Aggie theatre major builds thriving career

As associate artistic director of the playhouse Rodriguez will be responsible for overseeing relationships with the resident theatre company and for programming alongside Sheldon Epps, the artistic director. Epps is an African-American theatre artist who has numerous Broadway and regional theatre credits.

“The Pasadena Playhouse is among the very finest regional theatres in the United States and Epps is among the most respected directors in America,” said Michael Greenwald, professor of performance studies. “For Dámaso to be named his ‘associate’ is an honor of the highest order.”

Rodriguez’s work with the Pasadena Playhouse will overlap with his work at The Furious Theatre Company, which he co-founded in 2002. Within 12 months of its inception, the company produced five plays and as a result was nominated for six NAACP Theatre Awards, two LA Weekly Awards and numerous critics’ picks. It received the Pasadena Art Council’s Gold Crown Award and The Debut Award from Back Stage West.

In 2004, Furious received a contract to become the resident producer of the “Balcony Theatre” at the Pasadena Playhouse.

“This was an exceptional accomplishment for a fledgling company that has emerged as perhaps LA’s most respected young theatre company,” said Greenwald.

Since then, Furious has produced nine Los Angeles premieres including the play Grace, which received three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards (best production, best direction and best play).

Judith Hamera, the head of the performance studies department said, “Dámaso’s success both in his position at the playhouse and his work with Furious are important testaments to the quality of the theatre arts program here at Texas A&M.”

Rodriguez said, “During my time at A&M I was encouraged to learn and experience all aspects of theatre production including set construction, dramaturgy, marketing, audience development, acting and directing. By having a background in all aspects of live performance, I was better prepared to make my way as a theatre professional.”

While at Texas A&M, Rodriguez played the lead in Athol Fugard’s finest play, MASTER HAROLD…and the boys (sic). He played a number of other roles including Roderigo in the 1995 production of Othello and Curly in Of Mice and Men.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of giving theatre and performance majors numerous opportunities to present their work before a paying, public audience,” Rodriguez said. “There is no greater training or experience that the university can offer. I credit my years at A&M with instilling in me the confidence to produce my own work.”

In addition to Rodriguez, several Texas A&M graduates are also involved with the Furious Theatre company including fellow co-founders Sara Hennessy '96 and Eric Pargac '97, and ensemble members James Leary '95, Christie Wright '96, Doug Newell '98, Nick Cernoch '01 and Katie Davies '03. Other Aggies who have worked with the company include Jethro Nolen '96, Chris Blake '96, Tanya Mounsey ’04 and Dan Steele '04.

“A lot of Aggies head for LA and the Furious Company, largely because I send Dámaso a “heads up” on the really good ones,” Greenwald said. “They don’t get in because they’re Ags, but because they’re skilled artists. We constantly hold Dámaso and Furious up to our students as great role models.”

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Erin Wood
979.862.4879
erinwood@libarts.tamu.edu