Gloria Sanchez is a native to San Antonio, Texas. Her first professional acting job was at Six Flags Fiesta Texas where she worked as a costume character.  It was then that she decided she would change her major in college and pursue a degree in theatre arts.  While she was attending San Antonio College and the University of the Incarnate Word, she performed with Murder Mystery Players of San Antonio and was a cast member for 10 years.  Although the core of her work is theatre-based, she has also appeared in short films such as “Gutterball,” directed by Jackie Earl Haley, and “Blood Cousin’s,” a Comedia A Go-Go’s first feature film. She was recently cast in Adam Rendon’s short film, “Quieres Que Me Muera.” In addition to her theatre and film credits, she performs stand-up comedy and recently helped form the sketch comedy group, Commonlawcatfish.  Her television credits include San Antonio’s very own, “The Cleto Show.” She graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Incarnate Word with a bachelor of arts in theatre.

Patty Ortiz (PO): I enjoyed your work in “Lydia” recently at the Attic Rep Theater. Terrific job! Can you describe your method of building your character in this work? What did you draw from?

Gloria Sanchez (GS): Thank you, Patty. Being able to be a part of the cast of “Lydia” at Attic Rep was a great way to finish the year.  Octavio Solis gave us so much to work within this play.  When I approached the role of Rosa in “Lydia,” I could not help but be reminded of my own life at home with my mother.

My research started with Rosa’s need to keep the family together.  Often times I remember my mother doing the best she could to keep our head above water after our parents got divorced. It was my mother’s determination to make the best of bad times that was at the root of my character development.  Rosa’s spirituality and trust in God was another quality that I drew from my mother and tias (aunts) as well.  When it came time to trust the choices I made for the character, I surrendered any doubts and second-guessing and let Octavio’s words speak for themselves.

PO: Were there any times when you did not agree with what Octavio had created the character to do?  Have you ever had that instance? How do you prepare for that?

GS: No, there was never any question or disagreement in the authenticity of the character Octavio created and what he created the character to do.  I trusted and believed what he wrote. I can’t say I’ve ever had an instance where I disagreed with what a playwright created a character to do. But sometimes I’ll read a script and think, “I don’t get it,” and then what usually happens is, I won’t audition for the play.

PO: So, do you believe that you have to like the character to truly portray it?

GS: No, I don’t believe I have to like the character in order to truly portray it; however, if I cannot find a common ground to link myself to the character, then I feel my portrayal would lack honesty.

PO: In your comedy work, do you use stereotypes as a way of mirroring our society’s general view of our culture? Or do you use these views as a way of working through our own view of ourselves?

GS: My comedy work consists of observations and personal experience. I am Latina and was raised Catholic. When stereotypes appear in my work, they are simply reflections of my own life experiences.  I use them as a way to embrace my culture and celebrate my life.

PO: Can you talk about that further? How do you select, filter, and interpret from your experience?

GS: I select topics that made/make an impression in my life. The most memorable moment in my life was coming out to my mother when I was 18 years old. She took it really hard, but eventually she came around.  I selected that moment and put it in my comedy to celebrate my mother’s acceptance and understanding.

PO: How did you use comedy to celebrate your mother’s acceptance and understanding?

GS: I use it more specifically in my stand-up comedy. I replay that event in my set. I take that event and play it over with my audience. It’s my way of paying tribute to her.

PO: I guess I was asking what techniques did you use in your stand-up comedy to get the audience to feel that acceptance and understanding? Where you both characters so that the audience could have empathy for both? Or were you your mother? Because it was comedy, where did you decide to place comic relief in the middle of a very serious topic?

GS: I simply found the funny in that moment and exaggerated the outcome. I don’t know if people empathise or not about that. That’s comedy though. People may or may not relate to your experience. My stand-up comedy is always changing and evolving. Sometimes I’ll play both roles, but it’s more for comedic effect. I’ve always been able to find some comic relief in some of my most troubling times.

Tags: acting, actor, actress, artist, character, comedy, film, san antonio, sketch comedy, stage, theater, theater arts

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