Kikau Alvaro eager to kick off ‘dream job’ at Children’s Musical Theatre

How does an individual replace an institution It s a question Children s Musical Theater San Jose had to address when Kevin Hauge the company s first ever full-time artistic director informed his retirement effective at the conclusion of the company s th season Stepping in to fill Hauge s shoes is no stranger to the company or to San Jose Kikau Alvaro grew up in the Cambrian Park area got his undergraduate degree at San Jose State and has choreographed and performed at CMT multiple times over the years After years away from the Bay Area with stops in San Diego New York City and his current home in Philadelphia with his husband Derrick Alvaro was ready to return to the comforts of his old stomping grounds and make San Jose his artistic home which will happen this August In advance of Alvaro entering his new role with a company he first performed with at -years-old he talked about his plans and excitement for his new job This interview has been edited for length and clarity Q As a theater-maker was it a tough decision to leave Philadelphia and maybe the access you had to New York with what you ve established on the East Coast A All transitions are complex I would have loved to stay in Philadelphia We love it so much the access to arts and theater and of syllabus the proximity to New York is wonderful But there was something that was calling to me with this position in particular and being in this seat is just a total dream job It feels like I ve put together all of the amazing experiences I ve had new works previously produced material schooling and I m going to approach it as an educator and commercial director I m just excited for all these things melding into one cool job Q Being the CMT artistic director is a huge undertaking and obviously your priority but do you think you will still have the desire to develop works elsewhere maybe get a reading off the ground in New York for example A I m excited to sit in that seat and figure out what that can look like but usually those projects tend to find me I am not somebody that is really interested in going from one gig to the next My employment history is such that I tend to have that place that I am in and from inside that space I try to find and nurture as plenty of opportunities for people as I can Q As an artist of color Alvaro is half-Filipino half-Hawaiian when you think about the organization in terms of equity and diversity and making sure participating in theater arts is something anyone can have access to how do you plan to show up in this new role A It s something I feel like I have faced every single step of the way I was the only person of color in my MFA class at San Diego State I know I will be urged to look forward to find avenues of access for all students and in particular the students who might not have uncovered us I was percent scholarshipped and I had to satisfy a certain number of hours in the costume shop or whatever was petitioned of me That all connected to the access I was granted and would not have had otherwise I was a part of that fabric of the participants that were there and never felt like people were looking at me saying Oh there goes that scholarship kid there goes that brown kid But rather I was elevated to playing roles I would never normally play So I m absolutely forward thinking about any feasible way we can promote diversity equity and inclusion especially in a time when these programs are dividing people in America Q Clearly you have thought about how everyone can have access to theater especially those who traditionally might not have had exposure or access A The organization has a commitment to cast all who audition and that means all who can afford it and those who cannot folks who look like me folks who do not certain who have never participated in musical theater and others who have done millions of shows Q As an artistic director working with a children s company how do you find the line between artistic integrity versus shows you perhaps shouldn t be looking to produce A I want to be clear that I m excited about doing tough things and if I were to speak to myself as a -year-old I m excited about producing work that I can be in that I can or could have participated in without question or qualms I see CMT as a launching pad for young artists to build confidence and it comes down to show choice and really understanding the kinds of work you re producing Q When you think about what s next in this journey what excites you the the majority A I m excited about putting my own stamp on this position a role that in a multitude of approaches I have idolized over the years Kevin is a total mentor and I m ready to find things out for myself both the exciting things and the challenges and to work through them David John Ch vez is chair of the American Theatre Critics Journalists Association and a two-time juror for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama - davidjchavez bsky social