Join us Sunday June 22nd at 1:30pm for

The State of Arts & Culture: More Than Just Sin City

“What happens in Vegas” is so much more than the stereotypes you see in film! Despite portrayals of the city as the place to behave “badly,” there exists a thriving world of creative individuals, educators and a vibrant arts community.

Beyond the Strip, world-class performers mentor youth in their downtime, elite musicians play local gigs, and the Arts District is home to galleries, ballet, theater and a symphony orchestra. Las Vegas’s growing influence in the arts is impossible to miss — you no longer have to be “in the know” to take in the city’s unique cultural landscape.

Las Vegas also boasts a dynamic film community!

Meet the arts and culture leaders setting the next stage for the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Our moderators:

Ashley Singleton With 17 years of experience in sales, events, and design, Ashley Singleton knows how to bring big ideas to life. As the Entertainment Reporter for BTSLV and co-host of FanRoom Live with Cedric the Entertainer, she offers a unique perspective that bridges the worlds of business and entertainment. From red carpets to behind-the-scenes coverage, Ashley delivers sharp storytelling, celebrity interviews, and strategic insight with undeniable charm. She currently leads corporate partnerships while staying tapped into the pulse of TV, film, and live events.

Ashley is honored to moderate this year’s panel discussion at the Nevada Women’s Film Festival.

Michelle Patrick Over the past decade Michelle Patrick has worked within theater, dance, photography, creative writing and cultural administration. Her current work at the Nevada Arts Council focuses on statewide community arts development initiatives and grant support. Her arts administrative background also includes the city of Las Vegas, Denver Center for the Performing Arts and the Sundance Film Festival. She has served as a grant panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, as a board member for the Nevada Women’s Film Festival and holds a BA from Bradford College. She recently performed in “The Lifespan of a Fact” at the Majestic Repertory Theater.

Our panelists:

Danette Tull Danette is the Deputy Director of the Nevada Film Office. The Nevada Film Office markets the state’s diverse locations and promotes Nevada as a premier destination for productions. Danette’s work focuses primarily in the area of Public and Community relations; however, her passion for the local community keeps her involved in all aspects of the operations. Working closely with major productions, Danette directly has a hand in films, television series, and commercials featuring Las Vegas and Nevada, driving economic benefits, tourism and promoting our state. She holds an M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Texas, and a B.A. in Foreign Languages from UC, Riverside.

Jennifer Romas Jennifer Romas is a multifaceted talent known for many live and on-screen productions as well as producing, directing, choreographing, and starring in her Las Vegas smash hit “SEXXY The Show” and now adding

“EXXCITE”. Landing in Las Vegas over 25 years ago after touring worldwide she has become a decorated figure, staple in the Las Vegas landscape of entertainment, earning accolades like “Best Female Entertainer”, “Best Burlesque Choreographer” and “Best Female Revue”. Her Sexxy & Exxcite productions have garnered numerous accolades, nationwide recognition, and a strong community impact through woman empowerment initiatives and charity work. As the sole owner and creative force behind her trademarked shows, she’s established herself as a prominent female entrepreneur in the Las Vegas entertainment industry and feels truly blessed to be a part of the legendary entertainment landscape amongst so many she looks up to and is also grateful to work with so many talented artists and watch them grow thru the years and is grateful to work with so many talented artists and watch them grow thru the years. Jennifer values giving back, cherishing time with loved ones, and fostering creativity. She is passionate about the art of dance, music, and inspiring others. Her brand message promotes “A state of mind that encompasses strength, sexuality, intrigue, desire, passion, seduction, confidence, and

empowerment. Whether you are male or female, young or young at heart, be confident in YOU! Do what “Exxcites” you and be your own kind of “Sexxy”. Romas’ ultimate goal is to inspire others to never give up and to pursue their dreams relentlessly.

Sarah O’Connell Sarah O’Connell has led The Asylum Theatre as its nonprofit Artistic Director since 2003 after relocating to Las Vegas from the San Francisco Bay Area to establish AxisLights Inc., an entertainment lighting company. An award-winning international theatre artist, she has realized dozens of world premiere productions and holds a Master of Drama in Directing from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In addition to producing theatre, Sarah is an adjunct professor and creative economy consultant for UNLV’s College of Fine Arts, and the former Executive Director of Henderson Symphony Orchestra. Honored with a 2024 Vegas Icon Visionary Award (VIVA), she founded EatMoreArtVegas.com in 2015, a platform dedicated to the development of Southern Nevada’s arts community and creative industry. A proud advocate for lifelong learning and public access to humanity’s cultural legacy, she created the Community Learning Project in partnership with the NV Department of Education, and is honored to serve as a founding co-Vice President of Nevada’s Arts Creative and Entertainment (ACE) Chamber.

Dr. Heather Addison Heather Addison joined UNLV in 2016 as chair of the Department of Film. She has taught a broad range of courses in film history, criticism, and theory, with a particular focus on genre studies and animation; her primary research area is Hollywood’s relationship to American culture. At UNLV, she co-wrote a $271,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant that cataloged and preserved materials in the Department of Film’s Howard Hughes Motion Picture Production Records (now available in Special Collections & Archives at the UNLV Library). Addison has published her work in a large number of scholarly journals. Her books include Hollywood and the Rise of Physical Culture (Routledge Press) and Motherhood Misconceived: Representing the Maternal in U.S. Films (SUNY Press), a collection of essays co-edited with Elaine Roth and MaryKate Goodwin-Kelly.

Kelly Schwarze Kelly Schwarze is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, author, and entrepreneur based in Las Vegas. He has produced and directed eight feature films, three TV documentaries, and numerous commercials, with credits for A&E Networks, History Channel, ABC, and Scripps Networks. Kelly co-owns Indie Film Factory, a studio founded by his wife, Charisma Manulat, in 2011.

Under their leadership, Indie Film Factory has supported the production of multiple indie films and TV content for NBC, Disney, Amazon Studios, and more. Known for his expertise in micro-budget filmmaking, Kelly creates high-quality projects on budgets ranging from $30,000 to $100,000. He also manages his own licensing company and partners with ITN Distribution to release his films.

Kelly is the author of four books, including What Film Schools Don’t Tell You and Filmmaking for Kids. In 2022, he premiered his feature Darkest of Lies and launched a new animation studio. His next animated feature is slated for release in 2026.

Kelly Schwarze Alice Sauro is the current Executive Director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic (LVP) following seven years in the same role for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera (SP&O). Under her leadership and commitment, the LVP has successfully worked to grow earned and contributed revenues, manage expenses, build a high-functioning staff and foster positive messaging to the community. On July 1st, the organization announced the appointment of Leonard Slatkin in the role of Artistic Consultant.

Alice is committed to bringing the LVP to a wider audience in the Las Vegas Valley by fostering partnerships with mainstream artists such as acclaimed rapper NAS and bringing more innovative programming to the season performances by performing works from legacy pops artists such as Queen and The Beatles. She is also working on getting the orchestra out more into the community and evolving the Philharmonic’s Youth Concert Series, the annual performances tailored for Clark County School District students.
She recently completed four years of service to the board of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO), two years as Board President leading change during the pandemic.

Her career spans 30 years as a violinist and subsequently as a manager with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) prior to relocating to California for her husband’s job transfer. A Juilliard-trained violinist, her career was cut short by injury, which created the opportunity for her to enter arts management, beginning with the position of Musical Director for the Nederlander-operated Fisher Theatre in Detroit. In 2007, Sauro was recruited by the DSO and later appointed Executive Assistant to DSO Music Director, Leonard Slatkin. She was promoted three times in the artistic operations department including Orchestra Manager, a position created for her by Anne Parsons.

Alice and her husband David live in Las Vegas, having moved here in early March 2020. They raised their three children in the Detroit area and now enjoy time with their three granddaughters.

The State of Arts & Culture: More Than Just Sin City

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