We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalia Lazarus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I came to this country as an international student with my dreams of being an artist. Through education, I was able to learn my craft and cross over into a Hollywood career.

It seemed natural to me to create a home for artists – where they can be embraced, nurtured, and start off their careers.

In addition to having the educational wing of the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory, it seemed logical to add to our business plan a theatre, a sound stage and a production company.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my career out as an actress in New York City, whist studying filmmaking at New York University. I got booked on a soap opera called Port Charles and came out to LA. Since then, I’ve continued to evolve as an artist becoming a screenwriter, and a poetess with my award winning book that just got released, My Love Affair: Thorns and Roses and to which I also wrote the companion screenplay: A Year in Picasso.

For several years I worked on the production of a play called, A PIcasso, by Jefferey Hatcher. I directed and starred in it in English and French in the South of France Paris, and LA. It was during that time that the poetry book was conceived. It is a beautiful book – where the chapters are conceived as acts in a play. The book also contains nostalgic vintage photos and twelve beautiful Picasso’s – reflective of the mood of each act and evoking the feelings of several of the poems. The book will also be released in Spanish and French and the audio book is in pre-production.

Recently, I traveled to Alabama to shoot a film called Nightmares and I booked 2 episodes on the series Westworld. I am currently writing a tv series called NATION and the film that I directed and starred in – Remains of a Nation -is beginning its festival circuit next month. We have a screening for it scheduled on 11/5/22 at our campus – Lazarus Onstage Studios on our Main Stage – the Promenade Playhouse.

My creative journey and experiences led me to create an artistic home for artists – Lazarus Onstage Studios, which houses my Production Company, The Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory, a degree granting institution for actors, writers, and directors; and the Promenade Playhouse. We just moved to our new campus in West Los Angeles and it has been so rewarding to see it slowly get built and turned into old Hollywood Glamour with an Art Deco decor.

Building an empire is not easy. I’m still working on it. At this point, I have laid out the foundation for a great future between the theatre, the conservatory, and the studio. Now we are at the point where we are open to investors and can offer naming rights for our stage, classrooms, etc… and accept tax deductible donations – as we are a non profit, to be able to complete the construction of our theatre, offer scholarships, get more equipment for our film program, educational software for the conservatory, and get more staff to run our library, research, and grant departments.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to the Art.Tour in Topanga, for a hike through all the hidden streets and paths that we have in Topanga Canyon and end with dinner at The Inn on the 7th Ray.

For a coastal outing, I would take them on a weekday or off season to an early morning walk and swim at Paradise Cove followed by breakfast and a visit to the Getty Villa.

A walk in the Venice Canals followed by a boat tour that leaves from Marina Del Rey.

A matinee performance at the outdoor Will Geer Theatre followed by cocktails and dinner at Mastro’s Malibu.

Early hike in Leo Carrillo State Park, catch some rays at El Matador Beach in Malibu followed by sunset drinks and dinner at Geoffrey’s.

A weekend trip to Catalina.

A 2 day trip to Santa Barbara

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shout out to the people that represent me and believe in my talent: Hanson & Schwam Public Relations Firm, Energy Talent Management and BSA Talent. Gene Schwam, Sally Hinata and Eva Beadle have supported me above and beyond the call of duty.

My fiance, Tom Waters and my mother, Iris Pineda – who believe in me blindly, as only loved ones could.

And God – with whom all things are possible!!

Website: lazarusonstage.com laconservatory.com promenadeplayhouse.com

Instagram: natalialazarus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/natalia-lazarus-61687245

Twitter: @natalialazarus

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natalia.lazarus.9

Other: IMDB – imdb.me/natalialazarus EMAIL – info@lazarusonstage.com

Image Credits
Harry Langdon Bode Helm Chris Kooreman Tom Waters

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