When I first entered the world of professional theatre design in the US, I quickly realized how rare it was to find people who shared similar cultural experiences. As a Latinx artist, the path often felt solitary, invisible. For years, as I continued expanding my career, sporadically encountering other Latinx artists, I started hearing of a new organization: La Gente—Spanish for The People.
La Gente: The Latinx Theatre Production Network feels like something bigger than professional alignment—it feels like a lifeline.
To write this article, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jorge Arroyo, a celebrated Puerto Rican lighting designer and educator, and one of the founding members of La Gente. What he shared was the story of a community coming to life in one of the most turbulent times.
Besides a handful Latinx designers I met along the way, I knew no one– said Jorge, echoing my very own journey. It felt wrong that for so long, I was often the only Latinx voice—or the only sign of real diversity—on a team. Diversity – Jorge told me, was a tangible effort on-stage, but not on the production side.
Power to La Gente!
La Gente didn’t begin with a grand plan. It began with a question—and a Facebook group.
Jorge explained that for a few years, scenic and costume designer Regina García, also a Puerto Rican, had been managing a Facebook group for Latinx designers, but it wasn’t particularly active. It was a loose connection at best. But in the summer of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic collided with the protests over the murder of George Floyd and a national reckoning over racism, everything changed.
Sensing the urgency of the moment, Jorge suggested to Regina that they post something on the Facebook page to start a conversation. A Zoom party was scheduled for June 18, 2020—a gathering of Latinx designers from across the country, many of whom had never met before. There was no agenda, just the urgency to meet others with similar backgrounds.
Many of the experiences shared at that meeting ringed familiar. There were stories of isolation, of incredible work going unseen, and far too many stories of being the only Latinx person in an entire production team.
From that meeting came a shared realization: they didn’t just want to talk. They wanted to organize. Designers volunteered to continue meeting separately, forming what eventually became known as the “Organizing Members.” Together, they crafted a mission that was both powerful and practical: Visibility, Engagement, and Advocacy.
It wasn’t long before the Facebook group was reimagined, the website was rebranded, and La Gente was officially born. As Jorge put it, We weren’t waiting for the industry to make space for us. We were claiming our own space.
First inquiries, source Jorge Arroyo
Changing Landscapes
Alejo Vietti once told us in a reunion – Jorge recalls- Did you know that there have been seven productions of West Side Story on Broadway (up to that point), and it never had a Latinx designer?
Since its founding, La Gente has created real and tangible shifts in the theatre-making world. Jorge shared how the network’s public directory allowed casting directors, production managers, and companies to find Latinx talent they might have otherwise missed. Suddenly, excuses like ‘We couldn’t find anyone’ lost their power.
But La Gente’s impact isn’t just about listings—it’s about empowerment. Through workshops, panels, and public conversations, they’ve built a stronger, more visible community of professionals who are not only advocating for themselves but also lifting each other up. When opportunities come up, members of La Gente aren’t competing against one another—they’re opening doors for the next person.
Looking around today, I can see how much has shifted. Groups like La Gente, Design Action, Production on Deck and RISE Theatre are trying to enhance representation. Producing organizations are thinking more critically about diversity in production roles. Festivals are asking harder questions about who gets to tell stories and how.
El Futuro de La Gente
When I asked Jorge what he hopes for the future of La Gente, his answer was simple and powerful: I want everybody that makes theatre to know about La Gente. I want for it to becomes a resource, a known hub to go to, and get educated or find a way to introduce diversity to a production team.
La Gente isn’t just about theatre. It’s about culture, visibility, and rewriting what the future looks like behind the scenes. Theatre is changing. And thanks to organizations like La Gente, it’s becoming a space where more voices, more stories, and more cultures take center stage.
If you’re reading this and feeling inspired—or if you, or someone you know, should be part of this movement—there are so many ways to connect with La Gente. Start by visiting their website to learn more, join the network, or find collaborators at La Gente Directory, or follow their journey on Facebook, and Instagram.
