Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaiah Santiago.

Hi Isaiah , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I Guess my story really begins in the church. From a young age I’ve been involved in productions from pantomimes, to skits, to full on easter and Christmas productions. My passion for Theater and music only grew as I started to get involved with productions in high school learning all aspects of theater, from Acting, to playwrighting , to costuming, set building, tech and even Directing. Bronx theater High school was truly a catalyst in my journey. Surprisingly enough I did not attend College for anything theater related, rather I graduated with my bachelors in business admin and marketing from the College of Westchester and started my career working in the non-profit world shortly after. many years, a marriage and 2 kids later my family and I moved to Connecticut during the height of Covid to escape the only city I’ve ever known, NYC, and start a new journey. I became the Managing Director for Shakesperience Productions and through being a board member for the Arts and culture collaborative in Waterbury, I met Rafael Roman Feliciano who asked me to become the Artistic Director for Pa’lante Theater Company, Connecticuts first and only Afro-Latino black box theater company.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

It has absolutely not been a smooth road. just as one can imagine, life has brought me through many challenges and eye opening experiences, but I wouldn’t Change any of it because it made me who I am today. and although I may have thought I knew who I was, that narrative keeps changing now that I am in a position of change.

We’ve been impressed with Pa’Lante Theater Company , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

At Palante, our mission is to unapologetically present opportunities to create, produce and perform representations of the arts. Pa’lante through the arts seeks to provide visibility for various marginalized communities. As part of that mission, We are proud to produce a new work every month, ensuring that fresh and powerful stories are always being shared with our audiences. Here’s a glimpse at what’s coming up:
January: World Classic
February: Foxes
March: New Works Festival
April: Don Juan
May: Quarter Rican
And to close out our season in June we have Misfit America.
Each of these productions offers something unique, from reimagined classics to bold new voices that reflect our mission and our community. We’d love for you to join us at any—or all—of these performances as we continue to bring these stories to life.
We believe in the transformative power of storytelling, whether it’s on stage, on screen, or in the conversations sparked by these moments.

How do you define success?

when you accomplish something that you set out to do, it can be as little as making diner, to creating a company.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://palantetheater.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palantetheater/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PalanteTheater