ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the San Diego REP Latinx New Play Festival and its significance in promoting Latinx theatre in the region. Despite a large Latinx population in San Diego, theatre in the area has not traditionally represented the community. The San Diego Repertory Theatre stands apart with an extensive history of mainstage productions of Latinx playwrights. The San Diego REP Latinx New Play Festival was founded in 2017 as a long-term goal of SD Rep Founding Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse to develop new connections to Latinx artists and support the development of new work. The festival is a three-day event that invites artists and institutional leaders from across the US to convene and celebrate new work. The chapter highlights the importance of representation in the theatre and how it impacts individuals. The festival provides a space to see the stories of Latinx artists and communities, and the chapter discusses the impact of the festival on Latinx-identifying interns who had never seen a Latinx play before joining the festival team.
