We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maria Staroselets. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maria below.

Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve spent nearly two decades working as a Creative Producer and Director within the entertainment industry. Over this extensive period, I’ve had the opportunity to create films, events, and performances in a diverse range of locations and settings. As time progressed, I discovered my true passion lies in crafting sets and narratives within natural environments—such as city parks, urban streets, and unconventional spaces—distinct from traditional theater or concert venues. This led me to specialize in site-specific entertainment.

My journey into site-specific entertainment began with a significant experience in 2011—a riverside circus performance hosted in a public park. There, I stumbled upon an inspiring location: a circular pier tower resembling a circus ring. This discovery sparked my creativity, and my team and I crafted an entire circus show tailored to this unique “arena.” Interestingly, we sourced all our props and audience seating from existing materials found in old warehouses, avoiding custom-made items. This practice reflects one of my enduring principles: promoting sustainability in the entertainment industry. I strive to minimize production waste and create with a minimal footprint, an ethos I continue to uphold to this day.

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 began my career as a front-of-house staff member at a theater, but I soon transitioned into the film industry. Initially, I volunteered on film sets and gradually worked my way up, starting as a prop assistant and eventually becoming a First Assistant Director. Like many creatives, I encountered numerous setbacks—projects delayed or canceled, periods of weeks or even months without work or income. The entertainment industry isn’t all tinsel and glamour, it often requires resilience and the ability to bounce back from challenges. To my fellow artists and filmmakers, keep persevering!

My family background is steeped in the circus and theater. My father, in particular, is a strong advocate of contemporary and experimental arts. Consequently, I’ve inherited a deep-seated love for traveling and staging performances in unconventional settings.
Today, I engage in a diverse range of creative pursuits—site-specific performances, filmmaking, and more. I find immense satisfaction in embracing the title of a multidisciplinary creator.

Over the past few years, my primary focus has been on site-specific performances and events. When venues like restaurants, coworking spaces, or libraries aim to create something unique within their premises, they often reach out to me for guidance. Typically, my process involves conducting thorough research into the venue’s layout, lighting, acoustic environment, and the flow of foot traffic. This research informs my recommendations for the most suitable play or interactive experience to enhance the space for their customers and guests.

Recently, I’ve had a realization—I aspire to create entertainment and storytelling experiences that are even more sustainable and lightweight, aimed at encouraging individuals to reflect on their surroundings and uncover meaningful narratives within their environment.

In pursuit of this vision, my partners and I have established a small company named “Locus Praxis.” In Latin, this translates to “local practices” or “place of action,” which encapsulates our core philosophy. Our team name embodies the belief that entertainment extends beyond mere stories. It involves creating a space, both physically and mentally, for people to immerse themselves in and explore the world around them.

Our expertise lies in crafting site-specific experiences that fully leverage the unique characteristics of each location. Our objective is to stimulate interactions with the environment in fresh and unexpected ways. We view our surroundings as a rich source of inspiration for various storytelling forms.

We place great faith in the power of diverse storytelling techniques, including performances, games, and exploration. These techniques act as lenses, shaping our perception and experience of narratives. With the right “optics,” a city can transform from mere points A and B into a multi-layered, filter-filled wonderland.

Our first project is an iOS app called “Pilgrim Cards,” designed to add a unique twist to your daily journeys. Pilgrim Cards offers an array of decks, each containing a series of tasks or challenges. These tasks serve as a means to help you better understand your surroundings, connect with your community, or delve into your inner self.

I love this project and hope that it empowers people to explore both their external and internal worlds, ultimately fostering stronger communities.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Providing a precise response to this question is challenging because the answer within me is more akin to a feeling, an inner compulsion, or an intuition.

My aspiration is for individuals who attend my performances, or engage with Pilgrim Cards, to be inspired to create themselves. I dream to foster a community of Pilgrim Cards enthusiasts who are eager to share their own stories and invite others to join in. I firmly believe that maintaining a mindset of “play” is exceptionally beneficial for the overwhelmed individuals of the 21st century. It enables us to connect with people and our environment on a deeper level.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing fellow creators become inspired by my work and then proceed to create something unique of their own, is what truly ignites my passion. The continuous flow of creativity and inspiration from one person to another is the most remarkable source of motivation for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marouselle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marouselle/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marouselle/
• Other: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pilgrim-cards/id1661783511

Image Credits
Alexey Staroselets, Alexandra Romanova-Shevsky (first meaningful project photo)