about us

Our
Story

Co-founders Marycarmen and Azuay first came together as friends, later developing a creative partnership rooted in a shared passion for art and a deep belief that aligned visions multiply impact. What unites them is a commitment to using storytelling and artistic creation as tools for reflection, connection, and forward movement. In an era defined by speed, automation, and AI, Colibrí Dreams emerged from the belief that art is not a luxury it is a necessity.

Colibrí Dreams exists to create spaces where ideas converge, voices are heard, and art becomes a bridge toward a more conscious and connected world. Our work lives on stage through Colibrí Theater, on screen through Colibrí Films, and within communities through collaborative artistic initiatives. Blending creative movement, language, social awareness, and cinematic storytelling, we bring to life projects that explore identity, vulnerability, and human connection. We believe storytelling has the power to open conversations, promote empathy, and can transform the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world.

Our Founders
Art grounds us, disrupts monotony, and reminds us that empathy, sensitivity, and human connection remain our greatest strengths.

Marycarmen Portillo

Marycarmen is a Mexican-born, Los Angeles–based actress, dancer, writer, and producer. A graduate of the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio, her work bridges theater, film, and movement-driven storytelling, with a focus on bilingual narratives that explore emotional truth, identity, and human connection.

Her theater credits include Mictlan, Romeo & Juliet Bilingual, Julius Caesar, Still Life, A Ciegas, and The Bench. With Mictlan, she toured Ventura, Los Angeles, and New York (Off-Broadway). Her work has received multiple nominations, including recognition from the Broadway World Awards, Hollywood Fringe Festival, and the SPLASH Awards.

As a multidisciplinary creator, she wrote, produced, and starred in the short film AUDER, which was nominated for Best Short Film at the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival and received the Best Performance award at the LA Holly Films Festival. Internationally, she wrote, produced, and performed the lead role in the stage production Sin Mi Hogar in Mexico and appeared in the dance-theater production Superarit, which toured Mexico City.

Her film and television credits include Rachel in LA, The Undead End, and Autumn’s Dream. Through Colibrí Dreams Productions, she continues to develop and tour original theater and film projects throughout Southern California, creating work that blends movement, storytelling, and socially conscious themes.

Azuay Esteban

Azuay Esteban, bilingual Mexican actress, teaching artist, and cultural producer based in Los Angeles. With formal conservatory training and a Bachelor’s degree in Acting from the National School of Dramatic Arts (INBA), Mexico City. She brings a strong theatrical foundation and an intercultural perspective to her work on stage.

Her recent credits include Mictlán (Hollywood Fringe Festival, 2024), Todas Somos Luz and Valentina y la sombra del Diablo (Tierra Blanca Arts Center, 2023–2025), as well as Los Empeños de la Casa and Too Many Tamales with the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts (2020–2023). She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards for her role as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, directed by Adrián Barrón.

In addition to acting, in 2025, she directed La Comedia, a clown-based piece selected as a finalist at the Brisk Festival, and A Ciegas, a movement-based work presented at the Short+Sweet Festival.

She has worked as a teaching artist at Tierra Blanca Arts Center, supporting emerging actors and using theater as a tool for expression and community engagement. She is also an advisor to the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts and co-founder of Colibrí Dreams Productions, where she develops bilingual theater projects that expand access to the performing arts in schools and communities across Southern California.

Our Mission

At Colibri Dreams, we create socially conscious, emotionally resonant theater, film, and dance films that uplift unheard voices as a way to open conversations around sensitive subjects, promote empathy, and offer moments of joy and reflection.

By blending creativity, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling we aim to make art that heals, challenges, and inspires.