Lisa Cerezo is a music teacher/semi-professional singer/who also dabbles in theater — turned entrepreneur. Lisa, her husband Jason and another business partner are currently trying to raise funds and gain support for the performance café they plan to open later this year in downtown Champaign called Café Extraordinaire. Currently in the running for a Pepsi Refresh project grant, the cafe will be an open-stage all-access space for local performers (with a focus on magic), coupled with a late-night coffee shop. Lisa and Jason have three sons — Andrew, 13; David, 9; and Matthew, 5 — and the family lives in Champaign.
See why we think Lisa Cerezo is a Chambana Mom to Know.
Q: Why should we take the time to vote for the Pepsi Refresh grant for Café Extraordinaire?
Besides being the only local organization in the running this month (no divided loyalties here!), I feel that the café would fill a very real need in this community. Along with repurposing an unused building in downtown and contributing to the local performing arts scene, the café would provide a place for local entertainers that is designed with them in mind. A smaller stage is more accessible in terms of money and availability, and a smaller house makes for a more encouraging experience for the developing performer. Also, we’ve noticed that there is a desire for casual hangout spaces downtown, including late-night, and that’s a niche we want to fill. It took a lot for me to realize that just because you’re not part of an established performing arts groups, that doesn’t mean you can’t get out there and do your own thing. Unless there’s no place that actually fits what you’re trying to do. We particularly noticed this with magicians, which is why we’ve chosen magic as our focus for the café.
Q: Will the cafe be family-friendly? How?
One of the things we’d like to do is reach out to youth theater and young performers. I feel like weekends are a great time to focus on family-friendly events. (I wouldn’t recommend our late-night entertainment for kids, though!) I kind of ascribe to the idea of everything in its own time; there’s a time and place for everything, including family-themed events, and I would like to see the café be able to accommodate any situation.
Q: Why magic? Why Champaign-Urbana?
One of the things that people don’t realize is what a rich culture of magic has developed in this area, thanks in large part to Andy Dallas. His presence here is such an encouragement to aspiring performers, but without a proper space to showcase that talent, it goes by largely unnoticed. It was my husband’s friendship with local magician Jace Hoppes that really introduced us to the magic scene here in town, which was what inspired the three of us to work together to create this café.
Q: What is it like to work closely with your husband on this project?
It definitely has its ups and downs! We’re both creative people, and we’re both stubborn defenders of our ideas, so it’s been a real exercise in patience and teamwork to truly explore each other’s point of view. But in general, it’s really exciting, and it’s extremely helpful to have such a trustworthy partner. We can each take turns inspiring and motivating each other. Also, it really helps to have a third business partner (our friend Jace) who can look at each of our ideas objectively and help keep the three of us on track. It’s a really great dynamic overall.
Q: You have three sons. What are the best and worst parts of being a mom to boys?
Having grown up with only a sister, I was really nervous about raising boys. But my husband has been such an amazing dad, and he was really wonderful about allaying my fears and supporting me as a parent from day one. Worst part about raising boys? Well, they’re not especially…tidy. And i still have a hard time accepting the rough-and-tumble part. It’s a struggle. Best part? In general, they’re all pretty even-tempered boys, which makes resolving conflicts a lot easier than I would have expected. They’re just really good, kind, smart boys, and I think together we’ve made a pretty good family.
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