Opportunity: An Invitation to Teaching Artists, November 26

Interested in being a teacher but still want to work for yourself and have time for your art form? Come to my first Teaching Artist meeting on November 26th!! Or you are a teaching artist and would like more info about such a new developing field? 

We will be establishing a mission statement collaboratively, discussing the needs and wants of a teaching artist, and presenting ideas for the future of teaching artistry.Join us for an evening of refreshments and presentations for Miss Jess Co.

RSVP Today! 832/683-2463 or http://travisheights2.wix.com/missjess

Actor/Designers/Starving Artists - bring your portfolio (not a requirement)

Dear fellow Creative Artists,

My name is Jessica Padilla and I am founding a new Teaching Artist Theatre Company in the Austin Area. Our first meeting will be on Monday the 26th of November at 7:00 pm. I would like to have some guest speakers for the event, and welcome any of your artists to the event. I started this in efforts to reach the demand for teaching artists in schools and advocate the field in the Austin area.

Any way you or your organization would like to be a part of this event, would be beneficial for all parties involved. If I could have some of your teaching artists give a presentation of their work, or a mini performance of what they are currently working on, that would be great! Other artists would be doing the same.

The event is open to any performance art teaching artists, including music, art, dance, etc. This would also be an opportunity for artists to get more information about being an independent contractor, stay current in the world of the creative arts, and meet other artists of the same disciple that live and work in their area.

Those invited will be establishing a mission statement for the company, and be projecting what we think the future of teaching artistry and creative drama will be like here in Austin. Invited guests include BFA majors from the University of Texas at Austin, freelance teaching artists, professors, and artists in the Austin area. My personal finance banker will also be present to answer any salary or taxes questions, as well as any other questions about the business of contracting.

Thank you so much for your time, and feel free to contact me if you have any further questions, comments, or would like to discuss this event further and how you would like to be a part of it. I can email you a projected itinerary for First Meeting as we get closer to the event.

Happy living,

Jessica Padilla, Teaching Artist, Apprentice at ZACH Theatre Austin

2250 Ridge Point Dr. APT. 1021 Austin, Texas 78754 (click for map) (832)683-2463

http://www.facebook.com/missjessco http://travisheights2.wix.com/missjess

A Look Back by Jessica Marie Padilla: Mariachi Girl by Roxanne Schroeder Arce, Teatro Vivo at the Zach Theatre

Mariachi Girl: A Look Back

by Jessica Marie Padilla
November 10, 2012

I remember it as if I had suddenly woken from a dream. I was crouching on the living floor, ear pressed to the window like Beethoven, listening to the sound of a tuning guitar, chords on a keyboard, and the distinct hum of the accordion and amplifier. They were bringing my mother a serenade for Dia de Las Madres, Mother’s Day. It was my father, grandfather, and whatever friend they could find with a cable and amplifier. This happened every year from the beginning of time and was practiced for throughout the year every Friday or Saturday night. So by the time Mother’s Day arrived, my mother was usually annoyed. She did however act as if she’d never heard Las Mañanitas before every year on this special day. And twice for everyone's birthday. For her, a delight. For me, it was how I fell in love with music.

It is the allure of multiple perspectives that I love about the musical Mariachi Girl by Roxanne Schroeder-Arce. Everyone’s voice was represented on stage through a character, a line, a song, a hat, and yes, even a Barbie. Everyone in the audience had a stake in what was happening on the stage. Full of opinions, explanations, words of wisdom and story, these identifiable characters mirrored our lives and entertained us with humor, song, and intrigue.

The entertainment value of the production was matched by his educational value. Heritage, history and tradition came alive. Children were taught to follow their dreams, celebrate their diversity, and also to respect authority. Adults in the audience related to the pressures of parenting and the complexity of establishing a healthy family. Issues of gender role, social status and race were held in different light. And the artist was celebrated. ‘Those people” who practice music in garages, or alone in their rooms can treasure a folkloric production like Mariachi Girl.

Mariachi Girl is a well rounded Theatre for Youth musical enjoyed by all ages, one that asks important questions of its audiences. The musical asked me to remember.

My answer? I do remember -- as if it was yesterday.