For the past 41 years, the B. Iden Payne Awards have recognized outstanding work from the theatre community in Austin. Among the honorees this year, the award for Outstanding Featured Actress went to Taylor Flanagan for her performance as young Gabrielle York in When The Rain Stops Falling. On top of putting on award-winning performances, Taylor leads the Theatre and Spanish classes at ATA College Prep.

“Taylor is a quick study and has been able to effectively play multiple roles at College Prep – from registrar to event planner to general organizer to an inspirational Spanish teacher,” said CP Director Carol Hagar. “But it is in her roles as Theatre teacher, director and actress that we see her fully represented. Her ability to integrate the arts into each of her classes not only increases student enjoyment of the class, but also stimulates brain targets, memory retrieval, and the neuroscience of learning.  As an extension of applied learning and exposure to the arts, we look forward to CP students attending Austin’s production of Dracula and seeing Mrs. Flanagan perform live and on stage.”

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Taylor adds this accolade to an already impressive resume in Austin theatre. She won her first Payne award for Outstanding Youth Performer for her role in The Visit. She also starred in dance-based show Parents/Kids Dance Party, as well as scripted shows like Casket of Passing Fancy, All Too Human, Sun and Moon, and dozens more.

“I am really touched that people were affected enough by this show and my performance to give them special recognition,” Taylor said. “And I was extremely honored to be nominated alongside the other actresses in my category.  Being named in the same category as these women was a big deal for me.”

While it’s been a busy year for her on stage – she played Mina in Dracula at The Vortex last month – Taylor’s foundations in theatre date back to classes when she was 5 years old growing up in Austin. Around that time she met Carol Hagar.

taylor mina

“I’ve known Carol since I can remember,” Taylor said. “We were a part of the same homeschooling community (Austin Area Homeschoolers).  This group was really close-knit, so I grew up with a huge extended family of peers, teachers and mentors.  I also grew up taking theatre classes with her kids, so she’s been there for some of my most embarrassing and exhilarating moments onstage. And now, as my boss, she continues to see me through some of my greatest challenges and successes on a daily basis.”

The two qualities that resonate from Taylor’s background with Carol are also what feed her continued passion for theatre: opportunities to learn and shared community.

“Every play is an opportunity to learn something new.  I have learned so much in rehearsal: projection, stage combat, dialects, Shakespearean verse, history, psychology, geography, singing, memorization techniques, different ways people overcome hardship, marketing tactics, stretching, empathy, golf, recipes for fake blood, you name it,” Taylor said. “I love the connection you make with your team and the wonderful conversations that theatre can spark with people.”

On top of leading Theatre at CP, Taylor also teaches Spanish. She was initially drawn to the language so she could communicate with all of the Spanish speakers in Austin, but dove in on a scholarly level in college.

Taylor class

“I did various study abroad programs in Spanish-speaking countries and taught Spanish-speaking children in elementary schools in Peru, Guatemala and right here in Austin before I started teaching Spanish as a foreign language at ATA CP,” Taylor said.

Taylor brings a passionate dedication to her students through her engaging and warm personality. It is no surprise that as she thrives in her role as a teacher, those two core characteristics are still common themes in her life: learning and community.

“CP sees everyone as a whole person,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen it in our approach to our students, but I’ve also felt it as a teacher here.  The CP environment regularly helps me look beyond my degree and certifications to learn, grow, and share more of my potential as a teacher and as a person.  It is a very empowering place to work and I am extremely grateful for my College Prep family.”

Tonight, Taylor begins rehearsals for her next role in As You Like It with Shrewd Productions at Trinity Street Theatre running Feb 19-March 5th. Learn more here.