FAMILY
MEET OUR TEAM
FAMILY
MEET OUR TEAM

RICK GARCIA
MAP Executive Director
Rick was awarded an an Honorable Mention Tony Award in 2019 for Excellence in Theater Education. He was part of the writing team for an Emmy nominated, ABC Documentary, The Children’s Dignity Project, hosted by Oprah Winfrey. He was named the Texas Educational Theater Association’s Teacher of the Year, 1996.
He is the author of multiple publications, including The Body, The Voice, The Imagination. His graduates and summer camp alumni include multiple Emmy Award winning actor, Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory, Broadway regulars Charlie Pollack, Kevin Adams, Blake Hammond, Nathan Parsons; television regular, Ellen Wroe, and Documentary Film Director and Oscar nominated, Marco Slavnic.

MANDY EPLEY
Consultant, Theatre Directing, Theatre Clinics
Mandy Epley holds a masters degree in Education Administration from Lamar and a BFA in Acting and Directing from Sam Houston State University. Mandy serves Comal ISD as the Assistant Superintendent of Strategic Initiatives and Programs. She taught high school theatre for 16 years. Her productions qualified for Region multiple times and her students performed at the state meet in 2009.
In addition to acting and directing professionally, she has served as a Camp on the Coast director at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Artistic Director of Inception Theatre. In 2012, Mandy was named Texas Educational Theatre Association Educator of the Year, in 2009, Brandeis High School Educator of the Year, Northside ISD High School Educator of the Year, and KENS5/SACU Excel Award winner.
Mandy is a K-12 theatre program consultant for Enhance the Arts and is one of the authors of the Maestro Theatre Publications, LLC. Teacher Resource for Theatre Education. Mandy is also a guest instructor for workshops and clinics across the state.

RENEE BUCHANAN
Director of Programming, Board President
Renee Buchanan taught in the Texas public school system for over 25 years with most of that time spent teaching theatre. She has a background in early childhood education, special education, secondary English, theatre, speech and debate.
Renee had five UIL One-Act-Play State appearances and won the State Championship in 2006. She has co-author theatre curriculum books for Maestro Theatre and is a member of the Texas Theatre Adjudicator and Officials organization. She is also a committee member for Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Arlington and East Tarrant County.
Renee also serves on on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Planning Committee for the Arlington and Northeast Tarrant County Walk.

PATTY MACMULLEN
Consultant, Theatre Directing, Theatre Clinics
Patty MacMullen has directed high school and middle school theatre for almost four decades. While teaching in public schools, her students advanced to the Texas UIL OAP State Meet five times placing third at state in conference 4A in 1999 and again in 2007. In 2012, her students advanced to the division II state championship contest in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), placing 1st runner up for the state championship title.
Recently, her students were selected as the Duet Acting state champions at the 2019 TAPPS Academic meet. Patty has also directed productions which were chosen to perform at the Texas State Thespian Festival Main Stage (2003 & 2006), the International Thespian Festival Main Stage (2007) and Chapter Select Showcase (1997 & 2009), and the Edinburgh Scotland Fringe Festival (2010, 2015, 2018, & 2021).
Patty was inducted into the Texas Thespian Hall of Fame in 2011. She’s been a member of the Texas Theatre Adjudicators and Officials for nine years. Patty currently serves as Director of Theatre at Hill Country Christian Upper School in Austin.

LISA HALE
Director of College Auditions Program
As a high school director, Lisa Hale made two appearances at the UIL State Meet where her shows placed first (2006) and second (2004). She has been awarded the Texas Educational Theatre Association Educator of the Year and served on the S&P Committee for TTAO.
Currently, she is teaching theatre at Collin College and enjoys conducting workshops and directing at summer camps as well as working as a UIL adjudicator and contest manager. Lisa is a big believer in theatre arts education. Growing up in rural West Texas, the UIL One Act Play and the Summer Theatre Workshop at The University of Texas were opportunities that cemented her dream to be a theatre artist and educator. Programs like MAP will continue to train and inspire students and teachers from smaller Texas communities to reach their artistic potential!
Lisa Hale has been a theatre educator for nearly 40 years. She holds a BFA in Drama Education from The University of Texas and a Masters in Theatre from The University of North Texas.

CHRISTIAN ERBEN
Maestro Arts Project Executive Assistant and Director of Communications
Christian brings her past knowledge in college admission to Maestro and the College Audition Workshops.
RICK GARCIA
MAP Executive Director
Rick was awarded an Honorable Mention Tony Award in 2019 for Excellence in Theater Education. He was part of the writing team for an Emmy nominated, ABC Documentary, The Children’s Dignity Project, hosted by Oprah Winfrey. He was named the Texas Educational Theater Association’s Teacher of the Year, 1996.
He is the author of multiple publications, including The Body, The Voice, The Imagination. His graduates and summer camp alumni include multiple Emmy Award winning actor, Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory, Broadway regulars Charlie Pollack, Kevin Adams, Blake Hammond, Nathan Parsons; television regular, Ellen Wroe, and Documentary Film Director and Oscar nominated, Marco Slavnic.

MANDY EPLEY
Consultant, Theatre Directing, Theatre Clinics
Mandy Epley holds a masters degree in Education Administration from Lamar and a BFA in Acting and Directing from Sam Houston State University. Mandy serves Comal ISD as the Assistant Superintendent of Strategic Initiatives and Programs. She taught high school theatre for 16 years. Her productions qualified for Region multiple times and her students performed at the state meet in 2009.
In addition to acting and directing professionally, she has served as a Camp on the Coast director at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Artistic Director of Inception Theatre. In 2012, Mandy was named Texas Educational Theatre Association Educator of the Year, in 2009, Brandeis High School Educator of the Year, Northside ISD High School Educator of the Year, and KENS5/SACU Excel Award winner.

Mandy is a K-12 theatre program consultant for Enhance the Arts and is one of the authors of the Maestro Theatre Publications, LLC. Teacher Resource for Theatre Education. Mandy is also a guest instructor for workshops and clinics across the state.

Renee also serves on on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Planning Committee for the Arlington and Northeast Tarrant County Walk.
RENEE BUCHANAN
Director of Programming, Board President
Renee Buchanan taught in the Texas public school system for over 25 years with most of that time spent teaching theatre. She has a background in early childhood education, special education, secondary English, theatre, speech and debate.
Renee had five UIL One-Act-Play State appearances and won the State Championship in 2006. She has co-author theatre curriculum books for Maestro Theatre and is a member of the Texas Theatre Adjudicator and Officials organization. She is also a committee member for Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Arlington and East Tarrant County.
PATTY MACMULLEN
Consultant, Theatre Directing, Theatre Clinics
Patty MacMullen has directed high school and middle school theatre for almost four decades. While teaching in public schools, her students advanced to the Texas UIL OAP State Meet five times placing third at state in conference 4A in 1999 and again in 2007. In 2012, her students advanced to the division II state championship contest in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), placing 1st runner up for the state championship title.
Recently, her students were selected as the Duet Acting state champions at the 2019 TAPPS Academic meet. Patty has also directed productions which were chosen to perform at the Texas State Thespian Festival Main Stage (2003 & 2006), the International Thespian Festival Main Stage (2007) and Chapter Select Showcase (1997 & 2009), and the Edinburgh Scotland Fringe Festival (2010, 2015, 2018, & 2021).

Patty was inducted into the Texas Thespian Hall of Fame in 2011. She’s been a member of the Texas Theatre Adjudicators and Officials for nine years. Patty currently serves as Director of Theatre at Hill Country Christian Upper School in Austin.

Lisa Hale has been a theatre educator for nearly 40 years. She holds a BFA in Drama Education from The University of Texas and a Masters in Theatre from The University of North Texas.
LISA HALE
Director of College Auditions Program
As a high school director, Lisa Hale made two appearances at the UIL State Meet where her shows placed first (2006) and second (2004). She has been awarded the Texas Educational Theatre Association Educator of the Year and served on the S&P Committee for TTAO.
Currently, she is teaching theatre at Collin College and enjoys conducting workshops and directing at summer camps as well as working as a UIL adjudicator and contest manager. Lisa is a big believer in theatre arts education. Growing up in rural West Texas, the UIL One Act Play and the Summer Theatre Workshop at The University of Texas were opportunities that cemented her dream to be a theatre artist and educator. Programs like MAP will continue to train and inspire students and teachers from smaller Texas communities to reach their artistic potential!
CHRISTIAN ERBEN
Maestro Arts Project Executive Assistant and Director of Communications
Christian Erben (she/her) is Maestro Arts Project ‘s Director of Communications and Executive Assistant. Christian attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, earning her B.A. in Theatre in 2021. Within her theatre degree, Christian primarily focused in stage management, but also worked in the areas of properties and performance. After college, Christian spent a year working in higher education as an admission counselor, recruiting students and assisting them through the application process. She now works as a contract stage manager around the US, specifically in Austin, TX and in Minneapolis, MN.
In high school, she had the privilege of being Rick Garcia’s student. She got involved in the Maestro Arts Project after being asked to perform for teachers at a workshop, and the rest is history. She loves Maestro Arts Project and everything it stands for, and is so excited to be part of the team.

Christian brings her past knowledge in college admission to Maestro and the College Audition Workshops.
MEET THE BOARD
MEET THE BOARD
Meet the people behind
The Maestro Arts Project
Meet the people behind the Maestro Arts Project

Renee Buchanan
President

CHAD BENTLEY
Vice President

DAVID MONTANA
Treasurer

CHRISTIAN ERBEN
Secretary

HEATHER BARFIELD
Board Member
Join the effort
Please help a student or teacher in need!
Where Can I Send A Check Donation?
Maestro Arts Project, C/O David Montana, Treasurer 200 Eastwood Lane, San Marcos, TX 78666
Who Can Accept A Credit or Debit Donation By Phone?
Please call our Treasurer, David Montana at (512) 878-9867
What Email Address Can I Use To Send A PayPal Donation?
relationships@maestroartsproject.com.
Make Online Donation
CLICK HERE
Join the effort
and help a student or teacher in need!
Where Can I Send A Check Donation?
Maestro Arts Project, C/O David Montana, Treasurer 200 Eastwood Lane, San Marcos, TX 78666
Who Can Accept A Credit or Debit Donation By Phone?
Please call our Treasurer, David Montana at (512) 878-9867
What Email Address Can I Use To Send A PayPal Donation?
relationships@maestroartsproject.com
Make Online Donation
CLICK HERE
Where Can I Send A Check Donation?
Maestro Arts Project, C/O David Montana, Treasurer 200 Eastwood Lane, San Marcos, TX 78666
Who Can Accept A Credit or Debit Donation By Phone?
Please call our Treasurer, David Montana at (512) 878-9867
What Email Address Can I Use To Send A PayPal Donation?
relationships@maestroartsproject.com.
Make Online Donation
CLICK HERE