We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Frida Mancilla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Frida below.
Frida, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
A Corky show and how it changed me.
When I arrived in NYC on June 24, 2022, I struggled to believe in myself, especially as a singer. I came to the city to study musical theater, and it was no surprise that everyone around me was extraordinarily talented with impressive vocal skills. Whenever I sang, I felt like my voice got lost in the crowd. I was ashamed of my own sound—not because I thought it was ugly, but because it didn’t match the sound I aspired to, like that of my classmates.
As time went on and semesters passed, I eventually graduated. By then, my confidence had improved a bit due to my performances in class and my success at the musical theater graduation showcase, where I interpreted the song “My Party Dress.” However, I still didn’t feel completely self-assured.
One day, I came across an Instagram post that read, “People with less talent than you are making it happen—why aren’t you?” This sparked a thought: what if I stepped out of my comfort zone and created my own solo show? So, I did. Initially, I had my doubts about whether it was a good idea, but I pressed on. The truth is, the best things in life often come from embracing fear.
I titled the show “A Corky Show” because being quirky is part of who I am. It featured me sharing true stories from my life, poking fun at myself, and leading into musical theater songs. It was like a concert with stand-up comedy woven in. To close the show, I performed a popular pop song by Jesse & Joy, the talented Mexican-American siblings. I spent two months preparing, with my teacher and mentor, Marisol Meneses, helping me refine the vocal techniques I needed to succeed.
When the day of the concert arrived, I didn’t feel ready yet. During the tech rehearsal with the pianist, I had a breakthrough—I remembered how much I love performing! There was no way this could go wrong; I had prepared and it was a show about me! The songs were all tailored to my voice, so all I had to do was let go, be myself, and enjoy each moment. I reassured myself that the audience would consist of people who knew and appreciated me for who I am, so there was nothing to worry about.
The concert was a blast! My solo debut in NYC. I was thrilled to see some familiar faces and a few new ones, which added to the excitement. Laughter filled the room for the entire hour. After the show, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. I had created a safe and cozy space where everyone felt included, engaging them throughout the performance. Someone even remarked that this was a unique quality not everyone possesses. That night changed my life forever. I took the best of myself and turned it into art. Isn’t that what artists do?
During my time at AMDA, I had the opportunity to explore my strengths and weaknesses, and without that experience, this show wouldn’t have been possible. From that moment on, I stopped being afraid of myself. I realized that we often hesitate to take action because we want to feel ready and perfect, but the truth is, we will never truly feel ready. It’s okay to be imperfect; perfection is boring. The real magic of life lies in those imperfect moments, and the more effort we put into achieving something, the greater the satisfaction when we succeed.
After that night, I began putting myself out there more often, regardless of whether everything was perfect. Characters are human, and humans are imperfect. I still have much to work on, of course, but I refuse to let the pursuit of perfection hold me back. Following A Corky Show, I booked my first play in NYC, A Sketch of New York. Although the process was short, it allowed me to connect with many wonderful people. Without A Corky Show, I might not have felt brave enough to audition in the first place.
It’s important to take a moment now and then to acknowledge how far we’ve come. I can say out loud that I am proud of myself. Believing we are good enough at what we do can be challenging because we are intimately aware of our struggles and the hard work we’ve put in to achieve our goals. But you know what? If we keep working hard and showing up, I bet we’re already doing great.
Frida, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Frida Mancilla, I was born in Puebla, Mexico, on July 12, 1997. From a young age, I developed a deep passion for acting, singing, and dancing. Art has always felt like my safe haven. Between the ages of three and five, my favorite pastime was performing in front of the hallway mirror in my parents’ home, dancing and singing with boundless joy. By six, I declared to my family that I wanted to be an actress, of course by then people didn´t think I was serious. My desire to pursue musical theater arrived when I first watched *High School Musical* on Disney Channel at seven years old.
During my high school years at Colegio Ypsilanti in Puebla, my small class of 19 students and me frequently organized academic and cultural events as part of our curriculum. This experience proved invaluable when I chose to major in Theater; I already had some knowledge of production. I was so accustomed to organizing events that creating my own shows felt like a natural progression.
For College I attended to Universidad de Las Americas Puebla (UDLAP), where in my fifth semester, I began producing my own musical theater performances. I found my tribe—fellow college students equally passionate about the arts, many of whom were not studying in arts-related fields. I discovered a community eager to express themselves artistically but hesitant to take the leap. To foster creativity, I created a safe space for collaboration. Together with my friends—dancers, actors, and singers—we launched musical theater flash mobs on campus. The response was overwhelming; our performances resonated with the community, and even after graduation, I was invited back to create more flash mobs.
My first big role was Abigail Williams in “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller. The theater company at my college was staging a unique adaptation of this classic, I auditioned, and the lead role was given to me. Directed by Daniel De la O, an associate of ENAT (Escuela Nacional de Arte Teatral in Mexico City), this role was both an honor and a challenge, allowing me to portray a dark character vastly different from myself. I embraced the challenge, and the audience response was incredibly positive.
I graduated from college in 2020 and began exploring various online musical theater classes just for fun. It was during this time that I discovered my voice teacher and mentor, Marisol Meneses, who reignited my passion for the craft. This led me to remember my long-held dream of pursuing musical theater in New York City at AMDA. I auditioned, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now that I’ve graduated from AMDA, I’m excited to share that I’ve co-founded my own production company, MuyMuy Productions, with my Mexican friends Bibi and Celia. I’m opening doors for myself in the industry through resilience, hard work, and my unique charm. One of my proudest achievements is my play Stars in Our Eyes, which will have its stage reading on November 4th at Under St. Marks with Frigid Theaters in NYC.
Through my art, I aspire to inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter how big they may seem. I want to encourage people to take that first step and show them that nothing is impossible by leading through example and staying true to myself.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I was in middle school and my parents realized how serious I was about pursuing a life in the performing arts, they did everything they could to make me reconsider. They hoped I would choose a more stable path. They would say things like, “It’s not just about talent; it’s about connections, and you don’t have those,” “You’ll be asked to do things you don’t want to do,” “You might be able to sing with practice, but you’ll never be as good as your favorites,” and “Don’t you want to be a nutritionist instead? etc.
These discouraging comments could have easily made someone else give up. But you know what? I understand now. They weren’t trying to be rude or unsupportive; they simply didn’t want to see me disappointed or hurt, especially since they were unfamiliar with the industry and found it intimidating.
Rather than break me, those comments made me stronger. They taught me that no one else’s opinions can tear me down. Although it was painful at the time, those memories now fuel my determination. I know that if I continue to work hard, believe in myself, and approach everything with love—without stepping on anyone along the way—I will one day be exactly where I’ve always dreamed of being. I am grateful to my family and at peace with my own journey.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As an artist and creative, the most rewarding experience for me is connecting with people. I love the ability to help them forget their troubles and transport them into the whimsical world we’re creating together. To immerse them in an experience that stirs their emotions and touches their hearts and souls. I hope to inspire them to embrace life fully, or at the very least, to simply enjoy the moment.
Also, the act of creating itself is incredibly rewarding. Theater has the power to forge communities, and collaborating on projects that we once thought impossible with like-minded individuals is nothing short of magical. Expressing ourselves collectively in a safe space is one of the most precious aspects of this world and this profession. It fosters connection, understanding, and shared joy, making every moment spent in creation truly extraordinary and worthful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fridamancilla.com
- Instagram: @fridamancilla
- Linkedin: Frida Mancilla
Image Credits
Mike Petrie – Headshots
Paul Delfin – Singing Pic.