Meet Christie Vela!

KDT Artistic Company Member Christie Vela directs a lovely cast of KDT newbies in the world premiere of Octavio Solis' SE LLAMA CRISTINA, running from May 24 to June 22 at Kitchen Dog Theater!

CHRISTIE

FULL GIVEN NAME

Ana Cristina Vela Chavez Carmona Guerra Vela Vivero Serna Perez de Flores

HOMETOWN

Laredo, Texas

ZODIAC SIGN

Capricorn

CURRENT SHOW (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN) THAT YOU HAVE RECOMMENDING TO FRIENDS

I was recommending Theresa Alice by Jenny Ledel and Fly by Night [at Dallas Theater Center]

FAVORITE PLAY

Macbeth; The Pillowman; Boom

MOST PLAYED SONG ON YOUR IPOD/DEVICE

"Yesterday is Here" Tom Waits; "Pepita" by Calexico

LAST BOOK YOU READ

The Brief and Incredible Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

MUST-SEE TV SHOW

For me? Or for the people reading this? Everyone should watch "Deadwood" at least once. Best thing ever. For at night when I get home from rehearsal? "Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot" with David Suchet.

LAST GOOD MOVIE YOU SAW

"Super 8"

PERFORMER YOU WOULD DROP EVERYTHING TO GO SEE

Maggie Smith

POP CULTURE GUILTY PLEASURE

Julia Roberts movies from the 90's

FAVORITE PRE-/POST-SHOW MEAL
I can't eat for about 2 hours prior to curtain. Post: Whatever is within my reach.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?

Bette Davis and/or Edith Head

WORST FLUBBED LINE/MISSED CUE/ONSTAGE MISHAP:

During Fat Pig at the DTC, I had to kiss Regan Adair and then pick-up the remote control and turn on the television (which was actually being operated from the booth) to end the scene. I got carried away by the moment and forgot to pick up the remote, so the people in the booth could not turn on the tv, and the scene just kind of stopped until Regan reminded me with a crazy eye movement to grab the remote. It was very embarrassing.

Vela and costar Regan Adair give good face.

WORST COSTUME EVER:

Ugh... My sensible pantsuit/tent/muumuu in King Lear at Trinity Rep. Some designers are afraid of Big Boobs. Thank Goodness for Tina Parker and Jennifer Ables. Those ladies know how to dress me.

A PLAY THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE ON A DALLAS STAGE BUT SHOULD BE DONE

Spark by Caridad Svich AND Kita Y Fernanda by Tanya Saracho

[Ed: KDT's 15th Annual New Works Festival will feature a reading of 'Spark' by Caridad Svich - make sure to check it out! More information on NWF here.]

ONE PLAY YOU HOPE YOU NEVER SEE AGAIN

Red Light Winter

BUCKET LIST ROLES

Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar; Mother Courage. Arkadina. Medea. Bernarda Alba. Titania.

IF YOU HAD TO RUN A SHOW FOR 10 YEARS AND YOU GOT TO CHOOSE - WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I did a production of Macbeth at Kitchen Dog that I could have run forever because I LOVED the cast. Every night, it was like we were all alone in this dark room telling the story to each other and we didn't care who was watching. I don't know if people loved it. Frankly, it doesn't matter to me. But we did and that's really all that counts.

SUPERSTITIONS

The "M" word said out loud in a theater, or quoting the show in a theater DURING the run of a show. Other times, it's okay.

[Ed: Christie's referring to the same superstition as Vanessa, read here.]

DREAM PROFESSION IF YOU DIDN'T BECOME AN ARTIST?

Selling bridal gowns at Kleinfeld in NY. Or Captain of the Starship Enterprise.

FIRST SHOW TO SEE AT KITCHEN DOG

The Taming of the Shrew

FIRST SHOW TO BE IN AT KITCHEN DOG

Reckless

We couldn't find a good shot of Christie's AMAZING Deviled Egg costume
from Reckless (an egg with horns & a pitchfork, GET IT??!!),
so here's a series of photos.
You get the gist.

KDT Co-Artistic Director Tina Parker, Artistic Company Member Karen Parrish, Craig Parrish,
Christie, David Stroh, and KDT Artistic Company Member Max Hartman

Yay!

BEST PIECE OF THEATER YOU'VE EVER SEEN

The cat dressed like a shark that rides around on the Roomba terrifying that duckling. It's got everything: comedy, drama, and sharks. It's on Youtube.

See Christie's phenomenal directorial work onstage in SE LLAMA CRISTINA at Kitchen Dog Theater, May 24 - June 22!

Buy tickets for SE LLAMA CRISTINA here.