Sara Guerrero

Featured Storyteller

@guerreroprincess 

Sara Guerrero (she/hers): As a versatile theater artist and educator, Guerrero is the founding artistic director of Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble, the only Latina theater company in Orange County. She and the ensemble are artists-in-residence of California State University of Fullerton’s Grand Central Arts Center in downtown Santa Ana. Under her leadership, the organization serves as an incubator for voices that have been historically excluded in theater by providing free programming in the guidance in the art of storytelling.

In her versatility, Guerrero works in many capacities to direct, lecture, produce, develop new works, and productions focused on Latinx/e community and experiences. As a director, in new play development she has worked with playwrights Diana Burbano, José Cruz González, Tony Menses, Exal Iraheta, Augusto Federico Amador, Elisa Gonzales, Amanda L. Andrei, Daniel A. Olivos, Jennifer Maisel, Jenny Connell Davis, Janine Salinas Schomberg, Jose Casas, and more. As an artist in higher education she’s been faculty member and guest director for Umass Amherst, UC Irvine, Cal State Long Beach, Chapman University, University of Oklahoma, Cal State Los Angeles, and returns this fall to the theatre department of Cal State Fullerton.

She’s been a resident playwright for Children’s Museum of La Habra (CA) and Education Outreach Program (EOP of Antelope Valley, CA). For the Pacific Symphony, with journalist Gustavo Arrellano, she wrote and directed “Canto de Anaheim,” stories of the Latinx heroes and experiences of Anaheim and presented with the brass symphony at the once segregated Pearson Park Amphitheater. Additionally, she wrote and directed, “The Festival For The Dead”, a Día de los Muertos celebration family play presented with the Symphony’s 120+ orchestra at The Segerstrom Music Concert Hall (CA) and Meng Music Hall (CA) to families (over 3k+).

Guerrero, a CalArts alum, has been awarded a prestigious California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, a 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year (46 th District), recognized as a "People to Watch'' by American Theatre Magazine, and "Honorable Mention Playwright” and "FINALIST" for the 46th Annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival for her coming-of-age play, “Have to Believe We Are Magic.” available through newplayexchange.org.
Learn More: teatroguerrero.com

Marissa Herrera

Featured Storyteller

@marissacreates

Marissa Herrera (she/her/ella) is a 3rd generation Chicana-Indigenous woman and LA native born and raised in Azusa, CA. Marissa began her professional career as an artist at the age of five, performing with the Ballet Folklorico de Aztlan Dance Company. She knew being an artist was her future, as reflected in her feature interview on the PBS documentary, Art & the Mind: “I was born to dance . . . my calling is to create.” Marissa strives to use her creative work to empower individuals into sharing their stories and foster the next generation of creative visionaries connected by diversity, love, and creativity. As a visionary and leader in the arts and community, Marissa strives to create work that connects us all.

Marissa's career spans over 25 years in Theater/Film and TV and as a leader in Arts Education. She is the CEO of De Mi Alma Productions (Director/Content Creator/Producer/Choreographer/Actor) and the Co-Founder/Executive Artistic Director of 4C LAB (501c3).

Daphnie Sicre

 Featured Storyteller 

@drsicrelovestheatre

Daphnie Sicre, PhD. (she/ella) is a multi-hyphenated theatre artist, who shares a deep passion for Black and Latine perspectives in theatre. Engaging in anti-racist and culturally competent theatre practices, she directs, serves as a dramaturg, teaches, engages in scholarship and research on AfroLatinidad, and facilitates workshops to teach about DEI theatre pedagogy. When she is not conducting her creative work or research, she can be found practicing yoga or somewhere in nature with her dog. https://daphniesicre.com/  IG: @drsicrelovestheatre

Maya Malan-Gonzalez

Featured Storyteller

@mayamalangonzalez

Maya Malan-Gonzalez (she/ella) is an playwright, actor and teatrista.

She is a lifelong member of Milagro in Portland and an ensemble member with Studio Luna in Los Angeles. She has also performed with Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Cara Mia Theatre, San Jose Stage Company, San Diego Rep, El Teatro Campesino, and Teatro Vision among others. 

As a playwright, her theatrical productions include “Blast Off” and “Huelga” commissioned and presented by Teatro Milagro; "A Xmas Cuento Remix", which had a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere with Milagro, 16th Street Theater and The Cleveland Public Theatre; and “A Christmas Treat” commissioned by Cleveland Public Theatre and featured in 10 Minutes to Midnight: 9 Quirky Plays for the Holidays. 

Most recently her stories were featured in “Not So Merry and Bright: A Christmas Mixtape by Studio Luna”. Her piece, “Sunshine” was presented in “The Inbetweens” for El Centro Del Sur: Latinx Theatre Festival and her story “Down the Side of the Mountain” is in Teatro Luna’s Audible Original audiobook, “Talking While Female and Other Dangerous Acts”.

Maya received her B.F.A in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University and she is a graduate of the NALAC Leadership Institute. Visit www.mayamalangonzalez.com to learn more.

 Alexandra Meda
Co-Host

Christina Igaraividez
Co-Host