We’re so glad to add a 2023 member in our Encore team this fall. If you were with us during the summers of 2019 and 2020, you’ll see someone familiar! Returning to Encore as a Programming Assistant, meet (again!) Brian Hernandez!

Tell us about yourself!

I’m originally from the Falls Church area but my roots are in El Salvador. I attended James Madison University where I got my Bachelor of Science in Studio Art/Art Education and a minor in Music Industry. I did my student teaching at Smithland ES in Harrisonburg, VA and at Broadway HS in Broadway, VA. Here I taught art, and it was an incredible experience with some valuable memories. I’ve had the wonderful experience of being able to be a part of the Disney College Program out in Anaheim, California! In my free time, I enjoy exploring nature, racking up heavy weights when lifting, and catching up on my favorite animes (current shows I’m watching are Jujutsu Kaisen and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.)

What is your role here at Encore this fall and what will you be working on?

I am the Programming Assistant here at Encore! From what it looks like, I’ll be working on a variety of tasks! I’ll be helping and assisting Madaline with day-to-day operations for classes, holiday mini-camps, outreach programs, and if assigned, be lead teacher. There’s also going to be some office operations such as taking notes, organizing files, creating documents as needed, etc… We recently went over how to take orders for tickets or to register people into our system so I know that will be part of the day-to-day operations as needed. I am working closely with Cleo for the Charles Barret School Play and I am really stoked for the experience.

You’ve no stranger to the Encore team, please tell us all about what you’ve done previously with Encore.

My first experience with Encore was as an Arts Management intern back in the summer of 2019! Feels like so long ago but there were some great fantastic memories! Some include making programs for the camps, designing the shirts for “Into the Woods” and “Mary Poppins”, and running Front of House for “Newsies”! Fast forward to summer of 2020 and here I was back with Encore but this time as a choreographer for “Once Upon a Mattress!” Albeit everything about that experience was virtual, it was a unique experience to be able to create something, tweak it to be virtual, and have a completed production by the end of it all!

Can you describe your favorite theatre/performing arts experience and what made it so memorable? 

My first theatre show that I was in was “The Addams Family” musical and that was my senior year of high school. Besides it being my first production, what made it memorable was that I felt it helped me create some wonderful bonds with friends, and it made me realize that taking creative risks is something that is a part of life.  I didn’t think that being cast as a ghost (specifically, a Spanish conquistador), would be part of my character development, but it’s a memory I look back on and am very thankful for to this day.

What shows, classes, or programs are you looking forward to this year at Encore?

Since it’s heading into fall, I’m excited to see how the “Casper the Friendly Ghost” mini-camp will go as well as the “Creepy, Kooky, & All Together Ooky” class!

What’s your favorite play or musical as an audience member? 

My favorite musical in life is, and forever will be, “Moulin Rouge”. I have not had the opportunity to see it in person, but I know that if I did, it would be a euphoric experience.

Why do you think performing arts are important for young people?

The performing arts are important for young people because it allows them to experience the world in their own ways. As an educator, I told my students, “define normal.” It is so disheartening when young people feel like they can’t express themselves or that their experiences get diminished because “it’s not normal” or that it will be perceived as weird to their peers. The performing arts acts as a backbone for support for young people to surpass their creative limits, to collaborate with other creative risk-takers, and its value on how it can help someone throughout their life is immeasurable.

What is your dream character role or dream production to work on and why?

Going back to Moulin Rouge, I would love to be involved in a production like that in any way possible.

What theme day should Encore have at the office?

I think it would be fun to do a nostalgic “favorite cartoons growing up” kind of day. We wouldn’t have to dress up like the characters, but it would be great to see coordinated outfits and guess which show everyone is. I already have some outfit ideas for myself for shows like, “Dragon tales”, “Maggie and the Ferocious Beast”, and “Invader Zim” to name a few.

In his interview, Brian also wanted to share another Encore “core memory.”

This is an oddly specific memory but during my time back in 2019, McDonald’s had toys for “Toy Story 4” and those toys were stand-alone but if you collected all of them, they combined together to create the RV from the movie! I think we got up to like 5 out of 9 pieces or something but it was a fun little bonding moment with the staff in trying to see updates on how it was going. Wanted to share that I really appreciate that memory and all of y’all.

We’re ecstatic to see Brian return and share his experiences in this latest Encore role!

Photos from Brian Hernandez.