Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Garcia.
Cynthia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My professional journey in theater arts began the moment I graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. After enduring such rigorous conservatory training all I wanted to do was spread my wings in the real world, and the world welcomed me with open arms when I booked my first feature role at a Harlem theatre run by AUDELCO award winner, Gertrude Jeanette. Within the next few years, I earned my Actors Equity card and began to travel the country in a touring show. Later, my interests expanded into writing for the stage. When my first play was selected to be read at a renowned theater festival, I realized there was more to my artistry than I realized.
As my creative abilities broadened, so did my faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. After relocating back to Texas (with my newly expanded family), I began to seek out works that spoke to my faith, but found such opportunities to be few and far between. As a result, I began to write plays from my Christian worldview, with a level of study I admired in works by playwrights such as Alice Childress and Sophie Treadwell. In short order, Exalted Arts Theatre Company was born.
Initially, I envisioned the theatre company to be a vehicle for plays that were burning in my heart. However, as I began to mature as an arts leader, I began to recognize that Exalted Arts was a drawing force for other like-minded artists who wanted to work on plays that spoke to them on a purposeful level. I began to understand that artists of faith needed a home where their artistry could be received, recognized, and appreciated, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in performance, writing, music, and dance. God is still writing my story.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth for me, nor has it been smooth for the organization. In much of the same way that a baby is born when an organization is birthed, it has to learn to crawl before it can walk. There is a process of development that I did not understand when I first embarked upon this journey, and have only recently learned to appreciate. There have been many struggles along the way, including challenges with board recruitment, difficulties in meeting the budget, struggles with casting, and the most arduous of all – not having a space to call home.
Additionally, as an upstart 501(c)3 non-profit organization as of 2015, etching a place out in the Houston theater scene was quite challenging. In some respects it continues to be. There are those who may not fully understand the work we do at Exalted Arts because of the theatre’s ‘Christian’ designation. They may think of the work as ‘religious’ or ‘church’ theater. We think of the work we do as ‘life’ theater. Theater is intended to hold a mirror up to society, and this is the aspiration of Exalted Arts as well. The difference is our quest aspires to create and produce works where the Life-giver is present, even if His name is never mentioned. Ideals of love, hope, joy, justice, mercy, grace, and other relatable topics are some of the subject matters we tackle, as they all make for great theater!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a playwright, producer, and leader of a faith-based theater company.
As a playwright, I specialize in creating worlds of morality and faith. This intentionality sets me apart from other playwrights. I am happy to have found my voice, as I believe my voice is what the world is waiting for, as indicated by the strong reception my play, She Dead Now, received when it was selected to be a part of the University of Houston’s Central Campus Fall 2023 season. The actors played to sold-out performances each night at the Quintero Theatre.
As a producer, I am most delighted to have secured a $97.5k grant from the Mid-America Arts Alliance and City of Houston in the Fall of 2023 that served to help stabilize Exalted Arts Theatre Company. The generous funding allowed the organization to commission a work by local Houston playwright, Eric C. Jones, and mount a production that brought joy and inspiration during the Christmas season to over 200 patrons, including students from Shotwell Middle School and Wheatley High School.
As the leader of a faith-based theater company, I have the distinction of being able to utilize my gifts, talents, and vision to curate works that allow artists with similar values to shine in their gifts and talents. I also enjoy the honor and privilege of exemplifying faith with deeds for the glory of God. This, by far, is the most rewarding part of my job.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I learned many important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis. Narrowing them down to the top five, but not in any particular order, they are as follows:
1) Do not be fearful and do not make decisions under fear or duress
2) Use discernment to recognize the difference between journalism and editorials
3) Be okay with having a dissenting or unpopular opinion
4) Do not take my freedoms for granted
5) Hold on to my faith
We invite your readers to continue to follow our journey via social media and our website.
Pricing:
- General Admission – $30.00
- Walk-Up – $35.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.exaltedarts.org
- Instagram: extaltedartsusa
- Facebook: @ExaltedArtsTheatreCo
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/exaltedarts
- Twitter: @exaltedartsusa
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@exaltedartsusa
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/exalted-arts-houston
Image Credits
Cynthia Garcia
