Luis Alfaro (born 1963 in Los Angeles) is a Chicano performance artist, writer, theater director, and social activist.
His plays and fiction are set in Los Angeles' Chicano barrios including the Pico Union district; they sometimes feature gay, lesbian, and working-class themes.
[2] Some of his noted plays are "Bitter Homes and Gardens," "Pico Union," "Downtown," "Cuerpo Politizado," "Straight as a Line," "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner," "No Holds Barrio," and "Black Butterfly."
[8] Oedipus El Rey had its Texas regional premiere at Dallas Theater Center from January 16-March 2, 2014 under the direction of Kevin Moriarty.
[10] Oedipus El Rey received its New York premiere at The Public Theater in collaboration with The Sol Project and Jacob Padrón in 2017.
The cast featured Sabina Zúñiga Varela, Lakin Valdez, VIVIS, Nancy Rodriguez, Vilma Silva, Jahnangel Jimenez, and Connor Chaney.
Alfaro's Electricidad, Oedipus El Rey, and Mojada portray concerns of the Chicano and wider Latino communities in Los Angeles and New York through ancient drama.
[19] Alfaro has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the MacArthur "Genius" Foundation Fellowship in 1997,[20] and the 1998 National Hispanic Playwriting Competition Prize.