{"id":72310,"date":"2025-12-02T02:14:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T02:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/72310\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T02:14:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T02:14:10","slug":"utep-theatre-and-dance-explores-cultural-identity-in-i-am-not-your-perfect-mexican-daughter-the-prospector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/72310\/","title":{"rendered":"UTEP theatre and dance explores cultural identity in \u2018I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter\u2019 \u2013 The Prospector"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Texas at El Paso\u2019s Department of\u00a0 Theatre and Dance has brought Erika S\u00e1nchez\u2019s best-selling novel \u201cI Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter\u201d to the Wise Family Theatre.<\/p>\n

The play follows Julia Reyes, a Mexican American teenager living in Chicago who is struggling to navigate her family\u2019s expectations and her own dreams of becoming a writer after the sudden death of her sister, Olga.<\/p>\n

Adapted for the stage by Isaac G\u00f3mez, the production focuses on cultural identity, generational pressure and mental health all while navigating grief. Director\u00a0Adriana Dominguez, who is also an associate professor of theatre, says these themes and their relevance to the community drew her to the play.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe [The selection committee of the Department of Theater and Dance] thought that a play about a young person\u2019s experience was really pertinent to our community, and especially because she is the daughter of immigrants, and she\u2019s navigating a lot, we thought, what better place to do a play like this than UTEP,\u201d Dominguez said.<\/p>\n

Dominguez said she hopes the audience will leave inspired if they see themselves reflected onstage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want people to leave empowered; we see this strength of this young person who is determined to make her dreams come true,\u201d Dominguez said. \u201cEven if our dreams can seem far-fetched, having those is important, and we have to keep reaching for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"A graphic displays the title of the show on the set of the stage for \u201cI am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.\u201d (Damaris M Flores<\/a>)<\/p>\n

There were technical challenges Dominguez, the cast and crew had to overcome. The play changes locations over 30 times, actors had to move set pieces and do quick changes while on stage and Vasco Castro, who plays Julia, is on stage throughout the entire performance.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest challenges for Dominguez was exploring the heavy themes while still handling them with care and sensitivity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people have read the book, they know it has a very extreme struggle with mental health, and there are some very sensitive moments in the play,\u201d Dominguez said. \u201cMy goal is never to re-traumatize anyone, so we stylized some of these moments. The audience knows what happened, but I\u2019m not actually having those things happen in front of people.\u201d<\/p>\n

For senior Maximo Chong, who plays Mr. Ingman, it has been both a creative and personal milestone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire cast has all been super cool, and I appreciate all their help, especially navigating something new\u2026 It hasn\u2019t felt like a job,\u201d Chong said. \u201cI\u2019ve never come in and felt like I needed to be here just because I needed to be here. It\u2019s always been, \u2018I\u2019m looking forward to this.\u201d<\/p>\n

For sophomore Zena Madrid who portrays Olga, this is her first time acting in a major role.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\u201cI
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA scene portraying Julia in her favorite teacher, Mr. Ingman\u2019s, classroom.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cIt made me so happy that I could come into this space and not feel judged and not feel overworked and feel good about the work that I\u2019m doing because of everyone around me,\u201d Madrid said.<\/p>\n

Chong said that to develop his performance he had to do more than just practice and memorize lines; he had to learn to trust himself on stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the beginning it was a lot of me just trying to memorize my lines, and it didn\u2019t come off natural,\u201d Chong said. \u201cIt became more of \u2018Okay, let my body do the work.\u2019 It\u2019s a lot of just being aware and being there in the moment.<\/p>\n

Taking on the role of Olga helps Madrid set boundaries between school, performance and her personal life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI work in this building, and I go to class in this building, and I eat in this building, and then I go to rehearsals in this building. It\u2019s very difficult to get home and decompress, but it\u2019s forced me to take time to relax for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Madrid and Chong said the long hours of rehearsing and the emotional work they had to put in for their roles has given the cast a better appreciation for what it takes to bring a story to life.<\/p>\n

\"\"A visual effect presented on one of the stage\u2019s screens. Meant to communicate the inner feelings of the main character Julia. (Damaris M Flores<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

As many of the students working on the production juggle classes, jobs and rehearsals, Dominguez hopes the audience can appreciate the student\u2019s dedication.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone who\u2019s working on this production is doing so much of the work after hours,\u201d Dominguez said. \u201cMany of them work, some of them work full time, and then they\u2019re going to school\u2026then they\u2019re coming into rehearsal after that. It is an incredible commitment that people are taking on in order to tell this story.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Region 6 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) recognized the commitment from the cast and crew through seven recognitions.<\/p>\n

Marina Estrada, Selena Garcia and Valerie Guzman were awarded for Excellence in Stage Management. Bass Alarcon for Excellence in Sound Design. The artistic and production team for Excellence in Collaboration, Adaptiveness and Support. Samantha Michelle Nava and the Audience Development team for Excellence in Lobby Display, Audience Development and Outreach. Aleyana Flores for Excellence in Under Studying. Maya Godina and Castro were both recognized as an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominees.<\/p>\n

\u201cI Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter\u201d invites the community to reflect on their own relationships with identity and belonging, especially in the Mexican American community. The biggest takeaway Dominguez wants the audience to get is that it is okay to ask for help when one is struggling.<\/p>\n

Ximena Cordero is the web and copy editor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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