By Isabel M. Castro
Lead photo by Sarah O'Connell
Photography by Isabel M. Castro and photos courtesy of Gigi Guizado
"Working with Gigi has joyfully transformed not only The Asylum Theatre as a company but our theatre community as a whole, generating opportunities for our diverse humanity and uplifting artists' work worldwide. She is a breath of fresh air in the room as a collaborator who brings grace and grit to the roles she inhabits." -Sarah O’Connell, Artistic Director of The Asylum Theatre.
Gigi Guizado’s classic stage performance of ANTÍGONA premiered at the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center Theatre on June 29. The event featured two performances on Saturday, June 29, with a post-matinee talk-back discussion and a second show. Presented by The Asylum Theatre in partnership with Clark County, this unique production captivated audiences with its United States debut. The evocative play, written by Peruvian poet José Watanabe and translated into English by Cristina Pérez Díaz, was directed and produced by Sarah O’Connell, Artistic Director of The Asylum Theatre.
During the post-matinee online discussion, Catherine Boyle, Director of Out of the Wings Collective (OOTW), expressed excitement about this theatrical collaboration and commented on the unique nature of this production, as Gigi will travel to London, England, for its long-anticipated UK presentation. Irma Varela, Winchester Dondero Center director, and Alexa Josey, Asylum board member, also shared their enthusiasm for this momentous occasion, highlighting its significance in putting Las Vegas theatre on the map.
Boyle further remarked that through these efforts, audiences will learn about the richness of Latin American works. She hoped this endeavor would create a gateway to other communities and countries, offering new experiences and fostering connections across time and space. Excitement built up for the second presentation of ANTÍGONA performed at the Barons Court Theatre at 28a Comeragh Road, London.
Evidently, both The Asylum Theatre and OOTW are dedicated to presenting stories that explore human behavior throughout history. Their mission is to share relevant stories like ANTÍGONA in diverse settings such as Peru, the UK, and Las Vegas. Performing ANTÍGONA holds special significance for Gigi, marking the second consecutive year she collaborates with director Sarah O’Connell, the Winchester Center, OOTW, Barons Court Theatre, and the World of English-Speaking Theatres (WEST) Association. Gigi cherishes the international exchange and the transformative journey of ANTÍGONA, from its origins in ancient Greece to its contemporary adaptations. She believes this production highlights universal themes that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Furthermore, during the 2024-25 season, Gigi will be directing a series of public programs open to the community, including Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home with The Asylum Theatre on September 1 at the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum and April 12, 2025 at the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center. With A Public Fit Theatre Company, Gigi will direct a staged reading of Native Gardens by Karen Zakarías on September 27-28 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, and a main stage production of References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot by José Rivera running April 4-22, 2025 at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 Brush St.
Background
Gigi’s journey began in San Francisco's Bay Area and eventually led her to the emerging arts scene of Las Vegas, Clark County. Her first foray into creativity was through music, a passion sparked by her mother's eclectic record collection. As a child, her prized possession was a portable record player, and she would spend hours choreographing dances and singing along to the timeless tunes of Ella Fitzgerald and many others. This early exposure to music deeply impacted her imagination, allowing her to explore the freedom of movement and the joy of attentive listening, ultimately discovering her natural affinity for it. By the age of ten, Gigi realized she needed to express herself creatively more physically, beyond the confines of a desk. She vividly remembers her parents' dinner table conversations, where they often lamented their unfulfilling jobs. Determined to avoid a similar fate, Gigi pursued a career that would bring her joy and fulfillment.
Her formal dance training, music, and theater spanned ages 8 to 26. One of her formative theater experiences was when her mother took her to see a college production of West Side Story. That experience seeded her desire to become a triple-threat performer. Her acting studies began in her first year at San Rafael High School, leading to two opportunities that set her on her career path: a scholarship to The New Conservatory Children's Theatre Company and School and professional on-camera experience in the hit MTV music video "Sister Christian" by Night Ranger. Gigi quickly realized that acting was the most compelling and impactful job, with the most longevity, that she could hope for.
In college, Gigi initially majored in dance before switching to interdisciplinary arts. She knew that the performing arts, more than anything else, made her feel alive and balanced in mind, body, and soul. She studied drama briefly at the College of Marin and UCLA before completing her BA in Drama at San Francisco State University (SFSU). At the university, she studied voice with opera singer Kathryn Harvey, who helped her decide to minor in lyric theatre. Among her musical theatre instructors was Gene Nelson of Hollywood and Broadway fame. She studied Shakespeare in San Francisco with Diane Robinson and in London with Catherine Harvey, and Best Actor Oscar nominee Colman Domingo coached her. Of all the acting techniques she has studied, she relies most on those that involve freeing the voice and body, as well as script analysis.
Gigi noticed a glaring absence of Latin American theatre in the curriculum throughout her professional development. Given her Colombian heritage, this was precisely the area she wanted to explore and portray on stage. During this period of personal growth, Gigi consumed the works of many of her favorite writers, including Latin American poet and 1971 Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda, as well as the inspirational works of her grandfather, Rafael Guizado. She was particularly intrigued by "magical realism."
The lack of resources inspired her to seek out Latin American plays, translate them into English, and share them with a broader audience, creating more opportunities for Latino actors to have a voice in the arts. She admires the work of Octavio Solis, who draws from his Mexican American roots. Moreover, she is deeply influenced by the late Chita Rivera, who made being a triple threat look effortless and natural. Other influences include Gena Rowlands, particularly in her screen performance in Gloria, and Anna Deavere Smith, who made a lasting impression with her powerhouse writing and performance in Twilight: Los Angeles 1992.
Whether Gigi performs with an ensemble or is the only person on stage, as in ANTÍGONA, she relishes working with a creative team that brings universal stories to life, allowing diverse audiences to see themselves reflected onstage. Applying the creative arts that have shaped her life, Gigi devotes her time between The Asylum Theatre and A Public Fit Theatre Company. Both companies have had a long-standing presence in the Las Vegas theatre scene and are committed to presenting community engagement. The public is encouraged to experience these marvelous live productions, as many of them are free admission. Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home (Ancestry and Identity) at the Rita Deanin Abbey Fine Art Museum on September 1 is a free poetry reading and discussion. Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home (Music & Performance) at the Winchester Dondero Theater on April 12, 2025, will combine poetry readings and musical performances.
Additionally, A Public Fit will present a free staged reading of Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías, a thought-provoking comedy about the complexities of identity and belonging, at the Clark County Library on September 27-28. References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot by José Rivera, a poetic play in which fantasy and reality blur, challenging our perceptions of love, identity, and happiness, opens April 4, 2 025, at Charleston Heights Arts Center. For tickets, click here.
These exciting plays and poetry readings will be directed by Gigi and slated to premiere at local and convenient community venues throughout the valley, making this carefully curated season’s offerings accessible to everyone.
The Asylum Theatre: https://www.asylumtheatre.org/antigona
Facebook: @Theasylumvegas Instagram: @theasylumvegas
Email: Sarah O’Connell, Artistic Director: director@asylum.org
Tel: (702) 604-3417
Out of the Wings Collective (OOTW):
Facebook: @Out of the Wings
Instagram: @outofthewingscollective
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