| Stephen LaReign Hues is a multi-faceted artist who has worked as a dancer, choreographer, director, stilt-walker, costume designer and photographer in the US, Canada and Europe. For over 30 years, he has collaborated on a range of productions from Drag Shows to Operas to Burning Man, as well as directing and performing his own original solo characters who have entertained audiences in theatres, cabarets and street festivals alike. Stephen is recognized for his eclectic and unique vision, creating art that is magical, whimsical, and poignant. As a result, he has been a sought-after collaborator to participate in the creation of unique performance works relating to cultural mythology. Stephen’s rich artistry was largely influenced by living in the cultural dynamism of Montreal, Canada in the 1990s, where he was a co-artistic director, performer, and photographer of the gender-bending and ‘legendary’ performance group, House of Pride. Stephen applied his photographic vision to innumerable performances, using his provocative images as immersive projections far before it became common to do so. His works were presented in galleries, nightclubs and performances alike. One of the more unique features of Stephen’s photography is that he was often in front of the camera as much as behind it, giving it a duality of both voyeur and exhibitionist; participant, and documentarian. Whether he was just being Stephen, or if he was in character as his alter-ego ‘LaReign’, Stephen always carried a camera with him capturing the onstage and offstage; in the light of day and behind closed doors; the usual and the alternative; the prohibited, the inhibited and the uninhibited; capturing a unique perspective of it all, especially of the changing mores and lifestyles that were a sign of those shifting times. Work Experience 2007 – 2020 Los Angeles Opera – Dance Captain, Ensemble Member, Rake trainer, Stilt coach, Dancer, Actor, Puppeteer, Clown & Stilt performer. 2007 –2018 Stilt Circus – Director, Choreographer, Costume Designer. Core Member, Stilt performer, Clown, & Puppeteer. 2002 -2007 Fabulous Monsters Performance Group – Director, Choreographer, & Co-producer. Collaborated with director Robert A. Prior on several productions, their Ramayana 2k3 performances at La MaMa garnered 5 NYC Drama Desk Award nominations. 1993 – 2000 House of Pride – Co-artistic Director, Drag Queen & Photographer. Gender fluid divas unite to create art & high-octane performances. Education Ohio State University – BFA in Dance & Choreography 1985 – 1989 Dance Scholarship, President’s award for academic excellence & a member of the University Dance Company for 3 years which toured to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and London. Since college, Stephen has explored and studied many various movement modalities and art forms including stilt walking, Wushu martial arts, voguing & high heel dancing, mudras & Kundalini yoga, theater improv, puppeteering, and clowning. Honors and Awards NYC Drama Desk Award Nomination for ‘Outstanding Choreography’, ‘Unique Theatrical Experience’, & ‘Best Ensemble’, for Ramayana 2k3. LA Weekly Theater Award Nomination for Choreography, Ramayana 2k3. Foundation Cinq Mille for Ballroom Boudoir. Indiegogo crowdfunding for Firebird Rising. Seth Landsberg Family Art Foundation for Ramayana 2k4. Seth Landsberg Family Art Foundation for Ramayana 2k3. North Hollywood Theater District Award Nomination for Lighting Design, for Ramayana 2k4. Canada Council, Interdisciplinary & Performance Art Program Grant, for House Opera. Canada Council, Interdisciplinary & Performance Art Program Grant, for Gaia’s Storm. Academic Award for Excellence in the Arts, Ohio State University. Dance & Choreography Scholarship, Ohio State University. |