After accumulating years of teaching under her (WWE title) belt, head theatre director Gina Hinojosa jumps off the corner post back into the ring of performance, bringing new knowledge and experiences back to the world of performance.
This October, Hinojosa is once again making an appearance in the Austin community theatre scene. This time, as Abuela in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Latinx musical, “In the Heights” at the Georgetown Palace theatre.
The 2008 Broadway musical tells the story of a vibrant, tight-knit community in New York’s Washington Heights. It tells the story of Usnavi de la Vega, the owner of the local bodega, trying to find his place in his always changing community.
“It is so inspiring currently to be able to tell that story from a different perspective,” Hinojosa said. “Especially here in the outside, surrounding area of Austin.”
This isn’t her first time in the neighborhood, because In the Heights was actually her first regional show.
“I think the first time I did In the Heights, it was just a different experience because I was so much newer in the scene,” Hinojosa said. “It was massive, because [it was] the first one I auditioned [for], I just wanted to be in the ensemble. I wasn’t trying to be a lead. It was out of town and it traveled, so it gave me all this new perspective and new possibilities and also taught me a lot about what the industry is and how to survive it.”
This time, she arrives with a new view on the world of professional theatre, bringing her teaching experiences with her.
“I think I appreciate professional performance a lot more now that I’m teaching, because I know what it takes to run a high school musical.” Hinojosa said. “When it is a bigger company [or] community, I appreciate it a lot more because the actors and performers within all have real lives and jobs during the day.”
“It also makes me appreciate teaching a lot more,” Hinojosa said. “Now, it really gives the perspective that these things I’m teaching are going to be useful,” Hinojosa said. “That’s how I start to approach things, so it’s helped this process [of] picking up all these ways of doing things.”
Even with all of her new experiences, this process still comes with its challenges.
“My biggest personal struggle getting back into performing currently is my schedule,” Hinojosa said. “We are doing the Addams Family musical this year and we are in the process of casting the show.” Hinojosa said. “I am here until about six or seven every night and I am called at 7:30 pm to be at my next rehearsal. My next rehearsal ends at 10:30 pm and I live an hour away from where that theatre is.”
After all is said, done, and sung. Hinojosa says that she can’t wait to once again make her debut in the world of performing she’s always adored.
“Honestly, the thing that popped into my mind when I saw the audition form was, ‘Why not, I’ve got some extra time’ – even though I definitely didn’t. But, when I decided to accept the role, it was because I really love the art of performing itself.”
