What is your hometown?
Cidra, Puerto Rico
What brought you into Chicago Theatre?
I arrived from Puerto Rico with the experience of having worked on the island with Atelier Teatral, The University of Puerto Rico Choir and Agora Teatro among others. Always remembering the mentoring of four teachers who changed my perspective on life and how to look at the arts: Rafael Fuentes influenced my acting and set me on my first steps in sociodrama, Amilcar Rivera in music, Jessica Gaspar in dance and Isabel Ramos in the creation of costumes.
When I arrived in Chicago in 2007, I was not part of any theater company in the city. At that time I met Puerto Rican poet David Hernández and started singing in his Street Sounds group. The wonderful thing about the band was that for the most part the songs were poems for which the musical arrangements were made thanks to the magic of Dean Karabatsos. David and the musicians who were part of the group gave a special touch to each song. David would always ask me the same thing; when will you return to do theater?
One day, Frank Diaz called me to be part of his show "Bohemian Nights." The performance was about love and heartbreak using songs and dialogs between five women. After that, I started to work with some Theater Companies around the city.
Then in 2014, I found out that Aguijón Theater was looking for an understudy for the character of Meche in "La Chunga", so I went in for an audition. I remember I had to wait a few days for that yes or no. I was nervous but when I finally saw the email, I didn't get to be Meche's understudy, they wanted me to be the understudy for La Chunga, the main character. When I saw Rosario Vargas on stage as La Chunga I inmediatley thought, I want to be like her. From that moment on, I haven't left theater. Many thanks to David, Ivette Nieves, Daniel Matos, Aguijon Theater and my beautiful daugther for always pushing me forward into doing what I love most.
How long have you been involved in Chicago Theatre?
I have been involved in Chicago Theater for 8 years.
How have you seen the industry change?
In the time that I have been involved in the Chicago theater, I have not seen too many changes. But I'm glad to see that Latino theater is slowly rising with a lot of strength and its own voice. That is why we thank organizations like CLATA that create a better environment and emphasize Latin Theater in Chicago.
What inspired you to choose acting as your career?
My biggest inspiration is the possibility of giving life to an idea, to a character. Understanding that theater is cathartic inspires me. When the imagination does not stop running, an outlet is needed. Music and theater give me that pleasure.
How do you choose the projects you want to work on?
If I like the script I say yes and very importantly, if I have the time for the project. There are times when I'm working on more than one project and I have to manage my regular job, rehearsals, and my daughter.
What advice would you give emerging actors?
Read, listen, learn and know how to manage your time. Don't think you know everything. Theater is a world of constant learning.
