Jeremy Torres lab theatre prepares for upcoming year despite obstacles

By Sydney Seidel

Blog Content Contributor

Jeremy O. Torres was a Texas State University graduate two different times throughout his life. The first was with a BFA in pre-professional directing, and the second time was in 2005 with a master’s degree in Theatre History and Criticism. In 2014, Torres became a full-time faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance at his alma mater.

​​Tragically, two years later Torres was involved in a fatal car accident.

During the 2020 coronavirus shutdown, students banned together and formed the Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre in honor of the late professor.

As an independent group, the students of JTLT rely solely on ticket sales and donations from outsiders to keep their organization running. In addition to this, JTLT has one practice room in the Theatre Center which is open to them only after 6 p.m. Unfortunately, their practice center along with other parts of the building flooded towards the beginning of the academic year.

“We lost our building,” said the current co-manager and producer Elisa Pedraza Sanchez. “There are no classes, no meetings and no rehearsals going on at the moment. It is pretty rough.”

Because of the recent flooding, all the scheduled shows for the year have been relocated to various buildings throughout campus.

This, however, did not stop JTLT from continuing with their performances. This year they will be producing three different shows which include Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Rachel Sheinkin and Cabaret by Joe Masteroff.

Students who would like to participate in the JTLT do not have to have a specific major corresponding with theater. Having no previous experience is also not a requirement to join the organization.

“We have students who are in shows currently who are chemical engineers,” said Sanchez when talking about the environment of the JTLT. “There are many ways to get involved with the shows. You can be a technician; you can audition as an actor and you can even just be a collaborator. Everyone is welcome to apply.”

Sanchez notes that the theater’s performance of Cabaret will be happening on Oct. 21 and 22 at the Live Oak Studio. She welcomes students and faculty alike to come and observe what the JTLT organization has been preparing for this semester.

If you would like to become a part of the student-led establishment, you may visit the Division of Theatre page on the TXST website.