Actor and nonprofit director Denise Arribas’ 11 Good Things 

In this series, ArtsATL asks a member of the Atlanta arts community to share 11 things on their mind. We hope you enjoy getting to know these people better.

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Denise Arribas is a professional actor and proud Boricua based in Atlanta and striving to make her ancestors proud every day. She’s currently playing Camila Rosario in Aurora Theatre’s In The Heights, and, when she’s not onstage or on set, she’s serving as director of engagement at the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta and artistic director of Unexpected Encores, a program bringing joy and connection to memory care residents. A Swiss Army knife of the nonprofit world, she lives at the intersection of art and purpose.

1. Theater. Atlanta has some of the best theater I know and it’s affordable. Don’t doom scroll at home; get thee to a theater! 

2. Nature. Recharge outside. Go for a hike or a brisk walk, even if it’s just Stone Mountain. You can reclaim it and rewrite its dark history.

3. Latiné community. I’m a part of In The Heights now at Aurora Theater, and being surrounded by our Latiné community and celebrating the joy and resilience of our culture has given me the energy I needed to thrive in the next four years.

4. Church of Kirkland — aka Costco. It sounds super mainstream, but it is a gift to be able to shop at a store that puts their people above the bottom line and keeps diversity, equality and inclusion at the forefront.

5. Puerto Rico. My lovely little island of enchantment. It’s the best place on Earth, where the bays light up and the coquis sing you to sleep.

6. A life soundtrack. Anything that gives a spring to your step! I always have a playlist ready to go, depending on my mood or the need to improve it. Right now, on shuffle, I have Latino Pop like Bad Bunny, Karol G, Daddy Yankee and “Viajeras Para’ Limpiar” — or revenge ’80s Latiné songs my mom used to clean the house to, which now I play it to clean my house. Plus the album West End Girl by Lily Allen, because a good revenge album is always amazing. 

7. My husband. As a feminist girlina — I threw up a little bit in my mouth when I wrote that, but I’m beyond fortunate to have an amazing, supportive partner who helps me be the better version of myself every day. We are teammates in this game of life.

8. Dexter. (And I mean my dog, not the serial killer character). He’s nature’s weighted blanket and the loveliest boy I know, and yet he’s never met a stranger he didn’t hate.

9. Naps! I love naps more than I like regular sleeping. It’s a midday sleep snack for your soul. 

10. Unexpected encores. This is a program created with a group of amazing artists, in partnership with The Object Group, to bring joy and connection to people living with dementia. As an artist, I’m a strong believer that you should use your skill set to pay it forward and make this world a little better. It also gives me a way to honor my mama, who fought the good ol’ Alzheimer’s fight for 11 years. 

11. Women. Women truly make the world go around, and, as a woman, I love being surrounded by them. My girlfriends keep me sane and empowered. They are these magical creatures that are 100% responsible for my sanity. I highly recommend it, especially multigenerational friendships.