By Amanda Alaniz

EDITOR’S NOTE: From the university’s first graduation ceremony in fall 2015, to its latest in December 2023, more than 50,000 students have earned their degrees at UTRGV. Those Vaqueros are out in the community and beyond now, making a difference, having an impact on the world. So UTRGV is taking time to recognize its 50K milestone by showcasing stories about its alumni. This is one of those success stories.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – MARCH 01, 2024 – Maria Alvarado, a UTRGV theater performance graduate from Edinburg and now a local business owner, grew up with a passion for acting.

It was an out of the ordinary choice in her family. Most had a background in business and were entrepreneurs. Fine arts weren’t part of the success equation.

“But I was the entertainment for my family gatherings since I was probably 3 years old,” she said. “Throughout middle school and high school, I enjoyed dancing. My last semester of senior year, they needed backup dancers for the school’s musical; I signed up and I loved it.”

She remembers asking her mother if the family had any singers, performers or musicians. The response was that everyone was focused on working, not so much on “hobbies.”

“From week one, I discovered the Latino Theatre Initiatives (LTI), a student organization that put plays together. And not only to the university, but they had travel shows,” Alvarado said. (Courtesy Photo)

Her mother suggested that she go into nursing. But Alvarado had one response: “I don’t like it.”

She followed her instincts, instead, and continued with performing arts. She is grateful that her family supported her decision as she was creating her career path, different from their own path as it was.

BRIGHT LIGHTS ON A BIG STAGE

Alvarado grew up in Mexico and moved to the United States when she was 12. She knew she would go to college, she said, but wasn’t sure what her major would be – until she discovered the options available to her during her college journey at UTRGV.

“From week one, I discovered the Latino Theatre Initiatives (LTI), a student organization that put plays together. And not only to the university, but they had travel shows,” she said.

LTI managed to attend theater festivals, and traveled to New Orleans, New York, San Diego and across Texas.

“I got opportunities to direct, not just act. I really love acting, especially acting on stage,” she said with a smile. “There’s nothing like it. Being there, live, all the emotions are live. You have an entire audience. But at the same time, you’re trying to just live in the moment.”

Alvarado drew from her UTRGV experience to muster the courage to open her own business. n 2019, she opened her own acting studio, MDA Acting in Edinburg. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

She graduated UTRGV in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a concentration in Performance.

Post-graduation, she worked with other companies to hold summer acting camps and be part of productions. That’s when she realized she wanted to branch out on her own.

She drew from her UTRGV experiences of running her own productions and fundraising for an organization she was part of. It all prepared her to muster the courage to start her own business.

In 2019, she opened her own acting studio, MDA Acting in Edinburg.

“I wanted to provide the knowledge and information that I didn’t have when I started acting when I was younger,” she said. “I want to provide that career path for people who want to take acting seriously. I want to give them the right steps to get there.”

WRITING HER OWN STORY

Alvarado wants the future actors who walk into her studio to gain confidence, to have a new understanding of the acting business, and to be ready for hard work.

The UTRGV alumna said she tells her students acting isn’t only about memorizing lines; they have to understand the character and be prepared for rejection.

“I want to be honest with them. I want to work with them so that they know what to expect in this world, because it's not an easy one,” she said.

Alvarado's goal is for the future actors who walk into her studio to gain confidence and to have a new understanding of the acting business. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

And her advice for UTRGV students pursuing a performance career track is heartfelt: “If you're going to do it, do it. Go full out, and put in the work.”

Alvarado said she is grateful to UTRGV for giving her a chance to grow as an actor, and for equipping her with the skills to give back to her community through her own acting studio.

“UTRGV and the UTRGV Theater Department gave me great opportunities, especially the opportunity to express myself through performance and productions,” she said. “I was allowed to do a lot of things for my productions. I’m proud to be a success story.”

Visit utrgv.edu/alumni to find out more about UTRGV alumni and how to stay connected.