Teatro Picante was a theatre group that began in 1980. The founder of the group, Nicolas Retana, was teaching high school English, Spanish, and Chicano Studies at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque when he wrote a play for his club, LUCHA, to perform.  After performing the play, "The Bronze Stirrup," he felt, along with the actors, that they wanted to continue doing plays. He formed Teatro Picante along with Nita Luna. They continued in the "Carpa" style tradition of bringing theatre to the people. They performed  original one act plays, and developed a two hour act with a fifteen minute break in between the plays. The won the prestigious award at Columbia University's Theatre Festival as Newcomer's to Theatre. Their final bow was an eight run show of the classic play, "Soldado Razo," by Luis Valdez of the Teatro Campesino performed the Summer of 1983. This book is about this three year adventure. Hope you enjoy it. This website's purpose is to enhance the narrative from the book. Though the book is fiction, it is based on a true story.