Big Things Ahead…

Note: I wrote this last year, April 2023. I took it down because I accepted a different program but I decided to update it and repost.

I was cast in my first musical in December of 2013, almost 10 years ago. I never knew where that would take me or what it would cause me to feel. I was cast as a lead in my dream show opposite my closest friends. We were ambitious. We were ambitious to even try to do a musical of that scale for the type of school we were and the talent we had but I am so glad we did it. I am forever grateful for Scott LaBelle for trusting me with a lead role despite me being just a band kid prior to that show. I am grateful for that experience opening my eyes to a world of theatre and creating art with a community so near and dear to my heart.

Acting is no small feat. It takes a lot of work, dedication and honestly money and resources. I had the determination but it was so hard gaining traction without the financial support that I needed. Going into college I did whatever I could to be able to dedicate hours to theatre. That meant working insane hours, at one point I was working two jobs, doing an internship and going to school full-time being at my first job at 6AM and leaving my last job at 12AM. I did all that so I could afford to put myself into classes, so I could challenge myself and learn as much as I could. With that dedication, I wanted to feel some payout. Nothing can ever prepare you for the amount of No’s that you will get in this industry. Sure, we all talk about it, how 10 No’s leads to that one YES. But you can’t fully grapple with what it feels like to be in a cycle of No’s until you’re really in it. During my professional career, there came waves of Yes’s and No’s. As I was graduating from undergrad, I thought I had made a mistake. In 2020, I had a lot of time to think about my career. I thought I was making a big mistake pursuing theater and that there would never be a place for me onstage. When everything was so fragile, I thought about why I chose this career. I could only find one answer: It’s because I love it. I love creating art and being a creative. I love collaborating and creating work that means something. I learned that all I have to do is bring myself to the table and if people don't want that, that’s okay with me. I can only be my authentic self and I don’t need any company to validate my existence. 

I have felt so lucky this past year. I have been working with a company that has introduced me to a whole new world of theater, teatro. Something I never knew existed until 2021. I’ve been working full-time in theatre for a year now, learning all the ins and outs of a theater company. Sometimes I need to pinch myself because I get to do it all.I get to do theater work in the morning, go to rehearsals and act! I have seen theater in multiple states that tell important stories and that have incredible casts to tell them. For so long, I thought there was something wrong with me for not being able to fit in a mold. After seeing those other theaters, I have learned there is a place for me to create and tell important stories and that I don’t have to fit anyone’s mold. I have learned that I am valuable, creative and talented. I learned that there are places that are willing to cultivate that. Colorado is where I was born and raised, I have had multiple generations of family grow up here. It’s unfortunate that the Colorado theatre scene as a whole does not reflect the stories that I grew up hearing. It is unfortunate that PWIs take up so much space and make so much noise while also not cultivating a strong community of artists in Colorado. I see communities across the US creating so much incredible work with talented artists and this is the place where we just can’t figure it out. 

I decided in November that I was finally going to continue my artistic journey outside of Colorado. I signed up to audition for the URTAs, a unified audition for masters programs in acting. Honestly, I was so nervous. I read through the detailed handbook and felt like there was no way for me to stand out in this audition against hundreds of other artists. I knew that I had to bring myself to the audition, my authentic self. I wasn’t about to go into the audition without materials that didn’t resonate with me wholeheartedly. I told myself that I was going to bring myself to the audition and I wouldn’t want to be a part of any program that didn’t believe in my work. I had many callbacks, interviews and a few offers. After all that, I finally made a decision:

I have accepted Columbia College Chicago’s MFA in Acting and Contemporary Performance program. 

I accepted the program… And then later, I heard that my references were being contacted. I thought that was weird that they would retroactively contact my references because I had already accepted. but it wasn’t Columbia College, it was the head of acting at University of Washington that was contacting my references and then followed up with an email to me asking if I was still interested. Um, YEAH. I was totally still interested and anticipated an offer which came a few days later!

So I withdrew my acceptance at Columbia College and accepted

University of Washington School of Drama Professional Actor Training Program

So onto the journey to Seattle and the University of Washington. It’s funny because when I was like 14, me and my best friend Giovanna talked up storms on how we were going to move to Seattle together and go to University of Washington for undergrad. Now, I’m going! To a school I dreamed of when I was young.

During this process I have learned that I have the choice at the end of the day. I get to choose what projects I want to be a part of. When you do something as intimate as acting, you have to take care of yourself first and foremost. You get to make the choice of what kinds of environments you will be in and you will only thrive in the ones that nurture who you are. I am so excited for this next step. I’m going to create work in a city that is booming with theatre, I get to make new connections and I get to travel and study abroad for a year! I am beyond excited to share this news about my next step. 

I am also so grateful for my support team. My family and friends who offered advice, edits and endless support through this whole process. Thank you to the people who were my references, I couldn’t have been accepted without you, thank you Cogswell, Tony, Shawnee and Kayla! Thank you to all of you who have been to my shows and continue to support me in audiences, truly from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.  Thank you to the community of people who have given me roles, opportunities and tickets to shows! I am feeling so grateful and abundant. I am also so excited to do my final mainstage performance in Denver with Firehouse Theater Company. I will be playing Valentina in A Mexican Trilogy: Charity by Evelina Fernandez directed by Debra Gallegos.