TEATRX annual festival encapsulates Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring rich and inspiring short stories through live theatre and cinema. 

La Vida Es Cortos/Life Is Shorts Festival returns for its 6th year and will feature 7 brand new short plays that explore family dynamics in English, Spanish, and sometimes both. We begin with Alejandro Martinez's directorial debut of Translation, Traslacion, Traducción Or Whatever You Call It by Hernán Angulo, a play about a father and son finding a way to communicate their love. Mayra Monsivais also makes her directorial debut with the Spanish language comedy Café Deluxe by local playwright Doris Ramos who uses satire to examine how smartphones affect human interaction. In Knuckle Games by Erik Florentino, brother and sister duke it out for their late father’s boxing gloves directed by Main Street’s own Jonathan Minshew-Gonzalez. Houston’s renowned writer and poet, Jasminne Mendez directs The Garden of Night Blooming Flowers by Samantha Vargas about a couple caught in the middle of a battle between nobility and anarchy. 

This year TEATRX will once again provide programming for young audiences with La Vida Es Cortitos, two performances dedicated to showcasing short plays and films for young audiences ages 5 and up!

La Vida Es Cortitos, or Cortitios, will feature short films made for young audiences alongside 3 new short plays selected from a nationwide search. We begin with Adam Castañeda's Pilot Dance Project presenting the dance theatre production, Jarabe, written by Adriana Domínguez. Jarabe explores a daughter’s memories of her mother through Folklorico dancing. Next, TEATRX produces two plays for young audiences led by returning directors, Angeles Romero and Laura Moreno. Romero will direct Silver Linings by Alicia Ana Hernandez-Roulet. Silver Linings demonstrates a mother's determination to stop the cycle of addiction with love, honesty, and sacrifice. Finally, Moreno directs Alien Menudo by native Houstonian and 3-time festival playwright Alvaro Saar Rios as he imagines a world where Mexican food is out of this world.

The festival will showcase a diverse and compelling lineup of short films by independent filmmakers from around the US and Latin America. The lineup will also include short dance films to provide a multidisciplinary experience like never before. Following every performance, audiences will vote for their favorite short film. At the final performance, the top films will compete to win a $100 cash prize and the chance to be named “LVEC 2024 Audience Favorite Film!”

La Vida Es Cortos/Life Is Shorts Festival is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. TEATRX is a sponsored project of Fresh Arts, a non-profit service organization. Contributions for TEATRX must be made payable to Fresh Arts and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by the law.

OCTOBER 4 - 6, 2024

RUNTIME:
2 hours 30 minutes with one intermission

TICKETS:
Pay-What-You-Will

YOUNG AUDIENCE PERFORMANCES
Saturday & Sunday at 10:30 AM
RUNTIME: 1 hour
Family Friendly for ages 5 and up.

For performances other than the 10:30 AM matinees
the recommended age is 13 and up with parental guidance.

Please note that each ticket is subject to a $3 fee at checkout.

GENERAL INFORMATION

*Online sales will end 30 minutes prior to the scheduled curtain time. At this time tickets may be purchased in-person at the box office.

The box office opens 2 hours prior to the performance time for WILL CALL and walkup sales.

All sales are final. No refunds or cancellations available after purchase.

Why is there a $3 fee per ticket? CLICK HERE for details.

Location & Parking: For information on area parking CLICK HERE.

Area Restaurants & Bars: CLICK HERE for a list of area restaurants and bars.

MATCH Concessions will be open 1 hour prior to event start time. Enjoy a cocktail or a quick snack before the event.