Impressions of a Bad Churro Spy
by Thelma Virata de Castro
What was a San Diego dramatist and sometimes dramaturg doing at the LMDA (Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas) 40th Anniversary San Diego/Tijuana In-Person Conference this past June? I was a bad churro spy.
I’d always been curious about LMDA. When my colleague Amanda L. Andrei let me know that it’d be in my hometown, she suggested that I submit a proposal. I did and was accepted on the Artistic Access panel to speak about running my own play development workshop. I’m a proponent of attending conferences that are in my neck of the beach. I first got involved with Dramatists Guild and became a member when they had their National Conference in La Jolla in 2015. I presented on two panels and subsequently became more involved as San Diego Co-Ambassador with Aleta Barthell, and then as a National Affairs Committee member.
Photo credits: Thelma Virata de Castro
But I wasn’t sure how much to jump into LMDA. Test the water or dive in? I decided to join (they have a sliding scale with no one denied membership based on ability to pay) and participated in events at all three main conference locations: San Diego State University, CECUT (Centro Cultural Tijuana), and The Old Globe Theatre.
Turns out I already knew folks! Danielle Ward was the Conference Coordinator, Danielle Mages Amato and Valeria Vega were among the Co-Chairs, and Patrice Amon was on the Conference Committee. It was impressive to see these San Diego theatre colleagues in their roles as conference leaders. Local company TuYo Theatre also performed an entertaining excerpt from Pásale Pásale at CECUT.
Of course, I met many other theatre artists. San Diegans Shelley Orr, another Co-Chair, facilitated the Artistic Access panel, and Haia R’nana Bchiri (speaking about the importance of Jewish dramaturgy) was my co-panelist. Conference attendees came from a variety of national and international locales and represented diverse fields (academia, dramaturgy, literary management, new play development, playwriting) and institutions (universities, theatres, play development organizations). What stood out to me was the overall love and passion for theatre. Despite the extremely challenging present time, dramaturgs pay attention, document, support, research, and serve our collaborative art. Beyond that, I witnessed the tremendous bonds between members and with the organization itself. These relationships were refortified at the conference, despite the personal and financial challenges that some participants faced in order to attend.
Photo credit: Genavive Green (top, bottom right), Danielle Ward (bottom left)
What about the churros? Dramatists Guild was one of the Conference Sponsors. In particular, they hosted the Beach Bonfire Meet and Greet. I was asked to let the Guild know how it went. I was a bad spy, though, because I didn’t attend! I was too worried about waking up on time the next day to catch the 7:30 a.m. bus to Tijuana. Instead, I asked around. The reviews were unanimously positive. So enjoyable! Burritos! Dipping sauces! Dramaturgs all over the beach! Even fireworks (from Sea World, but it still counted). And the churros? Delicious.
Thelma Virata de Castro is a Filipinx playwright, dramaturg, and teaching artist based in San Diego. She is an LMDA and Dramatists Guild member. She currently serves on the Guild’s National Affairs Committee and the Board of Directors for San Diego Writers, Ink.