Laura Alcántara: Theater as Her Only Path and "Now It's Where Everything Begins
Dominican actress Laura Alcántara, with more than a decade on stage, says theater stopped being one option among many and became her only path.
Key points
- Her first contact with the Teatro Nacional came at age eight.
- She has performed in productions such as Peter Pan, Cabaret, Chicago and The Diary of Anne Frank.
- She admits nerves still come before every show, which she manages with breathing, meditation, relaxation and prayer.
- Her biggest sacrifice has been the time she spends away from her family.
At eight years old, Laura Alcántara had a first encounter with the Teatro Nacional that changed the direction of her life. What was once one of several possibilities for her future became, over time, a certainty: she would dedicate herself to art.
More than a decade later, the actress has appeared in productions such as Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, Fame, Aladdin, Cinderella, Into the Woods, Anastasia, Cabaret, The Diary of Anne Frank and Chicago. Looking back on that journey, she sums up where she stands with one phrase: "Now it's where everything begins."
For her, no other path would bring the same fulfillment. She explains that theater showed her, from a very young age, that she wanted to build her future around acting.
Each character, she says, leaves a mark. Playing Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank made her feel the responsibility of telling a real story marked by suffering. Texas in Cabaret demanded intense choreographic preparation, and Mary Sunshine in Chicago was one of her greatest vocal challenges.
Though she has years on stage, the nerves never fully disappear. She sees them as a sign that she still cares about what she does. She faces them with breathing, meditation, relaxation and prayer, and before stepping out she asks God to help her use the talent she has received well.
Behind every performance are sacrifices the audience never sees. For Alcántara, the greatest has been the time she spends away from her family due to rehearsals, performances and production commitments. She says the support of those around her is what sustains this path.
About Dominican audiences, the actress says they are active, expressive and eager to engage with what happens on stage.