Mayra Amaya (Theatre)
Tony Carrillo (Art)
Rachel Eskandari (Art)
Michael Healy (Film)
Molly Kirwan (Dance)
Korbi Adams (Music)
Lucas Mariacher (Film)
James Williams (Music)

Student Stories

Mayra Amaya BA in Theatre Sophomore   Why Theatre?   Future plans

Mayra Amaya Explores Her Hispanic Heritage through Acting
In 7th grade, I remember being asked to read aloud an excerpt from Charles Dickens. Afterward, my teacher took me aside and asked if I had ever considered acting. He thought I did such a great job and should pursue it further. I am Hispanic and interested in using my cultural heritage as inspiration for my acting.

Before I knew it, I entered college and was in my first Herberger College MainStage Theatre production - Iphigenia Crash Land Falls on the Neon Shell that Was Once Her Heart, A Rave Fable. The play centered on the Greek story of Iphigenia, was placed in a rave-like scene and incorporated digital sound and video elements. I played a Fresa Girl, a role that required me to use all my energy to make an unsuspecting audience understand what it would be like to be tortured.

Working on this play was the most intense theatre boot camp I have ever experienced and definitely worth every single bead of sweat I put into the production. I don't think I would have had an opportunity like this anywhere else.

Being a part of this production made me realize the Herberger College is like a small community housed within a larger community, ASU. Being a part of the Herberger College community allows me to explore my own interests while learning from my peers. The School of Theatre and Film has an abundance of outstanding mentors who provide key insights on perspective, method and execution of my work.

Expecting anything traditional would be silly. With programs like the Student Production Board and Playwrights on Campus, I am given the opportunity to choose the art I want to make and then make it work for the stage using available resources. I am given the opportunity to make my learning experience a personally inventive one.

I hope to take what I learn in the Herberger College and use it to create something great for the Chicano community. I would love to own my own theatre company that centers around Teatro Chicano. I look at the faces of my younger cousins and show them that there are opportunities to make us distinguishable.