What is your hometown?
Chicago! I’m a Puerto Rican who was Born and Raised in La Villita (Little Village). I now live and work in both Humboldt Park and Belmont Cragin.
What brought you into Chicago Theatre?
I got involved in the scene while attending the Theatre Conservatory of Roosevelt University. While attending Roosevelt, I made it a point to research, connect and work with the Latino companies who were paving the way at the time as well as the larger institutions producing Latinx work.
Shortly after graduating, I co-founded what was then known as Teatro Urbano, now known as UrbanTheater Company. This cemented my involvement and my commitment to the Chicago Theatre landscape for the next fifteen plus years after.
How long have you been involved in Chicago Theatre?
I’ve been in this game for over 20 years primarily as an actor, administrator and producer.
How have you seen the industry change?
Our community is constantly growing. Our industry is much more conscious about equity, diversity, and inclusion. Although, for some this is easier than others. Our community is fiercer than ever and has no problem speaking up when something or someone is out of line.
What inspired you to choose acting as your career?
I’ve always wanted to be an actor and loved storytelling as long as I can remember I was just shy and didn’t how to get into the business. While in grade school, I saw a production of
The Wiz
at Currie Metropolitan High School which hooked me. I wanted to then explore the theater. I didn’t end up going to Curie. My mother sent me to Morton West where I got involved in track and theatre. My time in high school changed the course of wanted to do the rest of my life.
At 14, I started modeling as way to break into stage/tv/film. While in High School, I was on the speech team (verse and comedic/dramatic duo). My teachers opened my eyes to “The Concrete River” by Mexican poet Luis J. Rodriguez. I began to research other Latino/a poets/writers, especially those who were Puerto Rican. Even though I grew up in a Mexican community, which I loved and respected, I wanted to identify with writers who were also Puerto Rican. I then, found “La Bodega Sold Dreams” by Miguel Piñero and kept finding all of these writers I never know about and had access to.
