Stage Name: Jean Natalia
Contact info:
jeanspinosa.com
Facebook.com/clubwigout
Twitter.com/jeanspinosa
Birthplace: San Leandro, California
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius with a Virgo Rising
Your medium/genre: Theatre, Cabaret, Film
Describe what you do:
Actor, Performance Artist, Dancer, Writer, Director, Producer, Choreographer, Club Promoter; Creator and Host of Wig Out! Get Your Wig On!.
Turn on’s: Kindness, Gentleness, and Bravery
Turn off’s: Rudeness, Callousness, and Cowardice
Describe your perfect date:
Tea, music, sandwiches, sweets, savories, delightful conversation and it all turning into a spontaneous spazzy dance, more tea, and then off to an unknown adventure.
Pet peeves:
My biggest pet peeve is when people do not pay attention to or take into consideration nuances and details.
Fave sex idol: Freddie Mercury
1ST crush:
1978 Peter Frampton in Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Then the crush on Freddie Mercury came soon after that.
Fave music:
I love any and all music which has character and is inspiring; From 20’s, to Glam, to Death Metal, to Gypsy, to Punk, to Rock Operas, to Piaf, to Mozart, to 60’s Go-Go, etc..
Top movies that inspire you:
One of my all time favorites is It’s a Wonderful Life
Fave quote:
"If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution.
A revolution without dancing is not a revolution worth having.
If there won't be dancing at the revolution, I'm not coming"- Emma Goldman
Reading List:
Keith Johnstone: Impro
Respect for Acting: Uta Hagen
The Blessings of Friendship: Mary Engelbreit
Don’t Look Back: Mary Engelbreit
Your Private Sky: R. Buckminster Fuller
Buckminster Fuller’s Universe- Lloyd Steven Sieden
The Dictionary and Thesaurus of Emotions: Jeremy Whelan
One of your obsessions: Tea
Influences/mentors/heroes:
I’ve always believed very seriously that each person should be their own “hero”.
Fave queer Artist(s): Ian MacKinnon
Fave queer from history: Each person at Stonewall June 28, 1969
Fave performance experience:
I had a dance company called Punk Rock Ballet. We performed a piece with the Punk Rock Orchestra at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in SF. I was doing a back flip off my dance partner and as I was upside down for that split second during that flip, time stopped and I could hear all the violins in one ear and then the crowd’s reaction out of the other ear at the same time. It was an amazing moment and I’m afraid trying to articulate it doesn’t do it justice.
Most frightening performance experience:
During a play many years ago, an actor accidentally slammed his shoulder blade into my eye socket and I had 45 minutes of dialogue to go. The hit caused a severe concussion that took three weeks to recover from. Worst moment on stage ever.
Places performed:
MOCA, Son of Semele Theatre, Highways Performance Space, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, LACE, The Parlour, Supper Club LA, Thunderbird Theatre Co., Transmission Theatre, Groundlings, Makeout Room, El Rio, The Casanova, Castro Theatre, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Key Club, The Stone, Trannyshack, Bordello, Boardners, El Cid, Mbar, Cavern Club Theatre, Somar Theatre.
Education:
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
Bachelor of Arts, Theatre Arts; Performance Emphasis
American Conservatory Theatre San Francisco, CA
Certificate
National Academy for Theatre and Film, Puppetry and Mime Bulgaria
Certificate
Institute of Modern Art with Moscow Art Theatre Moscow
Certificate
The Groundlings West Hollywood, CA
Six years private vocal training, two years percussion training, and over ten years of dance training.
Awards/Grants/Honors:
The Kennedy Center A.C.T.F. Meritorious Achievement Award
Fave prop or costume: Wigs
Thoughts on the LA queer art scene:
LA is quite alive with innovative new works thriving with originality and energy. I find that everyone is highly supportive of each other. It’s an exciting time.
What do you see as the future for queer art:
The future of queer art is open to so many possibilities, I don't want to project anything. I just would like to be surprised and invigorated by it and have the honor of continuing to contribute to it.
What are your upcoming events:
Wig Out! Get Your New Romantax On! Fri April 15, 2011
And then
Wig Out! Get Your Wig On! continues every last Thursday of each month at Three Clubs in Hollywood.
Samples of Work: youtube.com/jeanspinosa
photo by: Henry Horenstein
Great to read and get to know more about Jean! Impro had a huge impact on me too. Hooray for the LA queer art scene! Hooray for Wig Out!
ReplyDeleteYou do such a killer Freddy Mercury! I need to get my act together and see more of your performances!
ReplyDeleteDitto on all of the above! Love you Jean.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to get a deeper peek into the Jean mystique! That fave performance experience is beautiful. And I love the reading list. <3
ReplyDelete