The Department of Theatre and Dance will be hosting an Educational Acting Workshop with talent agent Tony Martinez on May 23 at the Studio Theatre in the Fox Fine Arts Center.

Tony Martinez is a graduate from the School of Visual Arts in New York and has worked in video production with bands such as The Black Crowes, Run-DMC and The Beastie Boys.

Martinez has represented series regulars on television shows such as “Desperate Housewives,” “CSI” and “Lost.” He is also the author of “An Agent Tells All,” a book about the acting business.

Martinez is currently working with Kazarian, Measures, Ruskin & Associates (KMR) as part of their theatrical department.

“Tony has worked for many top agencies, he was my agent and by far he was my favorite agent at my favorite agency,” said Joel Murray, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. “He does not mince words and will tell the truth about the realities of Hollywood from various angles and his eye is trained to recognize talent and to recognize one’s potential.”

In this upcoming workshop, theater students will be able to perform scenes and monologues. Martinez will provide feedback on their work. After a lunch break, students will be able to have a question-and-answer session with him.

“I always try to make it a point to attend workshops that have guest artists,” said Maria Elena Mendoza, sophomore theatre arts major. “It is important to support people from our culture, I think Tony Martinez will provide UTEP with a great opportunity to learn and grow as artists.”

When it comes to talent agents, an actor should work hard to find an agent that would know his skills and abilities perfectly so he can find a job that best suits the actor.

“One needs an agent in Hollywood—99.9 percent of the time one cannot audition for union television, film, commercials, etc. without one,” Murray said.

Having a talent agent like Martinez come to the university gives students an insight about the competitive industry of acting and gives them a preparation of what they are most likely to encounter in their professional life.

“It is important for our students to gain as much perspective and experience as possible,” said Adriana Dominguez, senior lecturer at the Department of Theatre and Dance. “Tony Martinez’s personal experience and knowledge can help prepare students for their time outside of the university.”

For Mendoza, these kinds of workshops are of high importance to her since she is a theater major. She believes that these opportunities not only broaden her concentration, but also let her meet people who are related to her field of study.

“What I enjoy most about attending workshops is learning how they got there,” Mendoza said. “Like, what made them become an artist in that field and their background story.”

Since this is an educational workshop, students need to be prepared with any questions or doubts that they might have regarding the world of acting. Most of all, students should be ready to open themselves to new ideas and knowledge as this opportunity may be beneficial to their future careers.

“The workshop will help the students realize that you can do whatever it is you want to do; if you set your mind to it, of course,” Mendoza said. “Once you realize that anything is possible, and by the help of those who are already in that field, then it will open many doors.”

Fernanda Leon may be reached at [email protected].