Summer Spotlight: Alum Angelika Menendez is Assistant Directing at Reagle Music Theatre

Angelika Menendez (BFA ’20, Theatre & Performance) is spending part of her summer as Assistant Director for Reagle Music Theatre’s production of West Side Story. On Tuesday, July 5 she’ll be taking over our Instagram Stories to give us an inside look at a day in her life!

Emerson Stage sat down with Angelika to get to know a little bit more about who she is and what she’s working on this summer:

Angelika, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I use the she/her/hers pronouns and am a Latinx artist born and raised in Miami, Florida. I graduated with my BFA in Theatre and Performance from Emerson College fall 2020. Since college, I’ve worked regionally with theatres like Teatro Chelsea and The REV Theatre Company. My dream is to continue creating diverse, accessible and inclusive art for all.

Tell us about what you’re working on this summer!

I am assistant directing West Side Story at Reagle Music Theatre. I am so excited to share our process as we ramp up to opening. I actually met the director, Rachel Bertone, at Emerson so this feels like such a lovely full circle moment finally working together!

What has been an unexpected challenge in this role and how have you learned from it?

Certainly confidence in seeing myself as a leader and collaborator and trusting my ideas as an artist. Sometimes in the room, as an artist, imposter syndrome can sneak in so easily, so I’m continuing to learn to trust myself and my talents as an ever growing artist. I’m learning that I’m doing my best and that I know more than I give myself credit for so I just have to continue to stay present and embrace the artist that I am rather than striving for a nonexistent version of perfection. It’s all about telling the story!

What has been your favorite part of this experience so far?

Getting to be on the other side of the table and being able to share in Rachel’s vision. As an artist there is so much to learn by watching and listening and it’s so exciting to be experiencing a whole new perspective that I may not have been able to explore otherwise. I assistant directed at Emerson but doing it in a professional regional environment is a different and exciting beast! I’m also so grateful the cast and creative team trusts my ideas when creating this story.

What’s next for you? Where can we find you online to continue following your journey?

In the fall I am working with Creede Rep as an actor in the premiere of Casa Alfonsa, a new TYA. It’s Latinx, it’s bilingual, and it’s going to tour to so many different locations and I am so excited to delve into this important musical and to bring representation to schools throughout the Southwest! Also it’s my first time outside the East Coast in the U.S.! To keep with my journey my Instagram is @angelikamenendez and my website is angelikamenendez.com