We were lucky to catch up with Maria Bartolotta recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Unfortunately, like many women, I experienced a lot of trauma at the hands of men from a very early age. I never really understood what happened to me until I was well into adulthood. Even though I had suppressed it all, the damage still wove its way insidiously through my life, affecting me in ways that were totally unbeknownst to me. Until one day it all came to a head.
Simultaneously, on the other road heading to this fork, my career was going nowhere. I had a full rep team who didn’t really seem to care about me or my career. I was doing tape after tape alone in my studio apartment after working a 10 hour day, only to always hear crickets in response. For years, auditions felt like running into a brick wall. Trying to fit the mold of New York Actress was not working for me.
After my trauma caught up to me, I finally started going to therapy. I had always wondered why dating was impossible for me, and learned my trauma was the root cause. However, the dating troubles provided some pretty great content. Content I had entertained friends and social media with for years. I was discovering how much trauma had shaped me, making vulnerability the most terrifying thing, all while simultaneously coming to a head with my career path. And one day I saw all the content and information I was learning about myself as a show. My favorite comedy is the type that finds humor in the darkest situations. I was going to find the humor in trauma.
I was doing my own thing and creating my own work long before I realized that was the shift my career needed – which is why I find it silly I didn’t realize it sooner. I guess I never made anything I felt so connected to before. In creating this show I realized I wanted to reach the “me’s” of the world – women who feel weird, stunted, or troubled with love and life due to trauma. Women who are terrified of being vulnerable. Women who are tired from having to work a little extra hard to be ok. I want them to know they’re not alone, they are safe, and most importantly, they can laugh.

Maria, 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?

I’ve been a performer at the professional level for over a decade, with a portfolio of versatile experience. My passion is reflecting real-life through art (as cliche as that sounds). Whether it be a well-known musical, an obscure play, an 80’s cover-band, an improv show, or a comedy set of my own creation – my goal is to resonate with people and let them know they are not alone in this crazy world. Nothing brings me more joy than collaboration with other artists. Need someone to bring your character to life? To write or perform a hilarious and relatable sketch? Do you need an experienced and reliable singer for your event? Do you need a hit comedy show for your venue? I’m your gal! I am most proud of my one woman musical traumedy “I’ve Grown Plenty, Thanks!” which has played to rave reviews in St. Louis, New York City, and Los Angeles at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part is when, after all the stress and mayhem of putting something up, someone tells you they felt seen or related to your work. Knowing you reached even just one person at soul-level and helped them feel less alone is worth everything.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I submitted my show to The Hollywood Fringe Festival on accident. The opportunity presented itself, so I took it. In hindsight, flying across the country to a city where I know very few people to present my new show in a sea of 400 other shows that were LA based was not the brightest choice I’ve ever made. Getting butts in seats was extremely difficult, especially after selling out two shows in St. Louis pretty seamlessly. But as a result, I learned and gained a lot of marketing and networking skills I wouldn’t have otherwise. The Sunday matinee had only sold two tickets and I was mortified. An artist’s worst nightmare. I wanted to cancel but that would have been an ordeal. So I told myself I’d give those two people the best show of their lives, and went on. Not only did it end up being one of my best performances, the two women said they forgot they were the only ones there cause it felt like a full house and they both related and got so much out of the show. It ended up being my favorite show of the run. Even though I never had a house larger than 15 people, I was so immensely proud of every ticket sold because I had worked to get them there. I walked through a massive fear and came out the other side feeling like I could do anything going forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mariabartolotta.com
• Instagram: @maria_bartolotta_1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maria.bartolotta.96/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-bartolotta
• Youtube: @MariaBartolotta12

Image Credits

Rex Lott Photography
Johnel Clemente
Désirrée De Sade Photography