ABSTRACT
This contribution chronicles the incorporation of culturally connected theatrical work for young people to reinforce positive identity formation during the height of the pandemic by an institution of higher learning. An interactive website, with the rasquache-infused production of Cenicienta at the heart, was created and made accessible to the underrepresented youth of El Paso, Texas. The author offers that institutions of higher learning are responsible for serving their home communities and must produce work that reflects such service – even after the pandemic; the temptation to revert to pre-pandemic programming should be combated with a renewed focus on purpose over product.
