Two+ Minutes with an ARTeater
Two+ Minutes with an ARTeater hosted by UCI Drama student Maia Lucas

Two+ Minutes with an ARTeater is UCI’s newest mini-podcast series, now entering its second year of content. It exudes content created by students, made for students. We interview CTSA’s aspiring artists from all fields through these episodes, whether that be someone affiliated with Art, Dance, Drama or Music. Through this digestible mini-podcast series, CTSA ARTeaters can make their opinions heard and talk about their upcoming performative endeavors. Within the show, there are question speed rounds, games and just a whole lot of fun in general. In Two+ Minutes with an ARTeater, you will learn about UCI’s wonderful programs, people, and performances. New episodes come out weekly, so stay tuned! 

Links below take you to the individual podcasts on our YouTube account page.

 

Ellie Chae

Meet Ellie Chae! Ellie is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.Mus in cello performance and a B.A. in psychological sciences at UCI. The Korean-American cellist has performed as a soloist as well as an orchestra member in major venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Ms. Chae began her cello education at the age of 8 and serves as the Principal cellist of the UCI Symphony Orchestra.

Will Fixa

Meet Will Fixa! Will is a fourth-year double-majoring in drama and social ecology, and is also graduating soon from UCI this year. Last year, he re-entered the world of performing and was part of the New York Satellite Program earlier this spring. He is so excited for everyone to experience the inspiring story of UCI Drama's “The Prom!”

Michael Balerite

Meet Michael Balerite! Michael (he/him) is a third-year transfer B.A. in Music. He is a singer with the UCI Opera, the UCI Chamber Singers, and the UCI Voces Ensemble. An advocate for arts education, he is a CTSA Creative Connections intern, working at Costa Mesa High School. He also sits on the Youth Advisory Council for CreateCA and on the Board of Directors of the Carnegie Arts Center. You can find him researching about AAPI music or singing worship with the Liwanag Ministry and Anteater Catholic.

Brooke Manning

Meet Brooke Manning! Brooke is a dancer and choreographer from Lake Arrowhead, California, earning her B.F.A. in Dance Choreography and B.A. in Education Sciences at UCI. She attended Idyllwild Arts boarding school, where she furthered her dance education and found a strong sense of community. In addition to dancing in various shows at UCI, Brooke has also had her choreographic work, “Hypotheticals,” showcased in “Physical Graffiti 2023,” and will have her piece “Irises” in “Physical Graffiti 2024.” Brooke has also danced professionally at Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as EDC Las Vegas.

Jackie Estrada

Jacquelyne Quinn Estrada (she/they) is a third-year M.F.A. student in the Department of Drama’s scene design program. Over the last 10 years, Jackie has worked in education-based theater, and has acquired skills in almost every aspect of theater, from deck crew to stage management. Out of those disciplines, they have found a love and passion for scenic design. Jackie has a passion for themed and immersive experiences, and they love getting to experience new and exciting ways to tell stories.

Liz Stringer

Meet Liz Stringer, a third-year M.F.A. art student, artist and arts administrator based in Los Angeles who received her B.F.A. and B.S. from UC San Diego. She uses drawing, installation and sculpture to explore biopolitics through feminist poetic fiction. Liz actively participates in the Cold Read, an online critique group and artist collective that emphasizes care and support through writing, and currently engaged in the ongoing sixth version of INSITE.

Abigail Mesel

Meet Abigail Mesel! Abi is a first-year M.F.A. student in the vocal arts program in the Department of Music. Before grad school, she was also an undergraduate at UCI studying music and chemistry. Abi is preparing for a number of performances in 2024. She will be traveling to New York in April to perform at Carnegie Hall with the UCI choir, and she will be performing in UCI Department of Music’s production of “The Turn of the Screw” in May, a haunting two-act opera based on Henry James’ classic novella.

Julian Tushabe

Meet Julian Tushabe! Julian Tushabe is a second-year M.F.A. actor originally from Jinja, Uganda. He spent his childhood performing in a music group to fundraise for an NGO and since moving to the United States, his love of performing has combined with a passion for storytelling.

Anisa Johnson

Meet Anisa Johnson! Anisa is carrying out their artistry by studying dance performance and choreography at UCI. They began dancing at the age of 4 and prides themselves in their versatility, enjoying many styles such as tap, modern and contemporary, ballet and hip hop. Anisa wants to encourage inclusivity through dance at UCI, which motivated them to help create three clubs to provide more opportunities and exposure for students and dancers in the community.

Sabrina Solorzano

Meet Sabrina Solorzano, a 4th-year transfer student earning her B.A. in Drama. Some of her favorite roles in past performances were Helen in "Trojan Women," Doctor Livingstone in "Agnes of God," and Amelia in "Mother Road." Here at UCI, she has had the honor of playing Friar John in "Romeo and Juliet" and Sumner in "Men on Boats."

Meet Bella Lara

Meet Bella Lara, a fourth-year undergraduate earning her B.F.A. in dance performance and a minor in Literary Journalism. She grew up in San Diego, dancing at the San Diego Ballet School where she also was a trainee.

During her time at UCI, she has been able to expand her dancing abilities and versatility, being exposed to other styles of dance like modern, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop. Bella is graduating this spring and is excited for what is to come next!

Meet Ross Kim

Ross Kim is a fourth-year student studying art, digital art and business management. Her path in art began in response to barriers she faced in South Korea. Art was - and still is - a universal language that would allow them to communicate with anyone from anywhere, and a powerful means to foster a genuine connection between other people.

Matthew Yee

Matthew Yee is a third-year Music major who currently serves as concertmaster for UCI’s Symphony Orchestra. He has performed as a soloist in major venues across the country including Chicago Symphony Center, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Thayer Hall at the Colburn School of Music and Soka Performing Arts Center.

Alberto Lule

Alberto Lule is a third-year M.F.A Art student, and a formerly incarcerated artist. Alberto uses readymades, mixed media installations, video, performance, and tools used by agencies of authority to examine and critique the prison industrial complex in the United States, particularly the California carceral state.

 

Meet Robert Zelaya

Meet Robert Zelaya, a third-year M.F.A. in drama (acting). He hails from NYC where he did musical theatre professionally. As a queer Afro Latino, Robert is interested in stories that are inclusive. His dream is to work in film and TV where he can originate heartfelt and complex characters for the world to see.

Maia Lucas

Meet Maia Lucas, our new host of CTSA’s Two+ Minutes with an Arteater podcast! Maia is a fourth-year undergraduate earning a B.A. in drama, and is pursuing a double minor in education and film and media studies at University of California, Irvine.

Kayla Quiroz

Meet Kayla Quiroz, Class of 2023 and host of Two+ Minutes with an ARTeater. She recently earned a B.F.A. in Music Theatre with honors in acting. Kayla's passion for performing started at a young age and has led her to incredible experiences. She achieved four consecutive wins at Show Choir Nationals with Los Alamitos High School and had the honor of singing at the Grand Ole Opry. Kayla has performed across the United States, including New York, Florida, Tennessee, and Illinois. At UCI, she participated in the New York Satellite program and showcased her talent in various productions. Kayla will soon grace the stage in Disney's "Tarzan" at The Moonlight Amphitheater. In the fall of 2023, Maia Lucas will take over as the new host for Season 3.