Samuel Valdez
La Carpa de la Frontera
La Carpa De La Frontera is a site-specific tent-like vaudeville touring show that is taken into the most vulnerable communities around the border region in most need of healing from the pandemic situation. These performances address issues such as immigration, the border, race, human rights, labor rights, accessibility, and culture in comedic form using the concept of the old carpa style used in Mexico during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. These shows are set up as a community festival where the whole family can enjoy a day or evening of fun.
Contributor Work
Logo courtesy of C.A.R.P.A.
Contributor Profile
Samuel Valdez graduated from San Diego State University in 1991 with a B.A. degree in theater arts. He is an actor, playwright, director, and producer who has worked with several groups around San Diego such as Sledgehammer Theater, Chronos Theater, Los Amigos del Rep., and currently his own performing arts bi-national company CARPA San Diego. He has served on the National Performance Network (NPN) board, the Alternate Roots Executive Community, and is currently on the National Disability Theatre board. In 2016 he received the Ashley Walker Social Justice award by the City of San Diego for his community theater work.
The mission of CARPA San Diego is to create a space where Latino artists can showcase their talent through theater, dance, music, and other artistic expressions reaching out to the community in a non-traditional setting. CARPA San Diego serves the community by bringing artists to their neighborhoods exposing them to the arts through presentation and education inviting them to participate as creative individuals in performances, workshops, and dialogues expanding their knowledge of artistic cultural. CARPA wants to build a fun, working atmosphere were artists and community members can learn from each other to inspire the prosperity of their surroundings.