7 questions with alumna theatre director Victoria Collado

February 11, 2022 at 3:10pm

Since graduating FIU Theatre with a BFA in acting 10 years ago, Victoria Collado has found her calling as a director.

In 2019 she directed the smash-hit immersive play, The Amparo Experience which played to sold-out crowds during an eight-month run — an unprecedented feat for a South Florida production. Her company, the Abre Camino Collective has since reimagined the piece as an interactive hybrid filmic experience told through social media. Now, she returns to her alma mater to guest direct FIU Theatre’s latest production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, opening Friday, Feb. 18.

Before one of her recent rehearsals, we sat down with Victoria to play 7 questions and to learn more about what excites and inspires.

1. If your creative process was a song, what would it be?

The Star-Spangled Banner by Jimi Hendrix. It’s grabbing a thing that is normal, finding the new in it, messing it up, and somehow making it land in the end.

2. If you had a piece of advice for a student starting out at FIU Theatre or interested in theatre what would it be?

Take every single opportunity. The best thing about FIU Theatre, and I firmly believe this, is that you don’t just learn your track, you learn everything. And that actually makes you a better artist. I became a better actor and a better director while I was at FIU because I understood what every single job was because I had spent time in the shop and spent time learning everything about theatre. That makes you a better artist and a better collaborator because you’re ready to be part of the theatrical team.

3. A lot of your projects have revolved around being Cuban. Why is that part of yourself so important to your work?

I think it’s very hard for me to separate myself from where I come from and how I’ve been raised and what is inside me. I think that the process of making art — when it’s done well — you are putting yourself in it. But also, I feel an obligation to tell our story and tell it well because I have seen it constantly not be told well. And so, I want to make sure that the stories that I want to tell are out there, and that the stories that my friends want to tell are out there because they matter, and they can change the world.

4. What excites you?

Magic and possibility. I think hope excites me. I think constantly thinking that anything is possible makes life exciting and it’s the thing that makes me want to continue living and makes me want to continue doing the work that I do.

5. What has been your favorite theatrical experience as an audience member?

I’m gonna sound basic, but — Harry Potter on Broadway. It had been such a long time since I had gasped watching something on stage as an audience member. I won’t spoil it for people, but there was this one technical, magical moment that made me forget that I was a theatre maker. I forgot all of it and I was just transported. Magic happened on stage and all my faith in theatre was restored.

6. If you had an unlimited budget, what would be your dream project?

If I had an unlimited budget, it would be a mega-immersive travel project that included multiple mediums and was probably about Cuba. It would require you to go on a full-on adventure and money wouldn’t matter at that point because you would just be having fun.

7. Why should people come to see Curious Incident?

First of all, I think every single person that is working on Curious Incident really cares about the project. The students, the professors, everybody has put everything into this play and I know from experience that when people do that — beautiful art comes out. I also think that the play opens up our minds to how we perceive people. And I think that if you actually go on the ride of the play, you can accept more kindness into your life.