Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Carregha Lozano.

Hi Sofia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started doing Musical Theater when I was 14 at my Community Theater back in Cancun, Mexico. The first time I stepped on stage I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. At 19 I was accepted at a University where I could study Architecture and Musical Theater at the same time; but that opportunity was lost a couple of months before classes even started. I ended up spending a leap year in France, working as an AuPair, and was finally accepted at Amda NY to start in the Fall of 2018.

After 2 years of learning and creating beautiful memories there, I was granted a one year Employment Authorization card (OPT) which allowed me to originate some roles in a couple of plays, produce a short film with the help of my sister (Regina Carregha) and my dad (Jorge Carregha), sing at Don’t Tell Mamma with Seth Bisen Hersh, and be a part of multiple short films and feature films. Although these may seem like not a big deal, it meant a lot for me to be able to do all that during the years of 2020 and 2021.

After living with my sister in a one bedroom apartment, I found myself living in some friends’ (Caroli Nolasco and Charlie Engelsgjerd) couch for 6-months, before moving to my own place and finally officially moving in with said friends to the most amazing apartment I’ve lived in so far. During this whole time, I realized I wanted to become a triple threat so, after auditioning for the Steps On Broadway Conservatory 3 times, I finally got accepted.

This last step in my career helped me find the confidence in myself I needed to enter audition rooms with my head held high… I am now about to receive a 3-month Employment Authorization card (OPT), I had my 54Below debut on June 23rd, my Off-Broadway Debut with the company Something From Abroad, and I’m looking forward to applying for my O1 visa before the end of the year.

I cannot help but assure people that even when there’s a million ways something is undoable, there’s always at least one way that can be doable, you just have to find the how. How is it doable?

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Omg the path has definitely not been smooth, a big challenge has been the legal processes to physically stay in this country. Applying to the F-1 visa, then the OPT, then an M-1 visa, applying for an OPT again, and in the future, applying for the O-1 visa; not to mention, finding a guarantor who makes enough money for me to sign a lease with, as an immigrant to rent an apartment, but also not knowing enough US Residents who’d trust me enough to do so since I’ve been in the country for only 6 years and mainly hang out with fellow immigrants, etc. However, at the end of the day, these legal processes are what’s keeping me here, so it’s a matter of finding a way and asking for advice.

Another big one is money, especially while being on a visa that forbids you to work in the US (like the M-1 visa). I mean, you are expected to have the money to pay for tuition, to pay for rent, for food and other life expenses, and not being able to work can be a little frustrating, although there’s always a way… I mean I lived on my friend’s couch for a while, I was not giving up haha

Mental health has also been something I’ve struggle with almost all my life. I started taking medication for it a year and some change ago, I was diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression and I also believe I have undiagnosed ADHD, but that’s a different story. With the passing of time I have realized that taking mental health days is underrated, and having a strong community of people that support me no matter what has also been a life saving factor. Not to mention that talking about it helps removing the stigma/taboo around it, and being medicated has helped a lot too.

There’s also the occasional micro aggressions from authority figures, like I once had a teacher telling me to “Americanize my Name”, I’ve had multiple people tell me that I don’t look “Latina enough” for certain parts, or that I could play roles outside of my culture, because “I look that culture”. However, I’ve been able to use those comments as fuel, to motivate myself to prove them (and myself) that I can do whatever I put my mind to. That I deserve to be where I am today.

All that being said; I believe that everything that life throws your way can be turned into a positive, or used as fuel. I may not like all the legal processes but they keep me where I want to be, I may not like struggling with money, but I have my mind on the end goal and will not stop until I know I’ve done everything I can to get there. Mental health? I can use it to make my performances more relatable while I work on healthy coping mechanisms. And the micro aggressions, they fuel me to shut some mouths.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well, I like calling myself a performer. I was trained in Singing, Acting and Dancing. And in that same order is how I consider myself to be skilled wise. I am known for doing all sorts of things, from singing at cabarets (Day of the Dead Cabaret at the Kraine Theater), to acting in plays (Smoke with UTEP Ensemble) and even dancing on a stage in big ensemble numbers (Wasted Potential at Mosley Diversity of Dance).

The thing I am the most proud of is the fact that I was able to co-produce a short film with my sister, Regina Carregha; a short film that was scripted by my dad, Jorge Carregha, and we made that happen with the help of 5 other people in a one bedroom apartment during Covid times.

I am also very proud of the fact that I had my choreographer debut on June 2nd, my piece was called Comunidad and was presented with a bunch of other choreographies. I coreographed with 9 dancers. First time ever!

I believe that what sets me apart from others is the way I bring my background and my story with me, I always find a way to add a piece of myself to whatever I’m working on (a choreography, a role, a song, etc) with my Mexican background, my money struggles, my knowledge of the French language and culture, even with my depression and anxiety diagnosis… there’s always something that might surprise you of my performances, because I always make sure to cater it to people who have ever been in situations similar to what I’ve experienced! And I am also not afraid to try new stuff, like being behind the cameras, backstage, or even directing…

Any big plans?
Well, I will be a part of a Spanglish Open Mic by Something From Abroad in October

On November I will be singing for the Day Of the Dead Cabaret by Quemocion!

As well in November I’ll be a part of KitchenSink’s Rocky Horror Show Peoduction

And hopefully by the end of the year, I will be starring in the play Stains of Friendship on an Off-Broadway stage

So, if you’d like to go to any of those, I recommend you follow me on instagram or join my email list… you’ll have all the information you need :)

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofiacarreghalozano?igsh=MWtpOXhyY3dvNW51bw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@scarregha

Image Credits
Jaqlin Medlock
Christian Whan