BOSTON: The Latinx Theatre Commons (LTC) has awarded the inaugural Diane Rodriguez Teatrista Award to Patricia Garza. “The Diane” is the LTC’s first award dedicated to an individual working in the theatre field who is committed to increasing Latinx representation across disciplines. Named in honor of director, writer, performer, and advocate Diane Rodriguez, this award aims to support theatremakers in continuing her legacy. The award comes with a $5,000 unrestricted grant.
“The LTC is excited to continue supporting the work of Latinx artists with The Diane,” said LTC producer Jacqueline Flores in a statment, “and to give them full autonomy over their work via an unrestricted grant. In a poem written by Evelina Fernandez about Diane, she says, ‘My childless but mother to hundreds sister.’ This award is our way of continuing the nurturing spirit Diane imparted on everyone she met and the impact she has made on so many of us.”
Patricia Garza is a producer, advocate, educator, and facilitator based in East Los Angeles on Tongva/Kizh land. Patricia is the producer and director of Los Angeles programs at Los Angeles Performance Practice (LAPP). Before joining LAPP, they served as the director of programs and engagement at the Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET) and have now shifted into the role of NET/TEN program director, continuing to manage NET’s cornerstone grant program. Patricia was a member of the artistic staff at Center Theatre Group (CTG) for over a decade, where they worked alongside Rodriguez in her role as CTG associate artistic director for six years. Patricia has served as a grant panelist for the NEA, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and The Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, among others. Patricia works with other theatre professionals nationally on issues surrounding anti-racism towards collective liberation, with a focus on the LGBTQIA+ community through artEquity.
The award was first announced in person in early June at the 2022 LTC Comedy Carnaval. The inaugural recipient was selected by a group of seven nominators: Amelia Acosta Powell, Jacqueline Flores, Anne García-Romero, Lisa Portes, José Luis Valenzuela, Abigail Vega, and Karen Zacarías.
Nominations for the 2023 award will open in fall 2022. Applicants will be nominated by peers and colleagues throughout the field and recipients will be selected by an appointed committee.
The Latinx Theatre Commons is a national movement that strives to use a commons-based approach to transform the narrative of the American theatre, to amplify the visibility of Latinx performance making, and to champion equity through advocacy, art making, convening, and scholarship. The LTC is a flagship program of HowlRound.
