Marissa Saroca

It’s an online working day for me for @captionerscollective so here’s my stash of #FreePalestine selfies for @creativesforpalestine day of action 🇵🇸 tote from @apan4palestine #CreativesForPalestine ID: Screenshot of photos app showing tiled selfies of Marissa. They are in the foreground of a messy bedroom, brown skin, dark hair in a scrunchie by an Aboriginal artist, wearing a floral dress, green neck fan, and a pink tote with an image of a dove and the words ‘Free Palestine’.

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY. The theme is FREEDOM, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. I have posted hundreds of stories pertaining to the genocide of Palestinians by the colonial ‘state’ of Israel but just realised this is the first to the grid. I am so relieved to have found a community within the arts who cares about people and human rights and who are willing to fight for a better way of life for everyone. They are the kinds of people I want to be friends with, work with, create with, resist with. Please sign, please continue resisting, please educate yourselves of the state of the world outside of our privileges. By caring and fighting for the most marginalised in society, we are bettering the lives of everyone. Shame to any companies or producers or media or anyone who stands in the way of human rights. We know who you are. You will continue to be called out. We will no longer be isolated by your power. SIGN. ACT. SUPPORT. Link in bio. FREE PALESTINE. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 ALWAYS WAS ALWAYS WILL BE. 🖤💛❤️ @creativesforpalestine #creativesforpalestine Image descriptions and alternative text to come soon today.

☄️ COMET closed a few weeks ago and I’m still at a loss as to what to say about the last few months. On one hand, I learnt how to play the accordion in just a few weeks, paired that new ability with intricate poly-rhythmic choreography, complex harmonies, and an extremely difficult score. Oh, and just some casual accordioning + drumming at the same time like the big, multi-talented jerk that I am. I’m proud of my work as Assistant Musical Director, once again with physical, psychological and cultural safety for cast as my ultimate priority - as I think it should always be but usually isn’t. I also went on for two shows in my cover role under-rehearsed and under traumatic circumstances and smashed it >> because that’s our job. Thank you @deanjdrieberg + @brendanyeates for trusting in me and shaping Hélène for me and with me. We challenged how she has been portrayed in the past, and the many messages I received especially from young people about how much it meant to them was so special and validating. Dean thank you so much for your friendship and support, and Brendan for wanting to give me/Hélène much more of a dance track that I ever imagined, to give audiences representation of movement and dance and sensuality in a body not always welcomed onstage, and for your patience as we uncovered how to master it whilst navigating my disabilities. Despite their vision, I was only allowed the opportunity to perform for two of the seven weeks of shows, a decision that was devastating, heartbreaking and still impossible to fathom. Those in and out of the cast who showed me love, support and validation, thank you thank you thank you for your kindness. Finally, thank you to MEAA Equity + Equity Diversity who have been legal, emotional, and professional supports through the last couple of months. I can’t recommend them enough in the constant fight for workers’ rights in an industry - and world - where those with the most marginalised intersectionalities and the least amount of power are the most vulnerable to harm. ☄️

We sing we act we dance we playyyyy ☄️ NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 Helene + Marya understudy + Assistant Music Director @darlinghursttheatreco @thegreatcometau ID: 1. Deep purple background with lighter purple font saying ‘DTC’ and ‘Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812’. Twelve circular gilded photo frames around the faces of the cast, showing the family tree of characters. 2. Deep purple background with text of the title and venue of the musical. Marissa’s headshot takes up the whole tile within a circular gilded photo frame. Text says Helene/Marya understudy.

Same danielle, same 🔥💥☄️ Nearly my one year anniversary of being diagnosed (and medicated! 🙌🏽) with ADHD and I am in the process of being tested for likely POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and have been diagnosed with MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) which is such a relatively new and specialised understanding that of an entire health team only my dietitian knew of it because of recent targeted research around MCAS and eating disorders (also hello me). MCAS means that essentially my body is in constant low to high states of allergy anaphylaxis across multi organs with their own respective reactions with also a regular general culminating of what’s called adrenaline dumps (very confusing very painful) - and then the cycle starts again. Lolllllllllllllll Both are co-morbidities of ADHD (well, not really MCAS yet but only because it’s under researched and understood but ADHD = comorbidity POTS, POTS = comorbidity MCAS). Mate. It’s a lot. But, knowing that I’ve lived (navigated/managed/struggled) with all of these disabilities for my entire life and still done the things I have (not just professionally, no glorification of capitalism here babes) >> I AM A FUCKING ICON ID: white twitter screenshot tile with text “@danielleweisberg me *handshake emoji* earth getting hotter but for sure more unstable every year”.

Thanks to @sydneyfringe and everyone who came to see @cherrytheshow , just melbs+perth+adelaide+edinburgh (?!) to go!! From Fringe Pick to award nominees, we had a chaotic evil time >> @_sarahleigh and I are ready to hit @melbfringe next in the first week of October!! 🍒👩🏽‍💻💨🎉🧹🍻 ID. 1. Screenshot of Sydney Fringe promo material featuring @victoria_falconer that says 2022 Award Contenders. Katy Perry and some of the team are tagged. 2. Myself, Katy Perry, Sarah and Astra our lighting operator in a pic outside with the Fringe Picks poster. 3. Production shot with quote from Theatre Thoughts Australia “could be a recurring crowd favourite production at fringe for years to come”. 4. Mid show selfie. Oops, cut out Sarah, but my parents are in the front row hey peeps. 5. Pink tile with review quote from Olivia Croker “this cabaret-meets-comedy spectacular is sugary nostalgia and a sincere sentiment wrapped up in a shiny pink bow”. 6. Screenshot capture of a live tweet through the show from me that says “first show for @cherrytheshow omg already fucked up!!” Literally missed a cue while tweeting oopsie. 7. Cherry team shot in the green room >> Marissa (music director/sound design/stagehand/performer), Lungol (marketing), Sarah (writer/producer/performer), Katy Perry (Sarah’s muse/plays herself), Astra (lighting op). 8. Marissa and Sarah, co-presidents of the We Love Victoria Falconer fanclub, selfie-ing with a winking promo Vicky. 9. Pink tile with review quote from theatre Red “The Fringe provides a perfect arena for a little bliss bomb like Cherry”. 10. New Fringe friends Zoe and Linda from our @horseplaytheplay neighbours hehe. Get on that show too ps.

Full Moon in Pisces Celtic Cross spread c/o @jenlouttit ✨ fucking lovedddd this one •

Yes my first reel I didn’t even have to make, thanks @cherrytheshow 🍒 fair representation of my involvement while the kids have fun @_sarahleigh @lungolwekina 🍭

I think you’re probably aware by now (lol) that I’m joining @_sarahleigh in her @cherrytheshow as music director/musician/stagehand/onstage lighting operator/righthandman. Links in bio for tix for Sydney AND Melbs Fringes >> so excited for all you Katycats (Team Sarah) and Not-Katycats (Team Marissa) to see my sprinkle of magic over this already incredible show ✨🍒🍒 #katyperry #cherrytheshow #sydneyfringe #melbournefringe #katycats ID: 1. Blue and pink ombré background with pink heading “Meet The Creatives”. Diagonally places smiling headshots of Marissa Saroca (they/she) and Sarah Carroll (she/they). 2. Big headshot of Sarah in bright makeup laying on a bed of confetti. Text shows name of show and category “Cherry. Musical Theatre & Cabaret, Theatre, Comedy.”