About Us

Hello, We are All Star Theatre

All Star Theatre (All South Texas Artists Reunited) is a non-profit theatre company in the Upper- Rio Grande Valley. We seek to not only reflect the diverse culture of the Valley, but also provide a unique artistic experience for the audience. As the character transforms on stage before the audience member’s eyes, we hope the transformation extends to the individual, encouraging them to personally transform on any level. Our passion is not only to tell the stories we hold dear, but also to present the tremendous talent fostered within the Rio Grande Valley.

Furthermore, All Star Theatre provides an outlet for artists who hold unique ideas hidden or repressed within. After all, these are the ideas that develop into amazing projects, and lead to future All Star artists.

All Star Theatre is committed to producing quality productions

by utilizing the distinct talent found within the Rio Grande Valley.

Our Mission

Our mission is to engage our audience to think and feel, and our artists to grow and share.

All Star Theatre is committed to producing quality productions by utilizing the distinct talent found within the Rio Grande Valley.

We extend theatrical education beyond the boundaries of a classroom by providing a professional theatre experience for everyone, regardless of circumstance.

Our Mission

Our Story

All Star Theatre began in the summer of 2012 with a dream to harvest and present the theatrical talent of our South Texas region. Joel A. Garza, founder of All Star Theatre, was getting his masters in Theatre in the University of Texas - Pan American, where he decided to write his thesis about the 2007 Tony Award winner for

Best Musical Spring Awakening.

With the help of Carlos Pérez, Marketing Director of All Star Theatre, both started working together to bring this musical to the audiences in the Rio Grande Valley, this will help Joel to get a better understanding of Spring Awakening, and study more the characters and the music from the show. But it was since our production of

Chicago (2013), where All Star Theatre's audience grew up really fast, thanks to this famous musical that is really well known in our region. Since then, we have produced several shows with local talent, from little kids to actors to crew members and designers, we have helped our artists to grow and share, and have engaged our audience to think and feel.

The All Star Team

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

The All Star Kids Club wouldn’t be the same without the help and support from our instructors, and crew members.

These talented individuals unselfishly dedicated their time and efforts to make this production a success.

Joel A. Garza

Executive Artistic Director

Joel is currently a lecturer in Communication Studies at The University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley where he was nominated for the Outstanding Teaching Award by the UT System Board of Regents. He holds a bachelors and masters degrees in communication studies and a masters degree in theatre. He currently serves as an adjudicator for UIL One Act Play across the state of Texas, and as adjudicator for The Palm Awards locally. Joel has spoken at numerous conferences regarding theatre and communication studies, and his thesis My Purple Summer: A Comparative Analysis of Wedekind’s and Sater’s SPRING AWAKENING is currently used as amusical theatre textbook in universities in America and in England. It has been his life-long goal to watch at least one production in each Broadway theater in operation- he has 10 left.

Carlos Pérez

Marketing Director

Carlos is the Co-Founder and Graphic Designer of All Star Theatre. He is in charge of pictures, social media, and promotion for All Star Theatre productions since 2012. He is currently obtaining his Masters in Communication at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Daniel Garza

Acting Director

Daniel is a graduate from UTRGV with a Bachelor of Fine Arts concentrated towards Theatre Performance. Daniel also works as a theater instructor for the B.L. Garza Theatre Department and has previously worked with other theatre organizations in the RGV including Thirteen O’Clock Theatre and Pharr Community Theatre. This is the third season that Daniel is working with All Star Kids Club and would like to thank Joel and all other staff members for another amazing opportunity and for the continued hospitality they have shown him.

Emily Villarreal

Associate Acting Director

Growing up singing and dancing, Emily developed a passion for the arts at a young age. Since participating in her first musical in 2017, she has found a love for theatre—performing in productions at UTRGV, South Texas College, Dancing at Tiffany’s and Thirteen O’Clock Theatre. Additionally, Emily is a Communication graduate student and teaching assistant at UTRGV, as well as a freelance choreographer. Emily is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to teach at All Star and looks forward to an amazing year.

Sophie Casas

Vocal Director

Sophie has been teaching elementary music for the past 13 years. Sophie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis on education from UTPA. She was the principal flute and piccolo player for 2 years. In the summer of 2019, Sophie spent a month in Oxford and Falmouth, England studying voice with the Cornish-American Song Institute. For the past 9 years, Sophie has been employed with McAllen ISD at Ben Milam Elementary. Sophie has served as Vocal Director for All Star Theatre for the past 7 years.

Victoria Rose Cantu

Associate Vocal Director

Victoria Rose is a graduate of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, with a Bachelor’s degree in Music - Vocal Performance. Victoria Rose’s love of music, performance, and singing has lead her to collaborate with many different community theatre companies in the RGV. She has directed the music for shows such as Spring Awakening, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Victoria Rose has also starred in classics like Chicago, Pippin, Bonnie & Clyde, Mamma Mia, Into the Woods, and Rocky Horror Picture Show. She currently works as a Theatre consultant for the Edinburg CISD, a private voice instructor, and a freelance musical director. Victoria Rose is beyond grateful and excited to be working with All Star Theatre again! She is looking forward to the FUN and wonderful season ahead!

Holly Ann Amstutz

Dance Director

Holly is a current student at UTRGV studying technical theatre and a lifelong lover of the performing arts. She has worked at Harlingen CISD for 4 years as a Fine Arts Consultant, and worked as a freelance choreographer for 5 years. She also recently completed the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Andrea Cantu

Associate Choreographer

At the age of 6, Andrea began to study dance at Dancentre of Edinburg under the direction of Yvonne Guajardo and Yvette Ianelli. She is a hardworking dance instructor proficient in instructional strategies and developmental exercises. She is familiar with ballet, tap, jazz, leaps and turns, flamenco, folklorico, and Irish dancing. Over 18 years of dance experience and 7 years of teaching. She is currently a senior at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley studying with a major in Dance Performance with a minor in Communication.

Lourdes Elizondo

Production Assistant

Lourdes Elizondo, a four-time Palm Award nominee, has demonstrated her remarkable talent through numerous stage performances during her high school years, including five productions this past year alone. She earned the prestigious titles of Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her role in “The Little Mermaid” and Best Supporting Actress in a Play for her performance in “Lend Me a Soprano.” Currently, Lourdes is pursuing a degree in Business Accounting at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she aims to balance her passion for the arts with her academic ambitions.

Christian Guzman

Production Assistant

Christina Luera

Company Manager

Christina has been teaching Technology with McAllen ISD for the past 15 years. In addition she is one of the McAllen High School Cheer coaches. She is thrilled to be working with such talented group of kids! Christina has been dancing and performing since she was six years old, and hopes the kids enjoy performing as much as she did when she was performing on stage. This is the second season that Christina has worked with The All Star Kids Club and has enjoyed every minute of it.

Bryanna Barrera

Production Coordinator

Bryanna is a theatre arts graduate from South Texas College. She has been so excited and had so much fun working on this production! This will be Bryanna's 4th production with All Star Kids. She would like to give a special thank you to Joel and all of the wonderful All Star staff for giving her this amazing opportunity and allowing her to work alongside such incredibly talented individuals. She can't wait to see all the great things All Star Theatre will do next! Remember: "There's the whole world at your feet."