Connie Sanchez: Meet the director who brought the hit play AMON! The Ultimate Texan to the stage.

May 16

We’re talking to Connie Sanchez, the director of AMON! The Ultimate Texan, the wildly-popular new play about Fort Worth’s founding father – Amon Carter. Connie, first of all, congratulations. You are nominated for two prestigious Column awards, the Oscars of the North Texas theater scene. Best Director and Best Original Scenic Design. Congrats!

Connie Sanchez: Thank you.

Connie in an Amon Carter ‘Shady Oak’ hat.

Here, Connie Sanchez directs an early rehearsal of AMON! The Ultimate Texan. (Photo by Alan D. Smith.)

Is this your first nomination?

CS: I have received honors and nominations for other shows, but this is my first time to be a part of the Column Awards. I also received Column nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Set Design for You Can’t Take It With You. Kelvin Dilks (who plays Amon) and I directed and worked on this show together as well.

As we talk, your play has been performed 32 times now, including a show this year in Abilene at the historic Paramount. Wow, you go girl.

CS: It takes a great team! It was a wonderful experience taking the show on the road and sharing it with folks who don’t live in Fort Worth. I received so many compliments as people exited the theater when it was over. I also had the opportunity to meet some of Kelvin’s family who live in Abilene. These are good people. They welcomed our team and made us feel like family. What a blessing! I got to see one of my childhood friends who is more like family who also lives in Abilene. And, some of the Fort Worth folks made the drive to Abilene to support us. It was fabulous!

We’ve heard that you and Dee Ann Blair, the founder of Artisan Center Theater in Hurst, were the two who decided “We’re going to put on this new play about a guy who’s been dead for 64 years.” What possessed you to take this risk? And were you nervous about it, or make that, how nervous were you?

CS: Actually, Dee Ann is the one who decided to do this new play. She asked me if we could meet. She told me about the play and asked me if I would direct it. She also said she wanted Kelvin to play Amon. It was an honor to be asked to direct a world premiere. I was really more excited than nervous. I’ve directed many plays and musicals but never a world premiere. I was excited for the new experience and the opportunity to be a part of history in the making. As it turns out. It was indeed an awesome and exciting experience that continues to be a blessing.

Tell us about your teaching background.

CS: I started teaching at birth! I do truly believe teaching is part of my DNA. I started playing school as a young child with my dolls and teddy bears. I wrote on my little chalkboard and created math worksheets which is ironic since math is NOT my subject of strength. I am terrible at math!

I always knew I would be a teacher, but it wasn’t until high school when I decided I wanted to be a theater teacher. I like being in charge and directing people.

I was inspired by my high school theater teacher at Diamond Hill–Jarvis High School, Beverly (Houck) Murray. After high school, I went to Texas Wesleyan University and majored in English, theater and speech -- and I earned my teaching certificate. I learned so much from TWU legend and my dear friend, Professor Joe Allen Brown.

After college, I had a 30-year teaching career in the Birdville ISD with 26 years at my beloved Haltom High School. Go Buffalos! During my teaching career in BISD, I taught English for 15 years and theater for 15 years.

I taught many workshops and led staff development for BISD and other school districts. I was the lead mentor teacher for all the new teachers at Haltom High School. I was head of the Fine Arts Department when I taught theater and head of the English department when I taught English. I was immersed in school life.

I served on school and district committees. I was the prom sponsor for 13 years and the High On Life sponsor. I danced at Pep Rallies and even worked with the marching band members one year. I had so many wonderful and fulfilling experiences in education. I love teaching students and adults. I have former students who are now teachers, and they call from time to time asking for help and advice. I am and was truly blessed by my career in education.

You directed Kelvin Dilks, who plays Amon and has been nominated for Best Actor. You two are great friends. What was it like creating this with Kelvin?

CS: Well, it was a blast!! Kelvin is smart and witty and funny and creative. Who wouldn’t want to work with someone like that? We started teaching together at Haltom High School in 1989. We served on educational committees together. For a time, we taught theater together, and we directed shows together. Kelvin eventually went back to the social studies department. He joked that I was a slave driver. Kelvin and I have been dear friends for a very long time. We are both “worker bees,” and our strengths complement each other, so creating with Kelvin is creating art at its best.

Your husband Reyes is now running the tech board at each performance of AMON. You and he make a great team. He’s a cool guy.

CS: He is SUCH a cool guy. He plays drums. He sings. He is a computer genius. He loves to make people laugh. And he helps me with all my many projects. I really couldn’t do all that I do without his help and support. He also understands theatre and the time commitment that it takes.

Rey and I started dating in high school in 1977. He was a big football player, but he also sang in choir and performed in the plays and musicals. We even performed together. Rey is a true Renaissance man. He is the love of my life, and I am blessed every day because of him.

In addition to AMON!, let’s see, you run the giant costume shop at Artisan, you are president of your homeowner’s association, you volunteer at your church, and you have a large close-knit family. How do you find the time?

CS: You know, I think we all find a way to make time for the things we want to do. The excuse “I’m too busy.” or “I don’t have time.” is really a guise for, “I just don’t want to do that.” I’m a doer… a project girl. I always have been. I’m also a high energy person who doesn’t require much sleep, but sometimes I do meet myself coming and going, and some projects are easier than others. It can be challenging and a bit overwhelming at times when all my various projects collide at the same time, but I just chip away at my never ending “to do” list. I will say this, if it doesn’t get written down on my calendar (And yes, I still keep a pencil/paper calendar), it doesn’t happen.

Every August, though, don’t you get a little homesick to be back in school teaching at the start of the new school year?

CS: The first day of school on my first year of retirement was weird. I mean, I had had a first day of school my entire life! From kindergarten all the way to 30 years of teaching. But the weirdness soon went away. I missed my teacher friends and my students, but I didn’t miss all the work. I’m a here-and-now person and my days got filled very quickly, so the homesickness didn’t last long.

When AMON! opened you had a former student traveling all the way from New York City to see it. What was that like?

CS: It was humbling. It made my heart smile. It left me speechless. It blessed me. The student who came in from NYC is like my son, so it was incredible to have him here in Texas if even for one night.

You grew up in Fort Worth. What did you know about Amon Carter?

CS: Well, I’m sad to say very little. I always heard the names…Camp Carter, Carter Blood Care, Carter High School. But I had no idea who Amon G. Carter Sr. was and that these places (and so many more) were all connected to him. What happened Fort Worth? Why did you let this story die? Thank you, Dave Lieber, for bringing Amon back to life and for reminding us Fort Worthians of our rich and important history.

You’ve acted, too, right?

CS: Well, I played many roles in high school and college in both musicals and plays. I’ve had leading roles, supporting roles, walk-on roles and chorus roles. After college while teaching, I performed in shows for Texas Woman’s University, Texas Wesleyan University, Teachers on the Boards (a group comprised of local theatre teachers, mostly from Texas Wesleyan, who performed during the summer to raise scholarship money for high school seniors majoring in theater), and for Artisan Center Theater. The role I am probably most known for is Sister Amnesia in Nunsense. I have portrayed Sister Amnesia in five different productions of Nunsense.

What’s your favorite play of all time?

CS: AMON! The Ultimate Texan! This is a really tough question. My favorite is whatever show I’m working on. That’s the truth! I fall in love with a show when I’m working on it. But my favorite? This is impossible. I can’t do it. There are too many genres. I love musicals and straight plays. I love them for different reasons. But let me try: For plays -- The Boys Next Door, An Inspector Calls, You Can’t Take It with You, The Diviners, The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail, The Miracle Worker and Our Town .

For musicals, Les Miserables, The Drowsy Chaperone, Into the Woods, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Come from Away, Peter Pan, The King and I.

Is Professor Joe Allen Brown of Texas Wesleyan University your mentor? Tell us about him.

CS: Yes, he is! He is amazing and brilliant. He is a loving and giving and selfless person. He has always gone the extra mile to help me. He taught me so much about life and theater and teaching. He taught me to pay attention to the small details. He taught me to think outside the box. He taught me to research periods for accuracy in props and costumes. He taught me theatrical painting and stage makeup. He taught me the importance of making and keeping a to do list. And this list could go on and on. Joe Brown is my hero.

You work closely on AMON! with producer Rick Blair and playwright Dave Lieber. What’s that like?

CS: It’s been an awesome trip! I have had so many amazing and wonderful and new experiences because of Dave and Rick. Both are “can do” people, and I love that. It was never “we can’t do that.” It was always, “Sure, we can make that happen.” And we did! They both trusted me, and they probably have no idea how much I appreciate that and how much that means to me. They are both funny and witty and positive and encouraging. Dave trusted me with his script. He allowed Kelvin and me to change and add. Rick let me go to do my director thing and took care of all my technical requests. I cannot thank them enough.

In addition to your two nominations, the play has also been nominated for Best New Play (producer Rick Blair), Best Actor (Kelvin Dilks), Best Lighting Design (Daniel Orges) and Outstanding Work by a Local Playwright (Dave Lieber). The awards ceremony has been postponed for now. What are your chances?

CS: And the envelope please…”AMON! The Ultimate Texan wins it all!” In all seriousness, if the Column Awards wants to recognize and award the best in these categories, then this list of people and the job they did for AMON! is the best. Bar none; hands down.

Thanks Connie, and best of luck to you.