Diversifying the Classics Visits Geffen Academy

This February, members of Diversifying the Classics visited UCLA’s 6th-12th grade school, Geffen Academy, to share their work with Upper School Spanish students. The visit was perfectly timed, as students in the Advanced Spanish course were studying Spanish Golden Age literature.

DTC members Rhonda Sharrah, Rebecca Smith, and Aina Soley Mateu, along with Geffen Academy educator and team collaborator Luis Miguel Macías, introduced students to Diversifying the Classics’ mission to recover, translate, and promote the performance of early modern Hispanic theater. The group discussed the cultural and historical significance of the comedia tradition, emphasizing its richness, complexity, and modern-day relevance.

The highlight of the visit was a hands-on translation activity. Students worked directly on scenes from the original plays, such as Don Quijote de la Mancha by Guillén de Castro, diving into their poetic language, character dynamics, and nuanced meaning. They collaborated in small groups, debating word choices and finding ways to make classical Spanish resonate in modern English.

The enthusiasm in the room was unmistakable. Several students said they were surprised by how fun and relatable the texts felt once they started working with them. Many expressed interest in continuing to engage with DTC beyond the classroom. Educators noted how the session deepened students’ appreciation of the texts they had been reading and brought a fresh perspective to their curriculum.

The visit was part of DTC’s ongoing commitment to bringing classical Hispanic theater into educational spaces and connecting students with stories that still speak powerfully today.

Photo Courtesy of Don Liebig/ASUCLA