“Zoot Suit” is arguably the most successful Chicano play in theater history. It derives much of its success from powerful performances by an ensemble of Latino actors including Edward James Olmos who plays the iconic role of El Pachuco (the Zootsuiter). Latinopia asked playwright and director Luis Valdez how the role of the Pachuco character came about and discovered that the personage of El Pachuco had its origins in earlier plays written by El Teatro Campesino and Luis Valdez.