Alia Cuadros-Contreras

Hello! My name is Alia (she/they) and I am an actor, singer, dancer, and writer. I was raised by my Latin American parents in Palo Alto, CA, in the middle of Silicon Valley, but my home has always been New York City (even before I knew it). At nine years old, I saw my first musical, Wicked, and thought that Elphaba, or rather the actor that played her, was the most powerful woman I had ever seen. Then and there, I decided that I wanted to be like her, that I wanted to be an actor. Many years later, I graduated from my dream school, New York University, with a B.F.A. in Drama (New Studio on Broadway) and a minor in child and adolescent psychology. Today, I aim to use my art as a platform for social activism and as a way to foster compassion and understanding for different human experiences. As a queer Latina, I am particularly passionate about telling stories that explore and portray my various identities in truthful, complex ways. On any given day, you can find me adventuring through NYC, teaching theater classes in schools, spending time with friends or listening to Lizzy McAlpine's music on repeat. I would like to thank my teachers, my friends, and my parents for supporting my dreams. Life is beautiful and the possibilities are truly infinite.