Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Soroka.
Hi Claudia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, I moved to Houston in 1982. Coming from a large city with many artistic venues, I wanted to feed my soul with art, music, and theater in my new place.
I noticed a lack of Latin American representation in a big city with a large Spanish-speaking community.
I started taking some classes at Rice University, where I met people like me that thought the same way, and after a year or so, we decided to create a Latin American Theater Company.
We named it ”Gente de Teatro”. With 5 members, we were performing once a year, Latin American playwrights in our native Spanish. We were among another few companies, but now I can proudly say that Gente se Teatro is the only company in Houston that has performed for 29 years without interruption!
From 5 members, we grew to 8, starting our work at Hamman Hall, Rice University to move to the Hobby Center, and now, since 2016, we can call the MATCH our home.
A long ride, with not too many bumps, thanks to our loyal audience that waits for us.
From one show per year, we do 2 productions a year. Always with passion, respect, humor, and consideration to our guests.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Our major obstacle and challenge is, of course, “money”. If we can have more monetary support, we can have more help. We are 8 members, and we all do everything, from acting, directing, set designing, producing, PR, and SM; we all have families and paid jobs from 8 -5p, and then we enter into the fabulous world of becoming someone else to tell the audience a new story. It’s difficult, but knowing that we can bring a smile to our community, it’s worth every effort!
Next year is our 30 anniversary, and I can say that we had some bumps on the road, but those bumps made us stronger and pretty unique! The fact thy the group remains original for so many years is very special. We became a family, a strong and healthy family. And that shows on stage in our work. We are looking for many more years of this, it is good for our community, and it is good for us.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Designer and Space planer, owner of CBS Design at Upper Kirby since 1989 Gente de Teatro Managing Director since 1995
When I moved to this country, I had the urge to be in contact with my culture and language. I went to any show possible in Spanish and then I met two key people that were the ones that were part of this incredible project. The three of us decided to found Gente de Teatro.
Marcela Walter Salas and Esteban Gago had the same intuition and passion than me. Together we became this amazing group. We started incorporating members, mostly people we knew, and with hard work, we became who we are now.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Unfortunately, we don’t have a mentor per se, but we do have loyal people who always believe in our work and never miss one of our shows. They are always present with ideas, comments, and advice. Among them, I would like to mention a few: Dr. Hector Urrutibeheity, Ms. Isabel Nart, Dr. Graciela Daichman.
Local radio and TV are always very kind to us by promoting our shows and giving the airtime for interviews. In general, we tried to explore new ways to put ourselves on the map constantly! Social media had help a lot, and we value tremendously the trust that everyone has on us when they announce and support what we do.
Pricing:
- $27-$35
Contact Info:
- Website: gentedeteatro.org
