We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robyne Parrish. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robyne below.
Hi Robyne, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I trained in Undergrad for theatre at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon moving to NYC in 1998, I worked in the service industry just as many of my brothers and sisters in the arts have done and continue to do to make ends meet. At some point I vowed to make a living as a creative and began to really embrace my multihyphenate status. It has been quite a journey, but these days, I cobble together a pretty awesome life mostly working as a Union actor, but also coaching through my company Parrish and Co (Acting, Business coaching, audition coaching etc.) and adjunct teaching theatre at various colleges. I also direct regionally and in NYC and produce independent projects.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am an actor first and foremost. I have been acting since the age of five. My Mother introduced me to the community theatre scene. I have never looked back.
I have been in NYC and Pittsburgh working professionally now for almost thirty years. Recognizable credits include Law and Order, Gossip Girl and The Crowded Room. I have appeared in Matilda, Ragtime and On Golden Pond. You can learn more about me at my website at www.robyneparrish.com. There you will find a coaching page that breaks down everything that I offer with private coaching. One of my favorite services is Monologue and Scene Matchmaking. I provide actors with tailor fit material for auditions and CD workshops, agent and manager acquisition. I help people realize their dreams. We goal set and implement plans to make it in the biz!
BIO:
Ms. Parrish was accepted into and participated in several prestigious arts programs throughout her early education including the Tri-District Arts Consortium in SC and the SC Governor’s School of the Arts. She was also awarded Superior in Acting from the South Eastern Theatre Conference.
She began her professional actor’s training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Drama. UNCSA is ranked one of the top acting conservatories in the world. Ms. Parrish received extensive classical training including voice and speech work with an emphasis on alignment, mask and movement, both the Meisner and Stanislovski Techniques, and Shakespeare. She has been trained by some of the world’s greatest teachers, including renowned director Gerald Freedman, Cigdem Onat, Bob Fransisconi, Mary Irwin and Broadway dance legend Molly Murray. While at school, Ms. Parrish played The Bakers Wife in “Into the Woods”, Beatrice in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds” and Natasha in “Rough Crossing”. After graduating, she returned to NC as a guest artist to play the role of Angharad in the musical version of the novel “How Green Was My Valley” entitled “A Time for Singing”, written by Gerald Freedman and John Morris.
After University, Ms. Parrish moved to NYC and spent many years working Off-Broadway, Regionally and in National Tours. Ms. Parrish had the great fortune of studying with Patsy Rodenburg and Ian McKellen at the Royal National Theatre in London. In 2004, Parrish founded Sonnet Repertory Theatre in NYC.
Later, Parrish was a Graduate Fellow Candidate for three years at Point Park University in the MFA in Theatre Performance and Pedagogy Program. In addition, Ms. Parrish completed an MA degree in Psychology. In 2012, Parrish took the position of Artistic Director of the Gilbert Theatre in Fayetteville NC where she remained for five seasons.
Now a full-time Actor/Director/Producer/Coach based in NYC, Parrish continues her personal study at Russian Arts Theatre NYC, Double Edge Theatre in MA and Stanislavsky Active Analysis with Cotter Smith. As an educator, Parrish teaches online theatre arts classes at the collegiate level and is Head Coach at Parrish and Co., NYC, where she specializes in Private Coaching, Scene Study and Monologue Matchmaking for the actor. **Member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers, AEA and SAG-AFTRA
Last seen in 2023: Ragtime as Mother at Flint Repertory Theatre, Truvy in Steel Magnolias at Pittsburgh Public Theatre and Off Broadway in Shedding Load at 59E59. In 2022 at the Main Public as Loveday in the Victorian Ladies Detective Collective and Off Broadway in the world premiere of Strings Attached by Carole Bugge with Pulse Theatre at Theatre Row. Recent TV and Film work: Law and Order, A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks, The Crowded Room, Apple TV, (2023), Gossip Girl reboot now streaming on HBO Max, and the Feature Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman opposite Tina Benko and starring Max Cassella (in post). Off Broadway at The York, The Mint, Project Y, Out of the Box, Indieworks, NYMF, Musicals Tonight!, The Chain and Sonnet Rep. Selected Regional: Matilda as Mrs Wormwood (Virginia Stage), The Dino Musical as Carlotta (The Arden), Steel Magnolias as M’Lynn (Theatre Raleigh), The Next Fairy Tale (Pittsburgh CLO) and more at www.robyneparrish.com. Other: Opposite Richard Kind and Steve Guttenberg in Feature Help Me, Help You. AEA/SAG-AFTRA.
Robyne is a member of the National Alliance of Acting Teachers and the 2014 Labyrinth Intensive Ensemble NYC. She is a playwright with Dramatist Guild and currently studies at Russian Arts Theatre with Aleksey Burago. UNCSA graduate under Gerald Freedman. Graduate studies at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Acting coach with Parrish and Co. Instagram @parrishandco
Currently starring in On Golden Pond at the historic Totem Pole Playhouse.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
We all have that deep longing to create, but acting and beyond is a business and I learned the business side of things through much trail and error. I did not have biz classes to set me on a path of success as a young artist. I try to help folks prepare and learn the ropes early on so they can avoid at least some of the walls I ran into along the way!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Word of mouth has always been the best way to build clientele and for folks to learn about me and my expertise. I owe a lot of my success as an artist and as a coach to those I have collaborated with along the way! Work begets work and coaching begets coaching!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.robyneparrish.com
- Instagram: robyneparrish
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robyne.parrish
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyne-parrish-47929330/
Image Credits
Pittsburgh Public Theatre photo with Mirror Headshot by Lev Gorn Russian Arts Photo by Alex Logaiski Buckhead Banner Photography on couch