Women Fitness is proud to present before it viewers two exceptionally talented Artistic Creative Directors who create a unique fusion of theater and performing art. This is their inspirational life story of success.
Marissa and Elizabeth are the Artistic Directors of ToUch Performance Art: a collaborative of performers that blend electronic and classical music, hip-hop and ballet, aerials and clowning to create an infectious theatrical spectacle powered by the energy of a contemporary nightclub.
These two women are not only great entrepreneurs and artistic leaders, but they are also extreme athletes – using their physical talent to elevate their product. They have a regimented routine for themselves and their dancers and aerialists, but they also have passion and drive that is uniquely found in artists.
For the past four years, ToUch’s creative directors have been working together to create innovative, original work that explores beyond what has come before us. We each bring something different to the table, each of us stemming from a different corner of the performing arts, and we put our heads together to create artistic fusion and successful multi-media work. We conceptualize our productions from head to toe, working to build narrative storytelling, conceptual ideas, and stunning visual design together. This collaboration makes ToUch a truly unique performance company.
Marissa Rae Roberts
She is founder & co-artistic director of ToUch Performance Art.
A multidisciplinary artist synthesizing her experience as an actor, director, creator, teacher and entrepreneur to create artistic experiences that break boundaries of traditional theater. Marissa’s work has appeared in theaters, night clubs, festivals, and the streets of Boston and New York City. Marissa is the co-founder and co-artistic director of ToUch Performance Art.
She is currently the artist in residence at the American Repertory Theater’s OBERON. With ToUch, Marissa serves as a creator and director for all work developed for artistic performances (AcousticaElectronica, Sexyback: Or What You Will, GAGA: The Musical) and customized events for clients (The Boston Lyric Opera, WGBH/PBS, Breast Cancer Research Foundation). Marissa served as the Associate Resident Director of The Donkey Show (Dir. Diane Paulus) at the American Repertory Theater along with performing 3 different roles in the production for the past 4 years.
As a teaching artist, Marissa works with students of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. Marissa has created and taught several master classes on creating your own work, immersive theater, entrepreneurship, arts administration, and acting for dancers. These master classes have taken place at The Boston Conservatory, Emerson College, Berklee College of Music, Le Moyne College and Urbanity Dance. Marissa is a native of Syracuse, New York where she attended Le Moyne College and received her B.A. in Theater Arts. She is a proud graduate of The Boston Conservatory where she holds a M.F.A. in Musical Theater.
Marissa Rae Roberts is an exceptionally talented and accoumplished an actress and director. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You must have been in love with theatre at a very young age. You are a native of Syracuse, New York where you attended Le Moyne College and received your B.A. in Theater Arts and later graduated from The Boston Conservatory the M.F.A. in Musical Theater. You reached the pinnacle of success by becoming the co-founder and co-artistic director of ToUch Performance Art. What factors do you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
I have worked hard, had a lot of support from family and teachers, and had great training. Being at The Boston Conservatory, I was surrounded by unbelievable talent of all kinds. I saw what was out there and the level I need to be at. I feel very excited that ToUch has had 4.5 successful years but there is more to come for myself and ToUch. We haven’t reached our top yet.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
I focus on strength training with kettlebells, TRX, and my own body weight. I work with an amazing trainer in Boston, Stacey Schlaedler, who has taught me so much and made me fall in love with fitness. I am lifting more weight than I ever thought I could. It is super empowering. I strength train 3 times a week and then do restorative yoga about twice a week. It’s important for me to “undo” with yoga what I “do” to my body with training. Plus, being in the rehearsal room is pretty active. I am always on the go.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
I do focus on nutrition a lot because it affects my mental and physical state so much. My trainer Stacey taught me the “80/20” mentality. I eat 80 percent of what I should eat and 20 percent of what I want to eat. It is all about choices. I definitely include a lot of ice cream and chocolate in those choices. I also focus on lots of protein to keep my energy going and keep me satiated through my long work days.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
My skin and hair regimen are quite regular. I wash my face every night and wear a cream to bed. My go to products are from Lush, Fresh, and LivingProof. Most days I don’t have a ton of time to get ready so I may not be wearing make-up or have a fresh hair do. I use dry shampoo to get it to last. I would say my online presence makes me look more glamorous than I am in real life.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding theater performing girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in the field of acting in theater?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
Be a versatile person and a well rounded theater artist. It is so hard to rely on just one element of theater in our current world. I have been able to create a full time career in theater by teaching, performing, directing, and running ToUch. These things are not just necessary financially but also fuel each other. I am a better performer for having taught and directed. Having skills outside your craft is also super important. I have experience in marketing and communications, which has helped ToUch grow so much.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have selected a profession of being an actress, director and creator of artistic experiences that break boundaries of traditional theater, that requires a lot of hard labor, technical soundness and excellence in different faculties to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
I have always been interested in everything. If I could, I would live seven different lives to put focus into each thing that I do individually, along with other passions of mine that I have yet to pursue like fashion design, being a yoga teacher, or working in an ice cream shop in Hawaii.
Sometimes I feel that all of my interests/jobs can be overwhelming and create a lack of focus but it has worked out so far. I have been open to the opportunities presented to me and worked really hard to make some of those opportunities happen for myself. Passion fuels it all.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have produced ‘AcousticaElectronica’ at the American Repertory Theater’s stage, OBERON. Tell us more about what is AcousticaElectronica?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
AcousticaElectronica blends elements of electronic and classical music, dance, circus arts, and immersive theater with the infectious energy of a nightclub to send the audience on an experience that stimulates all of your senses. The narrative is inspired by the classical stories of Swan Lake, Bizet’s opera Carmen, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the commedia dell’arte character: Pierrot Lunaire.
The show happens all around the audience. The audience will experience moments of interacting with the characters, to watching small private moments that not everyone will see, to large scale performances meant for the whole audience to take in. The audience is immersed on the dance floor where they have the ability to move around the space, follow certain characters, and craft their own experience. Each time you come to see AcousticaElectronica, it will be a slightly different experience because of the improvisational elements that happen between audience and performer.
The show is also told completely through movement and music. This results in a very visceral experience, rather than taking the story in literally with a text filled play. This show is about relating to the feeling of what the performers are going through and what type of emotion that evokes. The goal is for the audience to interpret the show in their own way because of their own personal experience.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
ToUch Performance Art is a unique concept, producing innovative and immersive theatrical experiences. Elaborate on this creative endeavor of yours?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
A goal for the work I create and/or direct is to always allow the audience to feel a part of the experience, rather than an outsider. I think this style of theater breaks down a barrier for those that don’t attend the theater often and makes it more accessible for an audience member. I hope the work I create inspires people to invest more time in the theater. For audiences to spend more time there and for those who have the opportunity to make a company like ToUch grow, will see it as a valuable part of the arts.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are leading media personality, theater actress, director, creator, teacher and an entrepreneur How you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
Luckily, I am very organized. I am so thankful for my smart phone just for the calendar and to do list apps. It keeps me on track and on task. Most people would be surprised to hear that I am much more of an introvert than an extrovert. My extroverted side comes out while performing and leading a group of artists or networking, but I really enjoy my time at home to decompress. Work-life balance is very important to me. I am less productive if I don’t have that downtime.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your biggest influence and motivation in your path to success?
Ms. Marissa Rae Roberts:
First and foremost, my parents. They are both entrepreneurs and have been so supportive along with providing plenty of advice since the start of ToUch. I have had some super incredible women in my life that continue to inspire me. I also get a lot of motivation from those that told me no or didn’t believe in me. I have some talent, but it is hard work and good instincts that got me to where I am.
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Elizabeth McGuire
She is co-artistic director of ToUch Performance Art.
Elizabeth has been the resident choreographer and co-artistic director for ToUch Performance Art since its inception. Originally from Cazenovia, New York, she trained as both a classical pianist and concert dancer. She later attended the Boston Conservatory, where she received her BFA in Dance Performance. Elizabeth currently resides in New York City and works as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher.
With ToUch, she has choreographed original works, made a myriad of commissioned dance pieces for a multitude of clients, and has performed in ToUch’s hit show AcousticaElectronica for the past four years. Elizabeth aims to create work that is both visceral and dynamic while remaining accessible to all types of audiences! Through ToUch she has found that voice and continues to explore movement as a collaborative medium. She believes dance can be an impactful visual means of communication for audience and performers alike, and is honored to continue to create such work with the ToUch family.
Elizabeth McGuire is an exceptionally talented and accoumplished choreographer and artistic director. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are from Cazenovia, New York and has been trained as both a classical pianist and concert dancer. You later attended the Boston Conservatory, where you received your BFA in Dance Performance.You reached the pinnacle of success by performing in ToUch’s hit show AcousticaElectronica. Tell us about your tale of professional success?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
I was very lucky to have had a great education and training, first of all. That really opened the door to the type of career I’ve made for myself. I think what has helped me the most is that I wasn’t afraid of taking an unconventional route in my artistic career, choosing to forge my own path than to follow one already set before me. It has really paid off.
I’ve Co-Artistic Directed ToUch Performance Art for over 4 years, and have performed and consistently created work that whole time. I feel so lucky! It’s amazing to have a platform that I’ve built with my collaborators that allows us such freedom to create and share our own voice as artists.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You as a dancer and choreographer has created and performed jaw dropping show “AcousticaElectronica” Tell us how you visualize, think and create such spectacular unique entertaining shows?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
Ever since I was little I was very visual. Studying music at a young age, I’d always imagine dances to basically anything I would play or listen to. I feel very at home when visualizing choreography and scenic design, it comes very naturally to me. But the kicker in all this is my amazing collaborators. The performers we collaborate with are all brilliant creators in their own right. These people are our muses, incredible sounding boards, and the kindling that really starts the fire. My partner Marissa is wonderfully imaginative as well: we both really feed off of each other’s visions to create these concepts.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have selected a profession of being a theater performer and an artist that requires a lot of hard labor, technical soundness and excellence in different faculties to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
I work my ass off. It’s the plain truth. I do my best to constantly cultivate my mind as a creator, and my body as a dancer. It’s a commitment to constant upkeep when you’re a professional dancer. Recently, I had surgery on an ankle injury, which was very challenging to come back from. I’m getting there now, but it takes so much determination. You just have to keep trying.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
Well, I take dance class regularly. I was trained in ballet first, so often I return to a traditional ballet class to help keep my technique and body in shape. My guilty pleasure: spin class. I am a Soul Cycle junkie. And I’m also starting to train in aerial hoop classes, which is a new and fun challenge for me. But when I can’t fit in these separate classes with my rehearsal schedule I rely on the gym for maintenance. I challenge myself with interval training and resistance on low impact cardio machines, and make sure to then get great core exercises in after, with lots and lots of stretching.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
No skin treatments. Two gems: Raw Shea Butter and Argan Oil. No additives, no chemicals, no BS. I really try to use products that are healthy and made from the earth. Our skin digests what we put on it, so I use products that I know can be healthily digested.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words for our inspiring and budding theater artist who all are your fans, what should they do for their climb to the ladder of success in field of acting in theater?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
Keep an open mind, and share your voice. Keep trying! Slow and steady sometimes wins this race too.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How has your relationship with your co-artistic director Marissa been a journey of unending happiness, inspiration and success?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
Like I said before, Marissa and I work very well collaboratively. We feed off of each other’s ideas to make this unique work. I believe that our collaborative work is what makes us different, and is what has made us successful. And our relationship has always been connected through a common goal: we both believe in each other, our company, and our voice!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your inspiration and motivation that led you to your success in the world of theater?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
My inspiration comes from everywhere: creators who have come before me, my environment, all of it. But my biggest inspiration and motivation has been my collaborators: Marissa and our company of artists. They have shown me that I should follow my vision and voice, and they have been the impetus that drives me to continue to work towards my dreams!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Elizabeth McGuire:
Women Fitness Team thanks Marissa Rae Roberts and Elizabeth McGuire for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.