Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Larrea.
Allison, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I actually started my theatre journey later than most. My background was originally in dance, I graduated college with a degree in Visual and Performing Arts and I had planned to pursue teaching dance full time—but the universe had other plans. After graduating from college, some friends convinced me to audition for a local theatre production that happened to be tap-dance heavy. I figured, why not? That show turned out to be the North Texas regional premiere of Something Rotten, directed by Patty Granville, and it was the beginning of my unexpected path into theatre.
At first, I performed in a few shows, but I quickly realized that acting wasn’t really where I thrived—and that was okay. What I did know was that I didn’t want to step away from the theatre world altogether. A friend suggested I explore stage management and tech theatre, so I gave it a try. I stage managed my first show in 2022 and instantly fell in love with the job.
Since then, I’ve been eager to learn all sides of production, from stage management to design. I’ve had the chance to shadow so many talented lighting and sound designers and have learned so much from the many designers, directors, and actors I’ve worked alongside. Just three years in, I feel incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had, and I’m excited to continue growing in this field.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not! The performing arts world is fickle and tech theatre is no different. One of the biggest takeaways I got from college was it’s not necessarily what you know – though that is important – it’s who you know and who knows you. Since entering the world of tech, I had to learn a lot of different systems, techniques, terminology, and practices along the way, and honestly I am still learning everyday.
One of my biggest struggles starting out was that I was really stubborn about asking for help. I thought Google was my best friend and that if I could figure it out on my own, it somehow proved I belonged in this world. At some point that mindset shifted, and I realized the more I asked for help, the more I learned—and usually learned multiple ways of doing the same thing. Now if I don’t know how to do something, I’ve got three to five people on speed dial who I can call. They either walk me through it or tell me where to find the answer, and that’s been a total game-changer.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a special education teacher and cheer coach by day, and a theatre technician/choreographer by night. In my day job, I work as a high school math teacher, teaching Algebra II and Algebraic Reasoning in a special education setting, and I am also one of the cheer coaches. Both roles allow me to connect with students in different ways, academically, socially, and through teamwork, so I get to see their growth on multiple levels.
After my 9-5, I dive into the performing arts world, where I take on a variety of roles. In the theatre this includes stage management, designing lights or sound, and even handling marketing for productions. I really wear many hats in the theatre community, and while I don’t have one strict specialty, I would say Stage Management is my favorite. I love it because it allows me to see the big picture of a production and coordinate all the moving parts to make a show come together seamlessly.
One thing I am particularly proud of is my versatility in theatre. I’m trained in many areas of production and technical work. While I wouldn’t claim to be spectacular in every area, I think it’s incredibly valuable, especially as a Stage Manager, to understand the full scope of what goes into a production. Knowing how lighting, sound, set design, and marketing all intersect helps me not only support my director but also helps me support the entire team more effectively and anticipate challenges before they arise.
In the choreography world, I actually prefer to stay away from musical theatre. I don’t hate it, in fact I love to perform in the style, but I am not a huge fan of choreographing it. Instead, I go back to my training and use that to choregraph for high school drill teams, specifically small groups, duets, and solos. When I listen to music I often find myself adding movements to different rhythms and beats and always think “this would look so good like this” and after an hour of procrastinating what I should have been doing, I have a whole 3 minute dance done and ready to go on someone. I also take a lot of inspiration of my Latin roots and choreograph quinceañeras as well.
Overall, I am a busy bee, but honestly I love it. You only live once, and I much rather be busy than bored. All of these jobs make me, well…me… but I hope one day to bring together all of these passions and form a company for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to get quality performing arts education.
My parents have also been constant supports in my life. They have stuck by me through thick and thin, always encouraging me to follow my dreams and pursue my passions. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without their unwavering support and belief in me. They raised me to follow my dreams, work hard, and never be afraid of chasing big goals, even if they seemed intimidating at first. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to take risks, try new things, and step into roles that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. More than anything, they instilled in me the values of perseverance, kindness, and dedication—qualities that shape how I approach both my career and my personal life.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think risk taking is important, its the natural way to find out if something works or doesn’t, within reason of course. For me risk taking comes in a lot of ways but the biggest one is jumping into new roles in the theatre, specifically directing.
The most significant risk I’ve taken recently is submitting to direct a show at a theatre- and being chosen. While I am beyond excited to take this next step in my theatre career, I am also equally terrified. Directing carries a huge amount of responsibility, and there’s so much that goes into leading a production. As a stage manager, I’ve been able to observe directors closely, learn from their decisions, and share in some of the weight and stress of a production—but as a director, I am now tasked with bearing the full responsibility for the vision, the team, and the process.
Part of this risk is also learning how to trust others to share that responsibility with me. I know I won’t be doing it alone, but letting go of control and relying on collaborators in a new capacity is both intimidating and exhilarating. This risk pushes me to grow in ways that staying in familiar roles never could—it’s a chance to challenge myself, develop new leadership skills, and explore my creative vision fully. Even though it’s scary, I know that taking this risk is an essential step in continuing to grow as both a theatre professional and a person.
Pricing:
- Contact me through my website for a quote!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allisonalarrea.com
- Instagram: allisonalarrea
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allison.larrea
