Well hello there, Royal Regatta! Hoping this Friday finds you all well and staying warm amidst the wintery weather that's wheedled its way into NYC. While the blustery temperatures may not be your cup of tea, our Ice Queen and Winter Princess couldn't be more ready and excited to get "Frozen!" These lovely ladies have been making the rounds at many a party, and making birthday dreams come true. Book your party now and join in on the fun! We'd love to come visit! And now, it's time for our second installment of "Behind the Ballgown." Wahoo! Let's rock and roll... ************************************************************************************************ BEHIND THE BALLGOWN: Getting to Know Your Princesses, pt. 2 This week, we introduce you Maria Aparo-Merritt, our fabulous VP and Co-Creative Director. She's a gem and we're so excited for you to get to know this lovely lady a little better. What brought you to NYC?
Work! After graduating from The Portland Actors Conservatory and working as an actor in the Pacific Northwest it was time to move to a bigger pond, so to speak. My husband's family (and mine) are all down in GA, so East Coast made the most sense when considering where to go. How did you start performing? By forcing my dad to learn the lines of Cinderella's stepmother and sisters so we could rehearse the scene from the movie where she drops the tea tray over and over for hours! I finally graduated to larger scenes and other acting partners when I started attending a school in GA that actually had a drama department. (Bring more arts funding to rural communities ya'll!!) From there I've never stopped. What are you currently doing performance-wise? I'm a working actor all over the city and you can see me regularly in theater, film, commercials and new media. In addition to performance I'm also a producer and stage manager. I'll be in Portland, OR this holiday season working on the show "A Tuna Christmas," and recently I wrapped a large project acting with the historic Living Theater ensemble on their newest show, No Place To Hide. You can also check out this ADORABLE commercial currently running in France :) What's your background working with children? In addition to child care and nanny work, I've also logged some time doing children's theater and family-friendly shows. What's your favorite thing about New York? That no matter when I'm hungry, there's always something open. Also the city's heart rhythm syncs so well with mine - the energy here inspires me to soar and dream big in life!! What's your favorite thing about princessing? All the good feelings I get knowing I'm using my talents to bring people joy! Performing for kids is the best because they don't hold back. If they don't believe you, they literally tell you. So when you get rewarded with a huge smile and and "I know you're the REAL little mermaid," it's just amazing all the way around. Anything else we should know? I live in Crown Heights, Brooklyn with my husband and our pit bull rescue Shani. Some of my personal interests and passions include: P.E.O., being a member of the Planned Parenthood Activist Council, philanthropic work, holistic well being, cooking, and spending quality time with family & friends. ************************************************************************************************ Thanks so much, Maria! And thank YOU for stopping by this week. We'll be back again after Thanksgiving with some fun announcements, tidbits, and (of course), another "Behind the Ballgown." Have yourselves a loverly week and a delicious Thanksgiving! #Grateful. Until next week!
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