Socially Engaged Performance Practice

From devising with refugee youth and staging narratives of resilience with the Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition, Shoebox Stories, the ACLU, and MOTUS Theater to crafting participatory performance projects and workshops that investigate class inequality, gendered violence, and other social issues, I strive to use my voice as a storyteller and professor to serve my community and advocate for social progress. I believe artists should employ our crafts to support and celebrate the communities in which we exist.

Socially Engaged Performance Projects

  • "Binary Trappings: an Immersive Experience" (2023), produced in partnership with the CSUF Alumni Association, the Department of Theatre & Dance, and the LGBTQ+ Student Support Center

  • "Performing Arts as Emancipatory Practice" at the first annual Hispanic Theatre Festival (2022), partnership with El Grupo de Teatro en Español and CSU Fullerton's College of the Humanities

  • UndocuAmerica (2019) produced in partnership with the ACLU's National 100 Tour, Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition, and Motus Theater

  • Cinco Decimas (2018), produced in partnership with the Community College of Denver Foundation and Su Teatro

  • Playback: A Critical Conversations Project (2018–20), produced in partnership with the North Folk Valley Creative Coalition

  • Campus Assault: It Happens Here (2017–18), produced in partnership with The Blue Bench, The Phoenix Center at Auraria, the University of Colorado Denver, and the Community College of Denver

  • Our History Shapes Our Future (2018), produced in partnership with playwright Karen Zacarias and Su Teatro

  • The One Voice Project (2013–14), created in partnership with Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Newman Center for Performing Arts

  • Consent Education: Onstage and in Sex Ed (2019–20), produced in partnership with Denver Public School District's CityWide Program and University of Colorado Boulder's Office of Engagement

  • Rush Hour: RACEing Across Campus (2019), produced in partnership with University of Colorado's Diversity and inclusion Summit

  • “Understanding cultural differences and how to interact with people who come from different backgrounds is a skill of vast importance. Thank you for your expertise and helping our teams prepare to travel abroad!”

    — Zayna P.
    President, University of Colorado Engineers Without Borders

  • "There was this moment when I looked at what I was creating and realized I was just repeating what I’d been thought. This project helped me see that and start over and think for myself about my gender.”

    —Charlie R.

    Binary Trappings participant, Cal State Fullerton

  • "Given the recent strife and tribalism that’s pervaded our community, I was floored by the empathy and dialogue that we shared annd how it came so easily after your Play back performances. This was a first step to healing for us.”

    –Annmarie

    Playback: A Critical Conversations Project participant, North Forlk Valley Creative Coalition