"Borrachitos, not barrachitos" and other notes from a pretty dope workshop.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jelisa Jay Robinson

This Saturday at 2pm.  I, along with  Alyssa Dillard, Stacye Markey, Jorge Luis Galán, Tarik Daniels, and Lori Navarrete, found ourselves in the Raul Salinas room at the Mexican American Cultural Center.  "Why" you ask? Because it was time to hear Delivery again.  You see the first time I was bouncing  off the walls with nerves and excitement.  The first time jitters will do that to you. By this time, I had heard it once so I was ready to workshop it.  

When I got there, I was with my best friend Jorge who so graciously helped me set up for the event.  The staff was so nice and they helped me with the parking passes, chairs and all of that.  Then, we did a read through.  That read through in that chill setting really helped me to see so much that I didn't see the first time around.  I saw language mistakes, places where what I was trying to communicate was unclear and other things.  It is a baby play after all.

The actors did a great job and Alyssa killed it at directing and leading a talk back.  I all of them had worked on The Stories of Us and it was nice to see them again.  

Mani-Stacye Markey
Murdr-Jorge Luis Galan
Stage Directions and Ms. Tolivar-Alyssa Dillard
Javier-Tarik Daniels
Mama-Lori Navarrete

Look them up.  They some of Austin's finest!

 I was a bit nervous about the work going in front of the audience that was coming including my former professor and mentor Roxanne, JoAnn Reyes, Cheryl Sawyer, my cs Jocelyn Zuniga, Adam Martinez, mi amigo Oscar Franco and other people who were important in my life.  

The piece needs work.  And my artistic Austin family was generous in their feedback.  I left with so much to work with.  That's the part of writing.  Rewriting.  Rewriting.  Rewriting.  And that's what we do as an artistic family, we help each other create great work!

Afterwards, I treated myself to Greek food, a nap, Disney channel, adult beverages, Captain Underpants and Gossip Girl reruns.  I am very blessed to have the opportunity to come to Austin to do this work that I love so much.


-Jelisa Jay Robinson