Your passion has a future. Let’s build it.
Whether your student is dreaming of Broadway, a conservatory program, a university theater department, or just figuring out what comes next — this program was built for them.
The New Works & River Alchemy of Creative Arts College Prep Program is a semester-long, free weekly cohort designed to give young artists every tool they need to translate their passion into a plan. Led by a powerhouse team of professional artists, educators, and industry mentors, we cover everything from audition prep and college applications to headshots, résumés, and beyond — with a curriculum shaped around each cohort’s actual goals.
Made possible through the generous support of our donors, this program is offered completely free to our students. Comparable programs run $200–$300. Ours is on us.
Sessions meet Fridays, 5:30–7:00 PM at River Alchemy of Creative Arts, 2600 S Flores St Unit 4A, San Antonio, TX 78204.
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Every week is built around what your student actually needs — but here’s what the semester typically includes:
• Exploring post-grad pathways: college, conservatory, trade school, and professional work
• The college application roadmap — timelines, deadlines, and staying organized
• Auditions, prescreens, and callbacks: what to expect and how to prepare
• How to stand out on paper: essays, letters of rec, and test scores
• Headshots, artistic résumés, and your professional brand
• Using theater skills to earn scholarships — even at non-arts schools
• Real audition coaching: song selection, peer feedback, and practice in a safe space
Our curriculum is student-driven. We come in with a plan, and we adapt it to you.
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Each Friday session runs 90 minutes and blends information with real, hands-on work. Some weeks are discussion-based — mentors sharing what they wish they’d known. Others are workshops, where students are actively building their audition books, refining their materials, or getting feedback in a supportive cohort setting.
By the end of the semester, every student leaves with:
• A personalized post-grad roadmap
• An organized application timeline
• At least one polished audition song in their book
• A strong foundation for their headshots and résumé
• A community of peers going through the same process
No pressure. No gatekeeping. Just real guidance from people who’ve been there.
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This program is designed for current New Works juniors and seniors who are thinking seriously about life after high school — whether that’s a BFA program, a conservatory, a university with a strong theater department, or a professional path in the arts.
Sophomores with a clear sense of direction are welcome to inquire — we review these on a case-by-case basis.
No matter where you’re starting from, this program meets you there. Many of our students are first-generation college students without easy access to this kind of guidance. That’s exactly who we built this for.
Free. • Professional. • First-Generation Friendly. • Mentor-Led. • Student-Shaped. • San Antonio’s Own. • Real Industry Experience. • Your Future Starts Here. •
Free. • Professional. • First-Generation Friendly. • Mentor-Led. • Student-Shaped. • San Antonio’s Own. • Real Industry Experience. • Your Future Starts Here. •
Audition Coaching. • College Application Roadmaps. • Headshots & Résumés. • Scholarship Strategy. • Song Selection. • Callbacks & Prescreens. • Peer Feedback. • No Cost to You. •
Audition Coaching. • College Application Roadmaps. • Headshots & Résumés. • Scholarship Strategy. • Song Selection. • Callbacks & Prescreens. • Peer Feedback. • No Cost to You. •
What makes this different
Built Around You
No two students have the same goals, and no two sessions look exactly the same. We start every semester by listening to what students need, what they’re nervous about, and where they want to go. Then we build from there.
Real Industry Mentors
Your student will be coached by Broadway performers, ATAC Award-winning choreographers, working directors, and educators with decades of combined experience. Not worksheets. Not videos. Real people who know this world.
Completely Free
This program is offered at no cost to students or families, made possible by the generous support of our donors. Programs like this typically cost $200–$500. We believe access to guidance shouldn’t be a luxury.
Meet your mentors
EB Mota (they/them)
EB Mota is a proud San Antonio native and triple-threat performer with a BFA in Musical Theatre & Dance from Sam Houston State University and a graduate of the North East School of the Arts. They made their Broadway debut at Madison Square Garden in 2018 and have performed across the country on 12 national touring contracts, with credits including A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Hair, Fame, and Tarzan.
Locally, EB is a multiple ATAC Award-winning choreographer and has been seen in Midsummer Sueño, Footloose, and Tarzan at the Woodlawn. As co-owner of River Alchemy of Creative Arts, they’ve built a space rooted in creativity, healing, and empowerment — and they bring that same spirit to every student they mentor.
"My hope is that I serve as a constant reminder that dreams really do come true, even when it feels like all the cards are stacked against you. If you can envision it, it can happen."
Co-Owner, River Alchemy of Creative Arts | Teaching Artist | Broadway Performer
Stephan Gaeth (he/him)
Stephan Gaeth has been a cornerstone of the San Antonio arts community for over 20 years — as a performer, director, choreographer, yoga teacher, artist, and poet. He’s the founder and former operator of The Uptown Studio and Wild Meadows Arts Collective, and now co-owner of River Alchemy of Creative Arts in Southtown.
Stephan’s approach to teaching is built on love — love for the craft, for this city, and for the artists in it. He brings warmth, creative depth, and a genuine investment in every student’s growth.
Co-Owner, River Alchemy of Creative Arts | Actor, Director, Choreographer, Yoga Teacher
Jo Jones is the Artistic Director of New Works SA and a dedicated theater artist with roots across Texas’ most vibrant theater communities. A graduate of Texas State University’s theater program, Jo has spent the majority of their career in the professional theater world — including extensive work in Houston’s thriving scene — before bringing that experience home to invest in San Antonio’s next generation of artists.
As a director, actor, and mentor, Jo leads with both artistry and heart, creating a rehearsal room and learning environment where students feel seen, challenged, and supported.
Artistic Director, New Works SA | Actor, Director, Teaching ArtistJo Jones (they/them)
Education Director, New Works SA | Teaching Artist | High School Educator
Andrew Walker (he/him)
Andrew Walker is the Education Director of New Works SA and brings a rare combination of professional theater training and formal education expertise to his work with students. A graduate of Trinity University’s theater program, he studied and performed at one of San Antonio’s most prestigious arts institutions before earning his teaching certification.
Andrew currently teaches at a San Antonio high school, where he works with students every day on the exact challenges this program addresses. He understands both the artistic and academic worlds our students are navigating — and he shows up for them in both.
More About
River Alchemy of Creative Arts
The New Works College Prep Program is proudly hosted at River Alchemy of Creative Arts and this partnership is about a lot more than sharing a space.
River Alchemy is a one-of-a-kind creative arts studio in San Antonio’s Southtown neighborhood, built on the pillars of Diversity, Art, Performance, Community, and Empowerment. Founded and operated by EB Mota and Stephan Gaeth — two of this program’s lead mentors — RACA offers an eclectic, inclusive range of classes for artists of all levels: ballet, improv, yoga, dance, theater, and more, taught by some of the city’s most talented and thoughtful practitioners.
What drew us to this partnership wasn’t just the space — it was the values. River Alchemy was built for exactly the kind of artist we serve: someone who is passionate, community-rooted, and deserving of a place that meets them with both professionalism and warmth. When we started designing this program, collaborating with RACA felt less like a logistics decision and more like the obvious next step.
Together, New Works SA and River Alchemy bring students something rare: a team that spans formal education, professional performance, national touring, Broadway, local theater, and community arts — all under one roof, all invested in the same goal. We want your student to leave this program not just prepared for what’s next, but genuinely excited about it.
Curious about River Alchemy? Visit their space to explore their full class schedule — adult classes, workshops, and private lessons available year-round.
River Alchemy of Creative Arts
2600 S Flores St Unit 4A, San Antonio, TX 78204
Southtown, San Antonio