The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts

The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts was founded 50 years ago, in 1973, by three women; legendary Mexican-American actress and community advocate, Carmen Zapata, Cuban actress and director Margarita Galban, and Argentine producer and designer Estela Scarlata. Over the last 5 decades, BFA has been producing classic and contemporary plays in a bilingual format (alternating Spanish and English performances), enriching the cultural landscape and instilling pride in our heritage. Through bilingual theater, we bridge cultural divides, inspire youth and enlighten audiences regarding the rich theatrical repertoire that exists, both classic and modern, in every Spanish speaking country as well as among Latinos in the U.S.. BFA’s signature repertoire includes Spanish classics by Federico Garcia Lorca, Lope de Vega, and Calderón de la Barca, as well as contemporary plays by emerging Latino playwrights working in Mexico, Latin America, South America, Spain and the U.S. In addition to BFA’s theatrical season, programming includes; Teatro Para los Jóvenes, taking original, thought-provoking theater to local high schools; California tours engaging audiences throughout the state who have little opportunities to see professional plays in Spanish; Teatro Leído programs share contemporary work with our audiences, giving them a voice in developing upcoming seasons; and our annual Christmas play, Too Many Tamales, which continues to delight audiences of all ages for many years. Currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Cecilia Garcia, BFA continues to strive for artistic excellence, seek a diverse talent pool, and maintain an ongoing dialogue with our Latino theater colleagues in order to foster the arts and develop loyal audiences. Entering our next phase, we hope to grow a strong and united Latino theater family, dedicated to community enrichment and to sharing our collective artistic heritage with the many cultures of Los Angeles and beyond.

@bfa_theatre