Daniel Does DFW Theater
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Daniel Does DFW Theater
Theater Choices and Authentic Voices (with Dominic Pecikonis)
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What if the theater could be a gateway to discovering your true self? In this gripping episode of "Daniel Does DFW," we sit down with the phenomenal Dominic Pecikonis, who brings both wisdom and wit to our conversation. From their humble beginnings in a third-grade play to mesmerizing performances as Eliza Rocks, Dominic opens up about their profound journey in theater and drag. We met through mutual friends and shared karaoke nights, and their story is nothing short of inspiring—filled with authenticity, dedication, and the transformative power of stagecraft.
Dominic sheds light on how theater has been a sanctuary for minority groups and trans individuals, sharing personal anecdotes from roles like Paulette in "Legally Blonde" and poignant performances in "Rent." We explore the evolving landscape of representation in theater, discussing the nuances of casting trans and queer individuals. Dominic's heartfelt reflections on performing femme roles shortly after coming out, and their powerful rendition of "Somewhere That's Green," offer a deep dive into the importance of authenticity and inclusivity on stage.
We also tackle the pressing issue of diversity behind the scenes, emphasizing the need for inclusive casting practices and diverse leadership. Dominic's experience with productions like "Rocky Horror Show" and their dreams of roles that reflect their own voice illustrate the ongoing struggle for visibility and acceptance in the arts. This episode isn't just a conversation; it's a call to action for more inclusive and authentic representation in the theater world. Don't miss this compelling dialogue with Dominic Pecikonis, packed with insights, laughs, and an unwavering commitment to truth in art.
If you want to catch all the action, you can watch the full episode video at YouTube.com/@DanielDoesDFW. Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok: @DanielDoesDFW
Hi everyone. I'm Daniel and welcome to Daniel Does. Dfw, where we talk about everything theater and each week I have a different guest. This week I'm so excited to have one of my favorite people. Honestly love this person to death. Don't even know them, really Never met them before, just met her, just picked them up Out of the met her, just picked them up Out of the bus stop, just picked them up at the bus stop. But I have with me today, dominic. Why don't you go ahead and give us full names? Pronouns.
Speaker 3Hi everyone, I'm Dominica Chaconis. I use they, them and she her pronouns, and that's me.
Speaker 4That's me and that's me.
Speaker 1That's me and that's it, and that's the end of the podcast. Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you, no, okay. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Speaker 3I know it was a trek for you to get here just a hop, a skip, a jump, a TRE and a dart railhead.
Speaker 1Even I made it all the way out here to this little place. So I appreciate you for coming on. I'm super excited just because I think that you are an open and honest person within our community where you are not afraid to shy away from what truth needs to be told 100%, and it's not in a mean or gossipy way, it's in a this is what it is way, and so that's why I was like we need Dom on the show immediately. It took me this long to get you on, but we're only 25 episodes in.
Speaker 3Oh my God, that's so many.
Speaker 1I know right.
Speaker 3Oh, that was a lie. Gullible I am. I'm the gullible First one. You'll see later more. We need to keep a tally.
Speaker 1Drink every time that Dom is gullible, I'm going to be so drunk. All right, so our background meeting you. I had seen you in and out, so I had heard the name, because, also, you are a drag queen as well. You perform drag. I've seen the name eliza rocks every once in a while, here and there. I knew eliza was also a singer, a singing drag queen, because I'm friends with uh kiva, uh salem moon, oh, my sister, yes, and so um salem does some of those like singing drag shows, and so I'd seen her name around and I was like who is this person? And then they were like, oh, she does theater. And I was like sure.
Speaker 1Do she yeah?
Speaker 3That's what they all say.
Speaker 1And then one night I went out with a friend to karaoke who happened to be your roommate.
Speaker 3Yes, shout out, methodist, shout out.
Speaker 1And so I was like, oh my god, I've never, never met this person before. I want to get to know you.
Speaker 3And that was over a year ago now.
Speaker 1I can't believe that yeah, and now randomly, I'll see you at karaoke or every tuesday. Every tuesday there, it is not randomly, it's planned. Yeah, I was gonna say just about every tuesday, or at boat, you know, when you're able to make it up for that. Um so, and just like, yeah, a year of friendship where, uh, we have common interests, common likes and I think it, we both like having a good time absolutely and getting a little drunk maybe a lot, so a lot um I don't know what I'm allowed to say
Speaker 3you can say we love to get hammered occasionally, when we don't have to sing, yeah, or all the time. So it's great that I'm I'm drinking this wine before I'm about to sing, because it's just because that's vocal cords of steel. Yeah, that's what people say, that's what I've heard, but it wasn't vocal cords, it was vocal notes of steel.
Speaker 1Sorry, it was something there, right, um so, uh. So tell me about yourself. I know that, um, I've seen you in a couple shows here and there, or like seeing you know, casting, but tell me how you got your start. Are you from tfw?
Speaker 3I am so. I was originally born in plano but was raised in allen texas shadow, allen eagles um Is that, the sound that they make, I don't know. I don't know. I went to Collin College for two years and then I transferred to Sam Houston, new York, houston. Okay, yeah, I'm familiar with Sam Houston, so I am born and raised here and I've lived here and I've lived other places. But yeah, for right now I'm a DFW girly.
Speaker 1What got you into theater? What was the moment we were like this is what I want to do. It was third grade.
Speaker 3I wish we could do it. It was third grade, we were doing just play. It was the trial of the three little pigs. Yeah, I played the role. Yeah, I am okay good. No, I know my, I know my camera. I was playing the role of the judge in the trial of the three little pigs in my class. Play.
Speaker 1Oh, I was picturing Sweeney.
Speaker 3Todd, in third grade I was playing the judge. I don't think those teachers would be teaching anymore. That was the case. But yeah, I literally knew from that class play that I wanted to do it and I did it all through middle school, high school, college.
Speaker 1And here I am. What was your as a child, before being professed? What was your favorite role that you got to play during that time?
Speaker 3Well, if you ask my parents because I've never topped this role for them, which is kind of sad In eighth grade I played the genie in Aladdin. I know, I know, I know Amazing and to this day I could be doing the most professional show and they'll be like, but you know that that genie in Aladdin was amazing and I don't know what you. You know, if you can't live up to eighth grade, you what can you do?
Speaker 1Was your family the type that, like it's Thanksgiving, like families around. Can you sing? Yeah, absolutely. Can you sing Literally this?
Speaker 3past. What was the last holiday we just had? I forgot we just had a holiday Easter, easter, easter. Yeah, I used to sing for my dad at Easter, so they still do it and I get really shy in small groups yes. And they're like but you do it for hundreds of people, but I don't see them.
Speaker 1Yes, Because there's lights in my face. So yeah, my family is very much that.
Speaker 3But they're also an arts family, Like my dad is a musician, an actor, my mom was a rapper, but she doesn't want anyone to know. But now they know and yeah, so I've just been raised with.
Speaker 1Oh my gosh, we're going to pause really quickly and we're going to play a track here.
Speaker 3What am I? Oh, my mom oh, I didn't know if we were cutting that's I don't know if there was an editing thing I legit was like okay, like weird segue okay, no, that was the track of your mother.
Speaker 1That makes me laugh.
Speaker 3I wish. No, there was a copy, an alleged cassette tape in the garage, but I think she got rid of it, so now I can't find it. And there used to be an article. She won some competition as a teenager, but she scrubbed it from the internet. I'm telling you, stop. Are you able to rap? But I wouldn't call myself a Nicki Minaj, but I can. So if you're listening, I can do anything.
Discovering Identity in the Theater
Speaker 1Yeah, no, obviously Okay. So tell me a little bit more Now. You ended high school. How did you get? What was your first show out of high school? What was that like?
Speaker 3Or you know like professional, oh my God. High school, what was that like? Or like professional, oh my god. I did a production of. Oh my gosh, what was it? Was that bad? Oh, I think it was baker the baker's wife. No, it wasn't, it was a sideshow oh, at a theater company that doesn't exist here anymore, called p family arts I think I remember that was my first year, I think, at uh kong college.
Speaker 3That was my first professional show and then I started to do like garland's musicals and that's like when I really started to get into the scene. But it just feels like a whole lifetime ago, like I was just such a completely different person and I was so young and I didn't really know who I was as a person or an artist. So I feel like now I'm truly like getting my start in the industry. Yeah, at least dfw ways.
Speaker 1I will say that one thing that I really, really admire is that you know yourself, thank you, and you may not feel confident, because I know people like that. Sometimes they're like, uh, but you, you exude confidence and you like just hold yourself, like I, and I think that that's a good example for other people in our area.
Speaker 4Kind of like what I told sinclair right like that's something that people have to look up to.
Speaker 1oh, you know, a non-binary person that is doing things within our area and wants to do more things within our area, wants to do more within our area, and so I think that you and you've proven it time and time again that you can do it- I just yeah, I mean, it's always just about getting in the room.
Speaker 3I feel like for a lot of people artists in general, but especially like any minority group or trans person I feel like it's just about getting in the room, like we can do all the same things in a new way, but also we know how to do it, how it needs to be done, and just being ourselves brings a nuance, without having to necessarily add or change anything. And I think sometimes people are afraid to like, afraid they're going to have to make big changes to include trans people in shows, but I just feel like I don't know. Any actor brings their own experience to a role and I don't know why it seems so hard for people to see past gender and stuff when it comes to casting. So just put us in the room.
Speaker 1Yeah, I just saw a post from Sienna, really, where they were like I can do any role, like we don't, it doesn't have to be gender and I can have a romantic relationship with any person. Absolutely, I'm an actor, right, I can do that. It doesn't have to be specific, and I think that both of you really are a living testament to that. Thank, you.
Speaker 1So let's talk about you getting in the room specifically with the role that I think turned a lot of people you know and it caused a lot of commotion, both good and bad, when you played paulette and legally blonde. Let's touch on that just a little bit. How did that feel for you?
Speaker 3I was honestly gagged.
Reflections on Transgender Representation in Theater
Speaker 3I was so I don't want to say I was surprised because I knew I could do it.
Speaker 3I had a connection to that character but I had only been out not even a year at that point, but I knew that I wanted it and for it to happen in Garland, of all places, was surprising to me.
Speaker 3But it was such a beautiful experience and such an affirming experience because it was really the first like femme role that I got to play after coming out and it just I felt at home for the first time and I felt like my work was great because I was no longer like trying to portray just the base gender of a character that I I felt foreign to like, because I identified more with her.
Speaker 3I was able to focus on the nuances of the character instead of that base like I'm portraying, like what a man is, um, and I feel like I had so many people that came to see the show who had kids or family members that were trans, and seeing someone like me on the stage was was really big deal for them and I think it just showed them that it was possible and just we didn't change any of the script, um, and I think getting to watch like a trans person just exists in this world and it's. It wasn't ruffling feathers and it wasn't about me being trans. I just got to like fall in love and be goofy and like be a human being.
Speaker 1I just think it was beautiful and I love, loved the whole experience so much. I love that for you and I think, um, this is actually where I want to take our first song break, because that type of role is what I can see you more in. I think that this first song kind of explains that and where we can go from there. So we'll be right back. We're going to head over to the keyboard really quickly and see if Don can sing.
Speaker 3So, rude.
Speaker 1All right, I'm ready to hear you sing finally, because I don't think I've really heard you sing, except like randomly at karaoke, and we can't hear anything in there because someone loves some karaoke every Tuesday yeah, every round of karaoke pay us round up for that little moment that we had. So this song I know you told us it's a role that you want to play Absolutely, and so I think you're going to kill it. Tell us what you're singing, hold on.
Speaker 3I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to sing, because you're going to know what I'm going to sing, but I love this role.
Speaker 4That's all I'm going gonna say I know Seymour's the greatest, but I'm dating a semi-sadist, so I got a black eye and my arms in a cast. Still that Seymour's a cutie? Well, if not, he's got inner beauty and I dream of a place where we can be together at last A matchbox of armor, a fence of real chain. He rips and trims the grass and he loves to mow and weed. I look like Betty Crocker and I look like Donna Reed. He puts plastic on the furniture to keep it neat and clean and a pint of salt set in air somewhere that's green. Between our frozen dinners and our bedtime 9-15, I'm stuck watching Lucy on her big, enormous 12-inch screen. I'm his December bride. His father, he knows best. His father, he knows best Our kids watch howdy-doody as the sun sets in the west. A picture out of better homes and garden magazines garden magazines Far from Skid Row. I dream we'll go Somewhere that's green.
Speaker 3It's actually really good, thank you, I love her.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, thank you.
Speaker 3Yeah, you were good too, you were Don't listen to my mistakes. I only took piano two semesters in college and let me tell you, I barely passed so.
Speaker 1I only took piano two semesters in college as well. That explains it.
Speaker 4I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.
Speaker 3If this episode never airs, you know why Well, nobody would ever know.
Speaker 1They this episode never airs. You know why? Well, nobody would ever know, they won't see it.
Speaker 1Um so, uh, you know, I saw, uh, jada, my love in this, in a little shop with theater three, so good so good, so good um, the only thing, um and we can cut this out later if it's too controversial the only thing I felt like a part of me was like they were just doing it as a because, you know, we had just seen it off or on broadway, or no, it was pasadena. Yeah, we had just seen it and I was like, are we trying to be like we're doing this too, or are we? Is this like something that we? You know what I mean.
Speaker 2I don't want it to be like I wanted to be.
Speaker 1Yes, I wanted to be like a, like a trendy kind of thing. Yes, I want it to be real and that I think jake was great for the role, no matter what yeah but I want it to be.
Speaker 3This is because who was for the role, not because it's a you know I think it's a mix of both in a lot of ways, especially what was that 2022?
Speaker 3that was right after it was right after yeah, because the thing is outdoors I think sometimes we're not as creative in casting because we haven't seen it yet, and so I think when mj played audrey, I think then people were like, oh, this is a whole possibility for this role that we didn't think of. So I feel like, obviously, jada being amazing and then seeing that it's it's being opened up to trans and queer people, I think was part of the reason I went into that. But casting is so interesting Because 2022, I feel like we were seeing a lot of trans representation on Broadway and in regional theater and now it's kind of peeling back, in my opinion, and kind of going back to what it was before. So it's hard to navigate what is like truly, this is the person we want and we want to give space, and what is like was just a trend for the moment.
Speaker 3But I feel like with Little Shop, that specific production was there. I feel like they really just knew she was right for it and she's like and it made me realize like that was a possibility for me watching jada do that.
Speaker 1So yeah, well, and I mean again, you heard the the talk back and forth right of like, oh, should they be in this role or should they not? Um, and we really didn't get to talk about the negatives of when you got to play paulette, right and like, I love all the positive stuff, but I want to hear you know the negative and what, how it affected you as well, if it did.
Trans Representation in Theatre
Speaker 3I mean for the most part it was a very positive experience. I remember specifically like one of the moments in the show I was worried about is traditionally Paula is pregnant at the end of the show. And.
Speaker 3I knew I didn't, that wasn't going to be something we were going to do, because I don't have that experience and I didn't want it to feel inauthentic or like a caricature or anything, and so our director, michael Cerchi, and I decided to reframe it without changing any lyrics, and so we had adoption papers that she had one talking about having another baby on the way. It was just like a beautiful way to relate it to an experience I would be more likely to have. But there was just like a beautiful way to relate it to an experience I would be more likely to have. But there was definitely like audience members that were not happy, um, and I didn't necessarily like see it as much myself. It was more so when I had friends come.
Speaker 3they would hear things and oh why do they look so weird or why are they playing this role or that kind of thing? Or one lady I heard from a family member was like shaking her head and was like very distraught over the fact that I was playing this role and that happens.
Speaker 1And like anytime I posted about it online.
Speaker 3Of course I get those hate comments Not an overwhelming amount but people always feel like you're trying to like fool them or something you know, like I'm trying to play dress up or something like that, and they don't like see the humanity because they just choose not to. So that's really disheartening. But it also reminds me why it's important that I take up space, because any role that I play, I'm thinking about like the next generation of people like me and what I want their experiences to be. So I'm willing to take on that negativity if it means there's a chance that people will see my humanity and then the next person that has an opportunity will have to deal with it.
Speaker 1I love that. Now you said you had the support from your director, which, michael Serechia, is a guy. Love him so much, the nicest angel person I've ever met, right um, and I think megan was also your. Love megan kelly bates, love megan kelly bates. Did you also have the? Did you feel the support from your cast? Oh, 100, wonderful. And then higher up as well, from the board, from, I think so I.
Speaker 3I never heard of anything. That's why I was so surprised that I got it. To be honest, because most of the shows I've seen at garland tend to be more classic, which I love, um. So I felt like lily vaughn in general was a departure for them from their normal shows, but to have someone like me playing that role was a big departure and I think majority of the people that came to see it enjoyed it. So it was just an exciting moment of possibility for DFW. And yeah, and I love Patti and every time I see a show there we always say hello and love it sweetly.
Speaker 1yes, um, would you say that Paulette uh is your favorite role or dream role? What? What is your?
Speaker 3Ultimate dream role hasn't been written yet, because I feel like a lot of times I'll go to auditions and they're trying or they're expecting me to either look like or perform or sing like how the role has been done before, especially if I get called in for like, maybe like a female track.
Speaker 3They don't always change the keys. When I did Paulette with Garland, we changed the keys, which doesn't always change the keys. When I did Paula with Garland, we changed the keys, which doesn't happen a lot. It should happen more professional theater, but it doesn't. So that is a toughie for me. And then, when there are the few trans characters, I feel like they always want you up in the rafters like crazy high singing, because it's like they want you to sound up in the rafters like crazy high singing, because it's like they want you to sound as close to like a cis female as possible.
Speaker 3In my opinion, um, and there's there's just so many different kinds of trans people with all kinds of voices and they're all valid and they're all beautiful and they all add something to the theater. So I would love to see a role that I can sing, how I sing and and tell a story that I relate to. So, um, it hasn't been written yet, but as far as roles that already exist, as we saw before, I would love to play Audrey. I think her experience in a lower income and abusive situation feels very similar to what me and a lot of my trans friends experience, um, and just wanting to be loved as who you are. I mean the line in um, suddenly seymour. When she says the girl that's inside me, like seymour teaches her how to be the girl inside her, I feel like just speaks so much to the trans experience. So nice.
Speaker 1Yeah, I think that's why it reads so well. I mean, mj did a phenomenal job and had it changed key, yeah, jinx.
Speaker 3Yeah, jinx, and when Jada did it Theater 3, they changed it. And I think people again it's a creativity thing, like until they see it done, they feel like that it can't happen. Yeah, and it's exciting, like it's exciting in multiple keys if the singer is exciting.
Speaker 1Do you think, can you give me an example maybe of one or two other roles that you think could read well as a trans? Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3I feel like I have so many Wait. I'm trying to remember. I have a whole list. You have a whole list.
Speaker 3I would really love to play Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde. I think Lucy makes so much sense as a trans person because, again, there's such a talk about the down low community of people who are attracted to trans people but they don't want people to know and there's a lot of trans people who do sex work and stuff like that. So I just feel like that role makes sense to me as a trans person. I also really want to play gretchen and mean girls. I think it makes sense. Let me tell you why.
Speaker 3Regina likes to collect things right, whatever the new, newest, hottest thing is. So I feel like she would definitely to show that she's woke. She would definitely like have a trans friend with her. And when Gretchen sings, what's wrong with me? Just every line that that speaks to like you're really trying to present and be accepted and you want to make sure like you're presenting in a certain way because you already have things stacked against you. So that song I have that in my book as well, because I feel like I've experienced that as I've transitioned of like you know, how can I look better? How can I be more palatable? It's like it's an unfortunate part of the experience, but it is fun.
Speaker 1So yeah, I mean your hair's already big. It's huge. Is it full of secrets? We'll find out yeah, well, and I mean who? Else like is the most comfortable around everybody and wants to. Everybody wants to talk to them and tell their secrets, exactly 100, right.
Speaker 3So that would be hilariously amazing. I love it and eponine and I think because here's the thing unrequited love, right. Like marius never sees eponine as a potential love interest and it's because I think she's trans. But I don't necessarily think in that time, obviously the language wasn't there. But people know there's something different about her and when she goes over the barricade they think that she's a boy, right, they're like there's a boy climbing over the barricade. I feel like it just wouldn't make sense for someone like me or like another trans person to play that role of someone that, like, can't be loved and can't be accepted as they are in that time period, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1No, it completely does. No, no, and I think they're all great. Um, how about like one that has a happy ending?
Speaker 3You know that's a really good point. I think I'm so used to sad stories because the the queer media I digested as as a kid was mainly sad. Like now we're getting to see happy endings, we're getting to see heart stoppers, we're getting to see things where people are experiencing joy. So I think that's something I'm still unlearning of. Like, yeah, I get to have a happy ending in a show, but I also I honestly think it could be any role, like I don't think it has to specifically be a trans angle like I think the biggest thing I want people to know is like you just put us in the show, like if it's female role, it's a trans person, you just cast in the role and just, and that's what it is.
Speaker 3I don't think there always has to be an angle about it. You know what I mean. So it's really anything. I I think, of um once on this island as a great example. Um, like when alexa will played um asaka, she just played the role like there was no angle around it and the gods in general could be anything.
Speaker 1Say I think that's right easier as a god.
Speaker 3Yeah, where it's like like I wouldn't pretend, like we don't even know like I would love to be agwe or erzuli, like either of them, because I feel like they can be played, however, and they can reflect whoever. I just think that's how it has to be. We don't have to like jump hoops.
Speaker 1We can just cast a Talents for.
Speaker 3Traps. I feel this also as a chubby person. It's true, it's 100% true. I just I think it's so much easier than we make it out to be. Yes, just because we've been taught certain things and how things are supposed to look, and I've just never been, never seen things the way other people see them.
Speaker 1I'm just like well, I think this person is great, so let's just cast this person. So no, I completely agree. And then I know other ones you brought up before were like the witch as well. Oh my gosh, I think that that would be iconic. I'm surprised it hasn't been done.
Speaker 3I mean, she has a sad ending too uh, well, allegedly billy porter was supposed to play the witch in the revival, but after after 9-11 that you know, broadway was recovering. So then Vanessa, uh, vanessa did it. I was gonna say Hudgens William. I love Vanessa. That's my childhood crush, love it.
Speaker 3Um, I love the witch and I think there's a strength in her that only comes from having to deal with being ostracized, having to deal with having to build confidence without the validation of others, which everyone should be doing, queer or not, but they're. I think she's very queer to me and very powerful and very beautiful, and just the idea of transformation that she goes through and reaching the form that she believes represents her, I mean, come on, yeah, that is so me. I would love to do that role. That is like that's a big one for me. I love it. Well, and the only way that you're going to get those roles is by auditioning.
Speaker 1Yeah, you have to take up space. We're going to take a little break so that we can uh listen to dom's audition song and, um, I don't know, maybe, uh, you know, take a little chance on me just a little song uh, that's abba oh well, you're almost there. We'll find out we'll get over there in just a minute. See you in bed. I'll take a chance on you. You think you can pull this off.
Speaker 3It's early america, let's see this is my go-to pop cut, so hopefully it's still a go-to.
Speaker 4We'll find out after this.
Speaker 3We'll find out when y'all comment. Stay tuned.
Speaker 4I just want to start again and maybe you can show me how to try. Maybe you can let me in Somewhere underneath your skin. What do you say to taking chances? What do you say to jumping off the edge, never knowing if there's a lift round below or handhold or help me. What do you say? What do you say?
Speaker 3What are you saying? I always do this. I say look at chances. I'm taking chances, honey, I'm taking chances. I think these notes, this early, take all the chances. Well, I guess it could be. I guess y'all don't know what time it is. I'm realizing it's whatever time You're watching it at.
Speaker 4I love it. I guess y'all don't know what time it is. I'm realizing it's whatever time you're watching it at.
Speaker 3I love it. That is literally my go-to and fun fact. The only reason that song is in my book is because I went in for Titanic off Broadway for Rose's mother at some point like years ago and I sang that cut and I was like this song is good in my voice and so I stole it and now it's my go-to audition song for smother. At some point like years ago and I sang that cut and I was like this sounds good, right away, so I stole it and now it's my go-to audition song.
Speaker 2I love it for pop shows before we move on to like the theater team.
Speaker 1Um, I do want to talk about really quickly because you just jogged my memory. Um, I mean, you've done tours and stuff like that. I want to talk a little bit about that because I know you did angel out of city as as well. I did I did.
Speaker 3Yeah, I have done Rent twice out of town. I did it at a theater called the Umbrella Stage Company in Massachusetts. It was my first time as Angel and Angel is like. I have a Mark Mulano shout out Mark Mulano painting of Angel in my apartment, but that's probably my favorite role in musical theater, like I feel so connected to her. Um, so, yeah, I did it then and then I did rent again at theater under the stars in houston and was in the ensemble and understanding angel. But I did end up going on, so I got to set up her shoes again.
Speaker 3Uh, yeah and um yeah, I've got. I've been lucky with like getting to work at a lot of places outside of dfw as well which I think everyone should explore other markets as well.
Speaker 1Yeah, and that's the only way to bring it up is because, like, I mean, my podcast is D&O Does DFW. But sometimes, like, get that experience, go out there and do other things, because sometimes you know, maybe you're not cast here or you're not getting you know whatever you want, go somewhere else, have some fun and then bring that knowledge back here.
Speaker 3I think it builds confidence for me, when I'm not cast here, that I can be cast in other spaces. And also, like we all know, it's really hard to make a living as an artist anywhere, but especially in Dallas. So I think finding those other opportunities when you're in between shows here is a great way to continue working and yeah and meet more people. I mean, it's all about meeting people.
Speaker 1Yeah, you know well, and again, I know this podcast is about dfw, but I'm here to say that we're not the biggest and the best, right, we are definitely not the best, and we have our moments that we can work on, absolutely, and so and that's something that I kind of want to dig in a little bit with you um, you know, because I know that you can be vocal and you can put it out there on your instagram.
Speaker 3You know, I try, I try to be, I try to be and I don't mean it in a bad way, yeah, yeah, I don't try to fight, but here's the justice behind it right here's what we need to be zoned in on um you know, and so is there any tea or tea that you'd like?
Speaker 3to talk about today. Here's the thing with that is when the pandemic happened and we weren't working at all, we were able to take a look at the industry I that is when I decided I wanted to speak up, when I felt like things weren't great or could be better, because I think we were taught to fear so that we didn't hold people accountable. And for me, I'm realizing, like the whole idea of burning bridges is a tactic to keep people from holding you accountable.
Speaker 3So, for me, I don't see burning a bridge if the person I'm burning a bridge with has made me feel bad or doesn't create a safe space or inclusive space. So I don't really like the term like blacklisted or or burning bridges, because I just think it's a tactic. But, um, as far as like dfw specifically, I feel like after 2020 happened, there was a good year where I was seeing dfw you cast much more diversely, do seasons that told all kinds of stories and tried new things. I feel like now I'm slowly noticing here and everywhere that we're going back to just doing the classics and just casting how we always cast it and casting the same people that I've seen cast 10 years ago when I started here, which those people are great. It has nothing to do with them, but I just it's. It's interesting how much changes in a year, in my opinion, as far as like how we're casting, and there's so many people here, so many talented people here of all different experiences that deserve their chance.
Speaker 1You know, yeah, everyone deserves their turn. I think one thing that like I find annoying, honestly, is it's maybe six more characters, seven more characters how difficult is it to add someone's pronouns?
Speaker 3oh well, yeah, there was a trend of of theaters, of theaters, yeah, using pronouns, and most of them still in a rehearsal context, an audition context that asks for pronouns. So that is a positive change that has come. But yeah, for publicity they would list pronouns of the actors and now a lot of them took that away, mainly because you know conservative folks. There was backlash in that way. But to me, if you can't stand up for the people working you know, working for you what does that say about you?
Speaker 3Yeah, I mean, I know patrons are important, of course, and making money is important to go on, but who are the patrons we're attracting if we're not speaking up for everyone? That's how I feel about it and that's why I continue to do it. I know like I'm sure there's people that would prefer I didn't call things out and I didn't feel like I never do it in a way that is nasty or disrespectful, but I just can't sit back and I can't look at an all-white cast of a show again. I can't look at a season-white cast of a show again. I can't look at a season that is all of your white grandmother's favorites from the 50s. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3Throwing one or two shows in of the classics is great, but we have to continue to move forward and tell other stories. Or, if we're going to do those classics, we need to do them in a new way and we need to cast people that were previously excluded in those and that's where it goes back to trans people or plus-size people or black people in roles that we never got to play before, because the default in people's subconscious of casting was that they were white. A lot of times you see a show where it says nothing about race, but it's just always traditionally been played white and some people just think that's the default. So if we're going gonna do those old shows, then we gotta include other people.
Speaker 1Yes, magnolias, yeah, right for anybody.
Speaker 3Yeah anybody, salons exist everywhere.
Speaker 3Bet had to do their own version to be like we can do it too right and like we shouldn't have to do that or we shouldn't have the one black show for for black history month in a season, and then we're not seeing black people cast in other other shows. You know, um, and I mean, I think there are theaters in dfw that are are really good with diversity more so racially, I wouldn't say like gender diversity, but definitely racially and then there's some that are not so much, and it's hard because, like I said, back in 2021, 2022, I felt like we were really making strides and like I was seeing so many people on stage that I hadn't seen before or that were previously excluded, and now I feel like we're kind of going back. So it's unfortunate. Do you think that that'll change, do you?
Speaker 1feel a turning point at all, or do you feel like we're just going to continue going backwards?
Inclusivity and Representation in Theatre
Speaker 3I mean I think, I mean I think, like we have the Dallas Theater Centers and places like that, that I still see that change happening. Like I mean I just did Rocky Horror recently there and it was full of queer people and people of color.
Speaker 1Here's what I will say, though. I think that that show gives it that Right Right of color.
Speaker 3Here's what I will say, though I think that that show gives it that right, right, yeah.
Speaker 3So we yeah but that's fair put on that show, especially right now, with like yeah, because that was during the drag, you know the drag band, that was possible, so it was kind of a great time to do it. But you're absolutely right, like I want to go see, I'm just like gonna throw out a random show. I want to go see, like the guys and dolls, and like there's a trans person playing, whoever or there's a black, black, plus size woman.
Speaker 3Like you know, that's what I want to see, and I don't know if it's that people are turned off by by and not auditioning, because we've seen how things are passed from, you know, over and over, and sometimes you don't want to keep giving people the opportunity to reject you when you've seen, like, how they cast. But you also have to take up space, like I'll go to auditions, that I'm like pretty sure I'm not even going to book based off of how I've seen them cast or maybe who is behind the table. Because I have to take up that space Because if I'm there they can't say someone like me didn't audition. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1Thank, because if I'm there, they can't say someone like me didn't audition. Do you know what I mean? Thank you for that, because I think that's the first thing that they will come for. Is that? Well, they didn't show up? Yeah, they weren't here they auditioned for it.
Speaker 3I don't want to put all the responsibility on the actors because, yes, you should turn up, but I've been part of productions that did the work and reached out and they found those people because they were intentional and they wanted those people part of the story, because that's an excuse to me when they're like no one showed up, but did you reach out? Did you talk to your other directors that you know you can find the people if you truly?
Speaker 1if it's truly something that you want and is important to you, you can totally yeah. And that goes the same with shows. Like, don't say, oh, we can't do that because we won't have the talent for it. Then prepare for it, make your way.
Speaker 3Yes and no. I totally get that. There are some shows that I'm like if you look at your area and you know you don't have, maybe not. Come on, sergio, amazing, shout out Fort Worth, dear goodness.
Speaker 3So good, dear goodness, so good, um. But I mean I will say, both in dfw and outside of dfw, I still see those diversity statements of we, we encourage, uh, people of all genders and races to audition, but it feels like it's a copy and paste statement a lot of the time and I'm not seeing that actually happen or we're casting them and we're not creating that safe space. Because who's behind the table as well? That's what really makes the big change, in my opinion, is who's behind the table. We have a lot of great people behind the table here, but I would say it's majorly Caucasian and majorly cisgender and straight. There are queer people behind the table. They are there but they're not there enough and they're not there enough, I think, in the higher regional theaters In general, everywhere, not just DFW, and I feel like real change is including those people.
Speaker 3That was the biggest thing of when I did Durant at Tuts in Houston. My director was Native American and trans. We had a black woman as our choreographer. That cast was 98% people of color. I think there was like two white people in the show and there was multiple trans and queer people in the show, and that's because behind the table was different. So that, to me, is what really brings change. I can count on my hands the number of black directors I've auditioned for in my career, and if that doesn't, you know, we just need more they. That is where that change happens.
Speaker 1Those are the casting teams, you know yeah, I mean, we last month we had mark watt on and I was like I'm so thankful that you've been behind the table a couple of times, right where you can bring that representation forward and you have the ability and the influence to do that. I was like, how do we make it so that there are more people that can get behind that table? Yeah, what do we need to do to make sure that we can gain the influence at the same time? Absolutely, time, absolutely, um, but no, I'm I'm glad that, uh, you were able to, you know, use this platform to talk about that today and, um, just kind of bring it to the forefront again.
Speaker 3Yeah, um, I will always stand up for inclusivity and equality and casting, and especially, like, as a trans person, like it's just so important that we're humanized. Especially right now, with the political climate and everything going on, I think it's more important than ever to include trans people in shows that aren't about our experience. In your Hello Dollies, in your I don't know, joseph's, I don't know, I'm just throwing them out, just like. Put us on the stage, let people see us Take up space. That, to me, changes a lot of minds. I think personalization is a big, a big way to change people's minds about, about anyone that they don't know. If you personally know someone who's queer or black or whatever, I think you you see them as a human and then you're able to see other people like that as well.
Speaker 2I think what's so sad is that we're still having an issue with color right now.
Speaker 1Oh yeah, Like there are definite laws right where that shouldn't be a problem anymore, but we still have that issue where like to even have to tackle the trans hurdle, that's, you know, coming up next when we're still on the race. Yeah, yeah, it's just disheartening, almost like we are still having issues here and like this is the next issue that we need to overcome. And yeah, there's there's definitely hope.
Speaker 3I mean, I just did a show recently and was cast as a role that was based off a real person who was white and originally the plan with my hair. They just didn't really know what to do with my hair Because it was a predominantly white team. But they were open to listening and they brought in a black hairstylist to style my hair for the show Because they knew it was important and they knew if we're including a person of color in this role, it's already different. We can't expect it to be what it has been. So that was a moment of hope. Where I was was like, even when there may not be another person of color behind the table, if they're at least listening to the people they're casting, it can create change. And then we had another person of color on, you know, on the team then because they brought them exactly. So there, there is hope.
Speaker 3But yeah, it's still such a huge battle, which which is so unfortunate.
Speaker 1Now. Do you have any upcoming projects or anything that you can share with us today? I?
Speaker 3am doing a reading with she DFW on oh my gosh I don't remember the date, but if you check my Instagram it's there of a new play. And then on May 31st, I'm doing a event with watering hole collective, which is a nonprofit organization that I did a show with last summer.
Speaker 1And some other things that I can't talk about, and then we can see Eliza every once in a while.
Speaker 3Yes, I'm also a drag performer named Eliza Rocks. I'm normally at Tuesdays and Wednesdays at JR's and Sue Ellen's.
Speaker 1So come see me tomorrow, wonderful, and then, if you want to share your socials as well, your Instagrams.
Speaker 3You can follow me at my thrifty aesthetic or at Eliza rocks on Instagram. Or, if you love to talk like I do, you can follow me at Dom and Eliza.
Speaker 1Well, thank you again. I appreciate you coming on the show and chatting with me and just being honest you know we have to be that's and chatting with me Absolutely and just being honest. We have to be. That's what I want, and so make sure you follow Dom's Instagram, where there's nothing but honesty on there.
Speaker 3It's kind it makes it sound like I'm like a beating people up. Well, that too I lead with love.
Speaker 1No, definitely lead with love, but thank you for joining us y'all. We're going to head back over to the keyboard just for one more song, another dream role, fun thing, and so we're gonna hopefully have some fun. We are. Oh, we are. We're gonna have so much fun. Bye y'all, Bye. Very excited about the song because you killed the last two songs. Thank you, this one is actually sung by you know, someone that I love dearly you. What you, I don't understand Because you're singing it.
Speaker 3Oh okay, she's gullible and clueless America, and that's why we love her.
Speaker 1So no, I really do love this song and I want you to take us home, absolutely, so tell us what we're singing.
Going Home and Rocky Horror Show
Speaker 3I'm singing. I'm going home from Rocky Horror Show. I just did it recently and I want to do it again, but as this role oh, as this role. As Frank Stoner. Yeah, I don't know if you do well, okay, I just want to play horror.
Speaker 2I would like to play the role of horror the horror.
Speaker 3The horror there's children watching maybe, hopefully not. Sure, I'm scared.
Speaker 4Don't stop. I'm scared of books. I'm scared of books. Let's go On. The day I went away, goodbye was all I had to say. Now I I wanna come again and say oh, my, my, my smile, and that would mean that I've made Cause. I've seen, oh, seen blue skies through the tears in my eyes and I realize I'm going home. I'm going home. Everywhere it's been the same, like I'm locked out in the rain, free to try and fight again. Cards for sorrow, cards for pain. I'm sitting, oh, blue skies, through the tears in my eyes, and I realize I'm going home. I'm going home, I'm going home. Yes, I am, I'm going home, home, I definitely stole that from Miss Lee Walter.
Speaker 1Shout out to Lee Walter for that ending.
Speaker 3I don't want to give credit where credit is due.
