Welcome to the Compound
The Mishpocha Woods Compound houses nine neighbors in five dwellings, all artists, playwrights, fiction writers, journalists, theater makers, musicians, performers or a combo thereof. As often as possible, we open our space for creative sprints, theater, music, storytelling, good food and more.
Robin Chotzinoff, General Contractor:
With the help of architect Ryan Bollom, I designed and built the Compound on 1.5 acres in Austin’s venerable Montopolis neighborhood. My husband Eric and I live in Esa Choza, the main house. This picture was taken at the Mi Casa Es Su Teatro 2025, just after I performed Dear Dickies, a one-woman show, with slides, in which I try to persuade Dickies workwear to make me a brand ambassador. (In the process, I confront the haphazard relationship between myself, my body and my clothes.) Almost 50 other performances took place at the Compound that day–exactly what I hoped would happen here when I began building years ago. All my neighbors shared work. One, Malena Pennycook, produced the event.
Vision & Mission
Mishpocha Woods is committed to the pursuit of creative adventure. Ideally, we make this happen through respect and support for our neighborhood, its history, people (living and dead), land and water. We’re always ready to help each other out–with a close read, a first, second or third chance, encouragement (or distraction) and so much collaboration. We appreciate that this could only happen in casual, friendly, eccentric Austin, Texas. At the compound, we believe that no one should have to eat dinner alone unless they want to.
activities–an incomplete list
House concerts (Mariachi Relámpago, Matt the Electrician, Southpaw Jones), bimonthly art class with David Thornberry, playwrights group, The Sprint, Cabaret Montopolis, produced by Natalie George), book launches featuring Adam Soto, Short Story Night, The Paperback Game, unorthodox Jewish Holidays, and Mi Casa Es Su Teatro 2025, back by popular demand in 2026.
motto
Por supuesto, why not?