CLEVELAND — Monica Torres is in her element directing a dress rehearsal at her theater company, LatinUs. 

“Muy bien,” Torres said to her actor on stage. 

The company is running a Spanish performance of the Cuban play called Public Restrooms.

“We bring theater from all our different countries that speak Spanish and our plays are in Spanish,” Torres said. “But we always provide English subtitles.”

Torres said she doesn’t limit herself to one region. By showing off work from several Spanish-speaking countries, the crew can highlight the community’s diversity.

“We all speak Spanish. But we have very different, you know, traditions and we can say different cultures in our different Latino countries,” Torres said.

Torres is from Puerto Rico. She said having native language entertainment options is important for inclusion. 

“Sometimes for the Latino people, you know, to completely feel that we are a part of (the) USA, we also need to have our own language because it is our first language,” Torres added. “Even though we, of course, speak English and we love the English. But we grow up with the Spanish. So we need to be exposed again to our language and our culture.”

The next day, at her home, Torres gets dressed for the premiere. She reflects on her journey to get this far, including the obstacles she faced.

“Since I was a child, I was always doing my stuff in acting. Like in the school plays and everything that has to be with art and acting," Torres said. “But my father always (told) me, ‘Monica you love acting, but you need to have a more secure profession.’”

So at the request of her father, Torres became a physician. But eventually, she returned to her passion for theater.

Now, she said her father couldn’t be prouder of her success.

“He actually has told me already that, ‘I did it,’” Torres said.

Torres said she hopes her work brings awareness about the variety of experiences in the Latino community.

Public Restrooms is scheduled to run through Dec. 19 at the Pivot Center of Art, Dance, & Expression.