Drama Queens, a five-star arts journal focusing on female artists

“I am a Dancer, Singer, Actress and Voice Over Artist from Toronto, Canada… and I started dancing at Martino Centre of Dance … my mothers dance studio.” This was Paris Martino’s opening salvo as she sat down for an interview.

She elaborated that at age three she couldn’t stop dancing until age seven … where she still kept dancing but now it was in musical theatre (thanks to a production of The Jungle Book in which she was cast).

She continued her studies in the United States at arts programs and intensives, including the Performing Arts Project and New York City Dance Alliance. She danced all the way to The Boston Conservatory at Berklee – studying with some of the industry’s most prominent figures, such as Broadway Alum Laura Marie Duncan, Broadway Conductor and Musical Director Eric Stern, and Broadway Alum and Director and choreographer Larry Sousa – earning a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Immediatrley she moved on to take on featured and princo=lem roles regionally including Heather Duke in Heathers the musical, Billie Bendix in Nice Work If You Can Get It, and Bebe in A Chorus Line. What was next … New York!

We spoke to the ambitious emerging professional about the pandemic and the challenges that await.

What did you do during the pandemic?

During the pandemic like many artists I tried my best to stay in shape vocally and physically by taking class and staying creative however the impossible happened! At the start of the pandemic was offered several roles with The Weathervane Theatre in New Hampshire for their 55th summer season. There I played Penelope Square in Polkadots: a Cool Kids Musical, Billie Bendix in Nice Work if You Can Get It and Heather Duke in Heathers the Musical. Shortly after my time at The Weathervane Theatre I made the big move to NYC. I knew the city was still recovering from COVID-19 however I Wanted to get a head start making connections and adjusting to city life. I also looked into other opportunities to stay creative and use my training. Having studied several Voice Acting technoques in College I knew I should give it a try. I was lucky enough to land a voice over vocalist spot with the brand Gillette Venus. I voiced a few of their ads for their new Pubic and Body razor for their various social media campaigns. I have also had the opportunity to be a dance adjudicator with the nationally renowned dance competition Legacy Dance Championships. I have since travelled all over the U.S. providing my expertise to many dancers nationwide by assisting them in their early dance careers. 

Work seems to be returning for you. What’s coming up?

I recently booked a role in a production of Footloose at The Rev Theatre in Upstate NY so I will be spending most of my summer performing in that production. Otherwise I will be continuing to choreograph, Adjudicate, audition and live the life of a young artist. 

How do you think the theatrical climate will change in NYC and beyond now that we are easing back to reality?

I believe that the theatrical climate will change immensely when we fully return to life without COVID-19 and I think it is for the better! There was an enormous call to change in 2020 that I believe Theatre Makers cannot ignore. The pandemic forced us to stop and think about our industry in a way that we only could with the time the pandemic gave us to be introspective. I believe there will be a real push moving forward to create a better, more equitable and diverse industry. One that values actors time, spirit and well-being.