We were lucky to catch up with Cristy Reynoso recently and have shared our conversation below.
Cristy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
All throughout my life I’ve always been drawn to the arts in one way or another. When I was little, around the age of 7, I would watch novelas with my mom and I would pretend I was in a starring role. I would act the dialogue word for word and sing the theme songs. Now, if you don’t know, the show “Marimar” is a cultural phenomenon, about a young woman who wants to be loved for who she is, and every young Latina connected with her. In the show “Soñadoras”, one of the four women is named Lucia, who’s a shy young woman who’s transformed into the popular girl but finds herself without compromise. Again, every young Latina wanted to be as brave as her. Then there are the fun characters, like in “La Usurpadora”, featuring the character Paola, the evil twin who convinces a young woman to take on her boring life. And the legend, Soraya in “Maria de Barrio”, the ultimate antagonist, who’s laugh can be heard coming from every Latino household’s television. Portraying characters always helped me find myself. Like most young girls, I’d play Barbie and create different scenarios, mostly love stories because I love love. It was my own manifestation with creating story and bringing them to life that I found a passion I enjoyed. If it’s not already obvious, I was a shy child, so acting and singing definitely brought out a different side of me. I had permission to express a comfortable and carefree side. A feeling of being home. As I got older, my curiosity always brought me back to acting but my shyness would always win the battle.
When I got into Lehman College, I got involved in the theater department. I fell deeply in love with every process of the magic of theater. The acting, the writing, the designs. How we start with just pages and end up with a fully lived life on stage. It’s beautiful to be a part of. And that’s when I thought, in some form, I have to do this forever.
A role that will stay with me forever is Marela, a character from “Anna in the Tropics” by Nilo Cruz. I auditioned for another character and was accepted as an understudy. I worked hard to memorize lines, stood in for rehearsals when needed and by chance, the actress in the original role was unable to continue with the production and the director said I was up. My excitement was only equal to my preparation. When I graduated, it was this production that gave me the confidence to take my acting to the world.
Fresh out of college, I performed a character named Ava, who was the star of this dark comedy play surrounding mental health. I had doubts if I had any comedy chops until I discovered that what it took to be funny was committing to the moment and understanding the character’s sense of humor. With situational comedy, like a play I was later in called “Don Juan”, my character Isla is an ex who wants to give her final goodbye and will do anything to do so, even if it annoys the current girlfriend. Now that’s funny.
One of my favorite characters is from a play called “Truck Stop Queen”, where I played Darlene, a working girl looking to hitchhike her way to New York. I connected with her because she lived her life her way and wasn’t going to compromise who she was to appease a man, or society. The characters I play are looking to take control of their own narratives.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a Dominican actress, writer and producer based in New York City. I’ve been on the off-off Broadway stage to festivals, working with theatre companies such as the Dixon Place, Nuyorican Poets Café, The Chain Theatre, Theatre 80 St Marks, Cherry Lane, Downtown Urban Arts Festival, Dramatists Guild, Theatre Row, and others. I’m the co-founder of WolfBun Productions, producing plays and films about stories that give a voice to the voiceless. The name comes from my husband’s love for wolves and mine for bunnies. As a producer, my film “Alone with My Demons” was selected part of the Inwood Art Work’s New York City Quarantine Film Festival, winning the award for Best Bronx Film, and later selected for the Concourse Film Festival and Mott Haven Film Festival. I co-starred and co-wrote the web series “#30s”, currently on YouTube, the story focusing on the two women in their 30’s trying to get control of their lives, with themes about motherhood, dedicating oneself to a career and understanding that life doesn’t end at 30 but it’s only the beginning. The script made Top 10 of Table Read My Screenplay competition. I’m developing and co-writing my first two-character play, about a couple and their parasocial relationship and obsession with celebrity couples. Stay tuned about any of my upcoming work at CristyReynoso.com or check out my IG.
While going on auditions, booking a show was great but I also realized the power of giving myself the opportunity to create. The theater industry is a network of artist friends supporting in each other’s projects, and slowly but surely, we set out to accomplish our dreams. I’m proud of sharing the stage with great performers, speaking the dialogue of brilliant writers, being lead by like-minded directors and living in the city where art is always present but I’m most proud of pushing through the unknown, and facing my fears, so I can honestly say I am living the dream.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As an actress, approaching a character means gaining the opportunity to explore my own emotions. This is a must for any actress to portray a fictional character in a truthful way, which is incredibly fulfilling. Not only do I get to purge my feelings, where it can be amazingly therapeutic for me, but the audience who are watching also get to imagine, put themselves in the character’s shoes and learn about the story, and in turn, learn more about themselves. They get to laugh, cry, be excited and experience the journey alongside us and if we’ve done a decent job, the message is what they go home with. It’s also amazing how actors get to leave the project inspired and ready to fight another day with renewed energy. For me, it’s all about able to continue to showcase strong empowered Latina women, through their specific struggles, because in their struggles, there is untapped strength. Whether I am acting her or writing her, I want to show her story to the world and permanently carve her spot in herstory.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I advocate for the stories with great wants. I watch true crime and crime thriller stories because in life, we don’t always get the answers, or what we want. Characters challenging societal expectations and the status quo. Characters that are not necessarily likeable at the first glance, until their humanity is recognized, revealing a new perspective. Characters trying to reinvent themselves. Characters seeking justice. Women leading a rebellion. Women who are assertive. Women wanting to have it all. Women being women. My mission is women empowerment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cristyreynoso.com
- Instagram: emeraldream00
- Twitter: emeraldream00
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@30stheseries
Image Credits
(Feature picture and headshot) Angela Reynoso, @LaReynaPhotos (#30s Behind-The-Scenes images) Rosmary De La Rosa (#30s Premiere photos) @21_Shutters and Jayleen M @Jmm.pixels (#30s Poster and Marketing Images) Richard Acevedo, Jr. @R.ace.me