Today we’d like to introduce you to Mónica S. Sánchez.
Hi Mónica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m from Mexico and a mother of 3 wonderful kids; I always love theater. I had the opportunity to study theater in Mexico and work a little over there. I moved to Memphis in 1995 and did two plays with some volunteers. Still, I enjoy an Impve comedy group called The Wiseguys” It was my first time working totally in English; it wasn’t until 2010 that I met Gio Lopez, and I got in contact with Sandra Garcia so that we start doing theater again, and we decided to review the theater group Cazateatro; by 2014, Cazateatro changed to a Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group as 501-c3, and I have been the Artistic Director since then. I love theater but also my culture, so every time I had the chance to showcase or talk about Mexico, I did.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When you move to another country, the language is the first challenge you must overcome; I know I have to learn quickly for someone like me who loves to talk. Also, it is hard for people to give you a chance just because you don’t need to speak better. One of the channels is to make people believe in you and in what you can offer as an Artis; doing theater here is also challenging; most members of the Latin community come to this country to work, and making them come to the theater is hard because they are too focused on work.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m Co-founder and Artistic Director of Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group, the only bilingual theater group in TN. We started doing bilingual plays, but at this moment, we also do workshops and special events, and we are the liaison of different artists working in the area; we guide them and connect them with other resources. I am most proud of how far Cazateatro has come; we have our own office where we can provide classes and workshops and even help other organizations by lending them the space if they need it. We have professional actors now part of Cazateatro, and we welcome everyone. We are unique in what we do in the Mid-South.
Before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
We always welcome volunteers or people and organizations who want to collaborate; contact me and say it. Don’t be afraid because you don’t speak Spanish, you will learn some. We ask people to sign up on our website or visit our office. Let’s have coffee and discuss how we can support each other.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cazateatro.org/
- Instagram: @monisory
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monica.sanchez.37819959
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m%C3%B3nica-soraya-s%C3%A1nchez-0a951526/
Image Credits
Angel Ortez, Yamile Iskeif
