Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carmen Ezcurra. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Carmen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I always had dreamt of being a professional actress but I guess I never actually considered it as a real possibility until I was 15 years old and my then voice teacher asked me if that was something I want to do. I remember that day so vividly, my first thought was “Can I?! Could I possibly do this full time?!”. She laughed at me and said I could, and that changed my whole perspective. I started planning and dreaming about the roles that I would love to play in musical theatre. That’s when I discovered Broadway, and New York became my number one dream. From that point forward my training as a singer and actress became my number one priority and I remember coming back from school, doing my homework really fast and then singing full musicals until very late.
Carmen, 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?
I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I always dreamed of being an actress and a singer but didn’t know it was actually possible. I started taking singing lessons when I was 13 years old after my family had heard me sing in a play we did in an after school program. I went on to decide this is what I would be doing as a career path, which was a little shocking to my parents, we didn’t have any professional artists in the family, and it was a completely unknown field to them and to myself. I always dreamt of New York, but coming here seemed so impossible. I went to college for Performing Arts in Buenos Aires and then started working as an actor there, I was in a Shakespeare company, I performed my own cabaret shows and there came a moment when I knew I had to pursue my New York dream and that’s when I came to study at Stella Adler and my whole life changed. Three years after I made that move, I made my off-broadway debut, played the lead in my favorite play, originated a role in a musical, sang at 54 Below, created my own theatre company alongside Cecilia Wisky, a fellow argentine actor and director and so much more!
I am especially proud of Cambalache Theatre Company, my company with Cecilia. It was a bold move to build it and it certainly bore its fruits. We are working on a couple of potential projects right now so we are very excited to continue to grow the company to be able to offer rich theatrical experiences.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the community it creates, not just among artists but with the audience too. Once someone is on stage pouring their heart out, people who witness that feel a closeness to them that is so special. That enables so many good conversations at the stage door, you get to know strangers pretty quickly after a performance, and I love that magic that theatre has!
Also that connection within the artistic community is beautiful. Theatre can only be done in sharing! Sharing ideas, moments, creativity. Basically, if you don’t share theatre dies, and I think that is the beauty and the challenge in this art form.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I feel like I’m discovering new missions and goals everyday! But one particular thing in my creative journey has been the pursuit of truth in performance, and that can be so hard sometimes. I love theatre that tells the truth, it can be ugly and uncomfortable or beautiful and fulfilling, but as long as it is the truth it’s so worth it! And I love finding creative ways of doing that not only through the text but also the body! I think I would say my goal is always to explore and keep exploring!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carmenezcurra.com
- Instagram: carmenezc
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@carmenezcurra4418?si=4oJ0XaXe7GMsaGZK
Image Credits
Mel Ercoli