The ones who inspire...
Founder/Artistic Director
Sarah Gauthier Roy
Sarah Gauthier Roy is a native of Carencro, Louisiana. She is a graduate of Carencro High School, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts with an emphasis in theatre. Sarah has been performing on stage for over 20 years within her community and nationally. While living in Southern California, Sarah worked for the San Diego Repertory Theatre doing Stage Management. In 2006 she worked for the Traveling Lantern Theatre company and toured the US performing plays for children. When Sarah returned home in 2006, she took the stage at local theatres. Her favorite roles include: Lil Bit in How I Learned to Drive at UL Lafayette, Mother Superior in Nunsense! at UL Lafayette, Meg in Crimes of the Heart at Cite des Arts, Judith in William and Judith at Theatre 810 and the Acadiana Center for the Arts, and starring in the one-woman show, The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead. In 2014 Sarah co-wrote and co-starred in an original cabaret-style musical with her dear friend Allison Brandon, The Bumpy Road, at Theatre 810. She also directed The Kingfish, starring Aren Chiasson at Cite des Arts.
Sarah has been teaching theatre through the public school system's Talented Program since 2010. The Talented Program fosters the development of the artistic talents of kindergarten through 12th grade students identified by the Louisiana State Department of Education as having extraordinary talent in Music, Theatre or Visual Art. These students are serviced weekly by professional teaching artists. Sarah has serviced hundreds of students at several schools throughout Iberia and Lafayette Parish.
Sarah was also the lead singer of the cover band Ask for Ashley and Basin Street. Sarah is on the Board of Directors for the Acadiana Center for the Arts and the chair of the commission for the Heymann Performing Arts Center.
The thing Sarah does most is mother. She is raising 3 amazing Cajun children, Juliet (11), Imogen (8), and William (6). These children inspire her to never leave the fun behind.
Sarah has been teaching theatre through the public school system's Talented Program since 2010. The Talented Program fosters the development of the artistic talents of kindergarten through 12th grade students identified by the Louisiana State Department of Education as having extraordinary talent in Music, Theatre or Visual Art. These students are serviced weekly by professional teaching artists. Sarah has serviced hundreds of students at several schools throughout Iberia and Lafayette Parish.
Sarah was also the lead singer of the cover band Ask for Ashley and Basin Street. Sarah is on the Board of Directors for the Acadiana Center for the Arts and the chair of the commission for the Heymann Performing Arts Center.
The thing Sarah does most is mother. She is raising 3 amazing Cajun children, Juliet (11), Imogen (8), and William (6). These children inspire her to never leave the fun behind.
Teacher
Kirby Jambon
A native of Lafourche Parish, Kirby Jambon, is the son of parents who instilled in him a pride in his Cajun heritage and Louisiana French language. His love for young people and his childlike spirit have been evident in his work as an educator for over 31 years, and during most of those years children’s theatre has played a special part. For the past twenty-two years, Kirby has worked as a French immersion teacher at Prairie Elementary School in Lafayette, where for many years he has been the moderator of La Voix Pop, a drama and speech club he created and through which he has directed over thirty performances. He has taught classes in Cajun French language and culture through programs in and out of Louisiana, most recently through the Continuing Education department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His passion for his Louisiana French culture has also been evident in his work as an activist, actor, presenter, storyteller, and writer. He has worked as an active member and/or officer in Action Cadienne (Cajun Action), the Louisiana Consortium of Immersion Schools, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) and Le Théâtre Cadien (Cajun Theater). In 2014 he was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the Festival International de Louisiane for his work in coordinating bilingual stage presenters. Kirby Jambon is also an award-winning poet who has published three books of Louisiana French poetry and has presented his poetry at numerous events throughout the U.S., Canada, and France. In 2014, he was honored with the Prix Henri de Régnier from the Académie française in Paris, making him the first Louisiana writer to receive an award for literature from the prestigious French Academy.
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Second Act Saturday
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Paul Schexnayder
Paul Schexnayder has been a professional artist and art teacher for over 27+. He runs and owns his own gallery and studio in downtown New Iberia. Paul paints colorful imagery in a whimsical yet poetic way. More info at schex.com
Desiree' Champagne
Desiree Champagne was born and raised in Hahnville, Louisiana. She began her journey into music in the choir. Once she was in 5th grade she was able to learn any instrument she chose that was available at the time. She chose the flute and stuck with that through my second year of college. One day a friend gave her an acoustic guitar. She took time to teach herself as much as she could and let the rest come to her with time. She was discovered at an open mic night by Creole Grammy nominated musician, Cedric Watson who in his words “just from the sound of your strum you would be perfect on washboard.” After she took the opportunity, she traveled the world with Bijou Creole for 7 years, playing washboard and triangle. Now a days she’s teaching what she learned about herself and her culture to any age of people who want to learn who they are and maybe even a little bit about themselves.
Aren Chaisson
Aren is from Lafayette, Louisiana and teaches Talented Theatre in Iberia Parish. Since moving back from New York City in May 2011, he has performed in many productions, including Huey P. Long in The Kingfish, Dale Pittman in The North Plan, Harry "Jazzbo" Haywood in It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Lenny in Of Mice and Men, Foreman in Twelve Angry Men, Cliff in Cabaret, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown and William Shakespeare in William and Judith. Since graduating from University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a BFA in Performing Arts, he has performed in NYC, Chicago, Syracuse, Alabama, Indiana, on regional and national tours, and in short films and commercials. He studied improv with Armando Diaz at the Magnet Theatre in NYC and performs with Silverbacks Improv Theatre in Lafayette. Aren recently performed as Jud in Oklahoma!
Chief John "Sitting Bear" Mayeux
Chief John Mayeux is a member of the Avogel tribe, one of the oldest Louisiana tribes still in existence. He was head chief for over twenty years, and is still one of the chiefs of the tribe. Avoyelles Parish is named for the Avogel people, a tribe that has been in the area for at least 5,000 years. As a child, Mayeux saw his culture and language start to disappear, which is one of the reasons he came to enjoy making the things that his people made years ago. The beauty of these things filled his heart with joy. Mayeux has always believed that the true representations of his people would have been more interesting to audiences than the fictitious misrepresentations shown in movies and television Westerns. Working at Vermilionville gives him the chance to tell people about history of his tribe and its people.
Mayeux is proud of his people and history, and says they have a great story to tell. He wants people to know the real Avogel Tribe, how it lived with others, and what it did to form America's ancient past. Without the indigenous people, American history is extremely short. Mayeux has worked at what he does all his life, and today he teaches his grandchildren what he knows so that his ancestors will continue through them and what they do. Having worked as a French teacher for many years, Mayeux says the methodology he practiced has helped him to teach the Avogel language to the children of the tribe. He would also like to revive it with the older people who have lost the language as a means of preserving their culture, even has his people have adapted to the modern American ways of living. It is his way of remaining true to the past, but continuing to tell his people's story for future generations.
Mayeux is proud of his people and history, and says they have a great story to tell. He wants people to know the real Avogel Tribe, how it lived with others, and what it did to form America's ancient past. Without the indigenous people, American history is extremely short. Mayeux has worked at what he does all his life, and today he teaches his grandchildren what he knows so that his ancestors will continue through them and what they do. Having worked as a French teacher for many years, Mayeux says the methodology he practiced has helped him to teach the Avogel language to the children of the tribe. He would also like to revive it with the older people who have lost the language as a means of preserving their culture, even has his people have adapted to the modern American ways of living. It is his way of remaining true to the past, but continuing to tell his people's story for future generations.
Clare Cook
Clare Cook is a choreographer, teacher, and collaborator. After a decade of working in NYC, Cook returned to Lafayette to build a home base for her professional work. Last year, she opened Basin Arts, a collaborative arts space in Downtown Lafayette. As a choreographer, Cook has presented work at Cortland Repertory Theater, New York Musical Theatre Festival, DanceNOW Festival at Joe’s Pub, HERE Arts Center, Fringe NYC, Triskelion Arts, NYU, The New School for Drama and Columbia University. In Lafayette, she has recently collaborated with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky’s Firebird, Acadiana Center for the Arts with Touching Loss, and the UL Performing Arts Program for FRAGMENTS at State of La Danse. She was the choreographer for the First National Tour of Bullets Over Broadway, re-setting Susan Stroman’s Tony-Nominated choreography and traveled to Bulgaria with the Drama League of NYC to work with the National Puppet Theatre of Bulgaria. Clare has been on faculty at LSU and NYU Tisch Dance, worked as Education Director for the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, was a teaching artist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild and joins the UL Dance Department Faculty teaching modern dance. Before living in NYC, she performed extensively for the Cangelosi Dance Project. Her early dance training was at DeLarue Dance Centre in Lafayette, then at Louisiana State University under the direction of Molly Buchmann, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and The Ailey School in NYC. Clare holds an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and is a member of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society professional union. Learn more about what Clare is up to at www.basinartslafayette.com
Bryant Benoit
Bryant Benoit was born and raised in Lafayette, LA. He studied architecture at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He entered the construction industry and worked as a commercial construction project superintendent for several years.
“I decided to explore my creativity in art. My perception of my Culture is expressed through my work. I tell stories of love, pain, family and spirituality. My work is like music. I feel the vibrations of the melody and relate its words to events that either happened or are happening in my life. My art is vibrations of my thought perception on canvas.”
I found working within a collage helps me deliver the perception I’m conveying. My perception of reality is found in the endless photography that is produced every day. There is a real message in photos that speak to me subliminally.
I love placing photos of feelings and energy into my work, as I paint the same energy. Like two opposites saying the same message. I combine the 2 forms and create my own perception of my culture, my life and my feelings.
The paintings I create consist of many layers. I layer smaller images of pictures with layers of acrylic paint to capture the feelings and vibrations of my message. I use color also to create; being that each color has meaning and vibrations.
The photos I use are words mentally and give the viewer a personal definition and meaning based on their own relationship to that image. Combinations of all the images and concepts of my acrylic work convey the intention behind the creation of each piece.
Learn more about Bryant and his work at www.benoitgallery.com
“I decided to explore my creativity in art. My perception of my Culture is expressed through my work. I tell stories of love, pain, family and spirituality. My work is like music. I feel the vibrations of the melody and relate its words to events that either happened or are happening in my life. My art is vibrations of my thought perception on canvas.”
I found working within a collage helps me deliver the perception I’m conveying. My perception of reality is found in the endless photography that is produced every day. There is a real message in photos that speak to me subliminally.
I love placing photos of feelings and energy into my work, as I paint the same energy. Like two opposites saying the same message. I combine the 2 forms and create my own perception of my culture, my life and my feelings.
The paintings I create consist of many layers. I layer smaller images of pictures with layers of acrylic paint to capture the feelings and vibrations of my message. I use color also to create; being that each color has meaning and vibrations.
The photos I use are words mentally and give the viewer a personal definition and meaning based on their own relationship to that image. Combinations of all the images and concepts of my acrylic work convey the intention behind the creation of each piece.
Learn more about Bryant and his work at www.benoitgallery.com
Yvette Landry
Yvette Landry is a Grammy nominated, award-winning vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and noted children’s author. She served as a Governor to the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy. She is a former board member for Louisiana Folk Roots organization and serves as director for their Kids Camp. A member of several bands, Yvette performs as an award-winning Louisiana honky-tonk artist, who travels throughout the US and Europe sharing her own music as well as the Cajun culture. Yvette also toured Russia as a cultural ambassador performing Cajun and Creole music while representing Louisiana and the United States. When not playing music, Landry stays busy as a private homeschool teacher, an adjunct professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and a sign language interpreter.
www.YvetteLandry.com
www.YvetteLandry.com
Melissa Stevenson
Melissa Stevenson was born and raised in Lafayette, LA. She has been in a variety of choirs, and vocal performance groups since she was in elementary school. She earned a Bachelor of Arts, and a music teacher certification from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has been teaching music in the Lafayette area for over 15 years. She has been teaching the Music Together parent child music program for the past 3 years. Melissa owns and operates a music and arts enrichment center called The Music Garden, where the Music Together classes are held. Melissa enjoys writing, recording, and performing, her own original children’s music, as well as making ridiculous music parody videos to post on YouTube! She was also a member of an all female folk band, The Figs, and has performed at a variety of festivals and events. Melissa lives in Youngsville with her husband, Cal, son Beckett, and dog Lucy. . She is excited for the opportunity to share her love of music with the families of Lafayette! Learn more about what Melissa is up to at www.musicgardenlafayette.com
Harold Bernard
Harold Bernard has literally been raised in the Dance Halls of South Louisiana. In the early years he witnessed musicians and dancers who brought generations of experience to the band stand and the dance floor. “I have so much gratitude and admiration for the Acadian people who have carried the flame, saving this part of our culture for future generations”. In 1986 Harold started traveling and spreading the word of his unique Acadian Culture through music and dance. Through the 80s, 90s and especially since 2000 Harold has spread the joy of dance throughout the United States, Europe and beyond teaching at festivals like Ashokan, Buffalo Gap, Augusta just to name a few. Working and traveling with such greats as Boi Sec Ardoin, Canray Fontenot, Dewey Balfa, Lionel Leleux and dancing with incredible dance partners like Millie Ortego and Christine Balfa. At present Harold is based in Lafayette, LA and New Orleans LA offering Cajun/Jitterbug and Zydeco Workshops to all levels of dancers. “Stewardship of our language, music, dance, literature, art and cuisine is essential to keep our culture safe so that it’s not diluted or being mistaken for anything but the pure, ever changing traditions of our ancestors.” Harold will bring you the joy of not only the dance but the Joi de Vivre of a people named “Cajuns.” Learn more about what Harold's up to at www.glidestudioslafayette.com
Past Teaching Artists
Teacher
Megan Brown
Megan Brown, originally from Tepetate, LA, grew up to the sound of Cajun music at her grandparent’s Cajun restaurant. Singing all her life, Megan took to Cajun music and with it the French language at the age of 18. Joining first with her accordionist brother, Briggs Brown and his band. She was a co-founder of the all female Cajun group Les Bassettes and has sat in with such musicians and groups as The Pine Leaf Boys, The Lafayette Rhythm Devils and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, performing at many cultural events, including Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, Folk Roots Balfa Camp, the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Festival International de la Louisiane and many more across the country and internationally. She currently plays and has been with T’Monde for the last six years. Megan has been teaching dance, art, and song to kids of all ages for 15 years at different schools and cultural/educational camps such as Folk Roots for Kids and the Augusta Heritage - Cajun & Creole Week.