The Theatre Owner
In April 2008, Peter Valentino and I opened the Neon Venus Art Theatre in Las Vegas, a performance space for our band, and where we offer events, shows and music, acting and art classes. In 2009 we opened a second theatre in Hollywood. 2011 finds us busy with creating events and classes for both locations.
I have taken over a lot of the managerial aspects or promotional aspects of the theatre for the first years, and we have been helped by volunteers as well.
NON-PROFIT:
In 2009, we created the Neon Venus Arts Inc. non-profit organization, to provide affordable acting classes for kids in Las Vegas. Our school has provided theater training for dozens of kids in LV, and we have created two summer theater summer camps for children as well. Our teachers have directed productions of famous books/movies that feature young actors such as: Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
EVENTS AND CLASSES:
We have offered events during First Friday in Las Vegas that include improv shows, bands and art shows.
Peter Valentino shares managerial duties, and we both teach classes and plan events at both venues.
http://www.neonvenusarttheatre.com
Below there is an article on the Downtown View of Las Vegas, about the beginnings of our journey.
NEON VENUS ART THEATRE: Helping artists bloom
 Jenna Dosch/ViewKim Threat, theater manager for the Neon Venus Art Theatre, carries artwork into the facility on Aug. 1.  From front, digital art instructor Tara Bishop, artist Yadira Lopez and Peter Valentino, co-owner of the Neon Venus Art Theatre, put art on display at the facility.Jenna dosch/View  Jenna Dosch/ViewArtist Yadira Lopez unpacks a box of her artwork on Aug. 1, to be hung at the Neon Venus Art Theatre, located at 1404 S. 3rd St.
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By AMANDA LLEWELLYN
VIEW STAFF WRITER
Self-proclaimed underground, Latin pop and rock duo Neon Venus has found a brand of unconventional success in the music industry, being featured on the MTV Tr3s network and releasing albums since 1999, but an inherent need to build something concrete and stationary spurred members Peter Valentino and Lissette Napoleoni to plant artistic roots in Las Vegas, opening the Neon Venus Art Theatre, 1404 S. 3rd St., earlier this summer.
"We wanted our own little place to perform," Napoleoni said. "There's a definite need for a theater of this kind in Las Vegas, but the opening really stems from our need for a place like this."
The venue offers classes and workshops in a variety of subjects, including screenwriting, video storytelling, yoga, Spanish, vocal performance, fiction writing, dance, painting, computer graphics, positive thinking and acting for adults and children.
"We wanted to produce a creative center for those burgeoning artistic souls looking for a place to call home," Valentino said. "We wanted to offer something of substance, at a reasonable cost. There's nothing else like it downtown."
Novice writer Fiona Clauphshone said that her interest in pursuing training in the form of a writing class has perked up since learning about the theater's affordable pricing and close proximity to her residence.
"Writers don't have a lot of money," she said. "I'm not a professional, and part of that is because I haven't had the budget that would let me take classes to improve my writing. I like the way this theater has things set up, though. It's affordable without having to take out a loan or grant or something."
Valentino said that the city's image sometimes sustains the idea that nothing exists beyond the Strip; that nothing outside of that mile-long sliver of real estate is authentic.
"The entire town has this lounge feeling to it, but at the same time, it's an interesting place filled to the brim with artistic and talented people," Valentino said.
With an offering of regional art and hipster-frequented galleries, the downtown area has become the heart of an artistic movement seeking to infuse a semblance of culture into the community.
With the opening of the Neon Venus Art Theatre, Valentino and Napoleoni have made it a personal goal to be an instrumental part of that movement. Along with the classes already being offered at the theater, the pair plans to add an art gallery to the property's attributes, to feature the works of teachers and students. There also are plans in the works to hold film industry premieres at the theater, but Napoleoni said the reality might be a bit far off yet.
"We believe in the Arts District," Napoleoni said. "There are a lot of exciting, young artists kicking around. They often can't find ways to hook up, to produce results from their work. We want to be that for this community."
Classes typically meet once a week and cost between $50 and $150 per four- to eight-week session. For more information, call 787-2481 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or visit http://neonvenus.com/.
To find out more information about Neon Venus:
Voice, Acting and Film Classes (plus theater rentals):
http://www.neonvenusarttheatre.com
Voice/Singing Lessons:
http://www.valentinovoice.com
Film Projects and Classes:
http://www.neonvenusfilms.com
Art Exhibitions:
http://www.neonvenusgallery.com
Neon Venus Music Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/neonvenusmusic
Buy Classes, merchandise, records here:
http://www.neonvenusstore.com
More info about the band Neon Venus:
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/neon_venus/artist.jhtml
http://www.billboard.com/#/search/Neon%20Venus
About the owners:
http://www.neonvenus.com (the owners' band)
http://www.lissette.biz.com (co-owner site)
http://www.lissetteblog.com (about our projects)
Contact and Address Info:
Neon Venus Art Theatre
Los Angeles:
**7023 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles/Hollywood, CA 90038
Las Vegas:
**1404 South 3rd St.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Peter Valentino and Lissette Salazar Napoleoni (co-owners):
Phone Numbers:
323-867-7973
702-787-2481
310-428-4236