Manny Casique

Actor

Company member since 2005, Manny is a Mexican American actor and has had his theater background from various institutions. He has been on stage giving birth to many characters. 

​Jennifer Garcia
Academy Director and Teaching Artist

Jennifer Garcia is a versatile dancer, teaching artist, and the Academy Director at Teatro Tariakuri. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, she earned her BA in Dance with minors in Teaching Artistry and Entrepreneurship. Her extensive training spans a range of styles, including Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, West African, Jazz, and Dance Improvisation. During her studies, Jennifer had the privilege of collaborating with renowned choreographers such as Jennifer Kayle, C. Kemal Nance, Darrell Jones, and Paige Cunningham, experiences that have deeply influenced her approach to dance and teaching.

At Teatro Tariakuri, Jennifer oversees the academy’s programming and instructs classes in acro dance, jazz, ballet (levels 1 and 2), Latin dance, and hip-hop. Her role as Academy Director allows her to nurture young talent while fostering a welcoming environment for creative expression. Beyond teaching, Jennifer has performed widely, bringing diverse characters to life on stage. Her notable performances include Tiempos de Carpa by Manuel Bauche Alcalde, and she has showcased her artistry with various companies, including the acclaimed Tethering with Chicago Danze theatre ensemble .

Jennifer’s commitment to the arts extends beyond performance, as she works to cultivate the next generation of dancers with a focus on discipline, creativity, and cultural pride. Her leadership and passion continue to shape Teatro Tariakuri’s academy and inspire its community of young artists.

KARLA GALVAN

FOUNDER , EXECUTIVE  ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Born south of the border/ raised in Chicago IL

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Quien es la Galvan

Karla Galván is a Mexican-Peruvian actress, director, and teaching artist born in Mexico and raised in Chicago. She is the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Teatro Tariakuri, a South Side theater company dedicated to uplifting the voices of Chicago’s Mexican-American and immigrant communities through Spanish-language and bilingual productions.

A graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Fine Arts, Karla also received extensive theater training in Mexico City. In 2003, she founded Teatro Tariakuri as a response to the barriers she faced in the arts due to her ethnicity and language. Her vision was to create an inclusive space for underrepresented voices to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Since its founding, Karla has directed and produced numerous original works and adaptations, including Drácula Gay, Tent Time, Abuelita de Batman, Homenaje a Chespirito, and Cri-Cri: The Musical Adventure. Her work spans both adult and children’s theater, and she has performed notable roles such as Doña Remedios in Los Secretos de Santa Mónica and Lydia in Urban Theater Company's acclaimed production of Ashes of Light.

Karla is also a passionate arts educator, leading youth theater programs across Chicago’s Southwest Side. Her credits as a director for young audiences include Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, and The Magician. Through Teatro Tariakuri, she continues to serve the community by fostering cultural pride, bilingual storytelling, and access to the performing arts.

Victor Mallari

Company member, Victor is a Mexican/ Filipino actor born and raised in south side Chicago. As an artist, Victor values the idea of authenticity and rawness in stories, because to him, every voice deserves recognition. He challenges himself towards breaking down a character's intentions and feelings by visualizing himself in their shoes, no matter how big or small the differences may seem. Since his graduation from UIC in 2021, Victor has been working in short films, theatre productions, and creating his own work to continue finding ways to evoke rawness and showcase Chicago authenticity while building friendships throughout his artistic journey.

STAFF /  ENSEBLE

Jose Manuel Aguayo

Actor,Teaching artists

Jose Manuel Aguayo, known on stage as JP/JotaP, is a Chicago-born performer proudly rooted in La Villita/Little Village, with family origins in Jalisco and Zacatecas, Mexico. Since 2016, he has been a vibrant member of Cabaret Parodia, Chicago’s only Spanglish Latine LGBTQIA+ Drag Parody Family, where he has taken on both lead and supporting roles in numerous productions. One of his most cherished performances was portraying Fiona in Un Pozole con La Frida, written and directed by La Villita’s own Esteban Pantoja (La Mas Mejor). In 2022, he expanded his theatrical work by joining Teatro Tariakuri’s beloved traditional Pastorela, Los Dientes de Satanás, in the role of La Pastora. JP/JotaP shares deep gratitude to those who have supported his artistic journey—his parents, siblings, chosen family, and especially the teachers, mentors, and advisors who helped him discover, nurture, and shine in his creative path.​

Nancy Mata 

Miembro  de planta de Teatro Tariakuri. Actriz y comediante Mexicana- American con vasta experiencia en la escena teatral  en la ciudad de los vientos . Recientemente disfrutamos de su intervencion en Como hacer una perlica  xxx, los creditos de Nancy icluyen  piezas como Solo para aridos y Abuelita de batman. Se destaca su participacion en la ya anual Pastorela de Dolores y Las virgenes prudentes por mencionar algunas otras. Cuando no esta en escenario Nancy le encanta pasar tiempo con familia y acompañada por su hermosa perrita Amber 

Patricia Galvan

Nacida en Tampico, Tamaulipas Mexico y miembro de planta de Teatro Tariakuri. Paticia ha logrado obtener su entrenamiento actoral y desarollarse profesionalmente con teatro Tariakuri desde sus inicios.

Daniela Aranda
Actress, Dancer, Teaching Artist

Daniela Aranda is a dynamic interdisciplinary artist rooted in dance, vocal performance, and acting. She honed her craft at Columbia College Chicago, earning a degree in Dance with a minor in Vocal Performance. Deeply inspired by her Mexican heritage, Daniela’s work weaves together cultural storytelling and artistic exploration, making her a vibrant presence in the arts community.

Daniela made her debut as an actress in El Piélago de las Calamidades, where she showcased her range and commitment to Latinx narratives. Currently, she serves as a teaching artist at Teatro Tariakuri, leading classes in hip hop, voice training, and musical theater, and fostering a love of the arts in her students. Passionate about empowering the next generation, Daniela’s teaching emphasizes creativity, cultural pride, and self-expression. Her dedication to both her personal artistic journey and her students’ growth continues to shape her work and inspire her community.

Esteban Pantoja
Co-artistic director, Actor and Director

Quien es Pantoja 

Esteban Pantoja is a Mexican-Amirican actor. Pantoja joined Tariakuri theatre company in 2005. Pantoja is co-artistic director and production manager here at Tariakuri. As an actor he has brought to life many characters in many of our Productions including our famous monologue "Dracula gay" by Thomas Urtusastegui. His theatre background and education were received on Tariakuri’s stage.  But his love for performance and characterization have led him to create " La mas mejor” one of the most important icons in the Latino Drag shows community in Chicago. Esteban Pantoja has performed with other theatre companies including his leading role in "Varones". Esteban has also founded Cabaret parodia theatre company. Where he produces, writes, and directs many productions including “Un pozole con Frida” and “Cuna de brujas”.