David Lozano BA’09 was recognized for his dedication and service at the 2018 Honors Convocation.

David Lozano BA’09 received this year’s Undergraduate Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes Comets who have achieved professional success and are actively engaged in their local community.

Lozano is the executive artistic director at Cara Mía Theatre in Dallas, where he writes, directs and produces original bilingual plays for the Latino community. He is also an activist who advocates for funding of culturally specific arts organizations.

When he came to UT Dallas in 2001, it was only to study theater performance under drama professor Fred Curchack. At the time, he had no intention of pursuing a degree, but was cast in a play that Curchack was directing. He was hooked.

David Lozano BA’09

“I was passionate about research and learning my craft,” Lozano said. “I felt like I was breathing nutritious air. I decided I was where I needed to be.”

It took him longer than most to earn his bachelor’s degree in humanities from the School of Arts and Humanities, as he also worked full time at the theater. Trained in physical theater, Lozano prefers to work on collectively created plays that focus on actors’ improvisations rather than a script.

“The presence and dynamics of the actor are the starting point,” Lozano said.

Besides creating new works, Cara Mía’s resident artistic ensemble produces classic plays by nationally acclaimed Latino playwrights. It has produced world premieres of major Mexican-American writers such as Sandra Cisneros, Jimmy Santiago Baca and Cherrie Moraga.

“My experience at UT Dallas has helped me to become a better storyteller through theater, filling out my capacity as an artist,” Lozano said.

— Robin Russell