A Reading of Fae and Paciencia in my Hometown of Houston, Texas

I've always said I wanted to put on for my city.  I've been blessed with opportunities to work in Austin, New York and Detroit so far.  But having a reading in my hometown was magical.    There is something special about "coming back". 

Last night, the Rec Room, a wonderful performance space, hosted a reading of my play Fae and Paciencia.  Fae and Paciencia tells the story of Jorge, a Mexican-American college student whose life is quickly spiraling out of control until he has an unexpected encounter with Fae, an optimistic Black millennial who has a habit of being in the right place at the right time. The play depicts young people of color navigating college, family, mental health issues.

Stephen Miranda, the director, organized the reading with the Rec Room's Grace Rosenwinkel Cunyus as a part of their monthly reading series (Thirsty Thursdays).  What?!  Fae and Paciencia was a part of a monthly reader series?  Like Big Sean says "On the come-up".  

You don't know how many times I have sent that play off to opportunities, reading rooms and fellowships. It was even a finalist for the Black and Latino Playwrights Conference.  I've gotten that "Thank you but..." letter/email for that play, but all it takes is ONE yes.  

 Dr. Trevor Boffone was my yes, passing the play on to Stephen Miranda.  The truth is that you never really know when your time is, but it's coming.   And this was the best place for it to be. My city. What I loved about this reading was getting to have  HOUSTON-based artists act the script.  Artists who really got into the roles and put their souls into the characters.  Artists who really got into the script and helped me to hear the eb and flow of the piece.

This cast slayed.
FAE - Estee Burks
JORGE - Nasir Villanueva
DAD - Anthony August
PAPA - Giovanni Sandoval
CONSUELA - Micah Obregon
MARIA - Christa Ruiz
MOM/NURSE/PARAMEDIC/SECURITY/STAGE DIRECTIONS - Teresa Stranahan

I got the chance to see so many of my friends, family members and colleagues.    I am so grateful for my audience.  I just want to thank Oscar Franco and Anya Reyes for commissioning this Black American/Negra Americana girl to write a play that told black-brown stories in the Echame Un Ojo festival so long ago.    This is why I do what I do.  To see Black and Brown people on that stage...together.

I am ready to see this show taken to new heights!

I am writing this to tell you to keep going.  Keep following your dream.  Keep praying, living and moving forward.  Don't let anyone or anything stop you.  Don't let haters tell you what's what.  Take constructive criticism, but only from people who have constructed something!  Believe in yourself and the work that you do.  It will all pay off.  

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