I just completed the first major leg of the teacher education program (TED) at New York’s famed Stepping Out Studios where I earned a first-certificate on my way to becoming a Ballroom Dance instructor in the styles of beginning Waltz, Foxtrot, Swing, West Coast Swing, Rumba, Cha Cha, Salsa, and Argentine Tango.  Argentine Tango is what I’m most passionate about.  Eventually I plan to pursue teaching on a larger scale as well as exploring the competitive  arena of Argentine Tango.  Now all I need is a partner . . . and of course a lot of practice!

I took an amazing voice workshop with Scott Miller (and Company) called The Muscle of Presnce.  Here’s is what I had to say about it, quoted on their website:

What Folks Are Saying
Here’s some feedback from our most recent Muscle of Presence Workshop back in April:

“Overall I felt like the weekend was such a gift. Within the span of three days I was allowed, encouraged, and nurtured as an artist and as a human being to strip away all my masks, defenses, facades, bad habits, and rock hard layers in order to reconnect with my center and the part of me that is all-knowing and trusting of my instrument.  I left breathing and listening more fully with a newly renewed inspiration to act and create.  At the end of the workshop you said, “You are music,”  and that really stuck with me.  I have the creative power to move people and your workshop allowed me to reconnect with that knowledge.”

– Marisa Costa, NYC Actor


I just performed in a workshop production of Charles Dickens’  ‘A Christmas Carol’.  This version, adapted and directed by Abigail Trueblood, was done in the style of the popular Radio Play from the early 20th Century complete with home-made sound effects and all.  We all took turns playing the Narrator, Scrooge, and handfuls of the other wonderful characters who inhabit this classic story.  It was a great experience developing each character’s individual voice throughout the rehearsal process with this talented and imaginative group of artists.

I just got cast in the TAI Group’s production of  ‘Othello’ as Cassio.  Director Cece Smith adapted the play to include only a handful of the original characters in a much tighter version of this classic tale of jealousy and deceit.

Scott MacKenzie as Iago, and Marisa Costa as Cassio

 

 

 

I just wrapped on a lead role in the independent feature film ‘Fray’, produced by Spork Productions.  The film was shot on-location in Oregon.

Click on the link to view the trailer:

https://www.fraymovie.com/

 

I just completed a workshop with the amazing Fay Simpson, author of The Lucid Body, where I performed a Shadow Project; a character-based, improvised performance piece.

To learn more about Fay and The Lucid Body approach click on the link:

https://lucidbody.com/

WINNER ‘Best Student Short’ at Royal Flush Festival ‘09
WINNER ‘Best More Than Horror Short’ at Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival ‘10

CRITICS SAY . . .

“Great fun! A terrific cast.” – Dennis Dermondy, Paper Magazine

“A very good genre satire.” – Amy Taubin, film critic for Artforum, Film Comment

“As for the acting, it was top-notch…Marisa Costa as saloon prostitute Louisa, exuding equal parts vulnerability and tough-as-nails attitude.” -Fatally-Yours.com

I just performed in a staged reading of the new play ‘Straw House’ written by the wonderful playwright, Glenn English.  The reading was performed at Primary Stages with a terrific group of artists including Director Seamus McNally.

 

The pilot for the Web Series ‘Threads’ just got picked up by Broadband Enterprises.  Check out the trailer here.  I play the lead singer of a punk-rock band.