We recently connected with Mason Risser and have shared our conversation below.
Mason, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Picture this: I was stranded in Philadelphia at midnight on a Thursday. I had a voice and movement class in Ithaca, New York, at 8:00 AM the next morning. Desperate and unsure of what to do, I called my two bigs (in our theatre program, we have a big/little system, sort of like a fraternity or sorority). Without any hesitation, they agreed to drive four hours from Ithaca to Philadelphia to pick me up.
For context: I had been in Nashville for a job, and my flight back to Ithaca was canceled last minute. The only flight I could find to the Northeast landed me in Philly. That night, my bigs, Will and Sally (love you both), drove an eight hour round-trip…on a school night…just to get me to class on time. We arrived back in Ithaca at 7:00 AM, just an hour before class started. Keep in mind that they also had classes the next day.
It was, truly, one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. Their willingness to show up for me reminded me how much people can care that people can show to one another. Community truly matters. I was so lucky to be surrounded by people who care about me that much!
Mason, 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?
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working on a wide range of projects, including several feature films, as well as singing in a few cast recordings with some of my favorite Broadway stars!
I really do care about the craft and the business. Though sometimes unsuccessful, I try to lead with heart, and work hard to enhance the industry.
You can find more about my work through my Instagram, Youtube, or IMDB page. My most recent projects include Just Jake on UpTV, A Little Women’s Christmas on GAC Family, and the cast recording of The Big One-Oh. Theatre-wise, I most recently performed in Ithaca College’s production of Titanic as Harold Bride!
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
The biggest resource I wish I utilized more were my friends. There are incredible people around me, but I wasn’t always comfortable asking them for recommendations and advice. Looking back, I realize how much insight and support was available. You just needed to be willing to ask.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
When I was eleven years old, I thought that fame was the ultimate goal. But as I grew older and realized how unstable and unpredictable that path can be, I started to lose hope.
What changed everything for me was realizing how much I genuinely love performing, even for a tiny audience. It’s the act of performing…not the spotlight… that really brings joy into people’s lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://masonrisser.com
- Instagram: @masonrisser
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-risser-008919225/
- Twitter: https://x.com/MasonRisser
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@masonrisser
Image Credits
Simon Wheeler, Nora Canfield, Jeremy Cowart