About Rodolfo Robles Cruz
Rodolfo Robles Cruz (he/him/el) is a queer Mexican migrant living in the United States. He is a stage director, playwright, and theater artist born in Morelia, Michoacán, and raised in Fresno, California. He is currently based in Austin, Texas, where he is completing his MFA in Theatre Arts with a specialization in Directing from The University of Texas at Austin.
His artistic interests include new work development, Latinx theatre, Shakespeare, and musical theatre. He is the child of migrant farm workers, a student of Southeast Fresno, and an artist shaped among Chicano organizers, poets, and punk rockers. His process centers the Viewpoints methodology alongside his Meisner training.
Selected directing credits include CABARET (UT Austin), THIS IS OUR YOUTH (UT Austin), EXIT STRATEGY (Beyond August Productions), SANCTUARY CITY (UT Austin), ANNA IN THE TROPICS (Madera Theatre Project), and OEDIPUS EL REY(Selma Arts Center). He has also directed work with Teatro Vivo’s Austin Latinx New Play Festival, California State University, Fresno’s Workshop, UT Austin’s Latinx Theatre Initiative, independent productions, and the Pan Valley Institute.
As a playwright, Cruz’s work has been produced by Selma Arts Center, California State University, Fresno, Teatro Espejo, the Pan Valley Institute, Lime Arts Productions, California State University, Fullerton, KCACTF Region 8 One-Act Workshops, and 2Rhythm Theatre. His original one-act play La Norteña was a finalist for the KCACTF National Playwriting Program (One-Act Category) and a Region 8 award winner.
Most recently, he received the Julie Jensen Playwriting Award, presented by the National Partners of the American Theatre, for his play EL RAYO; OR SELF-DEPORTATION NATION.
He is currently directing a developmental reading of 111 FIRES AND 1 FLOOD AT THE GUATEMALAN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM by Khristián Méndez Aguirre as part of Teatro Vivo’s Austin New Play Festival, April 2026.
For inquiries, please contact: rodolforoblescruz97@gmail.com
Community Outreach
Part of my work as a theatre maker involves collaborative efforts to connect with the community I am making theatre in.
For a few years I have worked alongside The Pan Valley institute to write and create a travelling scripted performance titled MY RELATIONSHIP WITH AMERICA, a performance built on interviews with the actors who are performing in it. Designed to be easily adapted, and transformative based on the space it is performed and the marginalized identities performing the roles.
Below is a recording of one instillation of those performances.
Read more about this this performance at the link below!
