Audio By Carbonatix
Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 15. Damon Dering.
If you’re looking for Damon Dering, chances are good you’ll find him reading.
“I read over a hundred plays a year,” the Phoenix-based actor and director. “So when I’m not prepping a show for production or directing, I’m reading plays.”
See also: Phoenix Artist J.B. Snyder: 100 Creatives
Dering has lived in the Valley for three decades and is the founding artistic director of Nearly Naked Theatre. Over the course of his career, he’s worked with companies including Phoenix Theatre, Scorpius Dance Theatre, Childsplay, Theater Works, and Stray Cat Theatre. And he’s gearing up for yet another busy season of shows.
“Nearly Naked is bringing The Album Project: Jagged Little Pill in from L.A.,” he says. “It’s a lot of stress getting a show in from another city.”
The show, a theatrical adaptation of Alanis Morissette’s iconic record, kicks off what Dering describes as “a very exciting and ambitious season” that includes Debbie Does Dallas, The History of the Devil and Angels in America.
Sounds like a lot of costume changes — and a little Morissette-style irony for a company whose name flirts with nudity. Don’t ya think?
I came to Phoenix with a desire to be in the big city. I realized I was way too talented and way too gay for Cottonwood, Arizona.
I make art because I have no choice. It has been my passion since I was a child. A child-child. I used to take over the sandbox and make everyone put on plays there.
I’m most productive when I am surrounded by talented and collaborative people.
My inspiration wall is full of dark and sexy images.
I’ve learned most from the school of “what not to do.” I enjoy watching bad art as much as good. You can learn a lot from a train wreck.
Good work should always be honest. Challenge both artist and audience.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more money. Support the arts, people!
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
46. James D. Porter
45. Allyson Boggess
44. Abigail Lynch
43. Ashley Cooper
42. Jaclyn Roessel
41. Brandon Boetto
40. Melissa Dunmore
39. Gavin Sisson
38. Rossitza Todorova
37. Monica Robles
36. Josh Kirby
35. Jesse Perry
34. Yai Cecream
33. Nathan Blackwell
32. Carley Conder
31. Ben Willis
30. Nicole Michieli
29. Brian Cresson
28. Tyson Krank
27. Mikey Estes
26. Anwar Newton
25. Sarah “Saza” Dimmick
24. Tato Caraveo
23. Jorge Torres
22. Laura Spalding Best
21. Shawnte Orion
20. Mike Olbinski
19. Christina You-Sun Park
18. Jon Arvizu
17. Anya Melkozernova
16. J.B. Snyder
