We recently connected with Ariel Kurtz and have shared our conversation below.

Ariel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

A risk that I’ve taken is when I left my BFA program after the first semester of my freshman year of college. I had spent the whole year previously preparing for college auditions and auditioning for all of these schools around the Northeast. I so badly wanted to be seen and the program I was in was not the right fit at all. Being part of a new program at the beginning can be exciting, but was also a lot of work and tough being the guinea pig. I knew so badly that I still wanted to be a performer, but I didn’t know where I was going to train or if I was going to go back to a BFA program to start over again as a freshmen.

I ended up going to a community college for a year, just studying liberal arts but I was taking voice lessons, auditioning for summer stock and acting classes outside of school.

While, in my last semester of the community college, I auditioned for some conservatory programs and BFA programs as well as applying to some BA programs. I ended up going to a SUNY school that was took my credits (the main reason why I picked it and you could do your whole degree online, so if I got an acting job, I could still do school). I never really liked any of the colleges I went to and at times, it feels frustrated not having educational credits on my resume, the BFA training and having to build up my resume on my own.

Ariel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up, I was always drawn to shows and movies with singing in it (Barney, Wee Sing, Really Rosie, Disney Sing Alongs, etc). I started playing the violin at age 7 and started singing in my elementary school choir in 3rd grade. I did my first musical when I was eleven and I was hooked. I started taking acting classes and dance classes. I wanted to learn everything I could as much as I could about anything theatre/acting. I went to camps and started to take professional acting classes in New York City. When I was in college, I was in an improvisational group and kept up my training with voice lessons and other classes.

I look younger than my age, so I mostly audition for roles that are teenagers or roles in their early 20s, even though I’m in my late 20s. I’m proud of my work ethic, relationship building skills and my resilience.

Lately, I’ve been singing in cabarets, which I really enjoy. I love working with new writers on new work, especially women and non-binary writers. Besides my work in theatre and cabarets, I’ve been in webseries and student films. I love collaborating and I’m always interested in meeting new collaborators!

I want future collaborators to know that I work really hard, I make strong choices and I will always do my best. I consider myself a great team player. I know I don’t have a lot on my Resume, but I just want to be given a chance for the roles that I’m right for.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes! One of my favorite musicals is Matilda and there is a line in Matilda that I quote to myself a lot and it’s “Even if you’re little, you can do a lot, you mustn’t let a little thing like little stop you.” I’m a petite person and I always think about because I look young, people treat me not always so nicely. I want people to stop underestimating young people, especially women.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Yes! One of the things that makes me sad is when people always ask me what my backup plan is and tell me that acting is a hard field, as if I don’t already know that. But yet, people are always talking about all of the tv shows that they are watching/binging! With all of the streaming services now, actors have the ability to be on more television shows and movies than ever before (when we’re not on a strike!) as well as make money with commercials, voiceover work and creating content. I wish non-creative people were more supportive, they need us so that they can watch tv!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arielkurtz.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/arielkurtz13
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/arielkurtz13

Image Credits
Justin Schuman, Vana Nath-Mahadeo and Katie Mollison