Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari Joy Asiado.
Hi Mari, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Manila as a very shy kid, but I have always loved the theater. I never saw many shows while I was growing up because it was very expensive to see professional live theater, but the first time I saw one, I was entranced.
I participated in making props and stage managing when I could and one day, I had to be on stage. I left feeling exhilarated so the next year, I got into a musical theater workshop I could afford and I never looked back.
I came to Utah in 2019 to attend BYU and got into their Acting program. Since then, I have participated in many productions across Utah and the US.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, it seems cliche, but finances, loneliness, and doubt were big obstacles for me. I was working, studying, and rehearsing to keep afloat during my first few years as a student. I remember I couldn’t afford shoes for a dance class so I dropped the class. There weren’t any other Southeast Asian people in my program. I felt like there weren’t any roles for me and I had to carve my path.
My family and friends were on the other side of the world. I would see friends greet families waiting for them in lobbies after a show and I would just kind of… walk away. I don’t think I was very sad about it, I just noticed it. I was grateful to be where I was and understood the privilege of going to University to study acting, but I was also aware that I was kind of alone in this journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I recently graduated with my BFA in Acting from BYU. I specialize in screen and stage acting.
Last year, I led the premiere of Melissa Leilani Larson’s MESTIZA or MIXED at Plan-B Theatre in Salt Lake and it was Utah’s first Filipino-majority cast. It was directed by Jerry Rapier and I got to act alongside April Fossen, one of Utah’s most beloved actresses. I can’t tell you what a privilege it was to play Lark Timon, the lead character.
Another world premiere of a play I was involved with was Steve Yockey’s Sleeping Giant with Salt Lake Acting Company. I was the understudy for Hye Soo Dixon. For my final bow at BYU, I was Juror 12 for a very well-reviewed production of 12 Angry Jurors directed by David Morgan. I also went to New York right after graduation to perform with my fellow BFA graduates for our talent showcase.
I also LOVE acting in front of the camera, having acted in several short films. One of them, “Poolside Inn” directed by Remington Butler, got into the United States’ largest short film festival, the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. We filmed it at a hotel in Orem, Utah. Out of 6000 entries, we were part of the 300 selected and were nominated for an award. It also premiered in Utah recently at another acclaimed film festival, Filmquest.
I think what sets me apart from others is a groundedness to my identity. I am Filipina, I speak Tagalog, and when I act I reach for the most genuine and human parts of me. I am not afraid to be seen as ugly, trying, thriving, happy, or whatever state the character needs of me. My art is rooted in honoring my humanity and my craft is honed by my training in text, body, and voice. I love studying in general. Plays, films, scripts, give me anything and I will read, analyze, and breathe it in.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the landscape of Provo. It is a beautiful city to live in. I grew up in Manila, a huge city, and it was such an experience to learn how to live in a small-ish town like Provo. I love the little coffee shops like Java Junkie, especially. I love that I am only a few minutes away from a hike if I should want it or a beautiful canyon drive. If I wanted to read outside, I could just grab a chair and find a park to do so. Those things seem so simple but they were luxuries to me as I discovered Provo.
I think what I like least about this city is that it can feel quite small. Not necessarily in size, but in how homogenous the community can appear. It obviously houses a university that follows religious standards, and there is pressure for the WHOLE city to comply, and sometimes that can make you feel isolated from the world. I also wish some more Asian restaurants or restaurants were generally open later. I would get hungry at 10 pm and find that nothing is open (lol).
Contact Info:
- Website: mari-joy.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mT1h3zjNgbY5qIQZHZXdw
Image Credits
Rebekah Bean, Ripley Sarah Meservy, Ka’eo Drumright @taymayesphoto, and Izzy Arrieta
