Meet the Assistant Director and Dramaturg - Clarissa Smith-Hernandez!
Clarissa Smith-Hernandez is the Assistant Director, Dramaturg, and Assistant Production Manager for Shrewd's NNPN rolling world premiere of Stephanie Alison Walker's THE MADRES.
A message from Clarissa
This entire experience with The Madres has felt serendipitous. Lily Wolf, who is my very own Thespian God Mother, encouraged me to read stage directions for NNPN, and by chance I was assigned to read this beautiful play by Stephanie Alison Walker. Since 2016, this play has stayed in my heart and I promised myself that I would someday be a part of its production. Look! Here we are! I began to research more about Argentina and this very dark and very recent period in their history, only to find that the whole world had some part in it. Some good, some bad, and for the majority, this war was very much unknown. I am honored to have been a part of this play and collaborate and incorporate dance, art and theatre together inside the beautiful walls of Santa Cruz Theatre. I am very proud of the work everyone has graciously provided in telling this story. Finally, I am very thankful to have been a part of this journey in telling the ongoing story of The Madres de la Plaza de Mayo who still continue to march every Thursday at 3pm. NUNCA MAS!
About Clarissa Smith-Hernandez
Clarissa Smith-Hernandez is originally from El Paso, Texas. She currently works at UT’s Department of Theatre and Dance. She is a company member of Shrewd Productions and the founder of Green Apple Theatre Collective, which provides specialized services with artists to freelance and collaborate within the art of performance and story-telling. Her focus currently is on Dramaturgy and Directing.
Clarissa has directed and produced Hedwig and the Angry Inch (twice), The Vagina Monologues and TopDog/UnderDog with Green Apple Theatre Collective. She also collaborates with Shrewd Productions since 2015 starting with As You Like It and Hold Me Well. She also assisted directed Fahrenheit 451 with Different Stages. She has also performed in UT’s New Works Festival 2017 in Bored with Strangers. Clarissa would especially like to thank her husband Mike, Theron, Solaris, Kent, Natasha & Kodie, Lily, Seth and Lily’s Mom, and Yessenia for the puzzle painting help and puzzle donations.
