TORRIE IN TEXAS

Ticketing Manager, Personal Assistant, ALW Entertainment If Madea’s theatrical antics made you laugh until your stomach hurt, or you got your praise on at a gospel concert, you probably enjoyed the hard work of Torrie Ortiz. Bringing events from thought to conception is this Dallas native’s specialty as ticketing manager and personal assistant to Al Wash of ALW Entertainment.Ortiz’s career in music began in 1990 when she released an album with the group All Access.“I have been around music most of my life,” Ortiz reflects. “My dad played trumpet for Johnnie Taylor.”Interestingly enough, Ortiz comes from a uniquely talented pedigree, as her mother Soukaa is a local artist whose work was recently featured at the Dallas Arts Gala.Ortiz says patience, focus while multitasking, and a great attitude are all necessary attributes for her work. “My day really never ends,” Ortiz notes. “I may be doing anything from payroll to putting shows on sale and insuring them, to taking a lot of Al’s phone calls. I’m like his Condoleezza.”Ortiz will be tremendously busy in the coming weeks, as Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns and Madea Goes to Jail, What's Done In The Dark tour simultaneously through May.Looking towards the future, Ortiz plans to follow in Wash’s footsteps as a concert promoter. “If not that, I’ll go into artist management or something in that direction,” she says. “[I’m looking forward to] doing that half the time and spending the other half with my family.” –eric d. watersFor more information on these events, visit www.ALWE.com.