Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulina De La Parra.
Hi Paulina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Mexican-born actress, singer and writer now based in New York City. I luckily found my passion for the arts the shortage of 12; I went to a theater camp, all jokes aside, I played “Waiter #5” but for me it felt like my whole world had been turned around, and what started as just another summer activity suddenly became clear to me that, that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, shortly after I started looking for casting calls back in Mexico City and I debuted my first professional play next year at 13 years old on the original cast of the show “VIVE, Un Nuevo Musical”. I discovered then, at a young age, something that I felt extreme passion for and also I could make my living out of. For me was just a win-win.
I started my career as a Musical theatre actress starting in the lead roles of shows like “Wicked,” “Beauty and the beast,” “CHICAGO,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Les Miserables,” among others. When I moved to New York, my perspective on performing arts broadened to Theatre and Film, participating in films like “PLUS ONE,” which was selected and winner of the Manhattan Film Festival 2018 and for the NOVAfilm festival the same year. The more I continue my journey as an actress and signer, the more I realize that stories well told through art can and will change the world to a more humane and empathic one; It doesn’t matter if it’s through a movie, a musical, a song, a dance or even as simple as a painting; Having both film and Theatre experiences have taught me to appreciate and learn the beauty of each one and the complexity of telling a story while being well executed.
As an artist, I feel strongly responsible for what I put into the world, my main job is not to make you forget about the world but quite the opposite to be a mirror of the society we live in, to open difficult conversations and to challenge myself and audiences to question everything they know. Every work I am involved in and I decide to audition for I make sure aligns with my integrity and most importantly I that opens a space for more latinas to be portrayed in a positive light.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I have the great default of being very positive-minded, sometimes even to an extreme, but I like to see obstacles as challenges an opportunities to grow. One of the main challenges I faced when I moved to New York City was my accent. I was told many, many times that I wouldn’t be able to work in projects because no one would understand me or if it was not a specifically Latin character, I shouldn’t audition for it because Latin stories are highly unrepresented and so I believed this for the longest time. I took many many expensive classes to reduce my accent to make it seem more “American” until I didn’t have more money to keep paying for those, and so I freaked out because how was I going to make a career in a country where I had to just blend in with everyone else?
Right before giving up I remember I took a long walk on my neighborhood and started to realize and listen to people with all kinds of accents walking pass by me, and just like that like a bomb exploding in my face realized that that’s the so called “American accent” there are ALL types of accents and flavors and colors in new York that’s what makes it such a unique and real and exciting city! from that day on I yes, of course, continued to make my pronunciation better for the sake of my acting but I never felt ashamed or discouraged by my accent anymore I wore it and spoke it with pride, and what was an obstacle became one of the biggest opportunities in my life and career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My love for creation and truthful stories has just deepened over the years in my no ten year career in the arts; I have found a passion not only for acting but utilizing art to heal and awaken society to hopefully live in a more inclusive world. One of my most prestigious work in Mexico include Elphaba in wicked (Las Brujas de Oz), Sophie in Mamma Mia!, les Miserables as Eponine and lead singer in the Best concert ’16 produced by G.Martell in the Metropolitan Theatre in Mexico City.
I’m currently working in projects like Six Evacuations written by Tirosh Schneider and in the lead role I talk about the challenges of living your life despite watching the world rapidly being destroyed by pollution and global warming, 20% + donations will go to the foundation “Roots solutions” that helps policy makers have a more sustainable approach.
Another Project I’m currently working on is “Blood Wedding/ Bodas de sangre” by the Iconic Federico García Lorca, this show is a Bilingual production produced by Phoenix Theatre, where I’ll be in one of the leading roles as “Mujer”. You can see the schedule and tickets at: https://www.thephoenixtheatrepa.com/seasons and catch our show in one of the English nights or the Spanish night if that’s your preference.
You can also catch me as one of the finalists of the Broadway World singing competition “Next on Stage” where I chose to donate 1000 dollars if I happen to win to the foundation: “Immigrant Families Together” you can vote until may 4th on my Ig and website. I hope to keep adding value to the arts and telling stories that will keep shifting and making the changes we need in today’s society.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
This has been a difficult year and half. Due to Covid-19, all theatres closed until further notice, but art never stops you hear it in songs you see it on your screen and paintings. Our work as artists has shifted to different platforms and thankfully has reached countries that in normal times would never had reached.
To collaborate just send me an email to paulinadelaparranyc@gmail.com as always I’m always happy and ready to keep building a beautiful world through art.
Contact Info:
- Email: paulinadelaparranyc@gmail.com
- Website: www.paulinadelaparra.com
- Instagram: @paulina.de.la.parra
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pau.sandoval.58
Image Credits
Headshot- Curtis &Cory shows- MA Photography
