Back in 1976, when Hugo and Rebecca Medrano launched GALA Hispanic Theatre out of a gutted Adams Morgan townhouse, D.C. was still coming into its own as both a theatrical haven and a Latino hub.
Yes, Arena Stage was well established. Ford’s Theatre had recently reopened, and the Kennedy Center was five years old. But Shakespeare Theatre Company didn’t exist. The same for Studio Theatre and Woolly Mammoth. Suburban staples such as Signature Theatre and Round House were also years away. And if you were looking for a Spanish-language production anywhere? Buena suerte.
