Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Education: American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYC
Favorite Credits: Gabriela in References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Anna in Closer, Celestina in Cloud Tectonics and The Bride in Blood Wedding
Why theater?: It’s one of the most endangered forms of artistry that requires people to sit together and listen to a story. It is capable of providing so much education through empathy. Truly, once you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes, or heard their story, you can be changed and that’s really what our world needs right now.
Tell us about Sex, Cynicism and Other Small Miracles: It is a peek inside the minds of two male artists, from very different backgrounds, navigating their way through a city, through careers, through love, searching for their religions. Men aren’t often given the emotional space to express themselves and using spoken word, rock and roll, jazz and blues, these boys leave their hearts on the stage. It’s really a sight to see.
What inspired you to direct Sex, Cynicism and Other Small Miracles?: I was/am so frustrated with theater nowadays. It’s not modern, it’s revivals or movie adaptations. Theatremakers have the power and influence to affect society and we are reviving Fiddler on the Roof over and over again. With technology at our fingertips, we have enough escapism — we need education and empathy to move forward as a society. I founded my company to do my part to put out work that supports this concept and mission. Red Lips Woman Productions believes that empathetic, engaging theatre is an under-utilized tool that can lead to a world filled with those exact same people. RLW works to produce theatre that brings people together in a live, shared experience that will inspire a change in thought and action when they walk back out into their lives and our shared world. Our theatrical language will challenge modern audiences to think and feel. The RLW mission is to keep this kind of theatre alive and accessible, and to take risks in storytelling. RLW also exists to represent strong female roles, both onstage and off.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Vulnerable, heartfelt, storytelling. Original, and experimental work. Theater that makes me think and feel. Theatre that changes me. My incredible network of art-making friends. Travel. Workshops and “stretching yourself” — as in, trying new things or revisiting old things you and seeing what you can get out of it. Constant learning!
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Julie Taymor. She blows me away with her innovation and daringness. I also admire everything Steppenwoolf does. My master class with LAByrinth in NYC changed me.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: I just try to take friends who aren’t theatre people to shows. “Come see this with me!” It really gets me going to expose people to something they don’t usually do. And like everyone else in the world, I’m dying to see Hamilton. I already have my tickets for March 2017.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: Can I play myself? :) Maybe Mila Kunis. It could be called “Pistol” :) haha, because all my friends tease me about my sassy, fiery temper!
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Mark Rylance in Jerusalem. I think I said to myself every day that was running that I would die if I missed it. And somehow I still did. Ugh.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Pinterest, Mimosas, Doritos.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be____?: Running a vintage shop somewhere.
What’s up next?: FINISHING MY PLAY! I’m sitting on the first act of a super exciting concept, and I just need to pull the trigger and finish the second act, aka the first draft.
For more on Mia, visit www.miaromero.com