Ángeles Romero
María de los Ángeles Romero
Ángeles was born on the Mexican-American border and has been raised in two cultures. She now resides in Houston and is a performance artist, writer and activist whose work meditates on the new lexicon of contemporary Latino culture and its political relations to Anglo and international cultures.
After several years of study at University of Texas-Austin (political science), Angeles began her own creative work, performed in workshops with Deborah Hay, made costumes, wrote plays, acted in films and music videos, and started to perform with AlienNation Co. in „between the places“ (February 1998), for which she wrote the script.
More recently she wrote, directed, and performed in „A las cinco te desmayo,“ a melodrama/parody dedicated to the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Austin’s Cultural Center. In 1998 she began collaborating with AlienNation Co., on the creation of the „migbot“ installation/performance at Winter Street Art Center, and she performed the role she created again at the „fishgarden“ installation during the Vogelfrei Festival in Darmstadt, Germany. In the fall of 1999, she wrote the libretto and performed the lead role in the new opera MIRAK, premiered by Aliennation Co. at DiverseWorks in Houston. In 2003 she completed her MFA in theatre at Ohio State University, where she performed, among other roles, as a guest with dadaKamera at the Wexner Center for the Arts, and in 2003-04 initiated a new performance-based course in Latino Studies. Her full-lenghth play, „Sueño“ based on the life of Sor Juana Inéz de la Cruz, premiered at Mount Hall (Columbus) in March 2003. As Artist in Residence at OSU, she taught performance-culture workshops, and in 2004 premiered the solo piece Cuerpos Ambulantes.
After returning to Houston, she worked as Artist in Residence for Teatro Bilingüe throughout 2006, directing
workshops on docudramas, multimedia theatre, and improvisational techniques. In 2007 she was recipient of an Individual Artist Grant Award, funded by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. During her grant, she completed writing her latest, and most substantial play to date, Puntos de Fuga (Vanishing Points). An essay about this play, “Puntos de Fuga (Vanishing Points): Performance Writing for the Digital Theatre,” written by Johannes Birringer and Ángeles Romero, appeared in the anthology The Text Strikes Back: The Dynamics of Performativity, ed. Savas Patsalidis and Elizabeth Sakellaridou, GRAMMA 17 (2010), pp. 223-48.
Becoming increasingly visible in her career as an actress, performance artist, writer and teacher, she started her own production company and acting studio in Houston, and enhanced her techniques through further studies in Japan, Spain and New York City (with Ann Bogart). Her company is called: Absolute Art Productions, and her acting studio is called Absolute Actor Studio.
A stage reading was held at Talento Bilingüe de Houston, December 21, 2007. She has worked as director of Education at Talento Bilingüe, and as a free-lance interpreter. Since 2013 she also teaches acting at the Absolute Actor Studio, and in early 2015 she directs a new production of El Entrecejo.
Ángeles has created several more productions since then and also has been elected to be artist-in-residence at MECA – a Latino-based multidisciplinary and multicultural arts organization of major significance in the city of Houston, having been a leader in providing culturally based arts education for youth for decades. MECA has a theatre stage on which Ángeles has performed numerous times and shown her work.
Over the past few years, Ángeles has also worked as an interpreter in children’s hospitals in the city. In 2026, she re-united with AlienNation Co. and performed a leading role in the recital animalinside, staged at the Moody Center for the Arts.
Recent professional work
2015 „El Entrecejo ((The Brow: The Life and Times of Frida)“, directed by Angeles Romero, featuring Sayra Contreras, in spansh. At MECA Dow School Auditorium. 1900 Kane Street, Houston, TX
„El Entrecejo/ The Life & Times of Frida,“ 04/9-10, Alley Theatre Houston
2010 „Mediaworks“, exhibited on YouTube
2009 Teatro Multimedia Workshop Series, TBH, Talento Bilingue Houston
2028-09 „Puntos de fuga“ (Vanishing Points), new interactive multimedia play set in an interrogation room where Amalia, a young maquila worker from Catemaco, Veracruz is being held for questioning in connection with the kidnapping of DEA Agent John Arenas
2004 „Cuerpos Ambulantes„, solo performance with interactive video, wriiten, designed and performed by Angeles Romero. VIII Encuentro Mujeres de Iberoamerica en las Artes Escenicas, Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Cadiz, Spain.
2003 „Sueño“, multimedia play. solo performance with interactive video. Performer/Writer. Directed by Johannes Birringer. Music by Jim Croson. Lighting by Sean Hennessy. Photography by Katalina Gutierrez, Rene Peñalosa Galván, Johannes Birringer, Sarah Reese, Sergio & Kzristina Rodriguez. Stage Manager: Eric Mayer. Mount Hall, Ohio State University.
2002 „finally a place…“, video installation, collaboration with AlienNation Co., Trans-Site Studio, Houston, Texas
2002 „El Entrecejo/The Brow“ solo performance, Baker West Hall, OSU, Columbus.
2002 „El Entrecejo“ solo performance, Brown Theatre, Greensboro, University of North Carolina. For more info on this performance, click here
2002 „St Joan of the Stockyards“ by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Leslie Ferris, Thurber Theatre, OSU-Columbus.
2002 „Embers“ telepresence dance, in collaboration with Environments 8/AlienNation Co., Power Centre, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
2001 „Uncommon Clay“ theatre piece directed by Jeannine Thompson, Thurber Theatre, OSU-Columbus.
2001 „Beautiful View“ theatre piece directed by Daniel McIver, dadaKamera, Wexner Center for the Arts,Columbus.
2001 „The Alchemy of Desire“ play by Caridad Svich, OSU Theatre Department, Columbus.
2000 „The Ohio State Murders“ play by Adrienne Kennedy, OSU Theatre Department, Columbus.
1999 „MIRAK“ new dance opera, DiverseWorks, Houston.
1999 „Fishgarden digital video installation-performance, Vogelfrei exhibition festival, Darmstadt, Germany
1999 „Trails“ film short, Aurora Picture Show, Houston.
1998 „MIGBOT“, performance-installation, Winter Street Art Center, Houston
1998 „El ENTRECEJO“, performer/writer, Mexi-Carte Museum, Austin; La Pena, Austin
1998 „CARMENLAND: A DAY IN LA MEZCLA“, Dance Umbrella, Performer, Dougherty Arts Center Austin, Texas
1998 „NORTH BY SOUTH“, performer/writer, with AlienNation Co., Diverse Works
1998 „A LAS CINCO TE DESMAYO“, director/writer/performer, Austin, Cultural Center
1998 „BETWEEN THE PLACES“, performer/writer, with AlienNation Co., DiverseWorks
1998 „Dear Ann“, dir. René Peñalosa, short film, actor, Austin, Texas
1998 „PARACHUTE“, Stage Manager, The Americas Concert of Lourdes Perez, Houston
1996-97 „MALINCHUCA“, writer/performer, solo piece, Austin and on national tour
1997 „CENTZONTLE“, Palacios Productions, Model of CD front cover, Austin, TX
1997 „SHE DANCES SHIVA“, Chor. Anuradha Naimpally, Production Manager, stage manager, Synergy Studio Austin, Texas
1997 „CHUPA THIS COMEDY FEST“ (featuring Culture Clash) Chicano/Latino Film Forum, Stage manager, State theater, Austin, Texas
1997 „LA LLORONA“, short film, Los Llorones Production, actor, Austin, Texas
1996 „AMANDO MENOS CERO“, writer/performer, solo piece, Austin
1996 „BODY COUNT“, Day Without Art/World Aids Day (Estimated 1000 participants), Project Coordinator South Congress Bridge, Austin, Texas
1996 „VISIONS OF INDEPENDENCE ART“. Opening. La Pena. Wrote and performed Amando Menos Cero. Las Manitas Restaurant, Austin, Texas
Zed Site Performance with Sally Jacques, Mike Arnold, Ivry Newsome. Stage Manager. Travis Park empty pool Austin, Texas
1996 „Q’ARIA SIN MARIA“, 501 Production Studios, video short, Acted as Sra. Bellini, Dobie Theater.Austin
1996 „La mujer Zapatista nunca es victima“, Comite de Solidaridad con Chiapas y Mexico–Fund-raiser. Wrote and presented piece based on a compilation of rape victim accounts. Ruta Maya Coffee House, Austin
1996 World Music Radio Show. Host radio show, interviewed female artists. KOOP Radio. Austin
1996 „La Pena“, Joining of African and Latin Roots. Improvisational performer and stage manager. Kovac Theater Austin, Texas
1995 Third Annual „Sounding of the Chakras“. Performed one hour reading accompanied by Ellen Fullman¹s Long String Instrument and vocals by Linda Montano. The Candy Factory. Austin, Texas
1995 „La Pena“. Day of the Dead Celebration. Master of Ceremony, Set/Costume Designer and Performer. Austin Community College Theater, Austin, Texas
1995 „La Pena“. Day of the Dead Celebration. Master of Ceremony, Set/Costume Designer and Performer Chicago House Theater. Austin, Texas
1995 „La Pena“, Performed Macorina, Chicago House Theater, Austin, Texas
1995 „MY HEART IS A CONTEMPORARY PRAYER“. The Deborah Hay Dance Company (17 performers). Performed death phantomess. Designed four costumes. Helm Fine Arts Theater. Austin
1995 The National Association for Chicano Studies. 22nd Annual Conference, Noche de Cultura Performed Malinchuca. Spokane, Washington
1994 „Rethinking La Malinch“. Art Exhibit. Wrote and Performed „Malinchuca‘. Mexic-Arte Museum. Austin
1991-92 Teatro Comunitario en Espanol. Collaborated in the establishment of TCE, a community based theater composed of Latinos of diverse cultural, social and economical backgrounds. TCE is missioned to provide the Hispanic community with a tool for cultural identification and expression.
1992 „Cuauhtemoc y Eulalia“ by Salvador Novo Performed Eulalia. Mexic-Arte Museum .Austin
1991 „CUAUHTEMOC“, by Salvador Novo. Performed Malinche, designed costumes for a cast of 12 members. Mexic-Arte Museum. Austin
1991 „An Ivory Tower“, film directed and produced by Sergio Rodriguez de Anda. Played one of the lead roles. Austin, Texas,