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Triple-Threat, Kaitana Magno helms Variety Life Productions, packing each production with live music, dance, nightlife, variety, circus, and immersive entertainment in spectacular site-specifc performances. Carmen: To Havana & Back, a Cuban-infused re-imagining of the opera, Carmen, premiered in 2018 to critical acclaim and sold out performances until its necessary closing due to Covid in March, 2020. Now, she tackles Shakespeareare.

Kaitana, tell us about YOU first.

Classically Trained Ballet Dancer Nightlife Creatrix Dazzling, experiential productions for folks who think they’ve seen it all, but ain’t seen nothing yet. My partner, James Sutherland, and I come from rigorous, strict, and disciplined dance backgrounds, grew up on stage and have performed professionally for the last two decades around the world. During that time, we’ve both had the extreme good fortune of having been mentored by prolific innovators in our field, and that inspiration has laid a foundation to consistently drive us to continue on the path of persisting in the performing arts.

What obstacles have you encountered (or are encountering) doing these types of presentations?

When it comes to pre-production I am always concerned with the timeline, it’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle, having all the pieces on a table and then plugging things in. Vision, venue, the piece itself and all of its elements. Story, style, music, it’s just this fantastic process of creating and then filling in all the pieces. I love it. Obstacles? Doing this in the middle of a pandemic and recovery. It’s a bit like building on sand. For example; set pieces that need to be built…Creating a site specific world. That’s hard! Artists willing to work within new boundaries. Finding a venue willing to re-open in times of uncertainty. But ultimately, the challenges produce really great partnerships with people wanting and willing to step out. And the results are really exciting.

Did the actors collaborate on this with you? Is this geared to be taken on the road when you are finished in NYC?

This is a total collaboration. From our insanely talented creative team to our actors, everyone plays a part in sculpting this unique piece. We have cherry picked each cast member and feature a wide range of metiers to bring completely new nuances to these timeless characters. Each of our shows is purpose-built for its venue and cast, but don’t be surprised to see dynamic new versions of Midsummer (and Carmen) popping up in major entertainment cities across the globe.

Between this and Carmen, it looks like you enjoy taking the classics and weaving magic into them? That said, what’s next?

Growing up in the ballet world, one becomes very familiar with the classics and I fell in love with so many of these stories at such a young age. I was always fascinated with the process of building these massive productions and relished in watching them come alive before my eyes. As a child performer, I was fully immersed in the worlds created on and offstage and now as an adult I find myself chasing that feeling. Telling the classics through a different lens and using various art forms within one production makes these stories more accessible and perhaps palatable to an audience that wouldn’t necessarily get to experience these masterpieces in the first place. Our inspiration pipeline is miles long– classics, myths, forgotten gems, and original works of daring and romance…. Stories that pique our imagination and create familiar structures that we can play within.

MIDSUMMER: A SHAKESPEARIENCE
presented by Variety Life Productions
OPENING OCTOBER 13
Wednesdays thru Sundays at 8:00pm
CASA 51
625 W 51st Street, NYC
Tickets start at $99
Tickets: www.midsummershakespearience.com
More Info: www.varietylifeprodutions.com