Derek Garza

Derek Garza graduated from Penn State University with his Masters of Fine Arts in Acting and received his bachelors in Theatre Arts & Communications at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO. He is originally from Denver, CO, but mostly grew up on the reservation in Southern Oklahoma and is an enrolled tribal member of the Wichita Nation. He has worked with many distinguished theatre companies such as Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre, Montana Shakespeare Co., Chicago Dramatists, Victory Gardens Theatre, and Native Earth Performing Arts to name a few. He has also worked with such accomplished directors as John Basil from American Globe Theatre in New York, J.R. Sullivan from Utah Shakespeare Co., Tom Markus, Jim Wise, David Rotenberg, and Michael Greyeyes. Derek currently resides in Chicago where he is pursuing his acting career and is the Co-founder & Artistic Director of Mortar Theatre Company. Derek has taught acting at Penn State University, as well as, movement workshops for the Chicago Public School District. He has done several commercials and independent films while living in Chicago and has toured internationally to London, UK and throughout Canada.