PASSIONATE PROFESSIONALS

The Queens World Film Festival, New York Women in Film and Television, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, The Gaia Zine and Epicenter – NY proudly announce PASSION in ACTION, a day-long mentoring event to bring high school and college students together with Passionate Professionals in the Arts, Sciences, Finance, Women’s Sports, Nonprofit Sectors and More.

The morning session of this day long event will concentrate on developing personal professionalism related to the arts including developing a mission statement, compiling ideas on how to promote your work and creating your back pocket networking tool kit. The afternoon is devoted to a round robin speed networking event so that all attendees have the opportunity to spend 30 minutes with 3 different Passionate Professionals.

The morning will concentrate on developing personal professionalism related to the arts with the afternoon devoted to a round robin networking event so that all attendees, have the opportunity to spend 30 minutes with 3 different Passionate Professionals.

Thank you to Mary Theresa Archbold for being one of our Passionate Professionals!

Mary Theresa Archbold

Program Manager – Theatre for All

Mary Theresa Archbold: As a performer, my work is dance based comedy – think Gene Kelly meets Charlie Chaplin. My duo sketch show, written with Pat Shay, Jazz Hand: T ales of a One Armed Woman began at Fringe NYC (Outstanding Actor Award) and had an invited performance at the Kennedy Center. I created a short film of Jazz Hand, and was a finalist in the NBC Shortcuts Festival (Best Actor Award). I received the Denovan Residency at The Duplex in 2018, which I used to create a solo show Anyboys Everybody: One girl’s West Side Story, a look at one of the greatest musicals of all time through the lens of the nameless character, Anybodys. In 2019 I created DanceDanceDe-Evolution – a comedic trip through the iconic and moronic dances of history, which I performed at Solocom & the Women in Comedy Festival. As a storyteller, I have appeared on Moth Mainstage, Moth Radio Hour, Podcast and in the NY Times Bestselling book, Occasional Magic, as well as on NPR’s This American Life, Risk! and as the co-host of my own storytelling podcast, Funny Parents. As an actor, I’ve appeared on TV (Law & Order: SVU, Bull, Inventing Anna, Girls5Evah), and Off Broadway at Manhattan Theater Club (Pulitzer Prize winning play Cost of Living by Martyna Majok), in Sam Hunter’s debut of The Healing, and in countless musicals all over the US. I currently serve as Program Manager for Theatre for All at Queens Theatre bringing theatre training to folks with disabilities.

Question & Answer

What is a personal character trait that you have leaned on in your career?

Improvisation – I have the ability to show up and figure it out.

What is your best advice for young creatives who are thinking about college?

There is no one path to your dreams. Particularly, in a creative life. The twists and turns are the most exciting part.

What is your best advice for young creatives who are beginning their careers?

Say Yes. Don’t wait for perfect situations to create. Keep creating in various forms. Work with folks who challenge you. The growth happens in unexpected places.