MARIA is a Greek/Zambian actor, educator and dialect coach based in New York City. She made her professional debut as a solo artist performing her best-selling, self-authored one-woman show Race Free on Off-Broadway at both the United Solo Theatre Festival and New York Theatre Workshop’s 4th St Theatre. Maria’s theater credits extend beyond the New York scene. She has developed, co-produced, directed and starred in three devised theatrical pieces in Lusaka, Zambia—one of which, Chief Jones, was funded by the Tow Foundation. Most recently, Maria worked on Saheem Ali’s Richard II, Shakespeare on the Radio which was produced by the Public Theater in collaboration with New York Public Radio—originally a Shakespeare in the Park production.

Maria earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from Brooklyn College. She is a lecturer of acting for Brooklyn College’s theater department as well as for Playwright’s Horizons Theater School in New York City. She is passionate about African dialects/accents and has given workshops internationally as well as coached Off-Broadway. Maria is a member of Actor’s Equity.