EMAV 10 Bites: Dulce Valencia - Actor, Writer, and Visual Artist

Dulce Valencia in NYC with Lin-Manuel Miranda.

In every neighborhood, there is someone who makes the Arts a part of their life, and our community. You'd be surprised to discover how many different people use the arts to improve the quality of life in our hometown. EAT MORE ART! VEGAS will feature them regularly in our series "10 Bites."

Check out Dulce Valencia with Lin-Manuel Miranda in Episode 2 of "Dear..." now streaming on Apple TV+.

What kinds of art do you enjoy, create, or perform in?

I am an Actor, writer, and a painter but I practice art in any way I can. I've also in the last year or so gotten more involved in the tech side of theatre through school at UNLV so I've gotten to be involved as a crew member in shows and am set to Assistant Design a show next semester.

Why do you do it?

I do it because I love it and my soul craves art. I also do it because I think art and specifically story telling is crucial for survival. There's so much that we can do and say and I truly believe we can change the world through stories. I also, selfishly do it because I want to see stories that reflect me and my community at the forefront. Latinx people and specifically immigrant stories are still super under-represented in theatre and everywhere and I want to bring those stories to the forefront which is what I'm beginning to do with my writing.

What’s your favorite production/performance experience so far?

Last summer I moved to New York for a few months and a friend of mine was having one of his musicals being read at the Drama League. One of the characters was an undocumented immigrant so he called me in and asked if I'd talk to the production team about my experiences and do some basic dramaturgy. I came in and completely fell in love with the story and characters and then was fortunate enough to read her part for the reading which all just worked out so beautifully and happened over the course of less than a week. What was specifically so memorable about this, was that I got to play a role I identified with completely and the collaborative nature of it all. I would give him feedback or notes and he took them and everyone involved was absolutely wonderful and kind and it was the last thing I did in New York before coming back to Vegas so it felt like I had ended my time there with a golden bow.

Dulce Valencia behind the scenes,

What jobs have you done other than being an artist, or what do you do when you are "at work?"

Since I was 17 I've worked in the political/advocacy non-profit world, working on immigration advocacy and electoral outreach geared towards turning out immigrants and young people to elections. Last Legislative Session I worked in Carson City as the attache for Assemblyman Howard Watts. I am currently very fortunate to be the Deputy Director of Dream Big Nevada an organization that serves the immigrant and undocumented community in Nevada. We do a lot of work connecting people to resources available to them, encouraging those who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) to renew, and we also share stories.

What is an Arts experience that you will never forget or a memorable response to your work?

People are so kind! I've had really positive interactions from someone saying that I was their favorite part or one of my favorites is when I invite friends to see my performances who have never seen or been to a theatre and at the end they're like "I want to see more of this."

One of the most memorable is when I was in Middle School, I made a piece of art for class and one of the teachers at school loved it and wanted to buy it. At that point I wrongly thought that to be considered a "real" artist, you had to have people buying your work so to have someone see value in a class assignment I had done and want to buy it made me feel like a real artist for the first time.

What would you be doing if you weren't performing, creating, or enjoying the Arts in Las Vegas?

Even before I knew what theatre was, I was always telling stories. I truly can't imagine a world where I'm not creating or telling stories.

Name something you love about Las Vegas, and why.

I love the community! We have such a beautiful, vibrant, and kind community here which many people who don't live here are surprised to hear because they think of Vegas as a playground but we have the most amazing and supportive community. I've always said it takes a village to make dreams come true and to me, the Las Vegas community is that village.

Dulce Valencia (c.) with Gebrielle Harris (l.) and Tom Fullerton (r) in "The Grief Dialogues" with The Asylum Theatre.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

I've been given a lot of really great advice over the years. One specifically is "your story deserves to be told." I used to, and sometimes still do, get into this really negative place where I think my story doesn't matter or that I shouldn't tell it because someone else can tell it better, but that's not true. Every story deserves to be told and receiving that advice really put me on a path to being more comfortable writing and sharing my story.

What superpower would you have and why?

Teleportation. Because currently, due to my immigration status I'm not able to leave and visit my family in Mexico and I would love to be able to do that and see them.

What future projects are you looking forward to?

Yes! I'm currently working with a group of Latinx performers during quarantine and we're devising a murder-mystery play. It's a super cool project I'm excited about that. I'm also going to be appearing in an episode of a new show called "Dear..." which premieres on Apple TV on June 5th. In the episode, I am one of the people who reads a letter to Lin-Manuel Miranda telling him how much he's inspired me as an immigrant and artist. I'm super excited about that and to see how the episode turned out and just to tell my story.

Check out Dulce Valencia with Lin-Manuel Miranda in Episode 2 of "Dear..." now streaming on Apple TV+.

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Are you a local artist of any discipline? Do you work with a company as a designer, stagehand or administrative staff? Do you love to experience it as the audience? We'd love to get your 10 Bites to share. Fill out a form here, and you might be featured in a post!

CHECK OUT OUR 10 BITES FEATURE GALLERY HERE

#Theatre #TenBites #VisualArts #vegasdance #EatMoreArt #vegasculture #vegasmusic #VegasIsVegasArts

EMAV 10 Bites: Stanley Jackson, Playwright & Producer

Stanley Jackson, Playwright and Producer at SJM Productions LLC.

In every neighborhood, there is someone who makes the Arts a part of their life, and our community. You'd be surprised to discover how many different people use the arts to improve the quality of life in our hometown. EAT MORE ART! VEGAS will feature them regularly in our series "10 Bites."

What kinds of art do you enjoy, create, or perform in?

Live Stage Productions and Musical Theatre.

Why do you do it?

I love the arts and I love to tell stories visually and through music.

What’s your favorite production/performance experience so far?

My favorite stage play is Fences by August Wilson and A Raisin in the Sun. My favorite production of my own was produced in Vegas last year 2019 STRIVE THE MUSICAL.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist, or what do you do when you are "at work?"

Prior to theater, I was in Corporate America as a Business Development Manager and a retail business owner.

What is an Arts experience that you will never forget or a memorable response to your work?

I adapted a novel to the stage about domestic abuse. The response, the tears, etc we saw in the lobby after the show was very touching and served as confirmation that what we do in the art makes a difference.

What would you be doing if you weren't performing, creating, or enjoying the Arts in Las Vegas?

If I wasn't performing or creating I would be miserable if i could not at least attend a lot of productions. And, yeah, play golf lol!

Name something you love about Las Vegas, and why.

It is the most creative and vibrant city I have ever lived in. The arts are alive and well and I LOVE IT!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Do what you love and you'll never work again!

What superpower would you have and why?

To effortlessly draw people to the theater!!! I hate the marketing and business side of course. Would love to just do the art.

What future projects are you looking forward to?

April 11 2020 my production of "IT TAKES A VILLAGE" THE MUSICAL

Find out more about Stanley Jackson's new musical It Takes A Village, playing this April 11th, two shows only, here!

Champion the #vegasculture story! Support us on Patreon today!

Are you a local artist of any discipline? Do you work with a company as a designer, stagehand or administrative staff? Do you love to experience it as the audience? We'd love to get your 10 Bites to share. Fill out a form here, and you might be featured in a post!

CHECK OUT OUR 10 BITES FEATURE GALLERY HERE

#Theatre #TenBites #VisualArts #vegasdance #EatMoreArt #vegasculture #vegasmusic #VegasIsVegasArts

EMAV 10 Bites: Cassandra Krupp, Artistic Director

Cassandra Krupp, Artistic Director for Bard at the Bar.

In every neighborhood, there is someone who makes the Arts a part of their life, and our community. You'd be surprised to discover how many different people use the arts to improve the quality of life in our hometown. EAT MORE ART! VEGAS will feature them regularly in our series "10 Bites."

What kinds of art do you enjoy, create, or perform in?

I'm currently the co-founder and Artistic Director of 'Bard at the Bar' right here in Las Vegas. I'm the primary director of our productions (which I love), but I'm also the co-editor and writer of our scripts. Along with my mother, Ann (who's the acting President of the company and an all-around stupidly talented chemist who creates computer code by day and cuts Shakespearean text by night), we pare down Shakespeare's greatest works from roughly three hour pieces to one hour productions. With roughly ten characters and 9,000 words, Bard at the Bar manages to provide audiences with an up close and personal telling of the Bard's works in a manner that makes them accessible and relatable. We keep the language and the story, but perform Shakespeare's pieces in such a way that everyone can understand and enjoy them. Oh, and I'm an actress.

Why do you do it?

Growing up, my mother actually started a children's theater company back in New Hampshire simply so I could have a place to perform. She along with other members of the community managed to set up Kids' Coop Theater that emphasized giving children ages 8 to 18 from all backgrounds the chance to express themselves on and off stage regardless of pedigree, financial background, or performance training. I not only performed on stage, I learned the production side of theater ranging from running the box office to house managing. I even learned how to direct and choreograph simply by constantly being in the presence of artists and directors. I pursued a degree in advertising and public relations in college, but my heart was always in theater.

When I came out to Las Vegas four years ago with no plan or set job, I fell in with the Shakespeare Institute of Nevada and realized that there was a huge need to make the Bard's works accessible outside of the classroom. I loved Shakespeare and understood his works easily, but I knew that wasn't the case with mine and older generations. While SIN was pushing Shakespeare in the classroom (elementary to high school) I thought that we were missing a huge opportunity in catering to the older crowds that maybe didn't get that sort of education. These works are timeless for a reason and so embedded in our culture and I wanted to provide audiences outside of the classroom with the opportunity to see that. Along with Gregory Korin, we started Bard at the Bar in the summer of 2018 and premiered a shortened version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at the Velveteen Rabbit. The response we got was insane and the rest is history.

What’s your favorite production/performance experience so far?

I have a special place in my heart for Mercutio, which I get to reprise this February in Bard at the Bar's 'Romeo and Juliet.' While he's this over the top happy go lucky seeming guy, there's this inherent sadness that comes from a lack of direction and purpose that really plagues him. He's such a deep character and makes an enormous impression with very little stage time and I love getting to play with that.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist, or what do you do when you are "at work?"

I actually have a degree and background in advertising and public relations (with accidental minors in french and theater because I took too many classes). Being from New Hampshire, I worked a lot of political campaigns as well as on AM radio. When I lived in Chicago, I worked at the PR firm 'Two By Four' and then moved on to working at the no-kill cat shelter 'Treehouse Humane Society.' Needless to say, I've had a lot of different experiences throughout my years.

What is an Arts experience that you will never forget or a memorable response to your work?

The most memorable response I've had to my work with Bard at the Bar has been the post-show response of complete strangers and non-theater people saying that not only did they fully understand the performance, but they also enjoyed it. For me, theater isn't just about the actors and artists, it's about the audience. That's why I do what I do.

What would you be doing if you weren't performing, creating, or enjoying the Arts in Las Vegas?

I'm such an animal person and I'd probably be back at my old job working at a no-kill shelter doing marketing and social media!

Name something you love about Las Vegas, and why.

Besides the strong arts community, I really love how there's the 'city' but then there's the mountains and all of this nature that you can easily explore. I'm from New Hampshire initially, so while I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city experience, I need wide open spaces and fresh air to explore and enjoy.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

The best piece of advice I've been given has probably been from my mother that no matter how good you are at something, there's always someone better out there. You can't worry about other people and being the best, you need to focus on yourself and doing the best that you can do.

What superpower would you have and why?

Is cloning a superpower? Because I'd definitely like to have multiples of me to get everything done that I want! If not, then could I request the use of a Timeturner?

What future projects are you looking forward to?

I'm all in with Bard at the Bar and I'm wicked excited about what we have in store for the 2020 season. Ten shows in ten months and we've got three new ones this season that I'm directing! I'm actually incredibly excited to get 'Caesar and Cleopatra' (a mashup of 'Julius Caesar' and 'Antony and Cleopatra') up and running since the cast is so amazing and it's going to be one of the best challenges I've ever had. That show goes up at the Velveteen Rabbit on the actual Ides of March, Sunday March 15th.

Find out more about Bard at the Bar on thebard-at-thebar.com.

Are you a local artist of any discipline? Do you work with a company as a designer, stagehand or administrative staff? Do you love to experience it as the audience? We'd love to get your 10 Bites to share. Fill out a form here, and you might be featured in a post!

CHECK OUT OUR 10 BITES FEATURE GALLERY HERE

#Theatre #TenBites #VisualArts #vegasdance #EatMoreArt #vegasculture #vegasmusic #VegasIsVegasArts