming Chicano/Latino theater troupes.
Hilarious, dramatic, yet thought-provoking
ChUSMA's unique theater style embraces the theatrical heritage of the early Mexican carpa, Pre-Cuauhtemoc(pre-colombian), 1960's Chicano theater of resistance, and neo-vaudevillian traditions.
Since 1997, ChUSMA's theatrical performances have forged history and oral traditions with modern technology in procreating theater reflective of their communities. In these new urban settings and urgent times ChUSMA transcends borders to inspire a new generation of theater audiences.
What does CHUSMA mean?
The Aztlan Spanish/English Dictionary defines "ChUSMA" as :
(1) n "Undesirables"
(2) v "Undocumented"
(3) n "Outcasts"
(4) v "Outlaws"; usage: "Mira, ay viene la Chusma!";
trans., "There goes the Neighborhood!!!!!!!!!!!"
"ChUSMA" in Spanish slang signifies "Societies Unwanted Elements," or "Outcasts." In some regions this word is used to demean and put down the so-called lower classes, poor, and forgotten. We reclaim this word in the name of Chespirito, Cantinflas, Charlie Chaplin, la India Maria, la Chilindrina, and those who have come before us to give it a new definition :
ChUSMA: (chews-mah!) adj. Noun, method of identifying oneself working class, the homeless, undocumented workers, women, children, our families who make up who we are. Todos somos ChUSMA!!!
Who is ChUSMA for?
ChUSMA goes with everything! High in cultura, low in cholesterol and corporate globalization ChUSMA goes with hamburgers, tacos, pizza, ignorance, evolution ChUSMA's shows are for any city or campus that have Chicanos, Latinos, and anyone interested in laughing. We are sure you know many who fit this description. The ones lurking in the dark corners afraid to show their tan faces because they just cant relate to the Opera. Bring them into the light by booking us for your next major event.
(And we are not just talking about 5 de Mayo, we also do Quinceañeras)
What has ChUSMA done lately?
2005 has taken ChUSMA from Chicago, Illinois to UC Davis, Riverside, El Sereno, to the community of San Fernando, Califas where they self-produced their play "The Wizard of Aztlan" directed by Olivia Chumacero. In 2004, ChUSMA along with cast of students and professional actors previewed their most recent play, "The Wizard of Aztlan" @ the Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge. They also toured their "Naco Show" to Wyoming and Oregon. 2003 took ChUSMA to Michigan, Wisconson, Washington, and up & down the state of California.
2002 took ChUSMA through an extensive tour of Northern and Southern California(*many places listed below). In that year ChUSMA's play "The Wizard of Aztlan" was chosen for production out of a national search for new plays by Teatro Humanidad of Texas. In Spring 2001, ChUSMA completed their Northwest tour throughout Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. In 2000, ChUSMA performed in the states of Washington, in Oregon for the NACCS 2000 Conference, California, and New Mexico for the 2000 La Voz Theater Festival of the Americas in Santa Fe in their "United States of Aztlan" West Coast Tour. ChUSMA has also performed in Mexico City, Chiapas, and at high schools & universities all over California.
ChUSMA has work-shopped with Agosto Boal Technique Theatre of the Oppressed in New York, The San Francisco Mime Troupe, and Olivia Chumacero (A veteran of El Teatro Campesino). Members of ChUSMA have worked with Ping Chong in Undesirable Elements. ChUSMA has shared the stage with Culture Clash, Tierra, Ozomatli, Aztlan Underground, El Teatro Campesino, Quetzal, and Maldita Vecindad. The Latino Initiative at the Mark Taper Forum commissioned ChUSMA to write its play The Wizard of Aztlan. In July of '99 ChUSMA presented "The Mission" written by Culture Clash at the Aztlan Cultural Arts Foundation in Los Angeles. Since then, ChUSMA has continued to present to the community through events, shows, and workshops.
Brief Performance History:
2009
ARTHIRITIS FOUNDATION, WORKSHOP/PERFORMANCE, BIG BEAR, CA AUGUST 2009
CULTURAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE, CHULA VISTA, CA APRIL 2009
mexica new year, east los angeles, california march 2009
2008
ARthiritis foundation, mission college, sylmar, california december 2008
la gran tardiada, el sereno, california october 2008
latino mental health conference, los angeles, ca september 2008
ARTHIRITIS FOUNDATION, WORKSHOP/PERFORMANCE, BIG BEAR, CA AUGUST 2008
SAN FERNANDO, YOUR STORY MY STORY, SAN FERNANDO, CA JUNE 15, 2008
eastern washington state university, spokane, washington may, 2008
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE, EAGLE ROCK, CALIFORNIA APRIL, 2008
HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY, ARCATA, CALIFORNIA MARCH 8, 2008
DE PAUL UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 11, 2008
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FESTIVAL CERVANTINO, GUANAJUATO, GUANAJUATO MEXICO, OCTOBER 11-13
The Farce of July, xicano records & film, JULY 4, 2007
Dominguez Hills High SchoolUC Irvine El Sereno Middle School teatro workshopsChUSMA's "The Green Monologues", antigua Cafe, June 16Tia Chucha's/ChUSMA Community Teatro Workshops & Show May-June 30Humboldt University, ARcata, CA May 3
- El Sereno Community Garden, LA, Earth Day
Mexica New Year, Self Help Graphics, East LA March 17Uc Riverside, Chicano Day, February 2
Chusma show, Ventura College, January
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- 2006
DAY OF THE DEAD, SELF HELP GRAPHICS, EAST LA NOV. 2DAY OF THE DEAD, EL SERENO MIDDLE SCHOOL, LA NOV. 2NOCHE DE CALACAS, WHITTIER, OCT. 14CHICANO NIGHT, CORVALIS, OREGON, JUNE 10
Trio Day @University of Southern CAlifornia, FEBRUARY 25
MeCHA Regional Conference @ Central Washington University, FEBRUARY 18
- 2005
"The Wizard of Aztlan" San Fernando, CA October 5,6, 12 &13migrant student conference, uc riverside, june 30"padres contra cancer" LA, June 22Semillas del Pueblo, el sereno, ca, june 18Whittier Central Library, CA May 5Cesar Chavez Walk, East Los AngelesMECHA Nationals, Cal State Northridge
Pilsner College, Chicago, Illinois
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- Festival de la Gente, LA, CA October 30
- UC Riverside, Youth Theater Workshop, June
- Oregon State University, May 16
- University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY April 16
- Lecture, CSU, Northridge, CA March 24
- "The Wizard of Aztlan" @ CSU, Northridge, CA March 5
- 2003
- University of Wisconson, November
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- Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, October 16
- "Farce of July," Casa del Mexicano, LA, CA July 4
- UCLA, May
- "The Naco Show" Washington State University, March 7
- Mecha Nationals, Berkeley, CA March
- Wizard of Aztlan Reading, Tia Chucha's Cafe Cultural, March 1*LA Weekly Pick of the Week*(scroll to bottom for text)
- 2002
- "The Naco Show" Mendocino College, November 15
- "The Naco Show" Sonoma State College, November 16
- "Latino Heritage Month," Woodbury University, CA October8
"Road to Chilango-landia," Galeria Coyolxauhqui, LA, CA August 10
"The Naco Show" Galeria Coyolxauhqui, Los Angeles, CA June 28, 29
"The Naco Show" UCLA, Festival of Chicano Classics, June 27
Sol Festival, Griffith Park, CA June 22
Eastside CafE, El Sereno, CA, May 17
Migrant Workers Conference, Santa Paula, CA May 18
"The Naco Show" MACLA, San Jose, CA April 22
Stanford University, CA April 22
"The Naco Show" Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA April 20
"The Naco Show" La PeNa Cultural Center, Berkeley, CA April 19
"Raza Youth Conference," Cal State Northridge, CA April 13
"Cesar Chavez Commemoration," Pitzer College, April 4
"The Naco Show," Tia Chucha's CafE Cultural, Sylmar, CA March 16
"Mujeres de Maiz," LA, CA March 10
"The Naco Show," El Centrito, Oxnard, CA March 9
"La Carpa Show," Galeria Coyolxauhqui, LA, CA February 16
- 2001
"Big Mountain Benefit," Galeria Coyolxauhqui, LA, CA November 10
"Dia de los Muertos," Galeria Coyolxauhqui, LA, CA November 3
"A Conscious Groove Thang," Self-Help Graphics, LA CA October 18
"Hecho en Califas," Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA September 15
"The Mission" California Plaza, LA, CA August 4
"Farce of July," Xicano Records & Film, Agua Dulce, CA July 4
"The Wizard of Aztlan," Imix Bookstore, LA, CA June 22
"Chiapas Coalition "98 Fundraiser," Self-Help Graphics, LA, CA June 16
- Los Angeles Childrens Theater Week, 2nd Stage, Hollywood, CA May 12
