Meet Kim Lara | Performer, Producer, Writer, Multi-Hyphenate Creative

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

Hi Kim, how do you think about risk?
Being the daughter of immigrants, I understood at a very young age that to survive is to risk and to risk is to live. You never know the result of a risk, but you’d regret never having taken it and trying. My whole life I have taken risks, from choosing theatre over a business degree, leaving Miami and moving to New York City alone two weeks after graduating high school, to taking a pause on my masters degree to dive into producing and get back to performing, etc. Life has thrown me in many directions and coming from a Latin household, I grew up always putting family first, putting everyone above myself, but I took the risk of putting myself first and I would lie if I say it was not difficult, but I am the most fulfilled I have ever been. Starting life over was the biggest risk, but I finally feel alive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a storyteller at heart. I love being a part of the process of bringing stories to life, whether it be on or off stage. Being a part of that magic is the most fulfilling thing in the world for me at the moment.

I think what has set me apart from others is my hunger to learn and what I bring to my experiences in the industry and ability to adapt and constantly evolve, and my willingness to do so in any setting/role.

Well to begin with, I was a very shy child growing up. I performed a lot for myself in my room, but mostly in my Abuela’s room after school, mimicking Michael Jackson music videos and JLO concert footage I had on dvd. I don’t really come from a creative/artistic centric family. I joined choir at a young age and stuck with it through the end of high school. My family very much viewed it as a hobby that I was very committed to, but were very much set on the idea of me pursuing a career in business administration/marketing. I was very afraid to bring up the possibility of a theatre career to my parents, who I knew are depending on me to give our family a future (Talk about generational Latin pressure, am I right?) . It took my father coming to a performance of mine that I had choreographed and co- directed in high school and giving him an ultimatum, if my performance was horrible, I will go to a school in Florida and continue my business career, but if it was good, he had to let me audition for a theatre school. I very much put it all on the line (we love taking risks) and don’t remember much of that performance because of nerves and mentally blacking out. But at the end of the show, my father was already waiting for me, and all he said was “okay, let’s do it.” I got accepted into the one and only college I auditioned for and moved to New York City alone two weeks after graduation. Starting life again, excited to learn, and having the opportunity to put my whole self into what I love doing seemed like a fever dream. Pursuing a career in theatre is the riskiest thing anyone can do honestly. There is so much uncertainty and instability, but my passion for it is constant and truly has kept me going till this day. Post graduating college, I took a break to continue my education at The New School, diving into writing and media, and occasionally taking on performance opportunities as they came. Then pandemic hit and well, life has taken many unexpected yet fulfilling turns since.

Today, I want people to know that I did not come from much, and have fought and worked endlessly to become the singer, the dancer, the actress, the writer, the producer, I am today. For a long time I questioned my talent, heck I had never stepped foot in a dance studio till college and will never forget the moment on my first day of college when my professor asked, “Who has had xyz training in a studio, who’s had vocal training, who has worked on xyz” and I was the only one who didn’t raise my hand. That’s the moment I knew I would have to work a million times harder than everyone else in the room. And being one of the only women of color in a room/group, I had to do my best to find myself in my performances and fight for the roles that I was not necessarily meant to play, but am capable of being.

I have constantly doubted myself, I’m human, but I make sure to always stay true to who I am and what brings me joy. It was hard to learn this, especially with Latin generational trauma and morals, but it’s my life, and at the end of the day my family is always at the heart of everything I do, even if it doest seem that way to them at times.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

In Miami – I am an early bird, and love hitting the beach as early as possible for a nice sunrise moment! Vicky Bakery for breakfast – who doesn’t love pastelitos?!? Very basic of me but I would definitely also take them to flannigans, it’s just a must. To be honest, I don’t really know a lot of places in Miami, being that I left the city at the age I would have “gone out the most” during. And during my teen age, I was a nerd and committed choir girl so I was either home or in rehearsal. But I would have my friend eat anything my family cooks and I could honestly spend a whole day at the beach.

In NYC – I would take my friend to Central Park, I love the Natural History Museum, shopping, to my local pub and Thai place. Take them to Korea Town, specifically Let’s Meat for some Korean Barbecue! Would of course, take them to see a broadway show (duh), depending on their interests. And see where the day takes us, anything can happen in NYC!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Family, for trusting me in this process. For allowing me to breakthrough what’s expected of a first-generation daughter of immigrants and chase my dreams, no matter where they take me. For always reassuring me that I am capable of accomplishing anything I set my mind to, and to always challenge myself to go beyond my own expectations. Ellos son mi historia.

Instagram: @kimglara

Twitter: @kimberlyglara

Other: https://www.popsugar.com/author/kimberlylara

Image Credits
Photos with the Jacobs Pillow Watermark are photographed by Danica Paulos. Headshots by Matthew Murphy