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= Abel Lopez    = Abel Lopez, is a producer, actor, lecturer, and lawyer who has worked extensively in theaters and organizations across the United States. Lopez is currently the associate producing director at the Grupo de Artistas LatinoAmericanos (GALA) Hispanic Theater located in Washington D.C. and the treasurer of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. He also currently sits as a Chair for Americans for the Arts, the Board of Governors of the Helen Hayes Awards, and the National Performance Network. Through his work he has aimed to expand diversity and representation in theater and the arts.

Early Life
Lopez was born in Alma, Michigan to Mexican American parents. He grew up in a small town in Southern Texas, moved to Boston to attend Law School, and settled in Washington D.C where he intended to practice law. While in Washington D.C. Lopez began to attend acting classes which sparked his passion for the arts, and launched his career in theater.

GALA Theater
The GALA Hispanic Theater was founded in 1976 by Hugo and Rebecca Medrano and aims to promote and share Latino arts and culture with diverse audiences. In 2005, after 29 years of having no permanent venue, Lopez along with Rebecca Medrano, headed a $4.4 million dollar campaign to build the GALA theater. Since its established residence in the renovated Tivoli, GALA has been named as a National Center for Latino Performing Arts.

Community Involvement
Lopez is very involved and works in a variety of community art and theater organizations as both a member and as a part of their Boards of Directors. As part of a Board of Directors, Lopez is involved in the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, In Series, and the Black Woman Playwrights Group. As a member, Lopez works in partner with The Kennedy Center Community board, Latino Advisory Board of the Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution, and Advisory Committee of The Playwrights Forum.

== Productions == In terms of productions, Lopez has directed productions in theaters across the U.S. and in Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Cuba. His production of The Pearl for the Kennedy Center toured across the U.S.

Awards
Throughout his career Lopez has been honored with countless distinctions for both his productions and his community involvement. In 1991, Lopez was named a Washingtonian of the year, an award given to individuals whose positive impact in the region strengthen its community and welfare. He has also received the 2016 Herb White Award from DCAC, the 2015 Arthur L. Johnson Award from the Sphinx Organization, the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M‐Kingsville, the Selima Ottum Roberts Award from Americans for the Arts for his contributions to the arts, a 1991 Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Community Leadership Association, and The Washington Post Award for Distinguished Community Service.

Education
Lopez attended the University of Texas A&M‐Kingsville for undergraduate and received a degree in Business Management. He later attended Harvard University Law School. He currently lectures for the arts management program at George Mason University.