A Look at Three Career-Oriented Women: María Álvarez, Bárbara Coronel, and Fabiana Laura (2019)

Barbara Mujica and I celebrating the publication of Women Warriors in Early Modern Spain, dedicated to Barbara.

Get ready to meet three remarkable women who defied societal expectations and made their mark on early modern Spanish society. María Álvarez, Bárbara Coronel, and Fabiana Laura may not be household names, but their careers were nothing short of revolutionary. Bárbara Mujica notes that their stories offer a fresh perspective on a society often depicted as dismissive of women's accomplishments.

But these women didn't let cultural barriers stop them from pursuing their dreams. They became leaders in their own right, redefining what it meant to be a woman in the theater. And this essay takes a closer look at how they did it, showing how they reinvented themselves as directors, impresarios, and mentors.

But they didn't stop there. As artistic directors and executive administrators, these women also ran schools that empowered young actresses and fostered a sense of community among women in their field. They weren't just breaking barriers but creating a network of women theater professionals that would inspire future generations.

“A Look at Three Career-Oriented Women: María Álvarez, Bárbara Coronel, and Fabiana Laura.” Women Warriors in Early Modern Spain: A Tribute to Bárbara Mujica. Edited by Susan Fischer and Frederick de Armas, U of Delaware P, 2019, pp. 105- 118.