Meet Antonia López Montoya

We recently connected with Antonia López Montoya and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Antonia , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I’m from Colombia, I’m from Latin America, I’m from the Global South, resilience is our way of living, it runs deep in our blood and fuels a shared sentiment of passion, of love for what’s ours and has been tried to be taken away, violated and exploited for consumption and fetish. Resilience is my parents creating a path of music, art and culture in a violent environment, resilience is my sister’s opinionated voice resonating in my head time and time again to stand up for what’s right, to fight for my art, for my politics, for my community. Resilience is waking up every day in a city that has been hit hard, but that has known how to rebuild itself, almost from scratch, with the strength of the people living in it. I chose art, I chose theater, I chose music, or better said, it all chose me because there was no other way, because my context was asking for it, because it was my medium to channel my fury at the powers at hand and it’s still my way of mobilizing against them; I keep at it because I love people, I love this world we’re living in, even in all its contradictions, and I’m not willing to give up on it. That’s where my resilience comes from. From a deep love for my past, for my ancestors who stood still so I could keep going, for my future and everyone else’s, for us and for them.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Antonia López Montoya, I was born in Medellín, Colombia and as cliché as it sounds, I’ve always wanted to sing. My parents are architects, obsessed with art and culture, and imparted me with a sensibility that has accompanied me throughout my life, and which is probably what led me to ultimately pursue a career in musical theatre. I always like to say that art chooses the artist, because it’s a non-negotiable, if you’re not yearning for it every day, you’re not an artist, you just have a hobby. But I think you also have to choose it too, and that’s also why, ever since I stepped foot in New York City as a six year-old for the first time, I’ve known I needed to be near those big Broadway lights, breathing the air of that city and letting it take me over, which is why I almost went crazy when I got accepted to AMDA, the American Music and Dramatic Academy and consequently moved for three amazing years to the city to pursue an education in the arts. Now, as every immigrant story goes, Visa’s up and now I’m back in Colombia, still focused on the theatre scene but still planning to hop back on a plane as soon as I can back to NYC.

I’m excited to venture in the Colombian theatre scene, because I consider theatre such a precious and special medium, which exists in almost every context against all odds and can reach so many people in so many different ways. I’m in love with disappearing into characters, in acting through a song, in experiencing the reality of a made up world with an audience, or being a member myself, and I’m going to be pursuing that feeling for the rest of my life, wherever it is. So, if you ever find yourself roaming the streets of Colombia, consider looking me up to see what I’m up to (probably performing at a small theatre or bar), or if ever in need of a feisty Colombian actress, hit me up.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I would say strive for this trifecta: passion, morals and intelligence. Passion for that fuel when things get tough, when it seems like nothing’s going your way and you seem to be missing out on what other people have already achieved. If it’s in you, passion will take you through, through that day job you might not like just so you can afford to sing your heart out at night, or write that book, or anything it is that you’re doing, do it wholeheartedly or honestly, just don’t do it.

Secondly, don’t compromise your morals, they are always more important than any supposed opportunity that may arise. Not a single thing is so indispensable that you have to concede on what you believe it’s right, for your sake and for the sake of the people around you and the community you serve. Instead seek out and rely on that community, surround yourself with people that hold similar things close to their hearts and exploit that. Give back, fight for what’s right, get radicalized and channel that through your art.

And lastly, be smart, and not only in a selfish way of taking care of yourself, but care about what you do, hold it in high regards and be precious about it. Always be yearning for more knowledge and development, always try to ask questions, to listen to your predecessors and put effort and thought into whatever it is that rocks your boat. There has to be substance to what you’re doing or else, you’re just a robot, you’re AI, and nobody needs that. Knowledge is power.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I want to tell alternative stories, that aren’t always so US-centric, that are in other languages, that touch other cultures and communities. I want to tell stories of revolution, of queer love, of struggle and resistance, of happiness and love and friendship. I want to connect with folks that are doing things for the love of art and not for the pursuit of commercial success or visibility, so if that sounds appealing to you, shoot me a message on IG (@antonia.lopezm), or email me at antonialopezmontoya1@gmail.com

Contact Info:

• Instagram: antonia.lopezm1