Being a mid-sized city in the deep south, you don’t think of Baton Rouge as necessarily being a center for the performing arts. But there is a lot of hidden talent in this town, doing really impressive things on the stage – and at local birthday parties!

Jenny Ballard is the managing artistic director of Theater Baton Rouge. Jenny began her career in Tennessee and came to Baton Rouge after several years in local theater there to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts. After completing the program, she joined Theater Baton Rouge in 2014, and in the three years since has helped lead the company through many successful productions, a huge capital campaign and efforts to grow the company’s volunteer base and its education programs.

Venessa Lewis is also in the performing arts arena, though she’s more likely to show up at a kiddie birthday party or a swimming pool. Venessa is the Louisiana Mermaid, complete with a fully functional mermaid costume that she wears for public appearances. Venessa also owns the Petite Princess Company, which rents out princesses for birthdays and other events.

This Out to Lunch conversation is more bubbly than champagne but the women behind these two theatrical companies are all substance.

Photos at Mansurs on the Boulevard by Ken Stewart.