Meet the Maker: Juan Francisco Ramos Aguilar

• He initially performed for university students, graduates and professionals. But his experience doing puppet theater in the Salvadoran countryside during the country's civil war helped him find his creative calling.
• "The children of Guazapa moved me with their joy and their longing to dream of a better world," he told Axios. "This experience convinced me to dedicate my theatrical art to children, who are our most vulnerable beings.

Zoom in: Aguilar moved to Indianapolis in August 2024 and made history last summer by performing the first Spanish-language show to be part of the annual IndyFringe Festival.

• Called "El Traje Nuevo Del Emperador," the show is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes."
• The show is back at IF Theatre with performances scheduled for Feb. 15, March 15 and April 19.

What he's saying: "Through theater, (children) can strengthen their self-esteem and leadership skills, among other things," he said. "They learn that they are heard and that their opinions matter, enabling them to change the situations they experience every day; teaching them that dreaming is allowed and that dreams can come true with perseverance."

Check him out: On Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.