A full-circle moment: Alexa Cruz, inaugural recipient of the Carol Burnett Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Musical Theater, steps into the spotlight
Under the bright lights of a small community theater, UCLA student Alexa Cruz once belted out “Little Girls” from “Annie” with all the mischievous flair she could muster. As a pre-teen, she also found her voice in “Shy” from “Once Upon a Mattress.” What she didn’t know then as a young artist reveling in two of her favorite songs to perform, was that she would one day be connected to the iconic artist who embodied them on stage and screen —Carol Burnett.
This fall, Cruz was named the inaugural recipient of the Carol Burnett Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Musical Theater, endowed by the legendary entertainer to support musical theater students in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television’s Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program, an educational emphasis in the school’s theater department.
“I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to accept this tremendous gift toward my education,” Cruz said. “As a first-generation college student, this scholarship will help me pursue my dreams of becoming an actress and make my goals feel more attainable. I’m truly humbled by this opportunity and excited to continue pursuing my degree at UCLA and my passion for musical theater.”
Burnett’s own journey began at UCLA in the early 1950s, when she enrolled fresh out of high school and discovered her voice and potential. She carried that spark into a trailblazing career — from her Tony-nominated debut in “Once Upon a Mattress” to her 11-season run on “The Carol Burnett Show,” a series that reshaped American comedy and variety entertainment.
For Cruz, the connection feels personal and almost poetic.
“Performing those songs as a young performer makes receiving this scholarship feel especially meaningful,” she said. “It truly feels like a full-circle moment that connects me to her incredible legacy.”
Cruz discovered the magic of musical theater through community and school productions, where the blend of music, storytelling and movement quickly felt like home. Theater became the place where she could stretch, experiment and imagine a life onstage — one built on joy, collaboration and the courage to step into the spotlight.
Now at UCLA TFT, she is embracing the energy of first-year life: the camaraderie of her cohort, the spark of new friendships and the thrill of learning alongside peers who care deeply about their craft.
“I’m excited to keep meeting people from all over the world who bring different perspectives and to form meaningful connections with other creative students who inspire me,” she said.
The Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program offers the rigor and range she hoped for — from training in voice, movement and acting to opportunities to explore directing, design, production and the full ecosystem of theater-making.
“My ultimate dream is to perform on Broadway,” Cruz said. “One of my biggest dreams is to be part of a production of ‘West Side Story’. And I hope to inspire others the way so many performers have inspired me.”
