Mariah Reives is a dancer, choreographer, and entrepreneur who is currently performing in The Great Gatsby on Broadway. Her previous credits include Funny Girl on Broadway, Cassandra on the 1st National Tour of ‘Cats’ The Musical, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

In today's episode, Mariah discusses her time performing on Broadway, why she stepped down as Dance Captain, and how she prioritizes her mental health. She gives advice including when NOT to get an agent, why we should focus on our weaknesses, and why she wishes she did more regional productions before Broadway.

She also shares the story of her Broadway Debut, what it was like bringing her dog along on a National Tour, and why she created The Performer's Circle to give accessible information to performers.

Enjoy our episode with Mariah Reives!

Chapters:

(01:13) Broadway’s The Great Gatsby

(01:46) Stepping Down As Dance Captain

(05:23) What is An Onstage Dance Captain?

(08:24) To Dance Captain or Not To Dance Captain

(13:51) Advocating for Your Needs in a Professional Setting

(19:29) Enjoying the Ensemble Track

(21:45) Giving Dancers Accessible Information

(28:20) When NOT To Get An Agent

(31:42) Don’t Rush to Broadway

(33:55) Broadway Debut in Funny Girl

(40:52) Mariah’s Human Bio (feat. Leo the Pup)

(43:14) Dog Momming on a National Tour

(46:08) Loving Words and Goodbyes

About Mariah:

Mariah Reives is a dancer, choreographer, and entrepreneur who began dancing in Sanford, North Carolina at the age of three. She then went on to train at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for high school and then graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a B.A. in Teaching Dance.

She is currently the dance captain and in the ensemble of The Great Gatsby on Broadway. Her credits include Funny Girl Broadway, Cassandra in the First National Tour of ‘Cats’ The Musical, Carmen, Me and My Girl , The New Yorkers, Jerome Robbins Broadway, and The Wiz. She has been seen on television for The Tony Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

Reives created a professional workshop for aspiring artists called ‘The Performers Circle’ and is excited to guide the next generation of Broadway stars!

Brooklyn based Clinton Edward (he/they) is a choreographer, writer, actor, educator, and creator who has been the associate choreographer on productions including the Met Gala (with headliner, Ariana Grande), and Urinetown at City Center Encores (starring Jordan Fisher and Rainn Wilson), the assistant dance captain in the original cast of Queen of the Night (off Broadway), and founder of an immersive events company.

In today's episode, Clinton shares how they've crafted their career in a way that's aligned with their desires, needs, and curiosities. He discusses the responsibilities of leadership in theater productions, what was harmful and helpful about his college experience, and what is his biggest dream of choreographing on the biggest stage in the world.

www.clintonedward.com

Deepti Menon is an actress, animator, and filmmaker whose work spans music videos, commercials with companies including Nike, Facebook and Converse, and TV roles on Law & Order (NBC), The Equalizer (CBS), and I Think You Should Leave (Netflix). In today’s episode, Deepti shares her honest insight into the entertainment industry as a performer and creator and discusses:

• How she booked her television roles (and her thoughts on having an agent)

• Realizing her career in animation satisfied her pull towards acting and directing

• The pros and cons of self-taping, and what shifted when she went to in person auditions

• Being treated extremely differently on set when she was a PA versus when she was talent

• Creating a web series with almost no budget, and hoping that project shows others what she’d be capable of with more money, support and resources

• Her dreams of being a showrunner (which is absolutely inevitable for this wonderful artist)

• Finding, and using, her voice on set and behind the scenes