Meet Troy Heard | Live Entertainment Producer/Director

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

Hi Troy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Would it be a cliche to say my career chose me? On some subconscious level being a live entertainment creator is a small step away from playing with Transformers in my third grade sandbox. Everything I do is based in storytelling, whether creating intimate immersive experiences for one or two people, or directing large scale spectacles for an audience of thousands. As a lifer, I’ve been fortunate to play in some really amazing sandboxes with very creative people.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was never fully sold on the audience experience being limited to seats in an auditorium. As a kid I loved going through the local Jaycees Haunted House and my teen years were spent driving to concerts and raves in Atlanta. I felt there was something more dynamic if I could marry those visceral experiences with a narrative drive. So long before Sleep No More became a thing, I was creating immersive theatre in the back rooms of book stores and abandoned dance studios. I never had a clue those weird little projects would lead to me being Creative Producer for a full scale immersive experience for Usher in 2021.

Was it easy? Not always, if ever. But each project contains its own challenges ranging from creative to logistic. However, it’s these challenges that keep inspiring me to find creative solutions.

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.
The best kept secret about Las Vegas is Las Vegas itself. Millions of tourists come annual but only a few realize what a vibrant community we have beyond the Strip. (The second best kept secret about Las Vegas here is: locals rarely go to the Strip unless we absolutely have to!)

If you’re an outdoors type, Mt. Charleston is a must see with its range of hiking trails and beautiful views. Vegas is a foodies delight. There’s a veritable world tour of top class restaurants up and down Spring Mountain Road. But a quick Google search will pop up little hideaways all around the city. And I’d be utterly remiss not to mention Main Street in the Arts District. Besides being the home of my Majestic Repertory Theatre (come see a show, and say hey to me!), you can have drinks at a number of local breweries or cocktail lounges (Velveteen Rabbit has the best mixologists in town), dinner at the famous Esther’s Kitchen or Yu-Or-Mi (home of the Majestic Roll), and then all the antique shopping up and down the street.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
While I’m grateful for all my artistic collaborators, I wouldn’t be in this field if it weren’t for two certain people who guided me in the right direction: my mother and my high school principal. My mom fostered my love for reading and the arts from a very young age. I’m sure many creatives can say that, but my mom really drilled it into me. She was dragging me to the theatre, museums, art shows, libraries – anywhere she could give me some exposure to creatives. However, she really developed my love for black comedy and the macabre – elements that have become a signature in my work.

I spent my early teens I was running around with a VHS camcorder making really bad knock off horror movies. So when our small high school got a new principal, I wasn’t expecting him to task me with creating the school’s drama program. With a modest budget and key to the auditorium, I became an impresario-in-training at the age of fifteen.

Website: www.majesticrepertory.com

Instagram: @majesticreptheatre

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troyheard/

Twitter: @majesticrep

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/majestic-repertory-theatre-las-vegas

Image Credits
Miranda Alam, RuBen Permel, Courtesy Majestic Repertory Theatre