We had the good fortune of connecting with Sofia Hurtado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sofia, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?

As a Latinx woman in Los Angeles, I noticed a lack of representation and diversity onstage. There are communities and unique cultures rich with stories that are not reaching the stage. At Third Culture Theatre, we wanted to put those stories front and center. Mirror those poignant experiences. They move us, and we want to move our audiences.
The idea comes from having grown up as a Third Culture Kid. Which is a sociological term for having three separate cultures (your parents, the place where you were born, and the one you grew up in) influencing your upbringing. I have lived in 6 countries and 9 cities. I can personally attest to the dimensionality different perspectives bring. At Third Culture Theatre, we took this concept and applied it to the culture the audience brings. the culture the ensemble creates, and the communal experience of witnessing a unique, never-repeated, live performance as the third. This combination, I believe, can alter people in a profound way.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are proud to share rare stories that are told in an impactful and creative way. When you come to see a Third Culture play, you will always witness a strong script with 3-dimensional characters, highlighting an experience that is not often shown. We are excited to continue our partnership with HBO, which has empowered us to advance in our work. And to be back on the stage after a pandemic hiatus! We can’t wait to be reunited with our beloved audience and artists.

We have gotten to where we are today, through a community that supports the idea that theatre should reflect the beauty of our collectives. We can’t wait to keep making them proud, through our exceptional storytelling and community outreach. Whether it’s through a Third Culture Community Conversation post show, where invited guest speakers will moderate a conversation with the audience. Or going into different spaces (for example, Arts For Incarcerated Youth Network), and bringing the show to them. We believe theatre has the ability to unite people of radically divergent backgrounds and enhance our lives.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Breakfast at the Farmer’s Market at the Grove
Drinks at the rooftop of Mama’s Shelter
Monday night jazz at the Sofitel Hotel
Slam Poetry, Tuesday night at Da Poetry Lounge at The Greenway Court Theatre on Fairfax
Tacos Al Pastor at Leo’s Taco Truck
Olive oil cake & a sandwich at Ggiata Delicatessen

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Katrina Kirkpatrick- katrina@thirdculturetheatre.com Arianna Basco- ladybasco@me.com

Website: www.thirdculturetheatre.com

Instagram: @thirdculturetheatre

Facebook: Third Culture Theatre

Image Credits
@iridescentrae and
Lauren Boone @lalafalana

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.