As part of a Q&A series with our faculty, the USC School of Dramatic Arts asked faculty member Sabina Zúñiga Varela about keeping up with graduated students, the three things artists should do each day and winning the We Give You Your Flowers award.
What are you teaching this year?
Sabina Zúñiga Varela: I am teaching Movement for Actors with BA students and Advanced Movement for the MFA in Acting Year 1 students.
Tell us a little about your professional career.
I started my professional theatrical career as a director in New Mexico over 20 years ago. I was a part of two theatre companies: Teatro Nuevo Mexico and Las Meganenas. I began to act a little more each season and decided to pursue an MFA in acting and was admitted to USC. After graduating from SDA in 2011 I jumped into regional theatre around the country. I earned my Actor’s Equity card in a production penned by our very own Luis Alfaro called Bruja at the Magic Theatre, directed by Loretta Greco. This was his first adaptation of the Medea story that later became Mojada. I have had the honor of being in five of his Medea adaptations over seven years and it was quite a journey.
To earn my SAG-AFTRA card I booked a co-star role in American Crime season 3 opposite Benito Martinez, who is originally from New Mexico, and co-written by USC SDA MFA Dramatic Writing alum Janine Salinas (MFA Dramatic Writing ’07). Working with fellow Latiné professionals who I looked up to was both terrifying and thrilling. That experience was extra special because the episode featured Spanish and Nahuatl languages alongside English on a network television show.
I’ve been blessed to originate characters for some of the leading Latiné playwrights such as Tanya Saracho and Karen Zacarias. I am a director and actor for my theatre company By The Souls of Our Feet, which I created with three other SDA alumni in 2011 (Megan Breen [MFA in Dramatic Writing ’09], Kristin Condon [MFA in Acting ’09], and Nathan Singh [BA in Theatre ’10]) whose stage play Serpentine Pink was recently turned into a feature film which stars Kristin and I, and is currently on the festival circuit. Besides teaching and acting I also serve on the board for Overtone Industries, a 40+ year old multidisciplinary L.A.-based opera company. Lately I have been working as an English language dubbing artist for Netflix documentaries and most recently I wrapped on a short film, Tierra Roja, co-starring with writer and producer Abe Jallad (MFA in Acting ’15).
What is the most rewarding part of teaching?
I am constantly inspired and energized by my students. Their hunger and curiosity push me to keep a “beginner’s mind” and embrace the continuous learner lifestyle. I also really love when a graduated student reaches out and shares what they are up to or wants to connect to talk about life in the arts. They become part of the theatre family and I hope they know that we as faculty really care for them beyond the classroom.
What is your favorite advice to give to students?
I love to pass on the advice I received as a student from the late, great Michael Keenan. Every day you should do three things: one thing for your business (update a resume, send a networking e-mail, keep writing that play, work on lines for a monologue, show up on time to class!), one thing for your environment (wash those dishes, make the bed, organize your desk, do some laundry, create a vision board) and one thing for yourself (paint your nails, take three deep, full breaths, go on an artist date, call a dear friend, take a walk). If you can try and do these three things a day you can take control of your time in a world where most things are out of our control. It is very easy to feel unproductive when we are not employed or currently working on something creative, but working on our business, environment and self each day creates a ritual of positive movement.
You’re both an alumna of SDA and a faculty member. What has it been like experiencing the School from these two perspectives?
It is quite fascinating to have this full circle experience of seeing this program from both sides. To get to teach in the very rooms where I gave my blood, sweat and tears is a visceral connection to the legacy of this program. I get a front seat to see and understand how extremely hard the entire SDA faculty and staff work to provide our students with the best experiences and training while they are with us.
Having walked these halls I am empowered to share my experiences as a student with my current students when I hear them share how exhausted and overwhelmed they are and I try my best to offer tips and tricks for stress relief and mindfulness, knowing that I wasn’t necessarily doing that for myself when I was a student. I remember what it felt like to have faculty attend one of our productions, so I do my best to attend as many as I can of the SDA productions each semester. I hold a deep love and loyalty for this department, especially the MFA program, that fuels me to show up and be there for the students, fellow faculty, parents and supporters. A lot of my professional success and connections are because of being an SDA alum!
You, along with Professor Ann Closs-Farley, were awarded the inaugural We Give You Your Flowers Award (an award created to highlight faculty for “their selfless and indispensable labors”) by your fellow faculty members. What did it mean to you to receive this award?
I was so surprised and overwhelmed! And to be in the company of Ann just filled my heart! We don’t do this work for the recognition, we do it for the creative paths our students will blaze and the future of our industry, but it really does feel great. As performers and theatre makers we love to give the audience a meaningful experience with our creations. And the title of the award is just perfect, getting this award really felt like being on stage at curtain call after a show and someone handed me a huge bouquet of beautiful flowers, it’s just lovely!
Is there a piece of theatre, or a film or television show that has recently resonated with you?
Most recently I attended the Encuentro 2024, a National Theatre Festival at the Los Angeles Theatre Center hosted by the Latino Theatre Company. Celebrating it’s 10th year they welcomed 19 different companies with over 160 artists that presented a variety of Latiné productions. Along with the shows there were panels and workshops, parties and rituals. It was incredible to be a part of such a beautiful gathering that included meeting new artists and reuniting with fellow artists I have been working with for 10+ years.
Any fun facts we should know about Sabina Zúñiga Varela?
I really enjoy playing darts and pool and I love to juggle! I played basketball in my past and almost played for a school in college but due to an injury my basketball days came to an end. Since then I love taking up activities that involve accuracy and patterns!