Sunday, May 19, 2024
In the heart of Granbury, a family of four is redefining the meaning of artful living. Meet the Stanfields: Jason, Sally, and their two children, Blaire and Tanner. For them, art is not just a hobby or a career; it’s a way of life that brings joy, purpose, and a sense of community.
A Love Story Painted in Shades of Green
Jason and Sally Stanfield have been married for almost 16 years. While Jason is a Granbury native and a 2001 graduate of Granbury High School, Sally moved to the area in 2007 after growing up in Austin. The couple met at a stoplight party while they were both students at Tarleton State University, where attendees wear colors to signify their relationship status. “You would wear green if you were single, yellow if you weren’t looking, and red if you were in a relationship. We always say we met because of the color green,” Sally recalls with a smile. Jason insists he was unaware of the event’s theme, but Sally has her doubts. “He has stuck to this story since we met,” she adds, laughing.
Educating the Next Generation
Both Jason and Sally are educators at Weatherford High School, where they teach skills that extend beyond the classroom. Jason teaches electrical, plumbing, and construction, relishing the opportunity to impart life skills to his students. “I enjoy teaching students skills they can use throughout their lives, regardless of whether it falls in their career paths,” he says.
Sally, an art teacher, finds immense joy in nurturing the creative talents of her students. “Watching their growth and success as artists and humans is enormously rewarding,” she shares.
A Family Affair: The Stanfields Take the Stage
The family’s involvement in theatre began when their daughter, Blaire, attended a spring break camp at the Granbury Theatre Company (GTC). “She had seen the GTC production of ‘Mary Poppins’ and was simply mesmerized,” Sally recounts. Soon after, Tanner joined in, and the family’s love for theatre grew exponentially. Even Jason, who took a bit longer to enter the theatrical world, has been in five productions since his debut in October 2022.
Between the Granbury Theatre Company and Academy and the Plaza Theatre Company in Cleburne, the Stanfields have collectively participated in numerous shows, with Blaire leading the pack with 29 shows and four Junior Theater Festival (JTF) troupes. Sally noted the entire family has performed in two shows, “Miracle on 34th Street” and “The Music Man.”
Unforgettable Moments
The family’s responses are heartfelt when asked about their favorite memories on stage. Sally cherishes the moments she shared with Blaire in “Matilda.” “I can’t imagine anything being quite as special,” she says. Jason finds joy in watching his children shine, while Tanner loves the comedic aspects of theatre. For Blaire, art means happiness and the opportunity to do what she loves.
The Heartbeat of a Community
For the Stanfields, the arts are more than just a pastime; they are a cornerstone of their lives and the community at large. “The arts are what connect us,” Sally explains. Jason sees it as a collaborative effort to create beautiful stories. At the same time, Tanner believes that “everything in life is art in its own way.”
Blaire sums it up perfectly: “For the community, it inspires them, or it brings them happiness to simply see others making art.”
In a world where the hustle and bustle often drown out the finer things in life, the Stanfield family serves as a beautiful reminder of what it means to live artfully. Through their passion for education, theatre, and community, they paint a vivid picture of a life well-lived, one brushstroke and one curtain call at a time.
