Artist Profile: Byron E. Yanzapanta
Photography by Beau Meyer, from production of Orlando
Byron E. Yanzapanta is an actor based in Madison, WI. He began his acting career at UW-Madison, majoring in Theatre & Drama with a certificate in Dance. He’s worked backstage for University Theatre, then later performed in their productions such as Peter and the Starcatcher, Wine in the Wilderness and Orlando. He aspires to perform and create projects that bring people together to have a good time and inspire them — because he believes and knows the impact acting can have on people. Like music, dancing and painting, acting is an art form that can inspire people. It can make them feel something or help to understand a feeling that they’ve been experiencing but didn’t know how to express. As well as continuing the growth of Latinx representation in the industry, Byron demonstrates that we are capable of performing in roles outside of the stereotypical box we are set in. “We all have our own stories, experiences and perspectives to bring to the table y mucho más.”
Photography by Beau Meyer, from production of Peter and the Starcatcher
What has been one of the most impactful lessons, however small or big, from your earliest experiences with theater and performing?
A lesson that has stuck with me since I started my career was from a mentor of mine, Jim Stauffer, who taught classes about the business of acting at UW-Madison. He said, “Imagine acting as a circle inside of a larger circle. To do the fun and performing part that you enjoy that’s in the inner circle, you have to do the business part first.” I’ve always had that mentality — work now to have more time for fun later — but what he said taught me that this is an actual business and your business is yourself. You have to put in the work and invest in yourself. It prepared me for what I will encounter in the acting industry.
Who or what are some of your biggest supports and influences when it comes to your art and performance over the past year or so?
My biggest support and influence comes from the people around me and in my life. Mostly my family and friends — never a dull moment with them — and people who I’ve met throughout my life. Part of being an actor is portraying a reflection of reality. In order to do that authentically, I have to observe and understand the world around me and the world outside of my own. Helen Mirren said it best: “Truth is always so much more interesting than fiction, isn’t it?” Bringing in something that’s true allows me to bring life into my role. I also am influenced a lot by music. I love listening to the message of songs, and how they can impact and influence people, as well as shift their way of thinking and understanding. As a person, they help me to understand and process emotions when I can’t clearly understand by myself. Then as an actor, they help me to get into the right headspace for a performance. It’s a form of therapy and work, but I enjoy it both ways.
Photography by Beau Meyer, from production of Wine in the Wilderness
What is a dream performance you have — or themes you'd love to explore and haven't found the yet?
My dream performance is to be in a film project with an all Latinx cast. Like a film adaptation of ¿Que Pasa With La Raza, Eh? by Carmen Aguirre and The Latino Theatre Group, or Living Out by Lisa Loomer. Even though they are stage plays, I don’t think they get enough credit. Performing them on stage would be an honor on its own, but adapting them into film would help make them available and engage a wider audience. These stories touch on subjects made not only for Latinx people; people of other demographics can relate as well. Those are the stories I dream of performing and there are many stories written by Latinx playwrights that don’t get enough credit. I even have some stories of my own that I dream of creating and adapting one day because I believe they are stories that should be told and show the range that actors in La Comunidad Latina can bring to the table.
Photography by Maureen Janson Heintz.
What are 2-3 exhibitions, concerts, books and/or book talks, spoken word events and/or films you're hoping to check out this year in Wisconsin or virtually?
A book that I’ve enjoyed is Latinx Actor Training edited by Cynthia Santos DeCure and Micha Espinosa. A mentor of mine, Baron Kelly, recommended this book to me to learn about Latinx history in the industry — to learn about who came before me and what actors who are Latinx face in the industry. I have learned a lot about plays, projects and writers that weren’t discussed in my training who have offered so much, in addition to practices that I now use in my method. It’s a book where I continue to learn something new each time so I highly recommend it. For films, I look forward to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. I admire Andy Serkis as an actor and his performance in the Planet of the Apes franchise was amazing. Even though he no longer is in it, I do enjoy Wes Ball’s work as a director and I am interested to see his installment to the franchise. For theatre, I’m excited for UW-Madison’s University Theatre production of Angels in America coming this summer.