University of Arizona Logo
  • Visit
  • Give
  • College of Fine Arts Home
  • Prospective Students
    • Film & Television Production
    • Live and Screened Performance
    • Film & Television Producing & Studies
    • Online Program
    • Schedule a Tour
  • Admissions
    • Admissions – Current UA Students
    • Admissions – Prospective Students
  • Current Students
    • Advising
    • Admissions – Current UA Students
    • Minors
    • Professional Internship Program
    • Student Links & Resources
    • Career Development
  • Events & News
    • Events
    • Online Events
    • Arizona Repertory Theatre
    • Screening Events
    • Next Performance Collective
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Alumni News
  • Facilities & Scholarships
    • Facilities
    • Scholarships & Financial Aid
  • Support & Partnership
    • Offer an Internship
    • Donor Opportunities
    • Current Sponsors
  • About Us
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Impact Report
    • Visit
    • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • College of Fine Arts Home
Home › News & Events › News › Associate Professor Elaine Romero earns Professor Alberto Rios Outstanding Literary/Arts Award

Associate Professor Elaine Romero earns Professor Alberto Rios Outstanding Literary/Arts Award

October 14, 2024

The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) is proud to share that Associate Professor Elaine Romero is the 2024 recipient of the Professor Alberto Rios Outstanding Literary/Arts Award. The distinguished award is one of six presented annually by the Pete C. Garcia Victoria Foundation to recognize exceptional contributions by individuals within Arizona’s higher education community whose work significantly impacts the Latine community.

Named in honor of Arizona’s first poet laureate, ASU Regents Professor of English Alberto Álvaro Ríos, the Literary/Arts Award recognizes Latines who have contributed significantly to our understanding of the Hispanic community and culture through literary works, publications, films, books, and other print platforms.

Dr. Louis Olivas, the foundation’s president, said that Romero exemplifies the characteristics and accomplishments that are the trademarks of the award. “Based on Ms. Romero’s dedicated work as an established scholar, author and professor, not to mention her award-winning body of plays, the committee voted overwhelmingly in her favor for the award.”

“I was so thrilled when Dr. Olivas called to tell me I had won,” says Romero. “It’s particularly touching to have my work recognized. I have written over 120 plays, and it can be easy to think that the work of the playwright is invisible, or somehow not literature. This recognition is not just good for me, it’s good for the field. The work of the playwright is seen.”

Brad Eggers, TFTV Interim Director Brant Pope, Elaine Romero, College of Fine Arts Dean Andy Schulz, and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Andrea Romero at the awards ceremony.

Romero added: “To receive a gorgeous sculpture from renowned Chicano artist Zarco Guerrero to look over me and protect me as I write my truths will ensure the joy of winning this award will never be forgotten.”

At TFTV, Romero has been a valued theatre faculty member for over a decade. She teaches a variety of courses from Advanced Topics in Playwriting to an Introduction to Script Writing, where students are encouraged to write many short scripts to build a foundation. Her courses in Introductory and Advanced Dramaturgy focus on the global understanding of an individual work. Playwriting and Dramaturgy prepare students to be witnesses to the world in which we find ourselves. Countless mentees over the years include TFTV alumni Lance Guzman (BA Theatre Studies ’17), who was accepted into the highly competitive MFA Acting Program at CalArts School of Theater in Los Angeles, and award-winning playwright Fly Jamerson (MFA Theatre Arts, Generative Dramaturgy ’19).

Elaine Romero’s plays have been presented across the U.S. and internationally; she is also widely published and anthologized in over 50 publications. Among the highlights, her play Prosperita was commissioned and presented off-Broadway by the Red Bull Theater’s Short New Play Festival and starred Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear). Like Heaven received an ariZoni Theatre Award for Best Original Script. Secret Things, about the true history of Sephardic Judaism in the Southwest, was presented by 1st Stage in Virginia and was named an Outstanding Professional Theatre Production by DC Metro Theater Arts. Her banned play The Fat-Free Chicana and the Snow Cap Queen was featured in Banned Together for the Dramatists Guild Legal Defense Fund on the Broadway Podcast Network.

In 2021, the month-long RomeroFest featured her work at theatres nationally and internationally. Initiated by the Arizona Theatre Company, some of the collaborating companies included Artists Repertory Theatre (OR), Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre (AZ), InterAct Theatre Company (PA), Seven Devils New Play Foundry (ID), Winding Road Theatre Ensemble (AZ), the Justice Theater Project (NC), Teatro Travieso/Troublemaker Theater and Foro Shakespeare in Mexico City.

Revolutions/Revoluciones, in Spanish translation, was produced at the Los Angeles Theatre Center under Mexican director Bruno Bichir. The play is part of Romero’s war pentalogy, also featuring When Reason Sleeps (Headlands Center for the Arts, A-I-R, O’Neill Finalist), Graveyard of Empires (Goodman/16th St. Theatre), A Work of Art (Goodman Theatre/Chicago Dramatists, A-I-R), and Martínez in Taos (Arizona Theatre Company; workshop).

Romero’s work has been published by Dramatists Play Service, Samuel French, Playscripts, and Simon and Schuster among others. She is a Steering Committee Member with the Latinx Theatre Commons. She has been a member of NBC’s Writers on the Verge, the CBS Writers’ Mentoring Program, and the NHMC’s Latino Writers’ Program. She is the playwright-in-residence at the Arizona Theatre Company.

The Pete C. Garcia Victoria Foundation was established in 2008 to help advance low-income communities in Arizona. Since then, close to 1,600 academic scholarships representing $1.9 million have been issued to Latine students pursuing college degrees.

Events & News

  • Events
  • Arizona Repertory Theatre
  • Next Performance Collective
  • Screening Events
  • News
  • Alumni News
  • Newsletter

Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Join us for Magic Hour 🎬✨

Tonight we’ll debut ten new short fiction films made by TFTV students in back-to-back screenings in the Marroney Theatre at 6pm and 8pm.

• THE PAINTER – Written by Clinton Willis, Directed by Mike Choi & Clinton Willis
• BETWEEN THE LINES – Written & Directed by Litzy Carrasco, Cinematography by Angelica Pelaez
• SAVING CLEMENTINE – Written, Directed, & Produced by Steven Saldaña & David J. Aberle
• THE DANCER – Written by Sean Leeman, Directed & Produced by Sarah Astrowsky
• STUFFED – Written by Ashley Courter, Directed & Edited by Ashley Courter & Danielle Norris
• ACTION MAN – Written, Directed & Produced by Donovan Heaney & Elias Rice Bensch
• MY OTHER HALF – Written & Directed by Lindsey Policar & Brent Cesolini
• LOCKED OUT! – Written & Directed by Brady McDowell, Produced by Emory Johnson & Brady McDowell
• BACKROADS – Written & Directed by Marcus Thomas, Produced by Marcus Thomas & Garrett Heffelfinger
• 1, 2, 3… DATE! – Written & Directed by Kaitlyn Liddicoat & Geen Lee

The 8pm screening will be followed by a short Q&A with the filmmakers hosted by The Loft Cinema’s Jeff Yanc.

May 14
Back-to-back screenings at 6pm and 8pm
Marroney Theatre
FREE
... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago
Join us for Magic Hour 🎬✨

Tonight we’ll debut ten new short fiction films made by TFTV students in back-to-back screenings in the Marroney Theatre at 6pm and 8pm.

• THE PAINTER – Written by Clinton Willis, Directed by Mike Choi & Clinton Willis
• BETWEEN THE LINES – Written & Directed by Litzy Carrasco, Cinematography by Angelica Pelaez
• SAVING CLEMENTINE – Written, Directed, & Produced by Steven Saldaña & David J. Aberle
• THE DANCER – Written by Sean Leeman, Directed & Produced by Sarah Astrowsky
• STUFFED – Written by Ashley Courter, Directed & Edited by Ashley Courter & Danielle Norris
• ACTION MAN – Written, Directed & Produced by Donovan Heaney & Elias Rice Bensch
• MY OTHER HALF – Written & Directed by Lindsey Policar & Brent Cesolini
• LOCKED OUT!  – Written & Directed by Brady McDowell, Produced by Emory Johnson & Brady McDowell
• BACKROADS – Written & Directed by Marcus Thomas, Produced by Marcus Thomas & Garrett Heffelfinger
• 1, 2, 3… DATE! – Written & Directed by Kaitlyn Liddicoat & Geen Lee

The 8pm screening will be followed by a short Q&A with the filmmakers hosted by The Loft Cinema’s Jeff Yanc.

May 14
Back-to-back screenings at 6pm and 8pm
Marroney Theatre
FREE
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

On May 10, filmmakers from TFTV’s Class of 2025 screened their senior thesis films for a completely sold out audience at I Dream in Widescreen! Along with the filmmakers, we were excited to welcome to the Fox Tucson Theatre their families, cast and crew, industry guests, sponsors, TFTV faculty, staff and students, and countless community supporters. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible!

Huge congratulations to all of our filmmakers on this incredible achievement. We cannot wait to see where your paths take you next!

Missed the in-person event but still want to catch the films from the Class of 2025? Watch them all for a limited time on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/_07CFZnutrg.

Photos by Julius Schlosburg.
... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago
On May 10, filmmakers from TFTV’s Class of 2025 screened their senior thesis films for a completely sold out audience at I Dream in Widescreen! Along with the filmmakers, we were excited to welcome to the Fox Tucson Theatre their families, cast and crew, industry guests, sponsors, TFTV faculty, staff and students, and countless community supporters. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible!

Huge congratulations to all of our filmmakers on this incredible achievement. We cannot wait to see where your paths take you next!

Missed the in-person event but still want to catch the films from the Class of 2025? Watch them all for a limited time on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/_07CFZnutrg.

Photos by Julius Schlosburg.Image attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 2
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Sarah Astrowsky’s film REMEMBER OUR LEGACY has been officially selected to screen next month at the Hot Springs International Women's Film Festival, where it is also a Finalist in the Student Film category.

The story of REMEMBER OUR LEGACY is close to Sarah’s heart. The film is a tribute to her great-grandmother, Mania Lichtenstein, who survived unimaginable horrors during the Holocaust, and whose strength has shaped the lives of each subsequent generation of Sarah’s family. “My hope is that her story inspires viewers to recognize the power of resilience and the beauty of carrying forward those who came before us,” says Sarah.

The short film was created in TFTV’s Documentary Production Class and first debuted in December at the What’s Up Docs showcase. Congratulations Sarah!

Catch Sarah’s latest film THE DANCER, co-created with Sean Leeman, this week at Magic Hour!
... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago
Sarah Astrowsky’s film REMEMBER OUR LEGACY has been officially selected to screen next month at the Hot Springs International Womens Film Festival, where it is also a Finalist in the Student Film category.

The story of REMEMBER OUR LEGACY is close to Sarah’s heart. The film is a tribute to her great-grandmother, Mania Lichtenstein, who survived unimaginable horrors during the Holocaust, and whose strength has shaped the lives of each subsequent generation of Sarah’s family. “My hope is that her story inspires viewers to recognize the power of resilience and the beauty of carrying forward those who came before us,” says Sarah.

The short film was created in TFTV’s Documentary Production Class and first debuted in December at the What’s Up Docs showcase. Congratulations Sarah! 

Catch Sarah’s latest film THE DANCER, co-created with Sean Leeman, this week at Magic Hour!Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

IDIWS Sneak Peek: NOSTALGIATHON '99 by Cailan Compierchio. After losing their practice space, an inexperienced riot grrrl band's skills and friendships are tested as they attempt to throw an epic final show for their entire town.

"Going into this process, I knew I wanted to do something that was weird, funny, and featured strong female friendships (three phrases that also describe the past four years of my life here in Tucson)," reflected writer/director Cailan Compierchio . "Nostalgiathon '99 was conceived as a pastiche of 90s/early 2000s comedies, so a lot of those were huge influences. Stylistically, we were drawn to the aesthetics of skate videos and stoner buddy comedies. Narratively, we drew inspiration from large ensemble pieces of the time, like Clerks ('94), Dazed and Confused ('93), Slacker ('90), and Empire Records ('95). In terms of my broader career, the person who made me realize I wanted to be a writer was Tina Fey, and her work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock."

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat!
... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago
IDIWS Sneak Peek: NOSTALGIATHON 99 by Cailan Compierchio. After losing their practice space, an inexperienced riot grrrl bands skills and friendships are tested as they attempt to throw an epic final show for their entire town.

Going into this process, I knew I wanted to do something that was weird, funny, and featured strong female friendships (three phrases that also describe the past four years of my life here in Tucson), reflected writer/director Cailan Compierchio . Nostalgiathon 99 was conceived as a pastiche of 90s/early 2000s comedies, so a lot of those were huge influences. Stylistically, we were drawn to the aesthetics of skate videos and stoner buddy comedies. Narratively, we drew inspiration from large ensemble pieces of the time, like Clerks (94), Dazed and Confused (93), Slacker (90), and Empire Records (95). In terms of my broader career, the person who made me realize I wanted to be a writer was Tina Fey, and her work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat!Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

IDIWS Sneak Peek: THE GRIT OF IT ALL by Alek Mendez. In 1988 Arizona, Detective James, a man struggling with past trauma, is assigned to investigate a grisly murder in “Las Sombras”, an abandoned western show town.

“Throughout my journey in film school, I’ve been drawn to narratives exploring complex human emotions and psychological themes. With ‘The Grit of It All,’ I wanted to harness those interests into something distinctly cinematic—a story about confronting trauma, guilt, and repressed emotion, layered beneath psychological horror. The film was more than just another assignment; it was an artistic pursuit where I could authentically showcase my voice and vision as a filmmaker,” says writer/director Alek Mendez.

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat!
... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago
IDIWS Sneak Peek: THE GRIT OF IT ALL by Alek Mendez. In 1988 Arizona, Detective James, a man struggling with past trauma, is assigned to investigate a grisly murder in “Las Sombras”, an abandoned western show town.

“Throughout my journey in film school, I’ve been drawn to narratives exploring complex human emotions and psychological themes. With ‘The Grit of It All,’ I wanted to harness those interests into something distinctly cinematic—a story about confronting trauma, guilt, and repressed emotion, layered beneath psychological horror. The film was more than just another assignment; it was an artistic pursuit where I could authentically showcase my voice and vision as a filmmaker,” says writer/director Alek Mendez.

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat!Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 1

1 CommentComment on Facebook

El mejor Director el Mejor cortometraje felicidades Alek Mendez lo hiciste Excelente ❤️❤️❤️

IDIWS Sneak Peek: PARALLEL LINES by Neylani Castro. Two strangers repeatedly cross paths without noticing, until a brush between them unveils the invisible thread of their intertwined fates.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that everything we live through and every person we meet has a purpose, nothing is ever a coincidence. The concepts of fate, in-yun, the invisible string theory, and past lives have always intrigued me. Friendships, romantic relationships, and the family you are born into all consist of fate,” reflects writer/director Neylani Castro. “My dad is from Caimanero, Sinaloa. He was invited by his cousin to come to this retreat in Nogales, Sonora - 9 hours from where he lived. There he saw my mom for the first time. My dad says he felt a pull, a sort of magnetism towards my mom. At the end of the first day the new members were asked to pick out of a bowl who will be their guide for the rest of the retreat. When my dad picked out the paper, my mom’s name was written on it. My parents were two parallel lines, and when the time was right their fates intertwined.”

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat!
... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago
IDIWS Sneak Peek: PARALLEL LINES by Neylani Castro. Two strangers repeatedly cross paths without noticing, until a brush between them unveils the invisible thread of their intertwined fates.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that everything we live through and every person we meet has a purpose, nothing is ever a coincidence. The concepts of fate, in-yun, the invisible string theory, and past lives have always intrigued me. Friendships, romantic relationships, and the family you are born into all consist of fate,” reflects writer/director Neylani Castro. “My dad is from Caimanero, Sinaloa. He was invited by his cousin to come to this retreat in Nogales, Sonora - 9 hours from where he lived. There he saw my mom for the first time. My dad says he felt a pull, a sort of magnetism towards my mom. At the end of the first day the new members were asked to pick out of a bowl who will be their guide for the rest of the retreat. When my dad picked out the paper, my mom’s name was written on it. My parents were two parallel lines, and when the time was right their fates intertwined.”

Premiering at I Dream in Widescreen 2025! More info and tickets at idiw.tftv.arizona.edu.

$5 | May 10 at 7pm | Fox Tucson Theatre
Doors open at 6pm. Arrive early to ensure your seat!Image attachment
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more
  • Prospective Students
    • Film & Television Production
    • Live and Screened Performance
    • Film & Television Producing & Studies
    • Online Program
    • Schedule a Tour
  • Admissions
    • Admissions – Current UA Students
    • Admissions – Prospective Students
  • Current Students
    • Advising
    • Admissions – Current UA Students
    • Minors
    • Professional Internship Program
    • Student Links & Resources
    • Career Development
  • Events & News
    • Events
    • Online Events
    • Arizona Repertory Theatre
    • Screening Events
    • Next Performance Collective
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Alumni News
  • Facilities & Scholarships
    • Facilities
    • Scholarships & Financial Aid
  • Support & Partnership
    • Offer an Internship
    • Donor Opportunities
    • Current Sponsors
  • About Us
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Impact Report
    • Visit
    • Contact Us

School Of Theatre, Film & Television

Theatre

P.O. BOX 210003
1025 N Olive Rd.
Drama Bldg, Rm 239
Tucson, AZ 85721-0003

Email: theatre@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-7008

Film & Television

P.O. BOX 210158B
845 N Park Ave.
Marshall Bldg, Rm 220
Tucson, AZ 85721-0158b

Email: ftvinfo@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-7352

Arizona Arts Box Office

1020 E. University Blvd.
Centennial Hall
Tucson, AZ 85721-0021

Box Office Hours:

Tuesday - Friday: 12:00pnm – 6:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
*One hour before show times at venue of performance
Please note: The Box Office observes limited hours or is closed during most university recognized holidays. If purchasing tickets in person, please call ahead to confirm hours.

Online: tickets.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-3341


Console

Copyright © 2025 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona

University Privacy Statement

College of Fine Arts

P.O. BOX 210004
1017 N Olive Rd.
Music Bldg, Rm 111
Tucson, AZ 85721-0004

Email: finearts@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-1302