Welcome to our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Here, team members from administrators to designers to teachers answer questions about themselves. Have a question you want us to add to the list? Leave a comment!
About Macy
Macy Hernandez began her time with Compass in 2016 as the Education Apprentice, then transferred into the Camp Coordinator role (2017-18). She has also been Compass' workshop educator for the Waukegan Park District. She has not yet played a character from a Compass play, but would love to play The Queen in Peas and Harmony, which happens to be Macy's favorite Compass play! The show is based off of the beloved story, Princess and the Pea, which is a tale she used to read growing up. She says, "Compass’ version of the story is hilarious. All of the characters are laugh out loud funny in their own way. The Queen and The Peas are my favorite characters because they remind me of the dynamic I have with my preschool class! There’s also a cute dance party that the Peas have in the show and I giggle every time it happens; It’s so cute!".
Macy posing with Compass campers (Summer 2016)
#1 You’re stranded on a deserted island, but you have food and water. What are three things you’d want to have with you?
- A blanket because I’m always cold. Plus, you can use the blanket for a variety of things like a bed, a fort, a pillow, you can create a bag out of it, and more! It’s just so useful.
- My dog, Biggie. He’d be great company to have.
- My bag of toiletries. I need and love to be clean!
| #2 What teams did you belong to when you were growing up? I was a very busy little girl. I was involved with community theaters like Fox Valley Theatre Company and Children’s Theatre of Elgin. I also used to be a figure skater. I skated from the ages of 6-15. If you let me borrow some ice skates, I could probably show you some cool tricks! In high school, I was on the Speech and Drama Team. I performed in many acting events; Humorous and Dramatic Duet Acting, Prose Reading, and Impromptu Speaking. I was also heavily involved in my school's drama department. |  Macy performing as Charlotte in South Elgin High School's 2008 production of Charlotte's Web |
#3 Soup or salad?
That’s tough because I love both any time of the year, but I’m more likely to have soups in the winter and salads in the summer! However, I can’t eat either without a side of warm bread.
#4 Cake or pie?
Pie. There’s some sentiment to that dessert. In college, my friends and I would go to a restaurant called The Village Inn (located mostly in the Quad City area). We’d specifically go on Wednesdays because they offer free pie on those days. Eating pie always reminds me of the good memories I had with my college friends!
#5 Top five favorite snacks:
(In no particular order)
#6 What’s the practical skill in your life that you’re most proud of?
I can assemble furniture! Thank you to my college stagecraft class for teaching me how to use power tools and how to build stuff!
#7 What’s something you do to relax?
My go-to for relaxation is being under a warm blanket as I catch up on a TV show or a movie.
I also love working out and moving my body, whether that’s completing an at home workout, dancing, going for a run or a walk, or even stretching. Moving my body helps me destress and loosen up!
#8 What’s your favorite kind of cookie? How do you prefer to eat it?
Oatmeal chocolate chip is my favorite cookie! I prefer to eat it when it’s warm, crispy around the edges and perfectly gooey in the middle. Pair it with a warm cup of your favorite tea and it’s a winning combination.
#9 Describe your favorite mug.
It's a large white mug painted blue on the inside. The mug reads "Goal for today: Keep the tiny humans alive". As a preschool teacher, this quote fits well with my daily life.
#10 Why do you live in Chicago?
My parents immigrated to the U.S before I was born and we’ve stayed in the Chicagoland area ever since. I currently live in the Chicago suburbs, but I love where I’m at because I can do activities in the city AND the suburbs. There’s so much to do in Chicagoland. If food is your thing you can eat at so many great restaurants. If art is your thing, there are tons of places to see a show or visit a museum. If sports are your thing, we’re home to some of the greatest teams in the history of sports (GO BULLS!). And these are just a few of my favorite things. I’ve lived here for 28 years and there’s still plenty I have yet to explore! Honestly, no other city can compare. Chicago will ALWAYS be home.
#11 If you were going to live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be and why would you live there?
I’ve always wanted to live in California because the sun is always shining and the warm weather is nice. There’s also so many things to do and explore when you’re on the West Coast like the beach, going on a hike, visiting theme parks, restaurants, and more. My favorite place to be in California is the Griffith Observatory. I love how it overlooks Los Angeles while also allowing you to stargaze (my favorite activity). More importantly, I just love the vibe that the West Coast gives. It’s a state full of carefree, enthusiastic, goal-driven, hardworking, life-loving people.
#12 If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
I have a couple alternative careers in mind. One, I think I’d be a chef. I love the feeling you get when someone eats the food you’ve created and they rave about how delicious it tasted. Two, I'd love to be a hair stylist. I've always been told I was good at hair and I think I'd enjoy helping others feel confident about themselves after they leave a salon.
#13 What do you love about being an artist?
I’d like to think artists have a special super power. I love that we have the ability to find beauty in anything. I think having an artistic eye allows you to see the world in a different way. What’s even more beautiful is that we can take the art that we make and bring all kinds of people together.
That’s tough because I love both any time of the year, but I’m more likely to have soups in the winter and salads in the summer! However, I can’t eat either without a side of warm bread.
#4 Cake or pie?
Pie. There’s some sentiment to that dessert. In college, my friends and I would go to a restaurant called The Village Inn (located mostly in the Quad City area). We’d specifically go on Wednesdays because they offer free pie on those days. Eating pie always reminds me of the good memories I had with my college friends!
#5 Top five favorite snacks:
(In no particular order)
- Veggies and Hummus
- Watermelon
- Honeycrisp apples and peanut butter (or cookie butter)
- Tortilla chips and guacamole
- Goldfish
#6 What’s the practical skill in your life that you’re most proud of?
I can assemble furniture! Thank you to my college stagecraft class for teaching me how to use power tools and how to build stuff!
#7 What’s something you do to relax?
My go-to for relaxation is being under a warm blanket as I catch up on a TV show or a movie.
I also love working out and moving my body, whether that’s completing an at home workout, dancing, going for a run or a walk, or even stretching. Moving my body helps me destress and loosen up!
#8 What’s your favorite kind of cookie? How do you prefer to eat it?
Oatmeal chocolate chip is my favorite cookie! I prefer to eat it when it’s warm, crispy around the edges and perfectly gooey in the middle. Pair it with a warm cup of your favorite tea and it’s a winning combination.
#9 Describe your favorite mug.
It's a large white mug painted blue on the inside. The mug reads "Goal for today: Keep the tiny humans alive". As a preschool teacher, this quote fits well with my daily life.
#10 Why do you live in Chicago?
My parents immigrated to the U.S before I was born and we’ve stayed in the Chicagoland area ever since. I currently live in the Chicago suburbs, but I love where I’m at because I can do activities in the city AND the suburbs. There’s so much to do in Chicagoland. If food is your thing you can eat at so many great restaurants. If art is your thing, there are tons of places to see a show or visit a museum. If sports are your thing, we’re home to some of the greatest teams in the history of sports (GO BULLS!). And these are just a few of my favorite things. I’ve lived here for 28 years and there’s still plenty I have yet to explore! Honestly, no other city can compare. Chicago will ALWAYS be home.
#11 If you were going to live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be and why would you live there?
I’ve always wanted to live in California because the sun is always shining and the warm weather is nice. There’s also so many things to do and explore when you’re on the West Coast like the beach, going on a hike, visiting theme parks, restaurants, and more. My favorite place to be in California is the Griffith Observatory. I love how it overlooks Los Angeles while also allowing you to stargaze (my favorite activity). More importantly, I just love the vibe that the West Coast gives. It’s a state full of carefree, enthusiastic, goal-driven, hardworking, life-loving people.
#12 If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
I have a couple alternative careers in mind. One, I think I’d be a chef. I love the feeling you get when someone eats the food you’ve created and they rave about how delicious it tasted. Two, I'd love to be a hair stylist. I've always been told I was good at hair and I think I'd enjoy helping others feel confident about themselves after they leave a salon.
#13 What do you love about being an artist?
I’d like to think artists have a special super power. I love that we have the ability to find beauty in anything. I think having an artistic eye allows you to see the world in a different way. What’s even more beautiful is that we can take the art that we make and bring all kinds of people together.
 Macy's dog, Biggie after a long walk in the park.  Macy's orange tabby cat, Memphis, caught yawning after being awaken from a nap! | #14 Tell us about your pet or your future pet. I have two pets, Biggie and Memphis. Biggie is a 6 year old Maltipoo (Maltese & Poodle mix) who is happiest when he’s surrounded by people. Memphis is an orange tabby cat (we’re unsure of his age) who loves to eat, sleep, and knock things over with his paws. Biggie came into my life in 2017. My cousin got him as a puppy when they lived in California. They eventually moved back to Chicago and realized they weren't able to take care of him. Instead of giving him to a shelter, I took Biggie in and the rest is history. Memphis came into our lives in 2016. Funny story, my brother was living in Chicago at the time. He was getting in his car after work. He opened his car door and in jumps this orange cat. The cat sat in the back seat and refused to leave. My brother took him in the shelter to see if he had an owner. He didn’t. So, we adopted Memphis and he’s been with us ever since! |
#15 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings attached?
First, I would cry happy tears. Then I’d:
First, I would cry happy tears. Then I’d:
- Pay off all of my debt
- Buy my childhood home
- Travel the world with my friends and family
- Buy multiple homes in multiple cities
- Go shopping to expand my clothing collection
#16 Tell us about your favorite non-artist job.
I used to work for American Eagle Outfitters. While most dislike working in retail, I actually enjoyed my retail experience. Each day was different than the last. One day I could be selling jeans, the next day I could be running the cash registers, and the next I could be creating visually appealing merchandise displays. I enjoyed the fast-paced work environment. What I loved most about this job was that I loved being able to style customers and bring out confidence in them they didn’t know they had! The discounts for the clothes weren’t half bad either :)
I used to work for American Eagle Outfitters. While most dislike working in retail, I actually enjoyed my retail experience. Each day was different than the last. One day I could be selling jeans, the next day I could be running the cash registers, and the next I could be creating visually appealing merchandise displays. I enjoyed the fast-paced work environment. What I loved most about this job was that I loved being able to style customers and bring out confidence in them they didn’t know they had! The discounts for the clothes weren’t half bad either :)
Macy showing off a favorite outfit she styled together from American Eagle Outfitters (2014).
#17 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?
Washing the dishes. I grew up only washing dishes with my hands because my parents have always told me:
They are from the Philippines so culturally it’s just common to wash by hand and this is a custom I just naturally picked up. Anyway, washing dishes by hand makes my hands really dry and I also hate the feeling of putting my hands in dirty dishwater. Yuck.
(fun fact: My first time using a dishwasher was in 2018. It was amazing and fast, but it just didn’t feel right to use. Ha! )
#18 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?
I love performance day (Friday)! It’s a day where all the things we’ve been working on are being put together. I love being able to see how much the students have grown since the beginning of the process and showcasing their hard work to their number one fans!
#19 What’s your favorite kids’ movie?
The Princess Diaries. I will never get tired of this movie! Or anything by Disney, honestly!
Washing the dishes. I grew up only washing dishes with my hands because my parents have always told me:
- Using a dishwasher wastes water
- A dishwasher doesn’t clean your dishes as well as by hand
They are from the Philippines so culturally it’s just common to wash by hand and this is a custom I just naturally picked up. Anyway, washing dishes by hand makes my hands really dry and I also hate the feeling of putting my hands in dirty dishwater. Yuck.
(fun fact: My first time using a dishwasher was in 2018. It was amazing and fast, but it just didn’t feel right to use. Ha! )
#18 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?
I love performance day (Friday)! It’s a day where all the things we’ve been working on are being put together. I love being able to see how much the students have grown since the beginning of the process and showcasing their hard work to their number one fans!
#19 What’s your favorite kids’ movie?
The Princess Diaries. I will never get tired of this movie! Or anything by Disney, honestly!
| #20 What’s your biggest moment of 2019? Biggest moment of 2019 was starting my own theatre company in the Chicago suburbs! I am a Co-Founder of The Hourglass Collective. The Hourglass Collective is a theatrical organization devoted to forging diverse onstage opportunities for minority voices by way of non-traditional casting and producing works spanning various genres. We strive to create a unique space where the often overlooked can entertain, inspire, and empower the members of our community. |  |
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