Casa Captivating
Exclusive Interviews
Kylie Travis, Programs and Marketing Director, began working at Casa Romantica in 2015 and has helped bring in world-class arts and culture both in person and virtually with digital content. Read our interview with Kylie Travis below to learn about her favorite programs and marketing projects and how the arts have impacted her life.
Casa Romantica has a unique mission to make arts accessible for all ages of the community. Why do you think that is important for a community?
I think a lot of people have a perception that art is very highbrow and hard to understand and to me, art is literally everywhere. The gardens, your favorite movies, and all the music you listen to. The art world is incredibly expansive and once you realize that the people who wrote your favorite movie are really no different than all those “high-brow” artists, you unlock this world to explore and grow within. It’s important for me that Casa Romantica provides this space for people to find their comfort zone in artistic experiences here while also trying new things and expanding that comfort zone.
Follow up: How have arts impacted your life?
The art medium that impacted my life the most is dance. I began dancing at a really young age and it really shaped me throughout my life. You learn self-expression, self-confidence, teamwork, resourcefulness, creativity, and grit. Certainly, I always say that most of my life lessons were learned in a dance class.
What inspires your creation of some site-specific commissions at Casa Romantica?
Everything here! Definitely, the Casa is so beautiful and naturally has amazing little vignettes that create incredible performance spaces. The best part of my job is figuring out how to use our space differently compared to other venues and how to present different art mediums in fresh ways for our community.
How did programming change during COVID?
Casa Romantica switched from being purely onsite to launching digital content including our Casa Vibes Virtual Concert series on YouTube and Instagram. The programs team, marketing team, and I had a lot of fun filming, editing, and launching it. Additionally, it was a brand new way to consume the arts at a time that people were in need of entertainment.
What is something that most people do not know about Casa Romantica?
I think people come into our space a see the huge house and amazing ocean views only. They don’t realize what a labor of love it is to work here. All of our staff and volunteers work to preserve this amazing property. Additionally, we really take care when planning everything so that every person can feel transported the second they step through the keyhole door. We also have a lot of ghost stories but that is for another time!
What has been a favorite moment at Casa Romantica for you?
I have had some really amazing experiences here, but the Opera Through the Seasons performance was one of my favorites. We created a concept opera where the audience would travel through the house and gardens to different stages that represented Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. At each stop, there was a set build-out that represented each season and a soprano and musicians performing pieces that represented each season. In the last finale, both singers (Liv Redpath and Andrea Zomorodian) came together to perform The Flower Duet from Lakme. It was really magical.
Ocean Terrace or Main Salon? Main Salon!
Historic Tour or Garden Tour? Garden Tour!
Butterfly Garden or Woodland Garden? Woodland Garden!
Flowers or succulents? Both!
Casa Creepy Haunted House or Casa Lumina Holiday Walk? Casa Creepy!
Casa Cool Summer music series or Casa Vibes music series? Casa Vibes!
