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Grupo
Animo
For
more than ten years, young people at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts
Center in San Antonio have had a venue to voice issues that resonate
in their lives. Grupo Animo, the Guadalupe's resident teen theater
group, focuses on writing and performing stories that speak directly
about problems facing today's youth. Since 1992, Grupo Animo
has written and performed over ten original plays. The
company consists of 15 - 20 teenagers from all sectors and economic
areas of San Antonio. The focus of the company is to produce
Teatro Chicano that speaks directly about the problems facing
today's youth by creating and performing original works that
are for teenagers - by teenagers. Through these works, Grupo
Animo has successfully outreached and dialogued with their peers
since 1992, when the company was founded. Since then, GRUPO ANIMO
has performed in San Antonio and Puerto Rico with numerous original
plays including:
I
Have Hopes...
Tlaxcalli: Flour or Maíz?
Dance of the Jaguar
Reality Check
Let's Face It
Pedacitos de Nuestra Vida/ Little Pieces of Our Life
Just One of Those Days
New Eyes-Historias from the Heart
Instructions Not Included
The Corruption of Words
Metro 2B
Familia...Animo Style
Pass the Animo: Inhale the Words
In addition to developing original scripts, GRUPO ANIMO studies
and performs plays from such renowned Chicano playwrights as Luis
Valdez, Cherrie Moraga, Carlos Morton, and Octavio Solis.GRUPO
ANIMO's schedule/curriculum consists of five distinct components
that articulate the many facets of Chicano Theater:
1. ACTING WORKSHOPS
Members meet twice a week to learn the basics of acting
such as breathing techniques, stage movement, speech, and
ensemble building. They are also introduced to the history
of Chicano Theater. The students learn to read and analyze
a performance script, attend local theater productions,
and create an original street theater performance piece
for the annual dia de los muertos community celebration.
2. ORIGINAL PLAYWRITING/PRODUCTION
By creating an original full-length theatrical production, members
explore the aesthetic link between traditional and contemporary
Teatro Chicano. From January through June, students are immersed
in a creative process that explores all aspects of contemporary
Teatro Chicano including playwriting, acting, directing, set
design, set building, and play production. Through creative writing
and playwriting workshops facilitated by the Guadalupe's Theater
Arts Director, students work to refine their overall writing
skills. This close interaction continues throughout the creative
process with a guest director and college interns who help facilitate
the growth and completion of the spring production. Social issues
are at the heart of this production, with topics ranging from
serious issues such as the treatment of immigrants, suicide,
and date rape, to comedic parodies of popular films and television
shows. The play is performed to public audiences at the historic
Guadalupe Theater. Through this production, GRUPO ANIMO explores
the many facets of Teatro Chicano, using it to address contemporary
social issues and create a new generation of leaders, artists,
and activists.
3. COMMUNITY TOUR AND ACTIVISM
The third component is rooted in the traditional street theater
aesthetic where artists outreach to nontraditional audiences.
Past tours throughout the San Antonio area have included performances
at the Selena Center, San Anto Cultural Arts Center, The Blue
Star Arts Complex, The Good Samaritan Center, plus street corners
in the downtown area. Grupo Animo also participates in the Cesar
Chavez March, local parades and field trips.4. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Grupo Animo students that express a desire to study theater at
the college level are encouraged to participate in the Internship
Program. This program enables a student to acquire experience
within a professional Latino theatre and ensures that Texas continues
to be home of innovative Latino arts. Students work with the
Guadalupe's professional main-stage shows as actors, musicians,
stage technicians and production assistants. Grupo Animo students
have worked in projects with such artists as Danny Valdez, Octavio
Solis, and the musical group Ollin.
5.
GUEST ARTIST RESIDENCIES
Grupo Animo works with one guest artist per semester for a period
of one to six weeks. Past guest artist residencies with Grupo
Animo have included teatro training with such nationally recognized
artists as Rick Najera, Danny Valdez, and Guillermo Gomez-Pena.
By utilizing art and culture to present social issues to local
communities, GRUPO ANIMO celebrates its roots in traditional Teatro
Chicano.To become a member of Grupo Animo you must: Be 13-18 years
and still enrolled in school
Have dedication: the group meets twice weekly and have daily
rehearsals several weeks prior to major productions Be cooperative
and have a positive attitude
-No experience necessary.
-Members can earn up to $300 at the
end of summer shows!Anyone
interested in acting, writing or designing for theater
in a creative
and supportive environment should enroll in Grupo Animo!
Contact Marisela Barrera at vincentt@guadalupeculturalarts.org or
(210) 271-3151 ext. 26.Grupo
Animo is made possible through generous grants from the
Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest
Fund, Motiva Enterprises, SBC Foundation, Surdna Foundation,
and the City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs. |
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