Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Vasquez
Michelle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started out like any other kid – Parents had a hyper child and they needed something that would help the child burn their energy. My mom started putting me in dance lessons at age 4. I didn’t discover theater till I was 8 when I joined a program called SHOWCAMP. I had a talent for performing that grew into something more as I grew up. I spent 11 years in the program that brought me lifelong friends, mentors and a close bond with my parents.
During my school years, I was always doing choir and drama. My days were filled with rehearsals and performances; Mom working on costumes and Dad helping with tech. The fall of my sophomore year, I got casted in a smaller acting roll and volunteered to be the stage manager for the fall play. The feeling of being in the right place at the right time was real. I fit into that roll like a glove. Knew what was needed of me and fulfilled to the fullest. That crazy feeling marked my commitment to doing live theater as a career.
After graduating from Burbank High School (Burbank, CA) in 2011, I got accepted into Columbia College Chicago (Chicago, IL) as a dance major. I initially went that route thinking I could double major in dance and technical theater. I quickly realized within my first semester that even though dance was an important part of my journey in performance, it was not my end goal. So it was an easy decision to drop dance and go full time as a technical theater major with a concentration in stage management.
From 2011-2016, I had begun this journey to build my career. From working multiple mainstage college productions to working my first professional show while still in school, thanks to my mentor and an alumni. I even made my debut as a performer in a musical professionally. My time in Chicago was precious.
In late 2018, I made the difficult decision to leave Chicago to go back home to Burbank to try to make it in the LA theater scene. I was working in small productions while hosting at restaurants to continue adding to my resume. Then COVID happened and it brought me something I needed: Time. Lockdown allowed me to reorganize myself to market my skills and look for better work. And once things opened back up, so did my career.
Since becoming a full-time freelance theater artist, I joined a touring show that still sends me out at different times of the year; I’ve had the pleasure of working with my old high school and became a mentor for students in stagecraft and performance, working on multiple productions in the LA area and becoming a Production Stage Manager of a brand new musical. My dreams have evolved and will keep evolving until I’m done.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. There have been many obstacles but the biggest and main one has been myself.
There was one event in my life that really affected me on a whole. And that was the death of my mother in January 2015. I was a 21 year old who was still figuring out where to take her career that had just started. And from the moment she passed, I didn’t know what I was doing anymore. I really felt my whole world just stop. For awhile, I was in a weird hole of doing what I love and just not giving a care in the world. I would have self doubt and wonder if I was cut out for this artist life, The motivation to push myself forward really died and it took me a long time to bring it back.
It was one of the lowest points in my life. I still struggle time to time even now with losing motivation and the doubt kicks in. But I always remember her and the things she did for me that got me to where I am now.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a theater artist. I work primarily as a stage manager and as a high school mentor.
A stage manager is a person behind the scene at a live theater performance. When you see the lights change or hear a sound effect, there is someone calling those cues. That’s the stage manager. They also work closely with the director, actors and designers to give the audience an experience they never forget. I love that I get to be creative while having to be organized and attentive to the administration side of putting on a show. My background as a performer has its perks. I have an understanding of movement and music that helps me with timing and the writing of any blocking that comes along. When we are working with a band, I can read music and follow along for any specific cues that are needed. I am able to really give support in all areas of performance.
I became a mentor because that was something I wished I had when I was planning my future. We didn’t have a dedicated tech program when I was in school. But our arts programs were high quality and I learned a lot that worked to my advantage. So as I grew up, I knew I wanted to contribute to the arts in my school. When I moved back to Burbank, I reached out to my former directors and began a relationship that has grown into a new venture. I now mentor in technical theater and performance. I also occasionally get hired to work some of the productions and work closely with students to give them a close picture of how a productions is done professionally. I also have begun to hold lectures with industry professionals so they can get more info on aspect of the jobs that are available in their future.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
The way I look at luck is being in the right place at the right time.
The people I have met have been the reason I get work. Or when I find an ad for a job and reach out at the right moment. Those have been my lucky moments.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mich.eliz.vasquez/
Image Credits
2nd photo in a meeting: credit goes to Norman King IV
