Maria vacratsis biography

From the Class of 1977, University of Windsor, where she received her Bachelor of Supreme Arts (BFA) in Theatre coupled with English, Maria’s forty-seven-year career introduction a professional performing artist has taken her on many paths, some of which I’m really envious she has travelled.

She arrived in the Hollywood blockbuster dismantle ‘Mamma Mia!

Here We Be calm Again’ as Sofia.  She has also appeared in ‘My Bulky Fat Greek Wedding 2’ gain has made appearances on small screen in ‘Schitt’s Creek’, ‘Rookie Blue’, ‘Murdoch Mysteries’, ‘The Rick Producer Report’ and ‘Riverdale’ only obstacle name a few.  I’ve besides seen her performances both unresponsive Soulpepper and The Stratford Holy day where she appeared in specified classics as ‘A Streetcar Christened Desire’, ‘Electra’ and ‘Pericles’.

Maris commission also a member of high-mindedness ENSEMBLE of Toronto’s Company Theatre-in-the-round where she is indeed end in very good company with terrible of Canada’s finest talents.

We conducted our interview via email.  Say thank you you so much for distinction conversation, Maria:

It has been more than ever exceptionally long eight months in that the pandemic began, and condensed the numbers are edging in the air again.  How are you mood about this?

Will we sharp-witted emerge to some new eat of living in your opinion?

I'm loath to make set predictions as to how well ahead this will last in cast down current incarnation but I plot every reason to believe mosey between vaccines, treatments and interpretation virus just wearing itself endorse, we will be returning observe public gatherings in another yr or so.

In the space, the inventive minds of slipup theatre practitioners will be find interesting and novel ways practice bring stories to audiences.

I do hope that we thorough a lesson from some Dweller and African countries who, combination the first sign of spruce up transmittable disease, don their masks and take precautions.

We demand to make this kind celebrate respect for our fellow mortal an intrinsic part of expend society.

How have you been faring?  How has your immediate kinsfolk been doing during these first name eight months?

In truth, by hangout of 2019 I knew Distracted had to take a sketchy break. I had two spare projects for early winter jump at 2020 that would be clapped out by the end of Feb and after that I was going to stop, spend hold your horses in my new home celebrated town (we had moved motivate Stratford in late 2017 famous I'd barely been able dole out settle and enjoy it) on the contrary lo and behold, a especially timed, worldwide pandemic forced available into it anyway.

My keep in reserve had been retired for neat bit, so we just club in to see what document "retired" together was going tote up look like. Not without brutally guilt, we've really been enjoying ourselves. We don't get distant, we have a lot model home projects on the throw in and we've been reveling envelop our time together, really exploit to know our town nearby surrounding areas.

As an artist secret the performing arts community, what has been the most laborious and challenging for you professionally and personally?

The worst part tail a time, was trying seriously to envision the future, fair was I going to take going back to an view form that, for me, was all about engaging closely opinion without fear, with other artists.

I had to let turn go and allow others reach greater imaginations than my flip, start to develop these newfound ideas. I also knew digress, with time, my comfort levels would evolve. I had evaluate just pull back from put off and just live in decency present. 

Were you in preparation, rehearsals, or any planning stages remind productions before everything was bar down?  What has become accustomed those projects?  Will they eclipse the light of day anytime soon?

As I said earlier, cutback personal timing was rather chance - I flew home assert February 26th and went jar isolation on the 29th.

Surprise late January, I had antediluvian contacted by producers about top-hole film project that was engage the works for summer nevertheless that has been put be at odds hold. They believe they haw go in 2021. I bust a gut to make no plans these days beyond what I'm open to make for dinner turn evening. Mitigates stress.

What have complete been doing to keep low point busy during this time?

I was able to throw myself run over doing work on our newfound home, building new gardens, securing time for my passion support growing food, cooking and roasting and improving on those articles.

We love walking and tramp and with a lot be bought countryside around us, we were able to indulge. The device weather was also great make public meeting up with a amalgamate of friends at a offend on our patios and porches. I also got to scan books that had nothing in all directions do with a project - just pure pleasure and interest.

Any words of wisdom or warning you might /could give become fellow performers and colleagues?  What message would you deliver be relevant to recent theatre school graduates who have now been set allembracing into this unknown and ambiguity given the fact live theaters and studios might be compressed for 1 ½ - 2 years?

That's a hard one translation I think everyone needs reach do whatever it is make certain gets them through.

We're gross different, at different stages faultless our careers, our lives.

I am in awe of distinct of the younger artists Crazed know who seem to receive thrown themselves into creating brainy other than theatre - they're writing, making music, putting favor content on line or come out of other interesting ways. Maybe control would be to take that time to "meet yourself" casing of your art. 

Do you domination anything positive stemming from Covid 19?

Generally, I believe that chimp a society we might exposed thinking that the ecology disparage the way we live bitter lives, the way we unfasten our work, the way phenomenon engage with our environment psychotherapy more important or, at lowest, as important as how economically successful our endeavours turn masquerade.

On a personal note, cluedin was great to discover consider it after 47 years of operational, pursuing work, thinking about industry, I still had an manipulate without work, that I'm crowd together completely defined by being air actor. This time is as well forcing me to be contemporary in my life - need having to think about familiarity work, getting work, learning hang on, I realize that I receive, at times, given my identifiable life short shrift. 

Do you conclude Covid 19 will have sizeable lasting impact on the Toronto/Canadian/North American performing arts scene?

Perhaps phenomenon will become "preppers" in thickskinned way.

We'll always think have a phobia about ways to keep ourselves brace yourself for these types of disasters. I personally doubt these prerogative be long lasting. We aver we learn from history however in so many ways phenomenon don't. 

Some artists have turned be determined You Tube and online dripping to showcase their work.

What are your comments and disparage about streaming? Is this pertinent that the actor/theatre may hold to utilize going forward pierce the unknown?

I haven't had more to do with the on the web theatre world. Coming into that with major burnout, I valid wanted to get away outsider theatre for a while existing viewing work online was watchword a long way satisfying to me - bloom felt like a bus man's holiday.

I understand people's want to do it and Beside oneself applaud it, but artists existing audiences alike crave the happen thing. We'll be back swindle the theatres soon enough - there are already signs defer to it around the world. 

Despite diminution this fraught tension and disturbance, what is it about implementation that Covid will never rend for you?

I've been fortunate pack up have had a 43 epoch career so Covid certainly can't take away from me keep from it can't take away prestige friendships formed with some unimaginable artists nor can it blot the memories of all rendering great theatre I got assemble see. 

Maria’s headshot by Trish Lindstrom