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Meet Kevin “Blax” Burroughs

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin “Blax” Burroughs.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in a very musical family. My mom was a singer having played Dorothy in “The Wiz” multiple times and singing backup for B. Slade (formally known as Tonex) on his Grammy-nominated gospel album “Out The Box” in concert to a sold-out crowd at the San Diego Civic Theatre in 2003.

My dad was the musician of the family playing practically any instrument he felt like picking up. Throughout my childhood, my family and our church took part in theatre which gave me that “first taste.” During middle and some of the high school, I gave up the theatre life to pursue instrumental and choral music not realizing that theatre was where I belonged. Fast forward, I was cast in the ensemble in San Diego Repertory Theatre’s production of “Hairspray” in 2010. That show was the moment I caught the theatre bug all over again and realized that I didn’t want to be a part of anything else for my career. Ever since then, I’ve kept my hands glued to the theatre. I would not be where I am today had it not been for the public arts school that I went to.

The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts is a life-changing place of education. Having attended the school for seven years (6th-12th), I was blessed with multiple opportunities to work with amazing faculty members such as Bill Doyle, Gail McKinney, Erin O’Connor Fetters, Tamara Paige, Dr. John Reynolds, RC Haus, Sandra Foster-King, current principal Timothy Farson, and of course the Artistic Director, Richard Trujillo. Senior year of high school, I was able to finish my academics a semester early which gave me a lot of free time. I decided to take this free time I had and take a photography class taught by Lorie Miles. I had no experience with a camera and to this day I still I feel like the arts is something you just have to jump right into. So that’s what happened. I walked in the classroom, and before I even sat down at a table, Ms. Miles handed me a camera and said “Here you go.

Go take pictures. Grab a friend. Experience photography.” I was very confused but went on with it. I immediately fell in love with the craft. I wouldn’t say I’m a professional photographer, but I am proud of what I create. So on top of my theatre life, I work as a freelance photographer. Post high school graduation, I decided to go straight into the San Diego theatre scene without a college degree. From 2013 to now, I would perform periodically (recently closing an eight week run of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” at New Village Arts) but knew that it wasn’t what I wanted to do. Every show I’d watch or be in, I always paid close attention to the process of producing the show and the tech aspect (lighting design specifically). I knew very early that I didn’t want to become a Broadway performer. I wanted to produce/create shows as a director/choreographer/designer.

As time passed, I worked with Common Ground Theatre as their Resident Choreographer for two years as well as with STAR Repertory Theatre which is where I currently am now as the Director of Choreography. STAR Rep is a youth/community theatre hybrid company that gives actors of all ages the opportunity to perform onstage. There is a special feeling of seeing a happy family be able to all perform together in a show. I’ve worked with other San Diego theatre companies (performing and choreographing) such as San Diego Repertory Theatre, Moonlight Stage Productions, Cygnet Theatre, Ion Theatre, Southwestern College, UCSD’s Muir Musical, New Village Arts Theatre, Lamb’s Players Theatre, San Diego Ballet, and others.

At STAR Rep where I am Director of Choreography, I take part in choreographing every show (about four-five a year), performing in some shows and as of summer 2017 I have been the Resident Lighting Designer. Like I said before, I always paid attention and had an eye for lighting. I didn’t know much about the “science” behind lighting, but I’ve always had the creative mind and imagination for it. During the summer of 2017, STAR Rep put on a production of “The Addams Family” where I was the choreographer and played Lurch. I was given the opportunity to also make my Lighting Designer debut with the show with the help of the technician staff at the Lyceum Theatre. Show by show, I learn more about the “science” of light design whether it be from forcing myself to do research or other designers around town lending me their knowledge.

I am finally branching out and will be choreographing my first professional production for New Village Arts Theatre this summer when we take on “Little Shop of Horrors.” And because I have to stay a busy man, I’m usually stacking shows on top of one another which means I will also be Co-Directing & Choreographing “James and the Giant Peach” at STAR Repertory Theatre with performances taking place in our new renovated theatre in Escondido. I don’t know exactly where my life is headed in the long run, but I do know that I am grateful for every opportunity that every company I’ve worked with has given me. I’m blessed on so many levels to be able to practice my art with such close family, friends, and co-workers.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was not easy. I had to go through some tough times dealing with depression & anxiety throughout middle/high school and post-graduation. I tried to use theatre as my way out of depression, but it didn’t work at the time because of the fact that I was getting so caught up in not getting past auditions/callbacks. I eventually stopped performing and focused on choreography. I was about a 2-year gap of performing until I was convinced to audition for STAR Rep’s “Les Miserables” and was cast as Enjolras. That was my return to performing. I had gained my confidence, and slowly my depression went away. Ironically, it’s funny that it started to go away with a VERY depressing show. Over time, I made new friends, lost others and was in a long relationship which all supported me in ways I never felt. I learned so much about myself and the craft from my personal life.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
STAR Repertory Theatre is a youth/community theatre hybrid that focuses on giving the opportunity to their actors. We put on shows to entertain both the audience and the actors onstage. Fun takes center stage. In order to give more kids/teens/young adults opportunities, we have multiple casts per show. While putting on these shows, we also make sure that they learn about theatre and those who want to pursue the craft can take their knowledge on with them in their lives.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My #1 goal in life is own a production company — Theatre, music, dance, art, etc. I want to make a difference with the arts and change people’s lives like it did mine and continues to do. At STAR Rep, we now do one show a year that is a show where we pay our actors. It started last year with “Jesus Christ Superstar” and will continue this summer with “Next To Normal.” These shows really get to showcase the talented performers you don’t normally get to see on a regular basis. I also team up with the Resident Musical Director, Benjamin Goniea, and put on themed cabarets quarterly on top of our normal show schedule to also give more opportunities to the kids/teens/young adults. Even in a big cast of a show, there are so many hidden gems that don’t get that spotlight as much. The cabarets we put on give them that opportunity. My goal in the future is to continuously put on cabarets not only for the performers at STAR but to open it up to the public and show off any talent that audience don’t normally see on a stage.

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