These amazing students are making waves at UC Irvine. From the stage to the courts, these students are showing the world what it means to be a womxn at UC Irvine! Make sure to check out their full story in the Guide to Womxn’s Month 2025.
Anna Marjorie Fitzgerald
Anna is a third-year Acting M.F.A. student at UC Irvine and is thrilled for QUIT BITCHIN’ to begin its life on the Claire Trevor stage. Previous UC Irvine appearances include: Cabaret (Fräulein Schneider), The Bald Soprano (Mrs. Martin), Twelfth Night (Olivia) with “New Swan Shakespeare,” and Gloria (Gloria/Nan).
What inspired you to write Quit Bitchin’?
There were three distinct threads of inspiration for QUIT BITCHIN’. The first came in my graduate acting training during which I discovered that I struggled to fully embody rage— I could not get angry. The second thread was spending time in different rural communities across the U.S. last year. While there, I visited several liquor stores and laundromats, and these liminal spaces fascinated me. I wondered what they would look like onstage. Then, the third thread was re-reading cononical ancient narratives of female rage like the stories of Medea, Antigone, and Jael. These three strands came together to create the first draft of QUIT BITCHIN’ when I asked myself, “What if moder-day versions of Medea, Antigone, and Jael met one another in a laundromat in rural America, able to fully express their rage? Could the endings of their stories be different?”
How do you see your identity shaping your future?
Being a female artist is more difficult. (Read “Of Woman Born” by Adrienne Rich if you need to be convinced of that fact.) I have such a fantastic support system (named Liam!) who actively works with me so that my career aspirations as an artist are possible. And my identity as a woman will continue to shape my work — it is impossible for it not to! — and I’m excited by that fact.
Do you have a womxn artist (director, playwriter, author, etc.) who has been influential to you and your identity?
SO MANY! Our paths are paved by those who came before us. But to summarize— I am inspired by the womxn artists and professors at UCI like Juliette Carrillo, Cynthia Bassham, Annie Loui, Beth Lopes, and Tara Rodman. I have also been deeply influenced by the writing of Adrienne Rich and Virginia Woolf.
Nikki Tom
Senior Nikki Tom is a four-year starter on the UC Irvine women’s basketball team. The Fresno, California, native led the Anteaters to the program’s first Big West regular-season championship in 2022-23 and to a conference tournament title in 2023-24. Nikki has also excelled in the classroom as a business administration major. She is a two-time Big West All-Academic selection, a CSC Academic All-District honoree and made the Dean’s List every quarter at UCI.
What is your favorite part about being involved in womxn’s sports here at UCI?
My favorite part about being involved with women’s sports at UCI is definitely all the memories that I have made with my teammates. For instance, some of the stories that we have from practices, travel trips, and games will only be shared between us. I have created friendships with what I would call my “sisters”, and they have been with me through every success and failure.
In what ways have you experienced community here at UCI?
I’ve experienced community at UCI when other women’s sports such as women’s soccer, volleyball, and cross country, have come to our games to show their support for us. It has been so amazing to build these relationships with other female athletes, and to go to each other’s games to bring that energy. It just highlights how involved and supportive the women’s athletic community is. We bring each other up and really want each sport to do their best!
How do you see your identity shaping your future?
I can see my identity shaping my future because it has shown me that women are capable of anything and if we really want it, then we can accomplish it. It is ultimately all about building a supportive community around you, and persevering past the hardships and inequalities.
