Marissa Alejandra Diaz was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Tech and Design at The University of Texas at El Paso. She earned her Master of Fine Arts at The University of California, Irvine in June 2019. Marissa is passionate about the Hispanic culture she grew up in and adores helping tell the stories of people in the Latinx community. Her work in UCI's production of Plumas Negras has opened the door for her love of this kind of theatre. She looks forward to continue telling these stories in addition to other drama and dance works. Recent works and credits include Mala with the Lake Dillon Theatre Company and Frida with El Paso Opera. Marissa has also worked as a Junior Lighting Designer with First Circle Design Inc. and explored the world of architectural lighting. Currently, she is working as a Visiting Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at El Paso while also supervising the lighting and sound shops. Although new to teaching, her efforts earned her the 2022 URTA Excellence Award in Training for Lighting Design and Technology. This summer she will be designing La Traviata with El Paso Opera! When not designing lights, Marissa can be found spending quality time with her family and dogs (Hope, Mandalay, and Lumito) or supporting the Los Angeles Dodgers.
