Emma Alegria Castillo 
Emma Castillo/THE RIDER
Latino Theatre Initiatives is an organization brought to life by students in 2016 who felt there was not enough representation of Latin and Hispanic voices and culture on the big stage, according to club president Kiana Saldaña.
“[It was founded] to give more opportunities to people that might not have opportunities on main stages,” Saldaña said. “[We wanted to] create plays and environments that felt culturally involved … and that celebrated our roots.”
Today, LTI continues the mission by offering students the chance to perform, direct, stage manage and celebrate Latino culture through theater. The group is open to all students, regardless of major or background.
Weekly meetings are held Mondays from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Building South on the Edinburg campus. Club meeting time is used to plan upcoming events and fundraisers.
Beyond socials, LTI organizes performances that highlight Latin culture. In December, the group will present a pastorela, an all-Spanish Christmas play, open to the community. The club plans to host a talent showcase in November, and next semester, their annual festival that will bring performers from across Mexico and beyond to UTRGV for two days of theater, panels and cultural exchange.
Saldaña describes a goal of the club to provide a safe space to students who may feel they do not fit in.
“We give people a sense of belonging,” she said. “If you want to act, we’ll have you act. If you want to stage manage, we have opportunities to stage manage. If you choose to fundraise, honestly, there you go. There’s something for everybody.”
Saldaña said at its heart, LTI hopes to leave students with joy and community in their culture.
“We just want people to have fun,” she said. “They might not be Mexican or might not even know Spanish, but you’re having fun. It’s just about bringing more people to celebrate [culture].”
For more information, visit @LatinoTheaterInitiatives on YouTube, @lti_utrgv on Instagram or through V Link.
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