“Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome.”

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ABOUT

Born in Barcelona and raised in New York City, Maria May (she/her) is a Georgian-American, multi-hyphenate creative.

Over a decade of devotion since her introduction to the arts as a child actor, Maria has honed her craft across performance mediums and styles, from the esteemed stages of Broadway, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center to the wider reaches of national television & film. Fluent in English, Spanish and Georgian, her artistic identity emanates from a tapestry of multicultural heritage, immigrant roots, and resilience cultivated by her single-parent upbringing.
Hailing from the same former Soviet republic of Georgia as its founder, Maria attended the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City for classical ballet & en pointe training. Through Dancing Classrooms, a transformative NYC public school program founded by Pierre Dulaine, Maria was introduced to the illustrious world of ballroom dance and was later accepted to their youth dance company, which provided diverse training & performance repertoires of dance styles including the merengue, foxtrot, waltz, rumba, cha-cha, salsa, swing and samba. After making her Broadway debut in Billy Elliot the musical, Maria originated a role graciously written in for her in the 24-hour reading of Little Dancer, directed by Susan Stroman, and then played Young Anastasia alongside Dame Angela Lansbury in the first workshop of Broadway’s Anastasia the musical.
Fueled by a desire to tell stories of the marginalized, Maria pursued psychology and writing courses during her undergraduate career and has written a substantial repertoire of songs, sketches, and screenplays. She gained added knowledge from a unique mentorship experience under the guidance of an heir of the Tolkien legacy, during the staging of his new play on the Holocaust. As a member of the creative team she provided support in the piece’s direction, script, and music.
Maria is a naturalized American citizen, CSA survivor, Harvard University graduate, multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, ukulele, djembe) and proud member of the Actors' Equity, SAG-AFTRA, and AGVA unions. While on Broadway, she wholeheartedly contributed to her cast’s support of the revered cause, Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. Maria has been recognized as a Top 10 Finalist by ABC Casting in their nationwide “ABC Discovers Talent Competition” and has served as a member of the SAG Awards nominating committee.

Creative Genesis:

“Amidst the bloopers in this BTS reel from my 1st professional gig with Mattel for Barbie, my newly discovered love for the enchanting powers of performing, storytelling, and community first danced.

Since an early age, the connective & transformative magic of creativity, and the seemingly infinite forms of artistic self-expression, resonated deeply with my thespian soul. Until today, nothing has topped the profound joy & lasting fulfillment brought by connecting with the hearts & imaginations of other dreamers.

From the depths of my own journey as a survivor of child trafficking & other early trauma, I’ve gratefully emerged as a fierce advocate for the liberation of all souls, wholeheartedly championing the fundamental right to freedom from oppression. In addition to my commitment to the arts & a vegan lifestyle, I find purpose & solace in providing support to others on their path through adversity & offering arts education to children with special needs.”