Reinventing Herself: María Álvarez's Legacy as Actor, Director, Mentor (2017)

In the golden age of Spanish theater, women made waves, broke barriers, and carved out their professional identities. They didn't just earn admiration and respect from their peers and fans; they were trailblazers who paved the way for future generations of women in the performing arts.

Even after retiring from the stage, these enterprising women didn't rest on their laurels. Many started their own acting companies and became impresarios in their own right. By the mid-17th century, most of these female-led companies were essentially schools for aspiring actresses, where women could learn the craft of acting and entrepreneurship from other women.

María Álvarez was one of these remarkable women who didn't let retirement slow her down. Instead, she reinvented herself as a director, impresario, and mentor. Her company was a hotbed of talent, with a high number of young actresses who were eager to learn from her. And under her guidance, some of these women became autoras in their own right, creating their own plays and making their own mark on Spanish theater.

“Reinventing Herself: María Álvarez’s Legacy as Actor, Director, Mentor.” Comedia Performance, vol. 14, no. 1, 2017, pp. 152-77.