We kicked things off on March 5 with a Virtual Nominations Ceremony, but in case you missed it, you can watch the recording below 👇 Be warned; this video may inspire spontaneous song and dance.
THE 2023 haya NOMINEES ARE…
Best Choreography
Mamma Mia! | Leander High School
Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Big Fish | Cedar Park High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
SpongeBob SquarePants | Westwood High School
Mamma Mia! | Weiss High School
The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
Best Musical Direction
Kiss Me, Kate | Georgetown High School
The Wizard of Oz| Marble Falls High School
Big Fish | Cedar Park High School
Anastasia | Rouse High School
Into the Woods | Liberal Arts and Science Academy
The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Best Orchestra
Chicago (High School Edition) | Tom Glenn High School
Kiss Me, Kate | Georgetown High School
The Little Mermaid| San Marcos High School
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Into the Woods | Liberal Arts and Science Academy
SpongeBob SquarePants | Westwood High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Best Lighting Design
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Mamma Mia! | Leander High School
Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
SpongeBob SquarePants | Pflugerville High School
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Anastasia | Round Rock High School
Mamma Mia! | Weiss High School
Little Shop of Horrors | East View High School
Best Costume Design
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
The Phantom of the Opera | Dripping Springs High School
Anastasia | Rouse High School
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Little Shop of Horrors | Hutto High School
The Little Mermaid| San Marcos High School
Best Scenic Design
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
SpongeBob SquarePants | Westwood High School
Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Mamma Mia! | Weiss High School
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Little Shop of Horrors | Hutto High School
Mamma Mia! | Leander High School
Best Technical Execution
The Little Mermaid| San Marcos High School
Mamma Mia! | Leander High School
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Anastasia | Rouse High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Little Shop of Horrors | East View High School
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Best Ensemble
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Anastasia | Round Rock High School
Kiss Me, Kate | Georgetown High School
SpongeBob SquarePants | Pflugerville High School
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Best Featured Performer | Individual Category
Vitor Larson-Parachini | Fred Casely | Chicago (High School Edition) | Bastrop High School
Jordan Williams | Pepper | Mamma Mia! | Weiss High School
Kendra Vaz | Granny, Giant | Into the Woods | Liberal Arts and Science Academy
Erica Ortuno | Nikko | The Wizard of Oz| Del Valle High School
Micah Freeman | Mitch Mahoney | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee| Manor Senior High School
Valeria Trujillo | Chef Louis | The Little Mermaid| Jarrell High School
Maddie Robbe | Mona | Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Crystal Sin | Trix the Aviatrix | The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Ella Duncan | The Mayor of Bikini Bottom | SpongeBob SquarePants | Westwood High School
Best Featured Performer | Ensemble Category
Kaely Smith | Featured Dancer | Chicago (High School Edition) | Tom Glenn High School
Zada McElroy | Aquata | The Little Mermaid| San Marcos High School
David Luna | Featured Dancer | Mamma Mia! | Leander High School
Acacia Thompson | Skid Row Soloist | Little Shop of Horrors | Hutto High School
Nelson Stevenson | Featured Dancer | Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Kira Griffin | Alabama Lamb | Big Fish | Cedar Park High School
Logan Russey | French Narrator | SpongeBob SquarePants | Pflugerville High School
Ian Vizcarra | Hot Blades Harry | Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Presley Muirhead | Swan Lake Dancer | Anastasia | Round Rock High School
Student Achievement | Marketing
Ava Deviney | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Andrea Diaz | East View High School
Livy Korioth | Leander High School
Khai Pormprasong | Bastrop High School
Emily Marchal | Weiss High School
Mollie Walters | Brentwood Christian School
Claire Poulter | Cedar Park High School
Emma Ludwig | Tom Glenn High School
Owen Ramirez | Rouse High School
Nicolas Pacelli | Vista Ridge High School
Mariana Rojo | Jarrell High School
Harper Claes | Jack C. Hays High School
Margaret Baker | Dripping Springs High School
Rebekah Page | NYOS Charter School
Student Achievement | Design
Anna Fox | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Eric Taylor | East View High School
Gabe Healey | Leander High School
Samantha Mason | Liberal Arts and Science Academy
Yeva Tcharikova | Westwood High School
Vanessa DeLeon | Bastrop High School
Sean Avalos | Weiss High School
Christian Young | San Marcos High School
Maeryn McCormick | Brentwood Christian School
Mikayla Mitchell | Del Valle High School
Jocelyn Adair | Cedar Park High School
Eleanor Peters | Tom Glenn High School
Cassandra Lovell | John B. Connally High School
Evvan Turner | Rouse High School
Rachel Cooke | Vista Ridge High School
Ana Siqueira | Lehman High School
Leo Chavez | Jarrell High School
Austin Duke | Jack C. Hays High School
Natalie Kernick | Dripping Springs High School
Maeve McElwee | NYOS Charter School
Student Achievement | Stage Management
Ava George | Pflugerville High School
Zoe Gravois | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Julian Garcia | Northeast Early College High School
Andrea Diaz | East View High School
Briana Keaster | Leander High School
Douglas Brito | Liberal Arts and Science Academy
Wednesday Kollodge | Westwood High School
Lizzie Brock | Weiss High School
Fog Alder | San Marcos High School
Keira McCormick | Brentwood Christian School
Charlotte Adair | Cedar Park High School
Kendall Shuck | Tom Glenn High School
Cassandra Lovell | John B. Connally High School
Sarah Apple | Rouse High School
Kiera Aston | Vista Ridge High School
Lilly Gonzales | Lehman High School
Jakob Voigt | Jarrell High School
Keira Cousins | Jack C. Hays High School
Audrey Lorenz | Dripping Springs High School
Piper Silvey | NYOS Charter School
Best Supporting Performer | Male Category
Chance Solis | Gangster One | The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Gabe Paredes | Squidward Q. Tentacles | SpongeBob SquarePants | Westwood High School
Hector Perez | Orin | Little Shop of Horrors | East View High School
Nick Bohle | Charlemagne | Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Jack Stratton | Underling | The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Isaac Vega | Mushnik | Little Shop of Horrors | East View High School
Carver Ulrich | Harry | Mamma Mia! | Leander High School
Hudson Stauffer | Vlad Popov | Anastasia | Rouse High School
Jude Jecker | Adolpho | The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Best Supporting Performer | Female Category
Addi Villegas | Little Sally | Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Savannah Chavarria | Catherine | Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Tiara McRee | Little Red | Into the Woods | NYOS Charter School
Kyra Carr | Officer Lockstock | Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Ellie Loudermilk | Fastrada | Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Presley Copeland | Penelope Pennywise | Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Ashley Mondru | Pugsley Addams | Addams Family, The | Brentwood Christian School
Maya Krauss | Oscar Shapiro | Curtains | Lehman High School
Charlotte Blackmon | Berthe | Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Best Lead Performer | Male Category
Hosea Downing | Gomez Addams | The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
Jaxon Larson | The Scarecrow | The Wizard of Oz| Elgin High School
Jonas Taylor | Lieutenant Frank Cioffi | Curtains | Lehman High School
Ramero Vargas | The Cowardly Lion | The Wizard of Oz| Cedar Creek High School
Aidan Cox | Edward Bloom | Big Fish | Cedar Park High School
Walker Wallace | Dmitry | Anastasia | Round Rock High School
Langston Lee | Dmitry | Anastasia | Rouse High School
Chavin Medina | Billy Flynn | Chicago (High School Edition) | Bastrop High School
Brady Allen | Will Bloom | Big Fish | Cedar Park High School
Best Lead Performer | Female Category
Allie Meredith | Morticia Addams | The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
Tori Ybarra | Hope Cladwell | Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Emma Boerm | Dorothy Gale | The Wizard of Oz| Marble Falls High School
Julia Almendra | Velma Kelly | Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Peyton Nisbett | Anastasia | Anastasia | Round Rock High School
Arianna Pierce | Witch | Into the Woods | NYOS Charter School
Anabelle Crawford | Man In Chair | The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Lauren Ryan-Holt | Leading Player | Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Starlyn Rivera | Natalie Heller | All Shook Up | Northeast Early College High School
Best Direction
Anastasia | Round Rock High School
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Anastasia | Rouse High School
The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
SpongeBob SquarePants | Westwood High School
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
SpongeBob SquarePants | Pflugerville High School
Best Production
Urinetown | Hendrickson High School
Anastasia | Round Rock High School
The Addams Family (School Edition) | Jack C. Hays High School
Chicago (High School Edition) | Cedar Ridge High School
Anastasia | Rouse High School
Pippin | McCallum Fine Arts Academy
SpongeBob SquarePants | Westwood High School
The Drowsy Chaperone | Vista Ridge High School
Congratulations to all the performers, crews, educators, schools, and families who participated! We’ll see y’all in Dell Hall real soon; April 19 to be exact. Until then, be sure to follow @hellerawardsatx on the social media platform of your choice for school shout outs and behind-the-scenes goodies.
Happy New Year, Austin! As you’re settling into your 2023 routine, you might be wondering… what’s a cool spot I can add to my hangout map? We’ve got just the place! Part coffee shop, part bar, part event space, Origin Studio House serves up eclectic vibes on the east side. Get to know the founders and the space in this Mid-Week Intermission 👇 and if you’re joining us for Ta-Nehisi Coates on January 16th, you might see them there, too!
Origin Studio House is a community space rooted in Black culture that offers coffee, food, cocktails, and events, but most importantly connection. “We aim to bring a new experience to Austin and the Black communities who live, work, and invest in this city,” says Origin co-founders Brittney Williams & Dante Clemons.
HOW IT STARTED
In 2021, Austin’s Black population reached 7.57%, a fractional yet noteworthy jump from 2020’s percentage of 7.25%. We all know Austin is growing, but the growth of the city overall pales in comparison to the continual rise of its Black demographic. Dante and Brittney saw this spike in growth as an opportunity to start addressing a clear need in their community — not seeing themselves reflected in the city where they lived. With this in mind, they planned a series of pop-up events starting in 2021.
Last November, they kicked off their inaugural event, “Come Thru,” at Distribution Hall in East Austin. Attendees enjoyed cocktails, portraits sessions, delicious food, and music spun by a DJ. In March of 2022, they hosted another successful event called “Come Up” in partnership with The Contemporary and SOHO House Austin. Come Up enticed guests with delicious cuisine, libations, and panel discussions moderated by renowned chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Emmer & Rye. Origin Studio House opened its Grounds to the public this Fall.
Get to know the founders
Brittney Williams is a native Austinite, and co-founder of Studio VYB, a full service interior design studio based in Austin, Texas. She’s an expert in hospitality design, cultural curation, and storytelling. Some of Brittney’s notable design contributions include Swedish Hill in Austin, TX, Clark’s Oyster Bar in Aspen, CO, Joann’s Fine Foods in Austin, TX, Outdoor Voices in Los Angeles, and several custom luxury residences for high-profile celebrity clients. Brittney majored in Urban Studies under Eugene Lang at The New School.
Dante Clemons, a resident of East Austin, is a global product leader, adviser, and strategist at the intersection of design, commerce, culture, and community. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dante graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Architecture, graduated summa cum laude from Pratt Institute’s graduate Design Management Program and serves on the Board of The Contemporary Austin. A strategist focused on digital production across platforms and the management of innovation in organizations, her experience includes work in advertising, e-commerce & retail, architectural planning, and the arts. Her clients have spanned Nike, Twitter, Michael Kors, Pfizer, The Coca-Cola Company, and New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is also the founder of KICKINTHADOOR, a consultancy company aiding job seekers in pursuit of a rewarding career.
WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
Origin Studio House is more than a coffee shop — it serves as a cultural space forged by the need to provide safe spaces where communities could thrive, allowing folks from all walks of life to see themselves reflected in the city where they live.
Origin Studio House is committed to being a kinetic space that celebrates Black culture and provides opportunities for networking and collaboration across Austin’s cultural landscape.
Give Origin a follow on Instagram @originstudiohouse to stay in the loop on upcoming events, and check out their website to learn more about their mission.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
The weather outside is… well, it’s not snowing. In fact, it’s a little balmy. But whether it’s cold or not, the holiday spirit in this town can’t be stopped. This season we’re making all your winter wonderland dreams come true with ice skating on the H-E-B Terrace!
We teamed up with our friends at Geoji to bring the Rockefeller Center experience to ATX. Skate to your heart’s content, then fill up on fresh popcorn, cocoa, or a hot toddy. We recommend skating then enjoying a holiday spirit 😉 But hey, as long as you sign the waiver, you can do what you want.
Tickets start at $15, which includes the price of a your skate rental, and can be purchased at geoji.com. Snacks and drinks also cost money, but the vibes are totally free 😎
We’re not the only ones loving this new holiday tradition. Check out what our friends and neighbors are saying 👇
Ice Rink FAQs
Q: How can I get tickets?
A: Tickets are available at geoji.com starting at $15.
Q: Does the ticket price include my skate rental?
A: Yes!
Q: When is the rink open?
A: The rink is open Monday through Friday from 3-10pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 10am-10pm.
Be sure to tag us @longcenter when you post about your visit! We have serious FOMO when it comes to festive events. so please don’t leave us out 😉 Happy holidays from our LC family to yours!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
H-E-B’s Feast of Sharing is back! After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone’s favorite grocer welcomed back friends from across the Austin area for a home-cooked holiday meal at the Palmer Events Center (howdy, neighbor!) on November 22.
H-E-B Feast of Sharing gives the iconic Texas company an opportunity to give thanks to its loyal customers and invites everyone to the dinner table. In the more than three decades H-E-B has held the celebrations, more than 375,000 volunteers have helped serve nearly four million meals.
But the love doesn’t stop there. Feast of Sharing isn’t limited to just the Austin area; H-E-B prioritizes this program all across the lone star state and into Mexico, too.
The Feast of Sharing initiative is an integral part of H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program, which works year-round to prevent hunger. Last year, H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program donated 34 million pounds of food to families in need. Since the program was founded in 1982, H-E-B has donated more than 1 billion (yep, that’s a b) pounds of food to 5,500 non-profit organizations in Texas and Mexico. Check out if they’ll be celebrating in your area.
H-E-B also gives as good as they get. Not only do they put on major events like Feast of Sharing; they go above and beyond to support other like-minded organizations, like Central Texas Food Bank. Each year they support CTFB through grants, community events, and food donations. They’re not kidding when they say, “no store does more!”
As proud recipients of some H-E-B love, we also like to pay it forward. Last summer, our team took a day to volunteer at the Central Texas Food Bank 👉
Check out their volunteer page to see when you can pick up a shift.
This Thanksgiving, our team was able to support Feast of Sharing by donating 70 tickets to our neighbors, thanks to H-E-B’s Community Sharing initiative. Now even more Austinites can come celebrate the arts at the Long Center!
Now that your heart is warm and you’re all inspired, what are you going to do to make a difference in your community this season?
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
If you take a look around, not a single frown can be found – and that goes for people and pups alike. Grown ups are sipping their Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktails (responsibly) while perusing tastefully eclectic dog portraits. Canine companions full of personality ignite a chain reaction of candid smiles. Between the woofs of varied volumes and plenty of wagging tails, this seems to be the perfect day.
Photos by Suzanne Cordeiro
This cinematic scene unfolded last weekend at the opening of Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s Vodka for Dog People’s newest project, the Impressions of Tito’s Distillery Dogs Over 25 Years art collection, housed (you guessed it) at the Long Center. The Austin-based vodka company (and LC sponsor) continued its slew of 25th anniversary events with an free public reception for the 25-piece collection, which pays homage to 25 dogs rescued near the Tito’s distillery, with each portrait depicting a dog’s unique story and legacy of resilience.
An important part of the Tito’s story is the innate connection the company has with its canine counterparts. Since the beginning (way back in the 90s), Tito’s has been committed to rescuing and protecting animals and, through its Vodka for Dog People program, has helped better the lives of pets and their families far and wide. To date, 121 dogs have been rescued outside the Tito’s distillery, including the 25 featured in the new art collection. Some of these lucky pups even attended the gallery opening!
Also onsite were representatives from Emancipet, a national organization working to increase access to affordable pet care, and Save an Angel, a national nonprofit that provides care to homeless and at-risk animals. In honor of Tito’s 25th Anniversary celebration, Tito’s Vodka for Dog People is donating $2,500 per organization.
Impressions of Tito’s Distillery Dogs will call the Long Center’s Rollins Lobby home through early January. Be sure to take a stroll through the gallery the next time you visit.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Get your calendars out, Austin, we’ve got a new holiday for you! Last month, Mayor Adler officially declared September 30 to be Texas Reading Day. To celebrate, we teamed up with H-E-B’s Read 3 program and Camila Alves McConaughey to host the largest read-in event in Texas history. Everything is bigger in Texas, and this was no exception — over 100,000 students from across the state banded together to read McConaughey’s new book, Just Try One Bite! We even got to meet H-E-Buddy (try to contain your jealousy).
The Read 3 initiative encourages parents, caregivers, and families to read with their children at least three days a week for 30 minutes… but more is always better 😉 Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It also helps them develop language and listening skills and builds a bond between reader and listener. One study even showed that kindergarteners who are read to at home come into school having heard over 1 million more words than students who weren’t read to 🤯
“I’m honored to partner with H-E-B to emphasize how important reading with children is for both literacy and help enable that connection for families in Texas and around the country.”
-Camila Alves McConaughey
H-E-B’s reading event even made national headlines. Check out this segment from the Kelly Clarkson Show 👇
Next year’s Read 3 Read-In will be on September 29, 2023. Registration will open September 1.
Special thanks to our friends at H-E-B for encouraging literacy for all Texans, whether we’re young or just used to be.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Live art is in full swing at the Long Center! As the fall air rolls in (hopefully 🤞), we’re beyond excited to welcome Austinites indoors for a full schedule of shows this fall. But before the house lights go down and the stage lights go up, we have a lil treat for you. Our Producer and resident cool person, Andrea Hyland, gave our upstairs gallery a facelift. The new and improved Gallery 701 made its official debut at lookOUT Fest on September 3, but the new art will be on display (and available for purchase 😉) for quite a while.
We sat down with Andrea to talk about the curators she worked with, how they selected the artists, and what she hopes Austinites will get out of the new Gallery 701. Get reading 👇
Long Center: We’re so excited that Gallery 701 is getting a refresh! Tell us about that space and why it inspires you.
Andrea: The space is a little quirky and, if you know me, you know I have a soft spot for quirky. The room speaks to the history and architecture of the Long Center. It has a slight curve to it, left over from the old Palmer Auditorium, and is right next to what we call ‘West Pincer’, an outdoor patio space that overlooks the H-E-B Terrace and has a great view of the skyline. You can’t help but be inspired there. Since the Long Center is all about supporting local artists, I thought revamping Gallery 701 was the perfect way to do just that.
Long Center: When you took on this project, how did you select whose work you would feature?
Andrea: When the opportunity came to redo Gallery 701, I reached out to some of the leaders in the Austin art scene and asked them to be on a curatorial committee — Jordan Nelsen from Women & Their Work, Chris Burch from Co-Lab Projects, Brittany Williams from Origin Studio House, and Kyle Evans from dadageek (you can learn more about each of the curators here). My goal was to pull work from artists of various backgrounds and media so that the Gallery could represent the diversity of the City.
Long Center: What does it mean to you to be amplifying the work of local artists?
Andrea: I want to be a resource for the art community, so any time I have an opportunity to support local artists, I take it. The new Gallery 701 is an outlet where artists can reach a larger audience, plus it’s a great space to hang out in within the Long Center — a win win!
Long Center: The arts are nestled deep in the heart of ATX, and curiosity is the key to making engaging and compelling art. What does curiosity mean to you? How do you stay curious?
Andrea: Curiosity is the backbone of my being. I try to incorporate it into every part of my life, especially the work I do here at the Long Center. I am a seeker, and that comes with great reward. I keep curious by engaging with my environment, being open to new people, new ideas, and new experiences.
Long Center: What do you hope people get out of the new Gallery 701?
Andrea: I would consider these artists (who you can learn more about here) a diverse group; there are lots of textures, colors, and vibes happening, so there’s something for everybody. I am excited for the up and comers Jacob Guzman and Barbara Minarro. Jacob is a self-taught painter inspired by music and Barbara explores ideas of the body in migration through soft sculpture. Its an honor to share space with all these creative minds. I don’t want to reveal to much information… I invite you to see for yourself!
Photos by Sophia Lawson
Next time you find yourself at the Long Center (perhaps for a show this fall), wander up the stairs to the new Gallery 701 and experience it for yourself. Like Andrea said, there’s something for everyone.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Last year, President Joe Biden officially declared Juneteenth to be a federal holiday, but this special day has been a Texas tradition for much longer. 157 years to be exact. You probably learned about it in your 4th and 7th grade Texas history classes, but for you Texas transplants, here’s the story:
Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, word that all enslaved people were free in the eyes of the law didn’t reach Texas until June 19, 1865. Things didn’t magically get better when Major General Gordon Granger read the Proclamation in Galveston, TX that day, and we’ve still got work to do, but it’s a day to celebrate the ability to recognize a wrong and work to make it right.
Our pals at H-E-B are supporting Juneteenth celebrations all throughout the Lone Star State as part of their shared responsibility and commitment to create lasting change.
Ross Scott, founding member of H-E-B’s first diversity council and a store director with 31 years of service, understands the importance of community connection. His favorite H-E-B community-supported event is Juneteenth, and he leads the region’s partners each year at the MLK Jr. Parade and Festival.
“It’s an enjoyable time parading through the community and seeing the people that shop at my store,” he said, adding that he appreciates H-E-B’s culture, family atmosphere, great opportunities for advancement, “giving back” commitment to community and fostering of a workplace where everyone belongs.
H-E-B and their employees support many Juneteenth events across Texas, including activities in Austin, Pflugerville, Kyle, La Grange, and beyond. Check out their Event Calendar and join in the celebrations! We’ve got our eye on Austin’s Juneteenth Parade. Follow its historic route on Saturday, June 18th, starting at 10am, and spend the day at the Park Festival with KUTX & the Greater East Austin Youth Association.
This year (and all years), let’s take this time to CARE – celebrate, advocate, reflect, and educate – about Juneteenth, and honor the freedom of Black Americans and the (often unacknowledged) contributions they have made to American culture. In the words of Former President Barak Obama, “Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do.”
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Summer is here and that had us thinking… how can we help Austinites get back out there? So we turned to our resident curiosity monger, Tori Johnson, who just happens to be our LC Marketing Coordinator! In this Mid-Week Intermission, Tori gives us a break from it all with some trail tips and her favorite way to cut loose. And if you join us for a Drop-In, you may even see her on-the-job. Enjoy!
Howdy!
I’m Tori.
Photos by Katie Murray Balling
I’m the Marketing Coordinator here at the Long Center, which means I run our social channels, make sure things get paid on time (you’re welcome, vendors!), write blogs, coordinate media visits, and generally keep the wheels on in the Marketing Department. I’ve been here almost a full year, which sometimes feels like 10 years and sometimes feels like 30 seconds.
Before I joined Team LC, I worked at several dance companies here in Austin and also in Utah, where I went to college and studied ballet. If you thought it was hard to figure out what to do with a B.A. in English, imagine a B.F.A. in Ballet. Just kidding! Ballet was my life for 20 years, and it taught me creativity, work ethic, collaboration, critical thinking, and more… all skills I use every day! There’s no feeling quite like moving your body and allowing the music (or silence!) to take you on a journey.
Speaking of journeys, one of my favorite ways to pass time (or use up my PTO 😁) is hiking. I fell in love with hiking while living in Utah, and while the Hill Country isn’t exactly the same as the Rockies, rolling hills of bluebonnets and the serpentine curves of the Pedernales make my heart beat fast in a way the mountains never will.
Here’s me and my floof at Reimers Ranch in Dripping Springs 👉
When I’m not hiking or working, I’m usually reading a book – currently on my Kindle is Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty – or hanging out with my doggo, Apache, or doing yoga.
I’ve been practicing yoga for about 10 years now, and even have my teaching certification with an advanced certification in process. I teach every Wednesday for a local org called The Phoenix, an active community for folks in recovery. If you’re sober or trying to be, come flow with me! I mean, look at that view 😍
Well, that’s my story! Next time you’re at The Drop-In, feel free to flag me down and say hello and ask me to show you pictures of Apache. I’ll be the one walking around taking pictures of things on my phone 😉
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
This one goes out to the other event venues out there. We see you! As we ramp back up to a full schedule, we’re over the moon to have folks from Austin and beyond back in our spaces. But from ticketing to advertising to client satisfaction to operations, there’s more on our plates right now than we’re used to. And that’s causing A LOT of stress 😬
Dr. Tio Bustillo from Baylor Scott & White Health stopped by the LC to talk to us about how to manage stress and anxiety, and what he had to say was too good to keep to ourselves.
The Thinking Process
Our minds are built to worry to keep us safe from danger, but we don’t live in the same environment our early human ancestors did. They might have worried about if a hippo was going to eat them, while we worry about if traffic on Mopac is going to be terrible or just regular-bad. Those are very different scenarios, but our minds don’t know that. It may sound strange, but worrying releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes us feel pleasure. So, the more we worry, the more dopamine dumps into our brains, making our brains feel good, which makes us inclined to worry even more. But all the while, we’re miserable and stressed out.
Thoughts are just droppings made by our brains. We get to choose if we pick up the thoughts or not. Next time you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by your thoughts, try one of the exercises below 👇
Take a Breath
Our breath is the only thing that truly happens in the present moment. When your mind starts to reach a little too far into the what ifs of the future, try this breathing exercise to bring you back to the now.
Decide if you want your palms open to receive, palms down to ground, or palm on palm with thumbs touching to reflect.
Photos courtesy of Tint Yoga, Yoga Journal, & Mindfulness Box
- Soften your gaze or close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose for one… two… three… four. Notice the sensation of air filling your lungs.
- Hold your breath here for one… two… three… four. (Are you scrunching up your face? What does it feel like if you let that facial tension go?)
- Slowly exhale for one… two… three… four.
- And hold again for one… two… three… four.
This is called box breathing, or sama vritti pranayama in Sanskrit. Our favorite part of box breathing is that it can be done anywhere.
Find the Present
- Place your palm in your lap or in front of you – just somewhere you can see it.
- Place the pointer finger of your opposite hand on the outside of your thumb.
- Take a nice, slow breath in and trace your finger up the side of your thumb.
- Slowly breathe out and trace your finger down the inside of your thumb.
- Inhale and trace up your pointer finger.
- Exhale and trace down your pointer finger.
- Repeat this with each finger, as many times as you like.
Graphic courtesy of The Calming Corner
Come to Your Senses
Becoming aware of the environment around you is a great way to take your mind off your stress and recalibrate. Ask yourself:
- What things do I see?
- What things do I hear? Do I hear different things if I close my eyes?
- What things do I smell?
- What tastes are in my mouth?
- What is near me that I could touch? If you choose to reach out and touch something, what does it feel like?
So next time you’re worrying about Mopac traffic or that one client sends you yet another email, check in with one of the practices above 👆 And remember: anxiety isn’t really a feeling, but rather a thinking process. It’s a reminder to be aware, not beware. YOU get to choose what thoughts you keep and what you discard.
Special thanks to our partners over at Baylor Scott & White Health for helping us learn about stress and anxiety. For more wellness tips, give ‘em a follow on your social media platform of choice.
April 14th marked the first time the Heller Awards for Young Artists was held LIVE and in person in three years. And boy was it great to be back! There’s an itch in all of us that can only be scratched by live performance.
And the lucky winners are… (drumroll please… 🥁)
Creative Awards
Best Choreography
Cedar Ridge High School, Footloose
Best Costume Design
Rouse High School, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Best Ensemble
East View High School, A Chorus Line
Best Direction
San Marcos High School, Rent
Best Musical Direction
Rouse High School, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Best Lighting Design
Tom Glenn High School, SpongeBob SquarePants
Best Scenic Design
Hendrickson High School, Once on This Island
Best Orchestra
Leander High School, Amélie
Best Technical Execution
McCallum Fine Arts Academy, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Best Production
Rouse High School, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Acting Awards
Best Lead | Female
Savannah Chavarria, McCallum Fine Arts Academy, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Best Lead | Male
JP Lopez, Rouse High School, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Best Supporting | Male
Sam Hill as Tonton, Hendrickson High School, Once on This Island
Best Supporting | Female
Ava Van Bevern as Vi Moore, Cedar Ridge High School, Footloose
Best Featured | Individual
Allie Meredith, Jack C. Hays High School, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Best Featured | Ensemble
Hannah Zuniga, Lehman High School, The Lightning Thief
Student Achievement Awards
Marketing
Eleanor Cain, Weiss High School
Stage Management
Mikayla Stasny, Rouse High School
Design
Tyler Mayer, Dripping Springs High School
Training Scholarships
Balance Dance Studio Scholarship
Addie Villegas, Hendrickson High School
Adam Roberts’ Unique Voice Scholarship
Ryah Gonzales & Julianna Coco, Jack C. Hays High School
Impact Arts Audition Package
Allison Meredith, Jack C. Hays High School
Impact Arts’ Texas Arts Project Summer Camp
Savannah Baker, Tom Glenn High School
James Macgruder, Cedar Park High School
ZACH Theatre PPC Scholarship
Isis Lewis, Brentwood Christian School
James Magruder, Cedar Park High School
Olden Lighting Consultations
Elgin High School
Leander High School
Westwood High School
Cedar Park High School
Rouse High School
San Marcos High School
Congratulations to all the students, educators, families, and staff who contributed to this amazing night 🥳️ Be sure to follow @hellerawardsatx on your favorite social media platform to stay up to date on all things HAYA.
Don’t get us wrong — we’ve loved all the growing pains of creating theatre in a digital world these last two years. But we can say with all honesty that we’re so happy that the 2022 Heller Awards for Young Artists Ceremony will be returning to Dell Hall! We’re kicking things off big with a virtual Nominations Day stream to start the countdown to the big day. Tune in March 6 at 7:30pm on YouTube to watch with us!
You can expect a fully-produced opening number performed by the Select Ensemble, nomination announcements for 16 categories and 3 student achievement awards across 30+ school productions, and plenty of support and excitement for our return to the big stage.
CATCH UP BEFORE THE 2022 NOMINATIONS
Our 2021 Nominations stream started out with a musical number for the ages. Watch this collab from our Select Ensemble and HAYA alumni 👇
The show must go on – instead of skipping a year, we created an all-virtual production for 2021 with innovative tech from Co-Production House. Read all about it!
Relive the magic and see how our video capture translated to the big screen by watching the full 2021 Awards Ceremony all over again!
We hope you’ll tune in with us and support this incredible program. Show your support for arts education by following @hellerawardsatx on your social media platform of choice, or take it one step further and make a donation to the Heller Awards for Young Artists today. The future of arts education is here, and you can make sure it continues.
