In 2020, I celebrated a decade of building a career in acting and comedy, while being a mother on the side (on the side?! Lol!).
Pursuing a career in the performing arts is not an easy fit, but things can definitely get 1000 times harder when you add parenting to the mix.
Nevertheless, I managed to raise an awesome human being without having economic stability, a BFA or MFA, or family nearby, while making a name for myself. I’m a Dominican-Puerto Rican bilingual actress/comedian, who used to dance for a living. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, who moved to NYC with nothing but a dream, determination, and the work ethic I had learned from my early mentors. Right before the pandemic hit, I had just started to see the “light” at the end of the showbiz tunnel, Casting Directors were calling me in for Series Regular roles, I was getting more callbacks (including one for the In The Heights movie!), I had booked my first National commercial…but then, the Universal timeout happened, the phone stopped ringing, all productions were shut down, my commercial was taken off the air within one month of airing, the comedy theatres closed, and the community and career I had built throughout a whole decade had suddenly vanished.
Did I cry or sneak into the kitchen in the middle of the night to eat non-dairy ice cream?! You bet!
But I also took that opportunity to focus and strengthen my mental, spiritual and physical health, as well as spending quality time with my family. The uncertainty of that time helped me realize that there’s no need to run ourselves to the ground. That sometimes we are so focused on “making it” that we lose track of the blessings we already have, and how far we’ve come.
That the myth of “you only have a certain window to make it”, or “time is running out”, especially when you are a woman of color of a certain age, is just that, a MYTH! There’s no time limit to creativity! There’s no deadline on storytelling!
My calling, my dream, and passion for theatre and acting was still very much alive after the pandemic. I took that time to reset (and to heal from long Covid!), and in 2024, I decided to give myself a second chance, take my skills to the highest potential, and applied for the Atlantic Summer Intensive program. I was looking forward to putting myself back in the student seat and unlocking the next level. As someone who had not had access to the kind of prestigious, in-depth, and holistic training Atlantic offers, I was so grateful I gave myself this shot, in my mid 40s nonetheless!!
Practical Aesthetics was THE perfect technique to get my creative juices back flowing. It validated the storyteller in me, and provided a new way for me to connect with plays and characters I’ve always dreamed of studying in a deeper way. The level of artistry and excellence the Atlantic Acting School demands was something I have been craving for for a long time.
The 6 week summer program is perfect for the seasoned actor who might want to upgrade their toolbox, as well as for the young and aspiring actors alike. I was not only able to brush up my skills and learn new skills but to build community, connect with like minded people, and feel inspired again! It is indeed a VERY demanding program as we had to read many plays, pick our own scenes and scene partners, and rehearse after taking classes all day! Honestly, I still can’t believe my “elderly” body and brain were able to handle such INTENSIVE work, lol 🙂 But we did it!!! The teachers pushed me to dig deeper than I’ve ever had, and most importantly, they helped me gain the confidence I needed to step into larger than life characters that I would’ve not even been considered to play twenty years ago.
I’m forever grateful for the generosity and kindness of the Atlantic Acting School! THANK YOU to the amazing teachers, staff, and classmates for helping me LEVEL UP! And for making me feel like I belong!!!
“Dreams can be delayed but not denied!”
Suni Reyes
Suni Reyes (She/Her) is a bilingual, award winning artist who has made guest appearances on HBO Max’s “Gordita Chronicles”, Comedy Central’s “Nora From Queens”, Billions, and Seven Seconds, among others. She is featured in the new Kevin James movie “Guns Up” written and directed by Edward Drake, and in the award winning short film “Don’t Wait Up for Me” by Alain Alfaro. Suni was also part of the stellar cast of the satirical horror movie “American Carnage”, starring Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Jenna Ortega. She is also a gifted comedian with over a decade of experience performing improv, sketch, and stand up comedy throughout New York City while raising a child with no money or family near! Suni started her career in the performing arts as a dancer in Puerto Rico, and has been pursuing her multifaceted artistic dreams in the states for the past two decades. She is really looking forward to giving her son, husband, and entire family in the Caribbean a shout out during an award acceptance speech while the music plays her off!
She was part of Atlantic’s Summer Intensive.
Instagram: @suni_rayos_
Summer Intensive
Our Summer programs present students with the opportunity to gain a working and rigorous understanding of the Atlantic Technique, Practical Aesthetics, and to immerse themselves in a life-long community of dedicated actors.
Summer alumni have gone on to robust and prolific careers in theater, TV, and film. They include Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids), Charmaine Bingwa (“The Good Fight”), Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”), Zach Woods (“Silicon Valley”), and more!