Jerry Mañan

Actor/playwright/director 

Jerry Mañan is an actor, writer, director, and theater artist based in the Kansas City area. He graduated from Avila University, where in his last year he received the Best Classical Acting award at the American College Theatre Festival. Locally he has appeared at the Unicorn Theatre (Refuge, Backwards Forwards Back, The Lifespan of a Fact), at Kansas City Actors Theatre (Little Women, Dot, The Pests, The Lehman Trilogy), and most recently at KC Fringe Festival, where he and actor Freddy Acevedo created an experimental two-man show they called Maquinitas. Jerry’s love for creating art has been rooted in everything he’s done since he was a child.

Which Latino/a performers or artists did you admire growing up, and what impact did they have on you as a person and an artist?

John Leguizamo was an actor that I grew up admiring. I was first introduced to John, a Colombian actor, in movies — which made me feel like my dreams of being a Latino actor were possible. But where he really had an influence on me was during high school, when I was introduced to his Tony Award-winning one-man shows. Now, I saw him as someone who did it all, and did it at a high level, and I thought … I want to do that.

How does Kansas City rate, from what you have seen, in terms of the visibility of, or recognition of, local Latino performers and artists? 

I think it’s gotten better! I think features such as this are very important toward recognizing artists in our community. And just like John Leguizamo was for me, I hope that a young artist can see this and be inspired to know that their voice is just as good as anyone else’s, and that their dreams are achievable. 

What steps might we take to help further this forward motion, toward bringing more Latino/a artists to the forefront? 

There has been improvement. Every day I run into more and more Latino artists in Kansas City’s theater scene, and we’re all so eager to be involved. In order to continue to improve, we need to embrace more actively our Latino population. We make up such a vital part of Kansas City’s history and culture, and we have to let the community know that there’s room at the table. That may look like: telling Latino stories and stories written by Latino playwrights, supporting Latino work, hiring Latino artists, and — possibly the most important — providing education and training in the arts for Latino youth.

Instagram: @mananjerry 

Joseph Nuñez

Double Bass, Kansas City Symphony

Joseph Nuñez became a member of the Kansas City Symphony’s double bass section in 2021 and is a permanent member as of 2024. The native of El Paso, Texas, studied at the University of North Texas, at Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles (with Peter Lloyd), and at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music (with Timothy Pitts). Joseph has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, the Orford Music Academy in Quebec, and the National Repertory Orchestra. He has also received honors from the Sphinx Organization and was a Community-Embedded Fellow through a partnership of the Houston Symphony and the Shepherd School.  

Which Latino/a performers or artists did you admire growing up, and what impact did they have on you as a person and an artist?

Vicente Fernandez … I have memories from going to birthday parties, quinceañeras, etc., as a child, and fixating on the bass line of “Chente’s” incredible music.

As an introverted child, I found myself clinging to, and falling asleep to, his velvet vocals, while the parties continued late into the night. As a teenager, I was compelled to listen to more energetic music from bands like At the Drive-In/The Mars Volta, and they inspired me because they were El Pasoans performing on a Global scale.

How does Kansas City rate, from what you have seen, in terms of the visibility of, or recognition of, local Latino performers and artists? 

I would say Kansas City does a fine job of celebrating the local Latino talent. I am pleasantly surprised by how strong the Latino community is here, and I think it is recognized and appreciated by the community at large. I feel incredibly fortunate to represent my culture onstage with the Kansas City Symphony, and I think that visibility counts for something, too.

What steps might we take to help further this forward motion, toward bringing more Latino/a artists to the forefront? 

In order for this awareness to thrive, we must nurture it at the source: the children. If we teach all children the importance of cultural diversity and its influence, then we will never run out of Vicente Fernandezes and Selenas to admire and aspire to be.

Instagram: @osjeph 

Bruno Bessa 

Vocalist, Ensemble Ibérica, La Sonora KC, and other groups

Bruno Bessa has performed in jazz venues throughout Kansas City, with such artists as Mark Lowrey, Rod Fleeman, and Doug Auwarter. He has appeared with guitarist Michael McClintock’s Cubanisms and Arara Azul band and has shared the stage with such vocalists as Shay Estes and Angelique Staggs. He is currently a member of Ensemble Ibérica and La Sonora KC. Bruno has been greatly influenced by artists from his native Brazil such as Lenine, Ednardo, Caetano Veloso, and Gal Costa. His vocals blend the old and the new sounds of the Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) world. 

Which Latino/a performers or artists did you admire growing up, and what impact did they have on you as a person and an artist?

Caetano Veloso is one of my greatest influences. He revolutionized Brazilian music by introducing harmonies and rhythms from our Latin-American neighbors. I credit Caetano Veloso with instilling in me a passion for performing music that is cross-cultural. 

How does Kansas City rate, from what you have seen, in terms of the visibility of, or recognition of, local Latino performers and artists? 
Kansas City’s Latino Music scene is growing fast. The recent boom of Latino Pop Music in the mainstream has definitely brought notoriety to our local artists and has made the Kansas City audience very curious and open. This benefits all genres. 

What steps might we take to help further this forward motion, toward bringing more Latino/a artists to the forefront? 

Incentives from local businesses would pair well with Kansas City audience’s thirst for Latino Music. Going forward, I would love to see more events promoting young talent in Kansas City.  

Instagram: @voxbruno

Amaya Rodriguez 

Company Dancer, Kansas City Ballet 

Amaya Rodriguez trained at the National School of Ballet of Cuba and earned the Silver Medal in Havana’s Eighth International Ballet Academics Encounter. She performed as a guest artist in Ecuador and Colombia and in 2006 joined the National Ballet of Cuba. Amaya was among the last group of dancers who worked with the legendary ballet director Alicia Alonso; she was promoted to principal dancer in 2013 and performed numerous principal roles there and subsequently with Mexico’s Ballet Monterrey. In 2016 she joined Kansas City Ballet, where she has made a powerful impression in principal roles in such works as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Jewels, and Petit Mort.  

Which Latino/a performers or artists did you admire growing up, and what impact did they have on you as a person and an artist?

Throughout my career, I have always been inspired by music, which is essential for dancers, and by artists who make me learn, who motivate me to grow as a dancer. I had the good fortune to work for 12 years with the world-renowned Alicia Alonso. … She was my greatest inspiration: Her wisdom drove me to be the artist I am today, and I will be eternally grateful for that.

How does Kansas City rate, from what you have seen, in terms of the visibility of, or recognition of, local Latino performers and artists?

Kansas City has been my home for nine years and I could not be happier than to have chosen this city, and the Kansas City Ballet, under the direction of Devon Carne, as my second home. From the first day I auditioned, before moving here, I fell in love with the city. There was something special about the surroundings that told me that this would be my place to live. I arrived here with my husband and today I have two children who were born here and are part of this great community. I hope to continue growing and enjoying myself as an artist in this wonderful city.

What steps might we take to help further this forward motion, toward bringing more Latino/a artists to the forefront? 

Over the years I have lived here, Kansas City has been doing a lot of work with the Latino community. Every year they have improved, have made an effort to be better for us, which is something I appreciate very much. It is not easy to arrive in a country and start from the bottom, but having the support and the help from this city has made me feel happy and grateful to be here. 

Instagram: @amayi.ballet