UTEP production ‘Lydia’ receives national recognition

From the local stage to nation recognition, the University of Texas at El Paso Theatre and Dance Department received some top honors for its production ‘Lydia.’

Last month, the production ensemble received awards in six different categories at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C.

“To be able to win an award that is so unique to us, to our community here, it was so special,” Kim McKean said. She serves as an assistant professor at UTEP and was the director of the production.

‘Lydia’ is based in El Paso in the 1970s and tells the story of an undocumented maid hired by a family to care for their teen daughter who is disabled.

The production focuses on Lydia’s relationship with the teen and family secrets that are uncovered.

Most of the ensemble and crew are El Paso natives or from the region. McKean said that made the prodcution unique because the play was set in the Sun City.

McKean said the awards help UTEP stand out on the national level.

“It shows that we are doing work that is not only important to what is going on in the country, in terms of theatre and performance, but it also shows the caliber of work that we do,” she said.

UTEP Theatre and Dance received the following awards:

– Outstanding Director of a Play- Kim McKean, assistant professor of theatre

– Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Play- Ana K. Miramontes and Gabriela Torres

– Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Play- Antonio Romero, Jr.

– Outstanding Production of a Play

– Outstanding Performance and Production Ensemble

“When you do hard work and when you really connect with your castmates and with your director and the whole team, magic happens,” Miramontes said.

The production was written by Octavio Solis, who served as a consultant for Disney animated film ‘Coco.’