MARFA
Marfa Live Arts is teaming up with Marfa ISD, The Chinati Foundation and other area nonprofits once again for the 2026 installment of Summer Shake-Up, with Marfa Live Arts guiding students through a playwriting program with a musical bent from June 1 through 4.
The program, according to Marfa Live Arts’ lead instructor and technical director, Fatima Anaza, will incorporate a musical element with a live band scoring the final product of the workshop. “I wouldn’t say it will exactly fit the definition of a musical, but there will be more singing and dancing,” Anaza explained of the planned program. “We did a little bit with musical elements last year, but this year will be bigger than ever. I think every year we have exceeded what we thought we were going to do.”
The week, Anaza explained, will have the students navigate the process of writing a play: from plot development to character creation and everything in between. “The kids are really making their own script with adult support,” she said. “We will all make a play together where the kids are creating character names and casting roles. As the adults, our goal is to help what they’re trying to do and support them in their creative ideas.”
This year’s use of a live band will be led by El Paso-based filmmaker (and former Marfa resident) Joe Salinas, who will be joined by other area musicians to lead some of the students in scoring the final production, which will be a performance at Hibbitts Gym on June 4. “Through Marfa ISD with the support of MEF, we will have access to instruments, so if the kids show up and are like, ‘I want to play the guitar,’ we will get them in the band,” he said.
For Salinas, his role will be less about playing and more about conducting the student musicians and guiding them through how to score for theater. “I’ll be helping them get acquainted and more familiar with their instruments and also teaching them techniques of scriptwriting,” he said, adding that he hopes the program can help the students understand that there are opportunities in the world for musicians, writers, and creatives of all types. “I hope it helps in waking them up to know that there’s music conservatories and scholarships and all these things that are accessible if they’re interested in things like that.”
The band element, Anaza added, will bring an exciting new feature to the program and the performance. “It’s going to be cool having this different energy and to get new voices in the room,” she said. “It’s fun to see how it’s grown since I started doing this three years ago. There’s also a core group of about eight kids who’ve done it with us every year, so the goal this year is to provide a new, different experience. Joe being there is really exciting along with support from other visiting artists, including Abby Place, Zain Sheikh, Alex Walker and Gillian Walsh. It’s going to be a talented crew of people to come and mentor the kids.”
For more information on Marfa Live Arts programs, please visit marfalivearts.org or for theater camp email info@marfalivearts.org.