Interview and Photos by VIM Magazines Editor In Chief Jorge Lara

Recently had the opportunity to interview and photograph Breon Jenay for VIM Magazine where we got to talk about being an actor in Las Vegas, her past performances, aerial hoops, and her new role in the new production of play ‘X’

VIM MAGAZINE: Your new play ‘X’ by Alistair McDowall debuts in February at A Public Fit, a Las Vegas theatre company. What can you tell us about it?

BREON JENAY: I'm so glad you asked! I became intrigued with English playwright Alistair McDowall's work in 2020. After being introduced to one of McDowall's plays ("Pomona") by my friend and fellow actor, Jamie Carvelli, I decided I had to read any and all of his plays that I could get my hands on. I fell in love with "X" immediately, and it has been a dream come true to be able to participate in the making of the Las Vegas premiere performance of such an exciting work. "X" Originally premiered at the Royal Court in London in 2016, and tells the story of a group of scientists on a lone research base on Pluto, in a future where the Earth is now hardly able to sustain life. When the group loses contact with Earth, and time itself begins to distort, chaos ensues. "X" deals with themes of isolation, loneliness, memory loss, love, grief, hopelessness, despair, climate change, human connection, and identity. It is simultaneously terrifying, hilarious, and heartwarming. I love this play and I've never been more excited to share a piece of work with an audience. 

VIM MAGAZINE: A lot of people know you as the wedding officiant at Lucky Little Chapel. How has that been and how did you get started in it?

BREON JENAY: I became a marriage officiant over a decade ago, but it took a while before I was able to start performing ceremonies at Chapels. I found it quite difficult to break into the wedding industry, and had almost given up hope of becoming an officiant until the Summer of 2015 when same-sex marriage was finally legalized. After that, a lot of the "old guard" needed to be replaced as they would refuse to preside over the ceremonies of same-sex couples. Since then I've done ceremonies all over Vegas, including helicopter and hot air balloon weddings. I started working at Lucky Little Chapel in the Summer of 2020, it's a family owned business and it's been a delight working for them! 

VIM MAGAZINE: Some of your past acting performances include APF’s Heroes of the Fourth Turning and Lobby Hero, Pomona at the Playhouse, TSTMRKT at Vegas Theater Company, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Majestic Repertory Theater. 

I remember seeing you in a production of Closer, which was based on a 2004 American romantic drama film directed and produced by Mike Nichols and written by Patrick Marber and based on the award-winning 1997 play of the same name. It starred Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Clive Owen.

Which character has been your favorite to play so far?

BREON JENAY: Ahhhh man, this is a tough one. It would have to be when I played the titular role in "The Little Prince" with Insurgo back in 2010. There was something truly magical about that show, and performing as a character that is so far away from who I actually am was really liberating. There were often children in the audience and captivating their imaginations with the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a once in a lifetime experience. 

VIM MAGAZINE: Your IMDB shows that you were in Secret Identity Show in 2016. What was that about?

BREON JENAY: Secret Identity Show was a comedy web series written, directed, and produced by my personal friend and fellow artist, Jillian Austin. It followed a group of young street buskers who dressed up as super heroes to pay the bills in Downtown Vegas. I played Katie Steele, your girl-next-door comic book nerd type, with a penchant for Spider Man and illicit substances. It was a labor of love that introduced me to a lot of new friends and I look back at those days with a sincere fondness. 

VIM MAGAZINE: You collaborated for many years with Ernest Hemmings with TSTMRKT. I remember seeing those performances and the two of you have great comedic timing and chops. Do you prefer to do more comedic or dramatic roles. How was it working with Ernest?

BREON JENAY: Recently I've been more attracted to dramatic roles, but that could change. I spent a long time doing mostly comedy and it's still a huge part of my heart, but I think it's important to be able to balance many genres as an actor. Mostly I'm attracted to scripts that have a darkness to them, and X is definitely scratching that itch for me at the moment. 

Working with Ernest has been one of the highlights of my career. The man is a genius, one of the funniest people I've ever met, and he makes a damn good quiche. I can't say for certain that I'm done with TSTMRKT forever, but I've been thrilled watching Ernest thrive as a solo performer. I'm proud to call him my friend and I can't wait to see what he does next. 

VIM MAGAZINE: What do you have in store for 2024? Any production you would like to be a part of?

BREON JENAY: I anticipate that I'll be reading a lot of plays in 2024. I'm at a time in my life where I no longer have the stamina to take on every project that comes my way, but instead choose to pour my whole self in to one or two projects that I've fallen in love with per year. So I spend a good chunk of time looking for plays that resonate with me. My husband, Jake Staley, is a tremendously talented actor and it's my goal to play a role opposite him someday. 

I've also been practicing aerial hoop for the last year and a half or so, and I'd love to perform for an audience at some point in 2024. 

Thanks so much for your questions, Jorge, and for the beautiful photos! Keep up the great work. 

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"X" is directed by Jake Staley, produced by A Public Fit, and runs February 9th-March 5th at Super Summer Theatre Studios, 4340 S Valley View Blvd #208, Las Vegas, NV 89103

For tickets visit apublicfit.org