Today we’d like to introduce you to Kay McNellen.
Hi Kay, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been obsessed with and actively involved in San Diego theatre since I was seven years old. I was originally scouted during a talent show and asked to be in a production of Annie and I have been doing about 2-3 shows a year ever since. I graduated from San Diego State with a degree in theatre performance and then immediately started working all over the county. Ive been in the west coat premiers of some of peoples favorites shows like Heathers, Puffs, and Disenchanted. I have been in new works that moved to New York right after we workshopped them here like Tarrytown and Witchland. Ive been nominated for community theatre awards and Craig noel awards which are the highest award you can win for professional theatre in San Diego. I’ve been in shows that had 3 people in the audience and shows that sold out before they opened. My point is: I have seen all of what San Diego theatre has to offer and I could not be more proud. San Diego is FILLED with talented, driven artists who, against all odds (real estate prices, business obstacles, and dwindling audiences) keep showing up to tell stories, entertain, and make a change. But, since Covid, I have noticed a massive shift. The game has changed. The way theatres used to be able to reach new audience members (physical advertising, donor events, word of mouth) is not working to bring in new people. Social media & influencer marketing have taken over and these smaller theatres cannot keep up. Outside of theatre I work as a professional marketer for a famous business coach and I have learned how to keep up with the insane world that is marketing, so I wanted to help. Last year I decided to just make a quick video about all of the theatres I knew of in the area, at the time I think I named like 25 theatres (There are actually around 60+ that I am aware of now). The video did pretty well, so I thought, “okay what else can I do?” That is how SD Stage Guide was born. Every month I post a list of every single theatre performance (Community, Professional, and Youth theatre) people can see in San Diego that month. Every week I post a list of every single theatre performance people can see in SD that week and the response has been insane. I quickly realized how much this was needed in our community not just for people who don’t know about theatre but for active theatre participants. There are just SO many shows happening at all times, this puts them all in one place. Theatre is so important. Its hard to explain what it feels like to watch someone fall in love and have their heart broken right in front of you. It is one of the most wonderfully selfish experiences you can have. You grab some wine sit back and watch people bare their souls in front of you for $30. It’s one of the biggest creators of change that humanity has to offer and San Diego theatre is some of the best in the country. These theatres deserve audiences, and I am honored that I can do such a small thing to help them find them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I mean, no but it is nothing compared to what these theatres owners have to do to keep their doors open. I have a full time job, actively perform and direct in the san diego theatre scene and now I have added this weekly and monthly post I have commited to. So yes sometimes its hard, sometimes I am just getting the posts in before the weekend, BUT it is nothing compared to what theatre owners are going through right now. Image restrictions from equity (for theatres that hire equity actors) and copyright issues that come with the licensing of the scripts makes it near impossible for theatres to market their productions. A good marketing campaign should be running at least 2 weeks before a show opens but most productions aren’t full staged, costumed, and running until a few days before the production opens making getting killer marketing footage impossible and because license cost and theatre space costs are so high most theatres can only afford to run a show for 2-3 weekends which means by the time audiences see their marketing the show is about to close. In addition, because tickets sales don’t cover the cost of production, most theatres turn to donors who have expectations about what kinds of shows that theatre will produce limiting the type of show theatres can do and making it less likely that younger, newer audience will attend. Its a nightmare. So no my road is not smooth but its absolutely worth it if it gives theatres a larger more diverse audience.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I mean, I think the biggest thing that sets me apart as an artist is my attitude. I have always said I don’t need to be the most talented person you’ve ever worked with but I do want to be the one you want to work with again the most. One of the biggest energy suckers in any space is competition and a bad attitude.
I think I am most proud of the work I have been able to do with Backyard Renaissance, a local theatre I could not recommend more. In addition, I have a small following of young kids (well they were young then) who saw me as Veronica in Heathers at either onstage playhouse or ob playhouse and told me I brought the show to life for them. It is my favorite show too so I was nervous about doing it justice and seeing those kids get to see the show they love the way they wanted to see it was an honor.
What matters most to you?
Storytelling. Theatre at its core is intimate storytelling and through that we are able to show people what its like to be someone else. We can make people care about each other, think about each other, not by shoving it in their face but by inviting them in with entertainment. I think good theatre can connect us and change us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdstageguide/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdstageguide/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sdstageguide
Image Credits
backyard renaissance
adriana zuniga-williams
