I am proud to wear many hats: Freelance Church vocalist, Cabaret, Concert and Musical Theater performer, film actor,
supporter of the arts, Support Live Music and Creativity Heals Blogger, office manager with a NYC Advertising firm as
well as many other fun hats I wear in my life.
I was born and raised in NY (Brooklyn and Staten Island), I grew up surrounded by beautiful music and dancing. My
Grandfather Ottavio played the mandolin, my Uncle Gregory was a popular ballroom Dance Instructor on Staten
Island, The Gregory Dance Studio, Uncle John was a stand up comedian in NYC and the Catskill Mountains, Mom
studied and taught ballroom dancing at the dance studio and my Grandfather John was a
singer/songwriter/instrumentalist in popular night clubs in NYC and the Catskill Mountains.
My father is not a performer. However he always claims to play a “mean radio.” Dads claim to fame was an
appearance on the 60’s popular television series ‘To Tell the Truth’. My father was one of three contestants (two
impostors and a person of notoriety). My father was one of the two masquerading as the ‘Barber of the Year’.
At five years old, the second I put on my very first pair of black shiny tap shoes with a huge pink bow, I’ve craved the
spotlight ever since!
I studied theater at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) and The Herbert Berghoff Studio (NYC). I
studied with Academy Award winning Actress Sandy Dennis. It is because of Ms. Dennis and famed acting teacher
Herbert Berghoff’s influence I became a singer and comedian.
My main goal in life was to be a famous Television and Film actress (singing wasn’t in the picture at all).
I was 18 and auditioning for television, film and theater. I was ready to take the world by storm!
Instead of playing the leading lady, the Supporting actress or supporting the Supporting actress, I was a background
person who could scream and make scary faces!
Performing in countless student films and television pilots (usually the theme was always the same ‘Horror’). I did more
screaming and dying than a famed professional.
I finally decided to try singing and explore music once made famous by my idols (Barbara Streisand, Judy Garland
and Karen Carpenter) I was 23 years old and began my voice studies with famed Jazz Pianist and vocal coach, Hal
Schaefer. I performed every Monday night at The Village Gate Theater (NYC).
Experimenting with stand up comedy, I performed Wednesday evenings at Stand up New York (NYC) and the New
York Comedy Club (NYC).
In 1988 I began my career in cabarets and clubs in NYC. Performing my one woman shows ‘Too Scared to Sing’ and
other shows in popular NYC cabaret rooms:
Eighty Eights,
Roses Turn (55 Grove Street)
Don’t Tell Mama
Danny’s Skylight Room.
In between my newfound love affair with singing and the Great American Songbook, screaming in low budget
student horror films, studying voice, performing jazz and introducing new characters in comedy clubs, I upgraded from
low budget student horror films to network television and major motion pictures.
TV
Law and Order
Law and Order Special Victims Unit
Film
Sweet and Lowdown (Director, Woody Allen)
Mickey Blue Eyes (Director, Kelly Makin)
The Summer of Sam (Director, Spike Lee)
Carlito’s Way (Director, Brian De Palma)
Okay, I still had to scream, die, and throw myself on the ground as a make believe bus explodes, play a dancing drunk
woman and spend hours in a body bag (lying in mud and rocks). However I had the chance to meet and work with
incredible directors! Ah, the glamorous life of a film actor.
In 1999 I was in a car accident. I had to have plastic surgery and it took almost a year to completely recover. The
creative part of my life was put on hold for awhile.
The events of 9/11 changed my life forever. I felt helpless and wanted so much to do something to help, give. Two of
my very dear friends were killed on that day. They were never found again.
I was asked to sing at their funeral services and for the many victims of 9/11. It was this time in my life where
everything changed and my goals changed. I returned to church after a very long absence and became an active
participant in church music ministries and outreach programs.
I began to sing again. The journey was difficult and it took time to get back to what I truly loved. I became a Cantor
and returned to choral work in church choirs.
I restarted my cabaret connection with old and new friends and studied and performed at the prestigious Cabaret
Conference at Yale (2005).
I performed my “Re Debut” show ‘Just Getting Started’ at The Duplex Cabaret Theater (2005)
I performed in private corporate events at:
The Rainbow Room (NYC)
The Intrepid Museum (NYC)
Cabaret performances:
The Metropolitan Room (NYC)
The Iguana VIP Lounge (NYC)
I am very proud of my work in the Roman Catholic Church. I am a Eucharistic Minister and freelance Church Vocalist.
I was one of many resident Volunteer Cantors at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The journey continues and this is my story. I thank you for listening, for reading and for taking the time to stop by and
say hi. Follow your dreams and know in your heart you are never too young or too old to begin your life’s passion!
Surround yourself with positive people who are loving and supportive.
God Bless you
supporter of the arts, Support Live Music and Creativity Heals Blogger, office manager with a NYC Advertising firm as
well as many other fun hats I wear in my life.
I was born and raised in NY (Brooklyn and Staten Island), I grew up surrounded by beautiful music and dancing. My
Grandfather Ottavio played the mandolin, my Uncle Gregory was a popular ballroom Dance Instructor on Staten
Island, The Gregory Dance Studio, Uncle John was a stand up comedian in NYC and the Catskill Mountains, Mom
studied and taught ballroom dancing at the dance studio and my Grandfather John was a
singer/songwriter/instrumentalist in popular night clubs in NYC and the Catskill Mountains.
My father is not a performer. However he always claims to play a “mean radio.” Dads claim to fame was an
appearance on the 60’s popular television series ‘To Tell the Truth’. My father was one of three contestants (two
impostors and a person of notoriety). My father was one of the two masquerading as the ‘Barber of the Year’.
At five years old, the second I put on my very first pair of black shiny tap shoes with a huge pink bow, I’ve craved the
spotlight ever since!
I studied theater at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC) and The Herbert Berghoff Studio (NYC). I
studied with Academy Award winning Actress Sandy Dennis. It is because of Ms. Dennis and famed acting teacher
Herbert Berghoff’s influence I became a singer and comedian.
My main goal in life was to be a famous Television and Film actress (singing wasn’t in the picture at all).
I was 18 and auditioning for television, film and theater. I was ready to take the world by storm!
Instead of playing the leading lady, the Supporting actress or supporting the Supporting actress, I was a background
person who could scream and make scary faces!
Performing in countless student films and television pilots (usually the theme was always the same ‘Horror’). I did more
screaming and dying than a famed professional.
I finally decided to try singing and explore music once made famous by my idols (Barbara Streisand, Judy Garland
and Karen Carpenter) I was 23 years old and began my voice studies with famed Jazz Pianist and vocal coach, Hal
Schaefer. I performed every Monday night at The Village Gate Theater (NYC).
Experimenting with stand up comedy, I performed Wednesday evenings at Stand up New York (NYC) and the New
York Comedy Club (NYC).
In 1988 I began my career in cabarets and clubs in NYC. Performing my one woman shows ‘Too Scared to Sing’ and
other shows in popular NYC cabaret rooms:
Eighty Eights,
Roses Turn (55 Grove Street)
Don’t Tell Mama
Danny’s Skylight Room.
In between my newfound love affair with singing and the Great American Songbook, screaming in low budget
student horror films, studying voice, performing jazz and introducing new characters in comedy clubs, I upgraded from
low budget student horror films to network television and major motion pictures.
TV
Law and Order
Law and Order Special Victims Unit
Film
Sweet and Lowdown (Director, Woody Allen)
Mickey Blue Eyes (Director, Kelly Makin)
The Summer of Sam (Director, Spike Lee)
Carlito’s Way (Director, Brian De Palma)
Okay, I still had to scream, die, and throw myself on the ground as a make believe bus explodes, play a dancing drunk
woman and spend hours in a body bag (lying in mud and rocks). However I had the chance to meet and work with
incredible directors! Ah, the glamorous life of a film actor.
In 1999 I was in a car accident. I had to have plastic surgery and it took almost a year to completely recover. The
creative part of my life was put on hold for awhile.
The events of 9/11 changed my life forever. I felt helpless and wanted so much to do something to help, give. Two of
my very dear friends were killed on that day. They were never found again.
I was asked to sing at their funeral services and for the many victims of 9/11. It was this time in my life where
everything changed and my goals changed. I returned to church after a very long absence and became an active
participant in church music ministries and outreach programs.
I began to sing again. The journey was difficult and it took time to get back to what I truly loved. I became a Cantor
and returned to choral work in church choirs.
I restarted my cabaret connection with old and new friends and studied and performed at the prestigious Cabaret
Conference at Yale (2005).
I performed my “Re Debut” show ‘Just Getting Started’ at The Duplex Cabaret Theater (2005)
I performed in private corporate events at:
The Rainbow Room (NYC)
The Intrepid Museum (NYC)
Cabaret performances:
The Metropolitan Room (NYC)
The Iguana VIP Lounge (NYC)
I am very proud of my work in the Roman Catholic Church. I am a Eucharistic Minister and freelance Church Vocalist.
I was one of many resident Volunteer Cantors at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
The journey continues and this is my story. I thank you for listening, for reading and for taking the time to stop by and
say hi. Follow your dreams and know in your heart you are never too young or too old to begin your life’s passion!
Surround yourself with positive people who are loving and supportive.
God Bless you
Revised: January 16 2010
| © Maria Ottavia, Mockinbird Music |
