Life and Work with ErinMarie Reiter

Today we’d like to introduce you to ErinMarie Reiter.

ErinMarie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been involved in theatre since I was a kid; I performed onstage and also worked backstage on shows. When I was in college, I studied theatre and then got involved in the hospitality industry as well.

I worked as a VIP ambassador and concierge for a luxury hotel and that was when I first really had the opportunity to talk about theatre to people. I loved being able to help people plan some fun parts of their trips, and introducing them to the amazing theatre scene in San Diego.

After that, my career has always had parallel hospitality and theatrical veins. Using my knowledge from working in theatre, and my hospitality background has led to me to work on multiple Broadway shows, national tours, television, and film. All of my work, including my writing and talking about theatre is so people feel empowered to incorporate the arts into their lives.

Art is fun; the people who talk and critique it sometimes aren’t, or write in a way that feels more academic and exclusionary. So, I decided to really focus on being me and create critiques or informative pieces that make the arts feel accessible to everyone, regardless of their age or location. I’m a nerd girl who wants to help people bring art & adventure into their lives.

If I can help make the arts more accessible to others and encourage them to want to explore art or their pop culture favorites, then I feel liked I’ve succeeded.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There were many times where I didn’t think having a life in the arts was in the cards for me. I loved being a performer, but being surrounded by amazingly talented people really makes you re-evaluate your skill set and what you think you can do. So, I made a practical decision and decided to get a stable job outside of theatre. Working in a different arena is where I learned that all those skills I had from years of being in the arts were applicable in other jobs.

I worked jobs that were not always the best in the long run, but that taught me valuable lessons. I leveraged my improved skills into jobs that allowed me to rise to challenges, make hard decisions, and manage people. It has not been easy, but every time I have actively decided to reclaim the direction of my life it has been for the better.

When I decided that I wanted to be a part of the arts community in this way I did my research and worked hard to find a foothold in it. I put myself out there, got a lot of rejections, and made the most of the opportunities where people said “yes”.

The thing with journeys is that sometimes we get so focused on the end that we don’t appreciate the present. Even if the present is not what you want, or what you envisioned, this when you do the work to get yourself to the next stage. Everything I am accomplishing today is from something I did yesterday; even if it didn’t feel that productive at the time.

There were times where I thought that high school/college me would have been so disappointed in what I was doing. Now, I realize those past versions of me would be freaking out at the amount of Tony Award winners I have spoken to, or that my thoughts on a show can have an impact on the creation of the art itself. Don’t panic if your journey or your dreams seem to be changing from when you first dreamed them. You’ve changed a lot since you first set that goal, why shouldn’t your dreams and goals change along with you?

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I specialize in writing about theatre and pop culture. There is a lot of cross over between them and I write reviews, interview actors, show runners, creators, and want to connect people to entertainment that they will enjoy.

I also work with kids in arts both as an enrichment and an educational tool. The arts allow kids to become more adventurous, outside of the box thinkers, who understand that you have to collaborate and work together to make something amazing happen.

Because of my work in different arts programs I can find myself at a professional show one night, a high school show the next, and then Comic-Con the day after that. I can confidently breakdown theatre and pop culture in a way that is approachable.

I don’t use a different voice when I write; if you read what I write and then meet me in person I will sound the same. I am a real person writing for people with the hope they are inspired to go see a play, musical, or event because it sounds like a good fit for them.

Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Growing up, my family was very supportive of my interests. Once, I went to an audition and my brother who came along got cast and I didn’t! That led to me working backstage for the first time while he was on stage, so it worked out alright in the end.

My parents made sure I understood that if I took on a role, no matter how large or small, that I had to be prepared and ready to work because other people were counting on me. Along with that, being able to perform was a privilege and I had to continue to earn that by making sure my school work was done, and that I was well behaved.

The lesson that I had to work hard and be prepared to get what I wanted has proven to be an invaluable foundation at every stage.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.talktheatretome.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: talktheatretome
• Twitter: talktheatretome

Image Credit:
ErinMarie Reiter

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