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Actor Training Laboratorio

March 27–30, 2026 · Madison, WI

Hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Training Built for Latinx/e Theatremakers

It’s a first-of-its-kind intensive for Latinx/e actors grounded in identity, heritage, and the full range of who we are.

What if actor training was designed with us in mind from the start?

Building on the research from the award-winning volume Latinx Actor Training, this three-day gathering brings together professional actors, scholars, and practitioners to reimagine how actors are trained and who that training serves.

This is not a passive workshop.

It’s a collective exploration, built on the belief that when Latinx/e artists investigate their own craft together, American theatre gets better, and so does everyone in it.

March 27–30, 2026

Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin Madison
Department of Theatre and Drama

Travel: Reimbursed up to $500 per participant
Housing: Provided through Monday morning

The Laboratorio covers ground that most actor training programs never touch.

Reimagining Actor Training
What does actor training look like when it starts from our experience, not in spite of it?

Heritage and Identity
Investigating how identity shapes craft and how craft can honor identity.

Historical Acting Methodologies
Examining which approaches serve Latinx/e actors and which were never designed for us.

Linguistic Identity and Dialectical Representation
Exploring language not as a barrier, but as a creative resource. Resumes in Spanish are welcome.

Industry and Casting
An honest look at the industry and what it will take to change it

You'll Feel at Home Here If…

A Latinx or Latine theatremaker; actor, director, composer, lyricist, music director, or writer

A theatre decision-maker who programs, produces, or funds work

An educator, scholar, or advocate for Latinx theatre

Someone who believes Latinx musical theatre deserves more space

Note on participant selection:

We can welcome 200 participants.

We are seeking a limited number of early to mid-career actors to join the Laboratorio. Participants will be reimbursed for their travel expenses (up to $500), and accommodations will be provided.

Championed By

Professor Micha Espinosa

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Cynthia Santos DeCure

Associate Professor

David Geffen

Yale School of Drama

Preguntas? FAQ

  • We ask that participants arrive by mid-day on Friday, March 27, as events will begin that evening. Training sessions will take place throughout Saturday and Sunday. While our closing dinner concludes by 9 p.m. on Sunday, we encourage everyone to stay overnight and travel home on Monday, March 30. Accommodations will be provided through Monday morning.

    The application is due November 21, 2025. Applicants will be notified no later than January 30, 2026.

    Yes! We welcome Spanish or English.

    You will be asked to prepare a very small amount of text. Details will be provided upon acceptance.

    Participants are responsible for coordinating, booking, and purchasing their own transportation to Madison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed up to $500 per participant. Estimated turnaround time for reimbursements is two weeks after travel is taken.

    Our goal is to cultivate a cohort that reflects a diversity of backgrounds, ages, and artistic experiences. To align with our program’s focus, preference will be given to early to mid-career artists, though applications from artists at all stages are welcome.

    No, all participants will have to be available for the entire weekend.

Future Laboratorios are on the way.

The 2026 application window has closed, but the Laboratorio won’t be a one-time event. Follow LTC to be the first to know when the next one is announced.

Stay connected by joining our newsletter, following the Latinx Theatre Commons on social media, or checking back here for updates.