Ariel Aranda-McEtchin is a Mexican American, early-career theater artist from Alameda, CA. She earned her bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Irvine, receiving a B.A. in Film & Media Studies and a B.A. in Drama. Her multidisciplinary background serves as the foundation for her artistic approach to theater, blending performance art, installation, and cinema into her design work. Ariel recently completed her first year in the Design & Technology program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, with a focus on scenic design.

Ariel is driven by her passion for cinematic storytelling and the democratization of the performing arts. Ariel has always delighted in the pageantry of theater and strives to imbue each of her designs with playful spectacle and bold innovation. As an artist andfirst-generation American, she is deeply committed to amplifying diverse voices and bringing fresh perspectives to the stage.