CRISTINA FRÍAS                                                         EDUCATOR                                           

 “Professor Frias” offers Acting Instruction, Theatre for Social Justice Workshops, Chicano Teatro/Latinx Theatre Courses, Holistic Auditioning & Mining your Original Voice in Art & Life classes!          

EDUCATION

• California Institute of the Arts, School of Theatre, M.F.A., Acting
• University of California, Berkeley, B.A., Sociology
• London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Shakespeare Summer Intensive
• American Conservatory Theatre (ACT), Summer Training Congress, San Francisco
• NYU, Institute of Hemispheric Studies ­ Summer Encuentros (Peru, Mexico, NYC)
• Saint Louis University, Madrid, Spain (Year Abroad, Spanish and Liberal Studies)
• Royal Shakespeare Company, Professional Development for Teachers, Los Angeles

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

UCLA, Department of Chicana/o/x  Studies
Guest Lecturer (2014 -­ Present)

UCLA The Art of Performance (Spring 2014 – ­ Spring 2019)

A workshop seminar examining seminal works of LatinX theatre artists with a special emphasis on creating and performing cultural memory. The course is designed to introduce students to the basic elements of theatre performance, including improvisation, voice/speech exercises and collaborative scene work. In short, “performance” will be examined as cultural expression, political tool and personal identity. Each class is divided into two segments – lecture and group discussions/exercises.

UCLA Comedy y Cultura (Spring 2016 – Fall 2018)

A workshop seminar exploring comedic storytelling in plays, sketch comedy, solo performance, creative writing and multi­media. Students read and respond to weekly scripts, collectively write and perform their own ACTOS in the style of El Teatro Campesino and perform short autobiographical monologues. Course material is inclusive and representative of diverse artists, with a focus on artists of color.

UCSB, Department of Theatre and Dance

Guest Artist (Winter 2018)
ACTOS ­ A CALL TO ACTION!

An immersive hands on course studying the “Early Actos of El Teatro Campesino”. Students study the history of the celebrated farmworker’s theatre, visit the ETC archives in the UCSB Special Collections Library and create their own short skit using the ACTO structure and form. Each class will include theatre exercises designed to activate the performer’s body, voice and imagination. Students will read weekly dynamic plays that explore contemporary socio­political narratives and also, support the students’ ACTO collaborations.

LA Mission College, Theatre Arts Department (Fall 2017 – Present)

Introduction to Acting &  Intermediate Acting

AMDA, College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts

Acting Instructor (2014 -­ 2017)

• Contemporary Scene Study (Fall 2017)
• Introduction to Shakespeare (Spring 2017)
• Acting II: Scene Study (Fall 2016),
• Acting I: Foundations (Summer 2016)
• Non­Linear Acting (Fall 2016),
• Advanced Shakespeare (Spring 2015)
• Acting III: Advanced Scene Study (Fall 2014)

California Institute for the Arts (2009 – 2015)

Guest Faculty & Student Instructor, School of Theatre

BFA Acting Studio ­ Level 1 (2015)
BFA Acting Studio ­ Level 3 (2014)
Acting Techniques I & II (Fall 2009 ­ Spring 2010)
Teaching Assistant (2010 ­ 2011)
Arts & Activism and World Theater Text (Fall 2010 ­ Spring 2011)

Center Theater Group, Los Angeles                                                          Education Department

Audience Talk Facilitator, Valley of the Heart (2018)                                              Project Faculty, Zoot Suit (2017)
Stage Talk Engagement Facilitator, Zoot Suit (2017)

TEACHING ARTISTS

Shakespeare Center Los Angeles / Lead Acting Mentor (Summer 2010 & 2014)
Contra Costa College, San Francisco / Guest Artist (Fall 2012)
Engage,The Art of Active Aging /  Senior Citizens (2009 ­ 2012)
CASA 0101 Theatre Company, Los Angeles / Acting Instructor (2011)

GUEST ARTIST WORKSHOPS

• UCSB, Department of Theatre and Dance, Launchpad Series, Guest Actor (2018)
• Cal Poly Pomona, Department of Theatre, Art of ShowBIZ, Guest Workshop (2014)
• Stanford University, “From Racial Justice to Multiculturalism”, Guest Artist (2012)
• University of San Francisco, “Theatre and Social Justice”, PLACAS Guest Artist (2012)
• Oakwood School, Creating Autobiographical Solo Performance (2009)
• UCLA, School of World Arts and Culture, Creating Solo Performance (2008)
• Centre by Centre Theatre Festival, Artist Workshop, Kigali, Rwanda (2008)
• Ecole Supérieur de Sup de Pub, Interdisciplinary Arts, Guest Lecturer, France (2007)
• Bates College, Performance Workshop Chicano Teatro, Mellon Learning Associate (2005)

AWARDS/NOMINATIONS

• FORNÉS PLAYWRITING WORKSHOP Selected Participant, Chicago, IL (2018)
  Sponsored by University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies, in collaboration with the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, the College of Arts and Letters and the Department of Film, Television and Theatre
• Center for Cultural Innovation, Investing in Artists Grant, Master Artist ­LAS HOCICONAS LAB (2018)
• Sherwood Award, Center Theatre Group, Semi-Finalist (2018)
• LA SCENIE AWARD, Best Comedy Ensemble, The Motherf*cker with a Hat, SCR (2013)
• Nominee LA WEEKLY Best Revival Production, Camino Real, Theatre@Boston Court (2011)
• Nominee Beutner Award for Excellence in the Arts, CalArts (2010)
• Department of Cultural Affairs Artist ­In­ Residence Award (2003 ­ 2008)
• Highways Performance Space, Emerging Artist Commission (2005)
• CTG’s Latino Theatre Lab New Writer Commission Workshop Girl Planet: The Global Diaries (2005)
• NALIP Short Film Slam Award, Cristina Clandestina, Lead Actress (2004)
• Mellon Learning Associate, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine (2002)
• Regional Youth Arts Grant Award, L.A. Cultural Affairs Department (2000­2001)
• Backstage West Garland Award, Best Ensemble, Broken Hearts, Cornerstone (1999)
• Nominee Best Actress Award, Santa Monica Theatre Guild, Latins’ Anonymous (1999)
• Artistas Activas en la Comunidad Award, BANELA, Bay Area Network of Latinas (1996)