Alejandra Acosta-Gallegos has been a wonderful addition to the St. Ambrose Theatre Department as she has provided valuable assistance to various Ambrose productions.
Alejandra was on the crew for both Picasso at the Lapin-Agile and Cabaret, where she worked as a member of the running crew and a follow-spot operator respectively. She has also had several opportunities to act at St. Ambrose. She began her acting career here with the role of Sister James in a 10-minute scene from Doubt for the directing class and acted in the main stage production of Cinderella.
We hope that Alejandra will continue to make an impact in our department, and we know that she will continue to do excellent work!
Where are you from?
South suburbs of Chicago-Alsip, Illinois
What is your major? Why did you pick that/those majors?
My majors include International studies, Theatre, and Women and Gender Studies.
I chose International Studies because I've always been interested in policies and really just how groups of people work together to make the world a better place. I chose theatre because my friends from home call it a bit of "Napoleonic complex," where I compensate for my height with my personality. In the end, my loudness seemed best suited in theatre.
Finally, I chose Women and Gender Studies because it could be an in-group bias, but I love the many ways to reinforce to myself and others that women run the world. I just see this major as a way of becoming knowledgeable about the many powerful contributions women have made to history and the modern image of a woman.
When did you start doing theatre? Why did you decide to continue doing it at Ambrose?
As a freshman in high school, my cousin was a member of the speech team and if it weren't for her, I would not have walked into that audition room. However, I was always at odds with theatre because I was never cast, so I started giving up. My senior year, however, I was given the role of Mamá in our school's competitive production of The House on Mango Street. We made school history by being sectional champions and ultimately making it to state for the first time. During this process, I received honorary awards for my performance in Conference, Sectionals and State. When I realized what I was capable of artistically achieving, I gave theatre another chance here at SAU.
First-Year Focus
Q: What would your dream role(s) be? A: I would love to play Blanche in a production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire.' Additionally, I would love to play the Big Nurse in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' Hopefully, by 2020 I can also finish what I started and play Sister James in a production of 'Doubt.'
What are some theatre productions you have been with involved in the past? And what do you hope to be involved with in the future?
As a Freshman in high school, I was the stage manager for Shrek: The Musical. From then on, I was often appointed stage manager in productions like Clue and Steel Magnolias. I also played the bassoon in the pit for the production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Here at SAU, I was crew for Picasso at the Lapin Agile, I played the Footman in Cinderella, and I was follow-spot for Cabaret. In the future, I just want to audition for shows more often and with more confidence.
Why did you choose St. Ambrose?
A representative from Ambrose came to my high school and his presentation for the school was more personal than from the reps from other colleges, so I decided it was where I wanted to be.
What is your favorite show and why?
My favorite show is The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer because it was the first production I saw that opened my mind to a world bigger than what I knew it to be.
What would your dream job be?
Someday, I want to be a Supreme Court justice.
What is your favorite class this semester?
My favorite class this semester is Ethnic/ Peace and Nonviolence, all because of Father Brian!
Tell us a Fun Fact about yourself!
If I could have voted in the 2000 elections, I would have voted for my man, Al Gore.
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