Meet Payton Murillo: Actor, Dancer, Choreographer, Stunt Fighter, Teacher with Theater of Hearts

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

Hi Payton, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I am inspired by the strange and unusual, with a side of wow factor. The kind that sends electrical impulses up the brain-stem into the neocortex and thalamus, sparking the match of imagination, and blurring the lines of reality and fantasy. My parthenon of inspiration comes from a wide variety artists, such as, Tim Burton, Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Margot Robbie, Wade Robson, Galen Hooks, Lady Gaga, Marlon Brando, Jose Limon, Alvin Alley and countless others. These timeless inspirations consistently teaching me and feed me knowledge with their artistry to lift me from my couch, or my seat in the stadium or theater to building a bridge, extending into their fantasy-world that is so real to them, that it becomes, my own reality. All of these artist are standouts and rebels that pushed artistic limits as well as changed the status quo. They consistently have my eyes and ears absorbing all of their content, sending it to my brain where the neocortex and thalamus take over and make sense of the abstract content that it is receiving from these legendary masters of whom I inspire to be and provide the same inspiration to the future generations.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ever since I was little I was enthralled with the strange and unusual. The creatures and magic of the inky night and how they captivated people by bringing out their desires. Taking the day individual down the rabbit hole into my wonderland. I’m obsessed with giving people a show and taking them to a place unknown by the conscience mind. Opening and expanding new outlooks while still making it emotionally relatable and easy to connect too. Taking stories, concepts, life experiences and the things we deal with that are derived from an emotional connection and presenting it in the way I see it. Whether it be dancing, stunt fighting, creating choreography or putting my spin on a character, you can always count on the fact that it is and will be eccentric, bold and from my heart.

I like most people who have pursued a career in the arts or almost any field in which destiny has set for us hasn’t been easy. I have had many tribulation from money, injuries, unexpected left hooks and countless other growing experiences, but one thing has never changed and thats my determination.

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon with my two amazing parents who wanted nothing but the best for me in any endeavor I wanted to conquer. I remember being three years old in my living room in my glow in the dark Scooby Do pajamas trying to do the choreography from N*Sync’s 1997 music video a “Tearing’ Up My Heart.” I looked back at my mother who was watching me bounce around like a pinball in the play-field of the machine lighting up with inspiration with each bumper I hit till… Ding! Ding! Ding! High score and I told my mom “I wanna do that mama! I wanna be on TV!” Shortly after my parents singed me up for dance and acting lessons at a local community center where I have discovered the truest love I have ever know, the arts.

Once I was old enough for school my parents put me in the lottery for Buckman Elementary School of the Arts, which I was accepted into and thrived. At Buckman, I was able to learn dance, theater, music, art in so many forms that I was truly able to express myself in which ever way I saw fit. I tended to gravitate more towards dance and drama more than anything else.

The mother and father of my dance career and people I am so thankful for are Keith V. Goodman and Chisao Hata. These two people pushed me from Kindergarten to fifth grade and even past elementary school. They saw something in me and would never let me give up. They are also the reason I was introduced to Oregon Ballet Theater where I spent nine years studying with a full ride scholarship, under the direction of Damara Bennett and Christopher Stowell. At OBT I not only grew up there but developed the best technical training I could ever ask for and for that I am forever grateful.

But being the circle block trying to fit into a square hole like the rest of my classmates I never quit fitting in to the ballet mold my teachers had constructed for me. I was a rebel ballet student. I always wanted to do what I wasn’t supposed to do, twisted every rule I could before actually breaking the rule. I was always dancing differently and more free then my peers. I was caught dancing in the studio by myself which lead to me being chosen by several contemporary choreographers to be in multiple contemporary works that were not part of the school and were part of either the apprentice program or the actual company while still in high school. I got to work with Josie Moseley and Rachel Tess, which after getting to work with these crazy talented women and being one of the leads in Robert Henry Johnson’s Afro ballet, ‘Road to the Yellow Carnival,’ I decided to step away from ballet and try new forms of dance.

While looking for new avenues of dance my path crossed with Robert Guitron and Sara Anderson who gave me a scholarship to their summer program at ‘Polaris Dance Theater’ which helped to feed my hunger of different dance styles. This is also where I met Steve Gonzales the artistic director of ‘The Jefferson Dancers.’ At Jefferson we did all kinds of dance including, ballet, African, hip-hop, tap, contemporary and more, This expanded my knowledge so much I became even hungrier for more dance. Also, Steve was a member of MOMIX and brought the theatrics with him. I was so thankful to learn as much as I did from Steve and would incorporate much of it into my work in later years.

After high school, I briefly danced with Nashville Ballet as well as in NYC before starting my freshman year at CalArts. At CalArts, I ran into a similar problem as I did at OBT of feeling stuck in the classical/traditional ways, which wasn’t me. I found myself sneaking off to Edge PAC any chance I could to take classes that weren’t in my wheel house. Because of curious nature, I auditioned to be a SixFlags Magic Mountain dancer which lead me to audition to become an Edge Scholie under the direction of Bill Prudich and Randy Allaire which was the best thing I could have ever done. I was learning so many styles, and disciplines I was finally getting the knowledge I was looking for. After Edge, I signed with Go2Talent Agency which I am happily still with and started my journey into commercial dancing.

Finally, this circle block found the hole he fit into. I was so honored getting to dance with and for choreographers and dancers from ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and others I had watched growing up on YouTube. I got to dance on shows like ‘The Voice,’ ‘Latin Grammys,’ ‘Counterparts,’ and music videos, till a previous injury I had stopped me from dancing. Which was a blessing in disguise because it forced me to focus more on choreography and acting which I hadn’t done since high school where I was the All-State Champion in group comedy for Thespians in Oregon and president of our troupe my Jr. year, which both become a huge joy for me. Also helped me keep my head up while I did a GoFundMe to raise money to get stem cell in my knee.

While healing from my injury I got a couple of roles in shows like ‘Counterparts,’ ‘The Cold Case Files,’ and a couple of other projects. I also got to assist Jojo Gomez and become Charlie Puth’s movement coach on his first solo performance on ‘The Voice.’ Which were a huge blessing and I am forever thankful to Jojo for giving me the opportunity. After that, I choreographed a music video, LA Fashion Week, a pilot and presented my choreo to the LA dance scene at shows like Posers, Club Jete and Carnival. Once I was healed I was back dancing and choreographing stronger then before.

Before covid had hit us I was looking for another outlet to fill my curiosity and found XMA with Mike Chat. XMA is a training program to learn stunt fighting, which I mean, who doesn’t wanna be a badass? While training there I learned about an acting studio called Lesly Khan, where I am proud to say I am still training at with my current teacher Trisha LaFache. I am currently working on several shows and projects that I can not talk about at this time but can’t wait for you all to see. I am so lucky to be living the life I live and can’t wait to see where my journey is going to lead me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever I have someone coming from out of town, I always try and have them come on the weekends because there is nothing better then, Sunday Funday. Cliche… Maybe, but I can honestly say I have never spent a Sunday Funday and not had a good time. My perfect Sunday Funday starts with bottomless mimosas at Hyperion Public where I get to sift through six different types of sweet and tangy mimosas, a piece of french toast that makes you rethink the saying “eyes are bigger than your stomach,” due to the fact it’s the King Kong of French toast, with a side order of eggs and bacon. After having many laughs over an amazing meal, take an Uber to the Santa Monica pier to soak up some sun and time travel back to my childhood at the arcade. My favorite arcade game to play is air-hockey because it reminds me of my sister and I being so determined to beat our parents and hear the buzzer of victory ring for us. After remembering how fun being a kid is we Uber over to WEHO to start our night at Hamburger Mary’s for Drag Queen Bingo, that leaves a smile so big on your its as if you got hit with Joker gas. Once the mood is set right its time to dance the night away club hopping down Santa Monica Blvd. Now thats the perfect Sunday Funday! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so many people who have helped me get too where I am today and I do want to highlight them because without them I don’t know where I would be. The amount of love and energy each person has given me due to my hard work and dedication. Each person in this list has and will always be apart of me. I can always feel them with me whether I’m dancing, acting, fighting or whatever the job calls for I always know these people are with me.

Dance Teachers: Keith V. Goodman, Chisao Hata, Damara Bennett, Christopher Stowell, Josie Moseley, Robert Guitron, Steve Gonzales, Melody Lacayanga, Lawrence Blake, Rosanna Gamson, Andre Tyson, Collin Conner, Bill Prudich, Randy Allaire, Adam Parsons, Terri Best, Helene Phillips, Sabrina Phillip, Havic, Eddie Garcia, Jojo Gomez, Damien Joseph Diaz, G Madison, Dana Alexa, Richy Jackson, Galen Hooks, Kitty McNamee, Ian McKenzie

Acting Teachers: Trisha LaFache, Lesly Kahn, Michael Givler, Northwest Children’s Theater

Stunt Fighting: Mike Chat

Mentors: Keith V. Goodman, Chisao Hata, Adam Parsons

Instagram: @payton_murillo

Twitter: @paytonmonster22

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paytonmurillo22

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Oi46uYXvpWVKYGlASQ7Qw

Other: Agency: Go2Talent Agency

Image Credits
Cara Lindsay, Joseph Williams