NEWS

10.10.24 Press: Healing TREE Post-Gala Coverage in BroadwayWorld

Healing TREE, the nonprofit Marissa founded, was featured in BroadwayWorld for its recent Gala post-Gala coverage. Read the full article here.

8.06.24 Press: Healing TREE Gala in BroadwayWorld

Healing TREE, the nonprofit Marissa founded, was featured in BroadwayWorld for its upcoming Gala. Read the full article here.

10.10.24 Podcast Guest: The Future of Art in America

Marissa was a guest on Olivia Lilley’s The Future of Art in America podcast. Episode #40: Marissa Ghavami (is an actor and non profit leader championing stories and doing the boots on the ground work to help people heal.) Listen here.

5.23.24 Booking: Caring Kind Forget-Me-Not Gala

Marissa will be singing at the 2024 Caring Kind Forget-Me-Not Gala on Monday, June 3rd at 6:30pm at Cipriani 42nd Street. Learn More.

5.20.24 Reading: The Ice Fisher

Marissa played Laura in the private industry reading of David Caudle’s screenplay The Ice Fisher, at the Atlantic Theater School, alongside Reeve Carney, Kally Duling, Michael Emerson, Mary McCann, Taylor Anthony Miller, Keira Naughton, Lena Pepe, and Jeremy Sisto.

4.12.24 Booking: Pride at The Players

Marissa will be singing at Pride at The Players, hosted by Emmy Winner Lea DeLaria, on June 12th, 2024.

3.20.24 Review for The Little Pony

“Marissa Ghavami embodies Irene’s outward practicality and inner turmoil with an aching sadness. Before the play concludes they deliver several sweeping emotional monologues that nearly stop the breath in the room.” - Austin Fimmano, Plays To See. Read full review here.

2.21.24 Booking/Press for U.S. Debut of The Little Pony at Torn Page

Marissa will star as Irene in the U.S. Debut workshop production of Paco Bezerra’s international hit play The Little Pony at Torn Page (located in the historic home of Rip Torn and Geraldine Page in the heart of Chelsea NYC) March 7-23 2024. In this 75-minute two-hander, Marissa and Montgomery Sutton play Irene and Daniel, parents grappling with the consequences of their ten-year-old son being bullied for bringing his My Little Pony backpack to school. Click here to read the full BroadwayWorld article. Tickets available here!

11.14.23 Podcast Guest: A Balancing Act

Marissa was a guest on Episode #65 of Analisa Leaming’s A Balancing Act podcast, “Trauma & Our Big Dreams”. Listen to and watch the episode here.

10.14.23 Booking: Divine Riot’s Cry It Out

Marissa will star as Jessie in Divine Riot’s Cry It Out on 11/9 (Invited Dress), 11/12 and 11/18 (2pm), 2023.

A comedy with dark edges, Cry It Out is an honest look at the absurdities of being home with a baby, the power of female friendship, the dilemma of going back to work, and the effect class has on parenthood in America.

The run of this show has multiple actors playing each role, a part of our devotion to the process and exploration of character. Each show has a completely different cast. Please see casts below to plan your tickets accordingly, and come see us multiple times! You will truly never see the same show twice.

Learn More and Get Tickets here.

10.10.23 Podcast Guest: Empowered Artist Collective

Marissa was a guest on Episode #72 of Jennifer Apple’s Empowered Artist Collective podcast, “A Resource Guide for Healing”. Listen to and watch the episode here.

9.28.23 Film Festival Panel: Queer Voices NYC

Marissa will speak on the panel Navigating the Entertainment Industry as a Queer-BIPOC Creative at the Queer Voices NYC Film Festival on Saturday, September 30th at 2pm.

9.23.23 Booking: Staged Reading of The Little Pony

Marissa will star as Irene, opposite Montgomery Sutton, and directed by Dr. Kimi Ramirez, in the NYC premiere dramatic reading of the international hit play The Little Pony by Paco Bezerra, translated by Marion Peter Holt. The staged reading is a part of the Prelude Festival 2023 and will be held at Elebash Recital Hall at 4:30pm on October 13th, 2023. Learn more here.

9.18.23 Booking: Gatsby Prohibition Party Immersive Experience

Marissa will play the Temptress and the Secretary at the Gatsby Mansion’s Prohibition Party at Park Central Hotel, starting on September 22nd, 2o23.

7.5.23 Booking: Siluetas in The Latiné Musical Theater Lab’s 4xLatiné

Marissa will play Khalilah, opposite Tony Winner KO (Karen Olivo), in The Latiné Musical Theater Lab’s 4xLatiné at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Off-Broadway, on July 14th, 2023 at 7pm. Read the full BroadwayWorld article and get tickets here.

6.14.23 Booking: Singing at Pride at The Players

Marissa sang at the 2nd Annual Pride at The Players alongside a star-studded lineup, including Charles Busch, David Sabella (aka Amanda Reckonwith) and James Rana. Watch Marissa’s performance of Somewhere Over The Rainbow here.

4.29.23 Booking: Reading of The Little Pony

Marissa will play Irene in a reading featuring scenes from The Little Pony at translator Dr. Marion Peter Holt’s Memorial at the Segal Theatre on May 15th, 2023.

10.5.22 Academy Award Qualifying Film Festival Official Selection: Silk

Marissa co-wrote and was the lead producer on Silk, directed by John Magaro and starring Crista Marie Jackson, Fran Kranz, Garcia and Louisa Krause. Silk is an Official Selection at the Academy Award Qualifying Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series.

6.21.22 Short Film Shoot: Untitled ACEs Project

Marissa produced and acted in a short film for Healing TREE, the Untitled ACEs Project. The film was directed by Ella Jane New and starred Arjun Gupta.

2.19.22 Booking: Narration for Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu on Audible

Marissa narrated the audiobook for Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu by Dr. Jamie Marich. It will be available on Audible, and everywhere audiobooks are sold, on April 12th, 2022.

2.10.22 Booking: 54 Celebrates Elton John at 75

Marissa will be singing Elton John tunes alongside a star-studded lineup, including Shereen Pimentel and Z Infante, on March 23rd at 9:45pm at Feinstein’s/54 Below.

12.14.21 Robert Altman Award Winner: Mass

Mass has received the Robert Altman Award from the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

8.31.21 Press: Mass in Variety

Mass was featured in Variety on August 31, 2021. To read the article, click here.

5.7.21 Bleecker Street Acquisition: Mass

Bleecker Street Media acquired Mass, a feature film Marissa co-produced. A 2021 fourth quarter theatrical release is currently planned. *7.12.21 UPDATE: “The Sundance Film Festival hit will be released exclusively in theaters on Oct. 8, 2021, Variety has learned exclusively. In addition, all four actors will be campaigned in the supporting actor and supporting actress categories for the Oscars.” - Variety

4.14.21 New Film & TV Representation: Aligned Stars Agency

Marissa is thrilled have signed with Aligned Stars Agency across the board.

1.30.21 Sundance Premiere: Mass

Mass, a feature film Marissa co-produced and her nonprofit Healing TREE is partners with, is premiering at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Mass follows two sets of parents who meet years after a tragedy changed their lives. Mass was written and directed by Fran Kranz (The Cabin In The Woods) and stars award-winning actors Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter film series, The Patriot), Reed Birney (Tony-winning actor of The Humans, House of Cards), Martha Plimpton (Emmy and Tony nominee, Raising Hope, Running on Empty) and Ann Dowd (Emmy winner, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Manchurian Candidate, Garden State).

8.26.20 Trailer Release: The Gift of Christmas

The trailer for the feature film The Gift of Christmas has been released. Marissa stars as Celia alongside Academy Award Nominee Bruce Davison and Dee Wallace.

7.5.20 Booking: Carousel of Hope Ball w/ Barry Manilow

Marissa booked the Carousel of Hope Ball, singing backup for Barry Manilow, airing on PeopleTV, with Music Director David Foster and Music Supervisor Michael J. Moritz Jr.

4.21.20 Booking & Win at Ken Davenport’s Theater Festival

Marissa recently sang in “Screen To Screen” by The Rigano Songbook which won Ken Davenport’s Rave Theater Festival Social Distancing Fest!

3.18.20 Fellowship Award: Queer Writer Fellowship at The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing

Marissa was awarded a Queer Writer Fellowship at The Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. She was a Director’s Pick! UPDATE: The 2020 Fellowship has been postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19.

3.16.20 Booking: Narration for Trauma and the 12 Steps on Audible

Marissa booked a voice over narration gig for Dr. Jamie Marich’s Trauma and the 12 Steps, Revised and Expanded: An Inclusive Guide to Enhancing Recovery. Available July 28, 2020 on Audible and anywhere audiobooks are sold!

12.19.19 Booking: The Lineup at Birdland Theater

Marissa is returning to Birdland on March 24th, 2020 in The Lineup, hosted by Susie Mosher with musical director Brad Simmons. Save the date and get your tickets here! UPDATE: Cancelled due to COVID-19.

9.4.19 In Production: Silk

Marissa is in production for Silk, a short film she co-wrote and is the lead producer on, which is about a gifted aerialist who struggles to recognize she's being gaslit by her new boyfriend. Silk is directed by John Magaro (The Many Saints of Newark, The Umbrella Academy, Carol, The Big Short) and stars Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods, Much Ado About Nothing), Louisa Krause (Billions), Garcia (Tales of the City) and Crista Marie Jackson (The Greatest Showman). Silk is executive produced by Healing TREE and in addition to hitting the festival circuit will be brought to colleges with workshops on the red flags of abuse and trauma.

8.3.19 Website Relaunch

Marissa relaunched her website August 3rd, 2019! Click around and check out the changes.

2.5.19 Booking: Claudia Amaya NYC

Marissa booked a print job for New York City based Fashion Designer Claudia Amaya's winter line.

10.9.18 New Film and TV Representation: Lisa Lax Agency

Marissa signed with the Lisa Lax Agency for Film and Television Representation!

9.18.18 Booking: The Lineup at Birdland

Marissa will be making her Birdland Jazz Club debut in The Lineup, hosted by Susie Mosher with musical director Brad Simmons, on January, 15th, 2019. Save the date and get your tickets here!

9.16.18 Booking: The Alchemy of Imperfection

Marissa will be acting and singing in the multi-media theatre production and literary salon, The Alchemy of Imperfection, www.thealchemyofimperfection.com, October 3rd and 4th at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (tickets available here). It has been performed in Los Angeles, Paris and Boulder and is making its New York City premiere. This multimedia theater ensemble by Writer/Director Cara Cruickshank explores gender dynamics in the #MeToo era, illuminating female experiences that defy cultural boundaries, the quest for grater freedom and how men can be allies. Performance followed by a panel discussion: How Can Men Support Women to Speak Up and Be Seen?

7.9.18 Podcast Guest: Dress for the Podcast You Want

Marissa will be a guest on the podcast Dress for the Podcast You Want, hosted by David Andrew Laws of the theatre company Hamlet Isn't Dead. Marissa's episode will be out on iTunes and SoundCloud on Wednesday, August 29th, 2018. Listen here. 

6.22.18 Booking: Claudia Amaya NYC

Marissa booked a print job for New York City based Fashion Designer Claudia Amaya's fall line.

6.18.18 Booking: Belvedere

Marissa booked a print gig for Belvedere Vodka.

5.10.18 Booking: They Told Me To Use It, Staged Reading at the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival

Marissa booked a leading role in They Told Me To Use It, written by Dan Evashevski and directed by Ren Dara Santiago. The play will have a staged reading at the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival on Tuesday, August 21st at 5pm. For more information and tickets, please visit www.broadwayboundfestival.com.

4.23.18 Booking: Jet of Blood

Marissa booked a leading role in the developmental workshop for the play Jet of Blood, directed by Mari Moriarty.

4.22.18 Booking: Music Theatre Factory Concert at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater

Marissa booked a gig at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, singing Soprano in composer Dana Levinson's piece at the Songs By Us Concert. Songs By Us is Musical Theatre Factory’s Women/Trans Representation Roundtable.

3.9.18. Booking: Broadway On Deck

Marissa booked a Guest Star on Broadway On Deck, an exciting new web concert series that will be airing on the All Things Broadway YouTube channel. Once a month they bring the stars of tomorrow to your computer screens singing the tunes of The Rigano Songbook. All Things Broadway is a Facebook group with over 58,000 members that brings together theatre fans in a fun, accepting, and educational manner. 

2.13.18 Booking: Les Fashionables

Marissa booked a leading role, Gina, in the pilot Les Fashionables, which is shooting this spring in New York City and is produced by Willard Morgan and Daniel Scot Kadin and written and directed by Daniel Scot Kadin.

1.15.18 Booking: Modeling for Photographer and Renowned Virtual Reality Filmmaker Kevin Cornish

Marissa booked a print modeling gig with photographer and renowned virtual reality filmmaker Kevin Cornish of Moth + Flame.

1.6.18 Booking: Modeling Campaign for Ice Rocks Jewelry Company

Marissa booked a print modeling campaign for the jewelry company Ice Rocks.

11.14.17 Press: Backstage "I Got Cast" Interview

Marissa was interviewed for Backstage Magazine's "I Got Cast" feature for her recent bookings. Read the entire interview here.

10.16.17 Booking: Mirror

Marissa booked a leading character, Sophie, in Mirror, a short satirical film that takes a classic narrative of a girl's sleepover to a dark place by replacing one of the girls with an inanimate object. Written and directed by Jessica Mastro. Marissa will be shooting in New York City in November and December.

10.2.17 Booking: Never Give Up

Marissa was proud to participate in the creation of a short film that combines her love for artistry and advocacy. Never Give Up features a highly diverse cast of seven adolescents and young adults who examine the shared and unique challenges faced, mistakes made, and growth attained in the struggle to transcend legacies of developmental trauma. Unexpectedly insightful, unsentimentally poignant and always real, Never Give Up is an offering of collective wisdom, inspiration and hope for young people ensnared by adverse life experiences such as chronic neglect, violence, abuse, bullying, and exploitation from seven peers and mentors who came just before them and found their way through. This ground-breaking product developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) specifically for youth. Done in partnership with the world-renowned Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute (JRI), Aldelphi University, Northwestern University and Healing TREE, which Marissa founded. Watch Never Give Up on YouTube here.

Marissa booked the leading role of Lucile in the short film Prophecy, a crime thriller with surrealist horror, loosely based on the arc of Macbeth. Prophecy tells the story of a Japanese American Yakuza member who murders his way up to the top, and is consumed by his own paranoia. A 16mm film production by Chris Chen. Marissa will be shooting in Connecticut in October.

9.23.17 Website Launch

Marissa's new website launched in September of 2017. Check back often for updates!

1.24.13 Trailer Release: Not Fade Away

Marissa plays Meredith in the upcoming feature film Not Fade Away, written and directed by David Chase (The Sopranos) and starring James Gandolfini.

6.17-22.05 Press: Beauty and the Beast

Marissa stars as Belle in Music Theatre Louisville’s Beauty and the Beast, opposite Ross Lekites.