Wait a minute, who are you?
Hometown?
I was born in Miami, FL. The land of croquetas, salsa, and humidity. My dad is a Uruguayan immigrant and my mom is Cuban American which…gives me too many things to keep track of if I’m being honest. It will always be my home even though I’m hoping to places all over the country now.
Art? How?
My grandfather was a pianist in Cuba and along with my family, fostered in me a great love for the arts. Every project I do, I do for him. I remember watching old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies on the couch with him or occasionally hearing him play the piano in our sala. When he passed in 2020, it fueled my passion to continue creating art in his name.
Why Make Art?
I remember after a show, I met a young girl and her mom at the stage door. Her mom told me that she loved my character and was laughing the whole time but she seemed apprehensive to say hi. I noticed her speak Spanish to my mom and when I started speaking to her in Spanish she yelled out and started jumping for joy. It was the first time outside of my bubble of South Florida that my cultural identity had an impact on the audience members I met. When I make art, I think about all the young Latine girls in the audience who were told their language isn’t for the stage or that they take up too much space. I gravitate towards projects that are unapologetically loud and weird for this reason.
Image Credit: Misha Rodriguez
Work This Out!
When working on long-term projects, adaptation and reminding yourself that every problem has a solution is key. Even though theatre is never a given and you can’t always plan for everything, I enjoy finding shoestring solutions to quick problems. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m not efficient. I’m constantly trying new ways to effectively communicate not just in the room but over digital messaging as well. All while practicing what I preach. Having patience with others and yourself in times of stress.
Image Credit: Emily Doppee
