Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Austin Lopez.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Sure! I was born in Atlanta Georgia because both my parents are engineers who graduated from Georgia Tech. My mom is Puerto Rican and my dad grew up in Maryland, so I am ethnically mixed and bilingual. I love working out, cycling, and scuba diving. Though my parents are engineers, I have always wanted to be on stage. My first “gig” was singing with my mom at church when I was 4 years old. Even before then, I started taking dance classes as a toddler and I took voice lessons as a young child. It was hard to have continuity as we moved around a lot because of my dad’s job. I ended up going to 7 schools in six years. In middle school, we settled back in Atlanta and I resumed my dance training; I really thought I wanted to be a dancer.
However, I realized in high school that what I loved is performing, so I started auditioning for school musicals because they provide the opportunity to showcase dancing, singing and acting skills all at once. I had performed in many church plays and had even attended some musical theatre summer camps so acting was not new to me. Nonetheless, I knew that I needed formal training, so I chose to go to Baylor because it has a great acting program. I received a BFA in Theatre Performance with a Musical Theatre Concentration in May 2018. In addition to my degree at Baylor, I attended many workshops and training programs in the summers including Cap 21, Broadway Dreams, and SFNY.
After graduation, I attended SpringBoard NYC which is a program from the American Theatre Wing and was given the opportunity to attend the 2018 Tony Awards. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to have worked at some of the best Regional Theaters including The Alley Theatre in Houston, A.D. Players in Houston, North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh and the ZACH Theater in Austin. One of my biggest accomplishments since graduation is that I have been able to accrue enough weeks working at professional theaters to become eligible to join the Actor’s Equity Association. But, for now, I am living one of my dreams as I perform as part of the ensemble at Dallas Theater Centers In the Heights.
Has it been a smooth road?
Pursuing my dreams of becoming a professional actress has not been easy. There have been many obstacles. In high school, I learned the importance of separating truth from opinion. An authority figure told me that I was never going to be cast because I was too shy and didn’t have the “right” look. Fortunately, I had the support of some pretty amazing theater professionals who encouraged me through the painful high school years. My dad wanted me to study engineering, so I applied and was accepted to an engineering school just to show I was capable of. But my heart was in the theater. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be where I am today but I also know that I have a long road ahead.
I would encourage young women who want to pursue a career in the arts, first of all, believe in themselves; to believe deep in their hearts that they can do this. If they can see themselves doing anything else, please pursue that other passion. This is a career of rejection where you have to know your worth and grow a thick skin because actors are judged daily by directors/choreographers/casting personnel/audiences. In order to survive in this business, you need to know that most of that rejection is not about you; it’s about other’s perception of you, the project and whether they don’t see you as a fit for the job. Nonetheless, be open to constructive criticism and view every rejection as a learning opportunity. This is why it is important for actors to surround themselves with positive yet truthful voices, mentors who can support and guide them through and muddy waters and obstacles they may encounter. It is also important to never compare yourself to others. It is hard not to, but everyone is unique and everyone’s journey is unique. But the best piece of advice I can give is to work hard because no matter how hard you think you are working/training, there is someone out there who looks exactly like you who is working/training harder. If they want to become musical theatre performers, they need to find a good voice coach, a good acting coach and a good dance studio as it is important to train in all three areas equally. If applying for college theatre programs, I would recommend finding an audition coach, someone who knows what the process is like and what it requires. Acceptance rates are low, so it is best to concentrate on colleges that are a good fit for you regardless of their national ranking. Though I know that many actors do not pursue college degrees and that a college degree is not for anyone, I do think that a college degree is valuable in many ways none the least of which is the mere accomplishment of having received it; a personal reminder of being capable to achieve any goals we set for ourselves.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am an actress, singer and dancer. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work at some amazing theaters with some incredible performers. I am not sure if there is anything specific that sets me apart, but I have been able to book some jobs because of my dance training. It increases the number of roles that you can be cast in.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Mentors can be found everywhere. Like I said before, I am still very early in my career so I still need mentors and treasure the advice of those more experienced than me. There are so many people I look up to. In my field, I think the best way to find mentors is to take classes, to train. I have met most of the people I call my mentors today either at workshops/intensives or they have been fellow cast members. Never be afraid to reach out for advice. I have found most people very happy and willing to help. One thing I have learned recently is that you have to get along with others, take direction and be easy to work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.christinaaustinlopez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina_austin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christina.austin.98
Image Credit:
1) Fiddler on the Roof – Baylor Theatre – Baylor Photos
2) Crazy for You – Baylor Theatre – Baylor Photos
3) Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play – Baylor Theatre – Baylor Photos
4) In the Heights _ North Carolina Theatre- Curtis S, Brown www.curtisbrownphotography.com
5) A Christmas Carol – ZACH Theatre –
6) Rapture, Blister Burn – 4th Wall Theatre – Gabriella Nissen www.gabriellanissen.com
7) West Side Story – A. D. Players – Joey Watkins Photography
8) In the Heights – Dallas Theater Center – #InTheHeightsDallas
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