Originally from Miami, Florida, Alana traveled to Chicago to study at DePaul University's Theatre School, receiving her BFA in Acting. In 2007, Alana was invited to join the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble where she created the role of "Pecola Breedlove" in THE BLUEST EYE, which ran off Broadway at The New Victory. Other Steppenwolf credits include THE BROTHER SISTER PLAYS, TRIBES, MARIE ANTIONETTE, and HEAD OF PASSES. In recent years, Alana played "Gloria", mother of David, in the Peabody award winning tv series DAVID MAKES MAN. In 2024 Alana originated the role of "Morgan Jasper", in the Steppenwolf commissioned play PURPOSE, written by Branden Jacobs Jenkins that went on to the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway and won the 2025 Pullitzer Award, the Tony Award for Best Play among other awards. Alana is currently performing in another Steppenwolf commisioned new work titled WINDFALL written by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
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Alana Arenas has crowd-funded a project with 3AP
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- $10,160 raised of $5,000 goal
- 0 Days 0:00:00 LEFT
Throughout my 15-year acting career, Chicago has been my home and its theater scene my greatest support network. Many of my first roles were performed for theaters whose missions are committed to honoring the Black aesthetic in theater. Now I …
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