Testimonials

“Joe or as I call him Joe Joe is not only an amazing teacher he is also an amazing mentor. Joe has taught me so much in a short time of knowing him. He has pushed me to new levels I never knew existed. His directing style allows you to explore the character or show you are working on. Joe has also been an amazing mentor with helping me with things that happen outside of the theatre work and I am forever thankful. One thing of many things he has taught me was to enjoy making mistakes because you learn more each time you make one. He’s all about learning and growing together. ”

“Working and collaborating with Joe Hernandez has been nothing short of a pleasure. He is one of the most influential people that have entered my life in recent years and I feel so blessed to have met him. He is one of those people that will do everything in his power to help others succeed. His passion for the arts and ability to inspire his students is truly incredible and special. Joe is the type of teacher that everyone should have in their life. He has shown me the potential in myself, and what I am capable of pursuing. I have grown as a performer exponentially because of him and my confidence has tripled. He has been a mentor, advocate, friend, and supporter since day one and I know he will continue to be there for me in the future. Joe has helped me pave a path for my future and I am deeply grateful for him.”

“Joe has been such a great teacher and mentor. He’s always supportive and encouraging, but he will also challenge me when I need it. As a director, his creative process involves collaboration and inventive thinking. After every class and rehearsal with Joe, I feel like I’ve made another step toward becoming a better artist and person.”

“Always eager to put his students first, Joe makes it a point to create a personal connection with his students. He offers a safe space to talk, debate, cry, or whatever the student may need. That personal connection makes him more approachable and allows the student to be vulnerable. He allows the student to find things for themselves by allowing them to try things independently, but simultaneously being available to help if the student needs it.”

“Joe is always looking to challenge and grow others in honest and innovative environments. Growth is hard, but nothing worth aiming for isn’t! Thankfully, Joe will never stop reminding you to ‘do it with love.”

“Joe Hernandez is a mentor and a teacher who manages to see the potential in his students and inspires them to grow to it. He is a director who is highly collaborative and creates an inventive and safe space for actors to play. He is great to work with because he has boundless energy, a generosity of spirit, and a critical eye; this creates a beautiful balance of both an atmosphere of trust and a striving for excellence. I think what sets him apart from other teachers is he not only pushes students to excel, but he inspires them to find that drive within themselves.”

“Joe gave me the opportunity to serve as his assistant director, but the role felt much more than just his assistant. What I learned through this is Joe is not afraid to push you because he knows you are capable of great things. Not only did he continue to nudge me out of my comfort zone, but he did that with his students as well. As a young adult, it’s hard to be vulnerable around your mentors and peers. Joe helps his students break down those walls. He opens himself up in order for them to trust him. This encourages them to be fully developed characters onstage and better artists off stage.”

“Joe helped challenge me to explore options before ruling them out, and taught me that without taking risks you miss out on amazing experiences. I am so blessed to have someone I respect as much as Joe that can go to with questions or for advice, and I am so grateful for all he has done to help me grow in all aspects of life. I truly admire the way he invests in students and seeks to help them achieve great things.”

“Joe never failed to create a safe environment equipped with encouragement and trust, in which it became easy to create and share. I am glad that I have a mentor like Joe Hernandez, and I expect students to continue to be affected by him the way I have been.”

“Working with Joe is what inspired me to pursue theatre. He told me, “you know you can have this much fun every day, you can do this as a career.” The love that Joe has for this art form lights up a room. I have never met a more encouraging, thoughtful, or inspiring director than Joe Hernandez. He pushed me to reach past my potential and to be my trusted self through my art. He was the first to believe in my capabilities, and in return, I was able to have confidence in the passions gifted to me. Joe showed me what it means to be a director; he cares for his student’s growth as well as their well being. He is a storyteller and inspires those around him to be creators as well, and I will always treasure my time with him.”

“As a stage manager I have watched every rehearsal and the inspiration, drive, and passion Joe leads his casts to, as a director, is what reminds me of my love for theatre every day. The work I do for his productions has reminded me of why I do theatre and why theatre is needed.”

“To Joe, teaching and directing are more than just a job to be done. The focus is on helping students see the potential in themselves to become the best they can be. He takes his work seriously but also knows the importance of having some good old fashioned fun while doing that work. I have learned more from Joe than I could ever have anticipated - about teaching and directing, but also about what it means to be a good human being. Once Joe decides to invest in you, you will never find yourself at a loss for guidance, direction, or a quality talk. I always had a love for theater, but Joe inspired an attachment to it that will continue to grow”

“Joe Hernandez is and will always be more than just a professor. Although he is an incredible teacher, he is also a motivator, a mentor, a listening ear and a man that pushes his students beyond their own expectations. Joe has the ability and gift to ignite passion into his friends, colleagues and students.”

“Joe is one of my favorite directors/professors I’ve had the opportunity to work with & learn from. His approach to tackling the script, extensive table work, and the dedication to finding out the story and the best way to tell it is fascinating; how well he treats his actors & truly makes you feel appreciated but without letting you get too comfortable (you are always on your toes in his productions) is so genius. Genuine is the best word I can use to describe him & I am so glad our paths crossed!”

“Joe has an unparalleled drive which ensures his collaborators and colleagues perform at their top potential. He holds himself to the highest standard and expects the same of his team.
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““Joe and I met when I was a freshman in high school. He has challenged me as an artist to set goals. He has provided opportunities along the way in order for me to reach them. Joe cares nothing more than to meet young artists where they are at and propel them forward into the world and beyond.””

“Joe’s passion and dedication to his craft is contagious and inspiring.”

“My freshman year of college I was coming in already a very passionate theatre artist, but I had never met anyone more passionate about teaching, directing and theatre in general like I was. It was his passion that fed his students to want to be so much more and create so much more, myself included. He always expected his students to have the same burning desire to learn and grow as he did and that fire only built in me the more I was around him. Joe taught me to never give up on my dream and who I am as an actress. I am a stronger and more determined artist because of my time with him.”

“I first saw Joe at a masterclass he gave on “branding the artist”, and I left the class so inspired and ready to work! He later came to our school and taught a 3 week course on the same subject, and it was honestly a life-changer. Joe values hard work, honesty, and a passion for art, and he embodies these qualities at all times. His class was dynamic, and intuitive, and he himself was an extremely powerful force in all our lives.”

“I believe Joe’s greatest strength, as a director, is his ability to bring together a group of artists and create a brand new community. Through this community wonderful, imaginative, and story driven work is created. I had the pleasure of being the lighting designer for his thesis project, Rumors. While working with him, Joe encouraged the cast, crew, and production team to come together as more than a group of people producing a play, but to become a family.”

“Studying with Joe Hernandez has been a turning point in my college career. I have received some of the greatest advice and instruction in our three week class than I have been given in all of my training. Along with his knowledge, his honesty and passion make him stand out from most. He is inspiring as an artist and just a person in general. With what I have gained from him, I feel more prepared than ever to bring my art into the professional world.”

“I’ve known Joe for about five years now, and while his mentorship has shaped me as a theatre artist and practitioner, I am continuously astounded by his ability to adapt to change and his willingness to gain knowledge from every experience and opportunity he encounters. Once you’ve worked with Joe, you have gained so much more than a mentor or a colleague. You now have someone in your corner that will listen to you, encourage you, and fight for you to succeed.”

“Over the past 15 years, I’ve known Joe Hernandez as a performer, teacher, and director, and in that time, I have witnessed his zeal for art and education deepen and expand to a contagious level. His commitment to create and innovate through collaboration while imparting his passion for theatre to his students is the driving force of his professional endeavors.”

“Joe is a truly collaborative artist with big ideas and dreams. He’s constantly looking for new ways to create and interpret theatre, to keep the art he creates relevant and current. Nothing is too lofty for him; he is always willing to give ideas a try, and everything serves as a learning experience. He strives for a positive, open rehearsal process in which everyone is encouraged to bring ideas and to try new things, which makes him great to work with both as a student and as a colleague. He is also endlessly looking to help his students and colleagues to network, make connections, and take the next steps in their careers.”

“Joe’s teaching is an original method. He cares less about the present and more about the future of students. Joe is engaged in helping with the work produced. His classes don’t allow you to fail, but rather give you no choice but to succeed.”

“When I think back on teachers who impacted my life, one of the first to come to mind is Joe Hernandez. His fire and passion for Theatre was evident the moment he stepped in front of our class. I knew whatever he had, I wanted that. Joe made us become better people and artists. He was not going to allow us to be mediocre. He made sure we were challenge every day, on and off the stage.”