Meet Anastasia Munoz: Executive Artistic Director & Theater Maker

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

Hi Anastasia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a professional working theater artist in Dallas I was looking for a place where I could continue educating myself and others in my art form, a place where I could be free to create and collaborate on new bold work, where we could dream big and fail and then rise up and try again, a cultural incubator. I wanted a place where artists and arts lovers could grow together to create a richer community. I didn’t see that place in Dallas yet, so I wanted to build it.

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.
I come from a theater background- actor, director. However I started to notice how difficult it was to have people come out to see the performing arts. We were beginning to compete with Netflix, etc. so I started to explore what would get people excited about getting up and participating in something. My art evolved into creating experiences. I invented Beyonce Ballet- a ballet class for adult beginners that blended a classic ballet barre workout with twerks and stanky legs. I started our AMOC Holiday Singalong Spectacular. This Halloween we created a COVID safe haunted house/art installation, REQUIEM. These are just a few of the programs I have been able to create at Arts Mission Oak Cliff. I am delighted to bring talented professional artists together to excite and invigorate our audiences in a way they wouldn’t expect. They leave uplifted and buzzing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well obviously I would bring them to Arts Mission Oak Cliff for yoga in the afternoon, then we would have lunch and shop in Bishop Arts. Tribal All Day Cafe, Magic Hour, Wild Detectives, The Weed Spot, and All Good Things are some of my favorites, then back to Arts Mission Oak Cliff for a performance. On a Saturday morning I would take them to the Farmers Market, a walk through downtown Dallas, grab a coffee at Weekend at the Joule, pop into Commerce at the Adolphus. See the Eye, have a picnic lunch from The Commissary at Pacific Plaza Park. On Sunday we would hike the Great Trinity Forest and bike around White Rock Lake. Have dinner at Here Lounge in East Dallas. I love Dallas. I would be honored to show off my city!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Arts Mission Oak Cliff would not exist without Todd and Lola Lott. They both are creative hustlers and philanthropist. They were looking to invest in visual arts studios to help give back to the arts community having had success in the commercial art world. We met and I told them my idea for a space that could support the performing arts as well as the visual and they began to believe in this dream too. They invested in our gorgeous building and allowed me to continue forging ahead to create what AMOC is today. They are our Patron Saints.

Website: www.artsmissionoc.com
Instagram: @artsmission @anastasiatheadventurer
Facebook: Arts Mission Oak Cliff