Gretchen Ugalde: I Am Their American Dream.
Skene Staff
Scenic designer and emerging artist whose work builds worlds rooted in personal history, cultural identity, and a deep respect for the audience’s time.
Scenic designer and emerging artist whose work builds worlds rooted in personal history, cultural identity, and a deep respect for the audience’s time.
Demystify opera auditions from screening to callback. Learn how audition processes work and what companies look for at each stage.
Mexican singer and actress Sofía Montaño shares the artistry, discipline, and family legacy that shaped her journey to Cirque du Soleil.
Lily Bulman asks Helen Garcia-Alton, Tina Torbey, and Nia Banks the most personal question in theatre — what brought you here and keeps you coming back?
Explore alternative theatre training paths beyond MFA programs, from conservatories and apprenticeships to workshops and self-directed study.
From the moment Sofía Montaño steps onstage, there is an energy that feels both grounded in legacy and charged with possibility. Raised in a multigenerational family of Mexican artists, Sofía grew up surrounded by the rhythms, stories, and discipline that shape a life in performance. That early immersion did more than spark her creativity, it carved a path she never questioned, one defined by voice, movement, and an unwavering commitment to the craft.
Today, her artistry carries her across international stages, where she merges classical training, emotional clarity, and a fierce devotion to the work. Whether singing under the sweeping spectacle of Cirque du Soleil or reflecting on the lessons inherited from her legendary grandfather Ignacio López Tarso, Sofía brings a sense of purpose that feels both deeply personal and boldly contemporary.
Her journey unfolds with passion, rigor, and joy in this edition of PROFILES.
I think the luckiest thing that could ever happen to me was to be born in a family of artists. Father and grandfather actors, mother dancer, cousin musician, among others. I grew up surrounded by their creativity, but specially their passion to their craft. So the spark, kind of happened in the most natural way, I’ve just never wanted to do anything else. To perform is my purest form of expression is my most comfortable place.
To work in Cirque du Soleil was one of my biggest career goals. When I knew about the company I fell absolutely in love. I had the amazing honour to join the company in 2019 and it has completely changed my life path. I’ve been the singer of two of the most memorable shows of the company: Luzia and Corteo. Both created and directed by the legendary Daniele Finzi Pascal.
My work relies completely on the strength and stamina of my voice. I don’t like plan B’s, I like to deliver my 100% every night. So that involves a lot of care and a lot of training. For me inspiration comes from having the magical experience of being on stage, it just keeps me going.
My biggest challenge has been to identify my areas of opportunity. To listen to feedback and work on it to improve and learn.
My biggest inspiration has been the work and life of my grandfather, the amazing Ignacio Lopez Tarso. Movies, tv and theatre actor in Mexico. The way he devoted his life to his craft, always doing it with love and passion, is very moving to me. He was the most disciplined, consistent and intense actor I’ve ever seen and he also was my grandfather, with whom I had the best conversations about acting and play writers and the industry. I think of him a lot during my work and it always inspires me deeply.
Theatre never cease to amaze me. It has never stop being a laboratory for human nature. I’ll never not be excited about theatre and new theatre and old theatre.
To love all parts of the process. All. Learn to love auditions, they are amazing learning opportunities, to hate them makes them harder. Love them, love the opportunity to share your work, the work you have put so much effort in. And then, also love rehearsals, love the call, love the pr. Love all that it takes to be on stage, beyond being on one.
To give someone a fun, moving and phone free night is the main objective of my work. To disconnect form the world for a couple of hours and enter a different reality can cure the soul.
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