Meet Jon Marcantoni | Writer, Producer, Director

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

Hi Jon, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have had two businesses. The first was La Casita Grande Editores, a publishing house for Latino writers, and the second is my current company, Flamboyan Productions, a company that seeks to make theatrical and multimedia productions by BIPOC artists. In both instances, I created the businesses in order to address a blindspot in a particular industry. Having worked in publishing and in theatre, I see an enormous lack of stories that showcase a fuller and more complex humanity for people of color. Particularly with Latinos, we are reduced to one narrative–immigration–and even within that immigration, the circumstances are always the same–the United States as promised land from an impoverished, dangerous homeland we are fleeing. I want to combat that narrative, which is steeped in white supremacy, as well as showcasing that Latinos are more than just immigrants. Latinos come from so many different cultures and contain multitudes in their interests and forms of expression. We should be able to tell our stories in any genre, and liberate ourselves from the white gaze. The same goes for black, Asian, and indigenous artists wishing to change the narratives placed on their peoples. The best way for me to do that, outside of my own writing, is to facilitate an environment to foster opportunities for BIPOC artists.

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.
My writing focuses on social and political issues from a personal perspective. My work is centered on the Puerto Rican experience on and off the island, even in my book Tristiana, which is an allegory set on a fictional island, I was still talking about my people. My writing uses stream of consciousness techniques to delve into the psychological and emotional process of each character, and by utilizing first and third person narration, I can give an intimate and a global perspective of the stories I am telling. With my plays, this manifests as monologues and scenes that alternate in perspective. I am always striving to create an emotionally dynamic experience that blends multiple styles.

As you could imagine, being so unorthodox in my writing has made getting published difficult, but the internet age has fostered the creation of several alternative and experimental digital magazines and niche publishers who appreciate being an oddball. I have experienced a lot of rejection, but I also have been fortunate to find supporters in outlets such as PANK Magazine, Across the Margin, Minor Lits, Latino Rebels, and others. For example, when my book The Feast of San Sebastian came out, in the same day, I received a review that questioned whether I was a competent writer and they couldn’t believe I was published, and another review that praised me as a voice of my generation and someone to watch. Lucky for me, the glowing review was from a bestselling author and the negative review was from a little-known blogger.

Even with my unorthodox approach, I was first published when I was 22 and began working as an editor in small publishing houses when I was 25. I’ve had five books published and I have written five full length plays and three short plays, and two of them have been produced–Puerto Rican Nocturne at The Bug Theatre in Denver, and Life is an Extraordinary Thing at the Kaine Theatre in NYC. I have also had dozens of articles and short stories published since 2012. I was able to do this through building relationships with like-minded editors, agents, and theatre producers. The most important thing I’ve learned is that building strong interpersonal relationships and networking effectively is essential to having a successful artistic career. Even though my work is not for everyone, I have been able to build a community for my work, and I think a lot of artists can obsess over those who don’t appreciate them and the opportunities they don’t get. It’s easy to become bitter, but its more satisfying to instead focus on those who love and support you, and that mental shift is crucial to building your confidence and drive.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, well let’s assume its Spring/Summer. After picking up my friend from the airport I’d take them to the Bonnie Brae neighborhood, which includes one of my favorite parks int he city, Washington Park. We’d get dinner at Campus Lounge where we can enjoy some basketball or baseball games, and afterwards walk up the block to Bonnie Brae ice cream for dessert. The next day I’d take them to the Santa Fe Arts District to check the Museo de las Americas and grab some coffee from Tonantzin Casa de Cafe, then grab drinks at Raices Brewery and close out the night with tacos from Cantina Loca in the beautiful Highlands neighborhood north of downtown. Over the course of the week, we’d check out Cheesman Park near the Cap Hill neighborhood, the Botanic Gardens which border the park, and get more ice cream at Liks (Ice cream is a weakness of mine haha). I’d also take them to Confluence Park (many people don’t know that Denver has a riverfront park but it does and is gorgeous) followed by a late lunch and drinks at Union Station which is in walking distance. The Museum of Contemporary Art is essential as is catching movies at the Mayan Theater and Esquire, where you can often catch classic and foreign films. The Mayan in particular has a cool ambiance since it was an old silent movie theater. We’d have to spend one night doing karaoke at Enigma Bazaar or Dr. Proctors, which is a great dive bar in Glendale. Finally, one day we’d go to Westwood and check out the local artisans and Cultura Chocolate for some snacks, followed by a drive to the foothills on 285 and go for a hike near Red Rocks Amphitheater or North Table Mountain, both of which have incredible views of the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Dr. James Lopez and Dr. Martin Favata, my two mentors and professors from when I was a student at the University of Tampa. Both men introduced me to books and ideas from Spain and Latin America that continues to shape me and my worldview. Books such as Las venas abiertas de America Latina and El entenado remain influential in their style and subject matter. Both men also instilled a love for history and language, and always pushed me to question established narratives and authorities, including my own, and in doing so, expanded my capacity for empathy and understanding of our endlessly complex world.

Website: https://flamboyantheatre.com/

Instagram: @marcantonijon and @flamboyan_theater

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-marcantoni-14919b3a/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nv11eCQK3M&t=10s