Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Larson-Quiñones.
Hi Jenny , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Trinity St Players started in 2012. It was founded by Cathy Jones and then Ann Pittman served as the artistic director, and then I took over as the artistic director in 2022. The company is a theatre ministry of First Austin. First Austin is a center for faith, justice, and the arts. We are a progressive and Queer affirming church. We believe in sharing transformative stories live on stage. We believe in making art accessible for everyone so our programming is free or pay-what-you-wish tickets, no wish too big or small.
This is our mission “Trinity Street Players is a nonprofit theatre committed to providing professional, thought-provoking, and entertaining stage productions in downtown Austin. We believe in making the arts accessible, relevant, and inclusive, and we welcome all who share a passion for creating and experiencing the transformative power of the theatre.”
Trinity St Players is on the 4th floor of First Austin, and we also have a gallery space that we curate 3-4 exhibits in each year. We also rent out our theatre and rehearsal room to local theatres at an affordable rate.
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?
I stepped into the organization after the pandemic lockdown in 2020. But I was also making theatre at that time, in Canada, and I know that every theatre in the world had to pivot quickly during quarantine. But Trinity St Players did a great job jumping on to streaming platforms and curating outside performances. I worked with TSP for the first time in 2016, then moved to Vancouver, BC for my MFA from 2017-2022. I moved back to Austin in 2022 and took over the role of Artistic Director. I think life gives you ups and downs, that’s just life, but struggles? I think for the most part, it’s been a smooth ride. The things that aren’t smooth are minor, like the wifi went out. Small hiccups with solutions.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a writer, director, performer, and producer. I hold an MFA from the University of British Columbia, Department of Theatre & Film (2019). I currently serves as the Artistic Director of Trinity St Players in Austin Texas, and teach theatre for Temple College. I am half of the creative team jkjk and from 2008-2019 I served as Artistic Director of Austin new works company Salvage Vanguard Theater. I have directed over 30 world premiere theatre productions. I was named Best of Austin “Theater Director” by the Austin Chronicle (2016).
I also started writing plays. In 2020, I co-created, wrote, and directed Catalina La O Presenta: Now With Me starring my spouse and creative partner khattieQ. The piece was winner of the 2020 Vancouver Fringe New Play Prize and the film version screened as part of the OUTsider Festival in February 2022 in Austin, TX and in June 2nd 2022 at the Ars Nova ANT Fest in NYC. Catalina La O premiered live in June 2022 presented by the Queer Arts Festival.
As a writer, I was a member of The Arts Club’s Emerging Playwrights Unit, the Canadian Digital Dramaturgy Initiative at the Playwright Theatre Centre, the Fall Intensive at the Workshop Theatre in NYC, the New Harmony Project in Indiana. I was also a member of the Playwrights Gym at the Green Thumb in Vancouver, writing TYA plays.
My work as a writer, director, and actor has shown in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Austin, New York, Indiana, Finland, Bulgaria. Arkansas, and Germany.
Also as an actor I was nominated for a B Iden Payne award for my most recent performance as Bella in Ground Floor Theatre’s I Wanna Be A F*cking Princess.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Success is such a funny word, because in capitalism we often associate success with money, status, or fame. But I think having fun and doing what makes your heart happy is success. I think being authentic and dropping comparison culture is success. I think limiting your access to social media, using your own mind, and not depending on AI is success. I think being kind and making a space that feels welcoming to everyone is important. I believe in leading with love, I believe in serving my community and engaging in meaningful conversations with my community.
From a less woo-woo and more practical point of view- I work really hard, and I work a lot. I don’t scroll on my phone a lot. I stay busy DOING things. Taking action to make my visions manifest. Because that’s how you manifest success, you take action. I will say, I am learning balance. I am learning that down time is important, that unplugging and taking time off work is important… I am learning. Which, that’s another characteristic I think is important, always be learning.
Pricing:
- our programming is free
- pay-what-you-wish, no wish too small or big
- our renters set their own rates
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trinitystreetplayers.com/
- Instagram: @trinity_street_players
Image Credits
photos by Minerva Villa
