Caz
Morales

It’s dark. The sound of rushing blood crashes against my eardrums, the audience is out there, a midnight sea of rustling coats, a silence that is almost deafening. When I exhale, the curtains give way and suddenly- I’m free.

 

I can still envision it clearly in my head. The day I conquered my stage fright I felt an intrinsic peace nestle itself within my soul. This is true for many people. I like to think that the arts can bring out some of the best parts of ourselves, that hidden courage, love, and passion we often don’t let others see. We translate them in different ways, precise movements, harmonies, beautiful lines of color on a canvas, etc. This is how I communicate who I am to the world, through the art I make of course, but especially through acting and directing. What I find exhilarating is the process, the ritual of rehearsal and the community it brings. There’s often a dichotomy between the two, acting and directing, but for me the lines intersect. Both passions mirror each other, drawing on one to feed the other. As an actor, I am able to embody and give a voice to stories that often go untold. This is my mission as a performer, I recognize the opportunity and responsibility I have to uplift communities and spread awareness through my body and voice. As a director, I enjoy telling these meaningful stories through the lens of my creative vision. Overall, I want to pursue the things that make me happy. I’ve spent so much of my life living for others, and now I am fully living by embodying my most authentic self and pursuing what I am passionate about. Theatre has given me so much, I think it’s important to uplift the BIPOC theatre community through the narratives we present. Representation is important, if I had been exposed to more artists that look like me growing up, I could have figured out my passion for the arts sooner instead of limiting myself to a career that is perceived as more “stable” or “realistic”. Looking towards the future, I want to act in pieces that Latiné people aren’t usually seen in and I want to direct plays that amplify BIPOC voices. If I were to simmer all my beliefs down into its main components: I want to have fun, I want those I work with to have fun, I want my audiences to have fun, and I want to make people think. Above all, theatre has given me the freedom to do so.

 

It’s dark, my breath is short, this time, the sound of applause drowns out the staccato of my heart and the ocean in my ears- I’ve never felt more alive.