1. Describe what Paradoja Studios means to you.

- Paradoja to me, means freedom. Freedom to be as big and bold as you can be. Freedom to create. To challenge. To take risks. Freedom to explore your soul and express yourself in the weirdest and most beautiful way possible.

2. How long have you been a member of the Paradoja family? 

- This will be my second show coming up! Although I feel like I've been sort of like a distant cousin of the family for awhile, haha. I used to come to the shows back in high school and I always knew it was something truly special. I received the opportunity to be in the more "immediate" family last year. 

3. What sets Paradoja Studios apart from other groups? 

- There is nothing that is even remotely close to Paradoja. It's not just one thing: it's everything! Paradoja doesn't offer limitations to its family. Whether you're a professional actor/writer/director or you're just someone who loves be part of something creative, Paradoja is for everyone. You don't have to meet any credentials...other than being a kind person. 

4. What has it been like to see Paradoja Studios grow, develop and change over the past few years? 

- I suppose I can consider myself of a sort-of veteran. I've seen probably about 3 Paradoja shows before performing in one. The material in the sketches, both comedic and dramatic: you just see blossom into something better and better each time. Even the performers, you see a great change in their abilities in storytelling. I think Paradoja has become more and more like a timeline of personal growth for Mike and the other members.

5. What have you learned from Paradoja so far?

- So, far I've learned how weird I actually am. Like the crazier a sketch is, the crazier I become. In a good way though! I've learned so much more about people and working as a real team from Paradoja.

6. What is the rehearsal/meeting process like?

- Rehearsals never feel like rehearsals. They're more like hangouts. We get together, each laugh a lot, talk a lot, share ideas about the sketches we are working on and then break off into different groups to work separately before coming together again to show each other the work we've done.

7.  How did you get started with Paradoja?

- Marco Amato. I blame him for everything wonderful that's happened to me, haha. Marco invited me to the shows back in the day and last year encouraged me to finally audition for Mike. And the rest is history.

8. Are you a member of the cast or crew?

- Member of the cast. This year I'll also be directing, though.

9. If you look back to when you first joined Paradoja, do you think Paradoja Studios turned in to what you thought it was going to?

-  I don't think you can really know where Paradoja is going to go next. Always keeps you on your feet, which is great!

10. What do you think of Mike Pagano? What have you learned from him personally and professionally?

- Mike Pagano is Mike Pagano. Haha, no! Well, yeah he is (obviously), but Mike is a very wonderful human being. He's an extraordinary talent and extraordinary person. He encourages my talent all the time, asking for my opinions and offering to look at my own writing. There's absolutely no judgement coming to him for anything. 

1. Describe what Paradoja Studios means to you.

​- Paradoja is the place to start for me. I have always been more interested in getting into behind the scenes work (ex directing/writing) and this feels like a safe space to experiment. It's a new beginning and a fresh start for me and I couldn't be any more excited!

2. How long have you been a member of the Paradoja family? 

- Brand New, My first show will be "Moments in the Mayhem"

3. What sets Paradoja Studios apart from other groups? 

- How accepting and encouraging everyone is. Yes, the theater world is a tough one, but being at Paradoja has really showed me the brighter side of it more than anything.

4. What does it feel like to be apart of this group? Have you experienced anything like this before? 

- It's nothing like anything I've been a part of. It's a really wonderful place to be and I'm happy I've been asked to be a part of it

5. What have you learned from Paradoja so far?

- I've learned that literally anything is possible. Anything.

6. What is the rehearsal/meeting process like?

- I really enjoy how rehearsals and meetings are run. They're at friends houses and they're not so uptight and strict. I feel like because of that we get a lot of creative work done and it's still easy to be productive and have such an awesome time.

7.  How did you get started with Paradoja?

- I was recruited by my incredible close friend Marco. I had seen shows in the past and talked to him about trying involved.

8. Are you a member of the cast or crew?

- Both! I'm a Paradoja writer and director as well as an actress.

9. What are you looking to get out of the Paradoja experience?

- I'm looking for a way to expand my horizons. I've always loved writing but I've never had a space to produce what I've worked on. Also, more stage exposure at a local level is always a plus!

10. What do you think of Mike Pagano? What have you learned from him personally and professionally?

- Mike Pagano. I describe him to people as someone you want your rope tied to. He's incredible. I have only know him for the shortest time, but I wish it was so much more. He's a genius and you can see and hear it the second you meet him. He's motivating, caring and really makes anyone feel at home in the company. I know great things will come from him and I'm excited to see what the future holds!

1. Describe what Paradoja Studios means to you.

​- Paradoja to me means an opportunity to engage in uncensored, unrestricted, bold, and creative theatrical expression. Paradoja is a family for the outcasts and a promise to the audience that what they are about to witness onstage is unlike anything they’ve seen before.

2. How long have you been a member of the Paradoja family? 

- I have been a member of Paradoja Studios for over four years. I joined the group for the show Vice Versa.

3. What sets Paradoja Studios apart from other groups? 

- Paradoja has a unique style. A particular blend of comedy and drama. The dialogue has a distinct taste the way it is spoken and received by other characters. Paradoja is different because it encourages artistic exploration. It challenges its members to do things creatively that they had previously never thought themselves capable of doing. It is more than just a particular brand of theater. Paradoja is a distinctive perspective on the world around us.

4. What has it been like to see Paradoja Studios grow, develop and change over the past few years? 

- Watching Paradoja grow over the last several years has been incredible to say the least. What was once political satire and shock value farce has become conceptualized into something even deeper and more grandeur without losing its original roots and significance.  Paradoja has become something to be taken seriously. It has expectations and continues to deliver them more and more with each production it puts on. It has become bigger in both its cast size and its ideas and production. It’ s meaning remains the same as Paradoja continues to grow into itself, becoming wiser and more mature with each passing production.

5. What have you learned from Paradoja so far?

- I have learned that I am capable of much more then I give credit for myself. I learned the value and essential need for a coherent group effort when creating a theatrical production, especially one from scratch. I have learned the importance of individual contributions and allowing room for error and potential change. Paradoja has taught me to respect my artistic expression, by challenging it.

6. What is the rehearsal/meeting process like?

- Rehearsals are quite different from your standard theater experiences. Having limited time in our actual show stage we utilize our fellow Paradoja Studio members house’s to rehearse in anticipation for our shows, usually months in advance.  Meetings may include rehearsing and blocking scenes, having writers room meetings or just go over the music that will be played in between scenes. The details are refined out by the entire cast and crews input. The flexibility of our schedules and the resourcefulness of our cast members allow for rehearsals to occasionally being infrequent, but always efficient and professional.

7.  How did you get started with Paradoja?

- I started my relationship with Paradoja Studios in 2012 joining to be a part of the show Vice Versa. I met Mike Pagano at a thespian party and he detailed to me what Paradoja was all about. I was instantly hooked and knew I wanted to be a part of this incredibly insane group of misfits!

8. Are you a member of the cast or crew?

- I am lead writer for Paradoja Studios as well as an actor, director and occasional crew men when assistance is required.

9. If you look back to when you first joined Paradoja, do you think Paradoja Studios turned in to what you thought it was going to?

- In all honesty YES! I always knew Paradoja would continue to grow and enlarge into something strange and spectacular. I am humbled to have had even the smallest hand in helping make it what it has become today and what it is going on to be in the future.

10. What do you think of Mike Pagano? What have you learned from him personally and professionally?

- I could write an entire paper on what I think of Mike Pagano, but I will keep it short for the sake of this interview.  Mike is an extraordinary otherworldly human being. He has a passion for creating and a compassion for nurturing other’s talent. He is a brave and fearless leader and a dear friend. Mike took theater by the balls and made it what he wanted it to be. His vision, however dark or bizarre it may be has incredible worth and significance in this world. I could never repay him for breathing life into Paradoja and setting it free onto this earth for all of us to enjoy.

1. Describe what Paradoja Studios means to you.

​- Paradoja Studios reminds of the Island of Misfit toys. It's where the underdogs and outcasts thrive on showing what they can do. If Paradoja was a word in a dictionary, it would mean giving people who haven't given an opportunity a chance to do what the love.

2. How long have you been a member of the Paradoja family? 

- I've been a member since "Crossroads."

3. What sets Paradoja Studios apart from other groups? 

- This is probably the most comfortable and acceptable group I have ever been a part of. There is no drama and no one trying to take the spotlight from each other. It's a mentality where everyone is helping you up rather than knocking you down.

4. What has it been like to see Paradoja Studios grow, develop and change over the past few years? 

- Compared to last year, there's been a lot more ideas and opportunities open for new members like myself.

5. What have you learned from Paradoja so far?

- I learned that you can make friendships in a company without having your guard up all the time. I used to have my guard up when around an acting environment because you can't trust many people. Paradoja allowed me to be myself without being on edge all the time.

6. What is the rehearsal/meeting process like?

- I rehearse some scenes or go over meeting topics then, Scott and I make fun of each other. Rinse and repeat.

7.  How did you get started with Paradoja?

- After not being in contact for 3 years, I randomly tweeted Scott asking him if we were ever going to do our radio show and then he asked me if I could act in Paradoja. I said yes and the rest is history. Still waiting on our radio show though...

8. Are you a member of the cast or crew?

- Cast and part-time crew.

9. If you look back to when you first joined Paradoja, do you think Paradoja Studios turned in to what you thought it was going to?

- Still a bit of newbie for this question but I will say that I'm glad that I've signed on!.

10. What do you think of Mike Pagano? What have you learned from him personally and professionally?

- Mike is literally THE most welcoming person I've ever met. He's open to any idea and will compliment you consistently. I truly believe he has a heart of gold and will do anything for anyone. I have no doubt in my mind that he's going to be a success. It's not a matter of "if",  but "when" he makes it to the big time.

​1. Describe what Paradoja Studios means to you.

​- Paradoja means a place to create freely, to feel included, to explore ideas about theater, and to collaborate on a really big art project. Paradoja helped me to build my confidence as a director and producer, and offered me an opportunity to work with young artists that I may have not otherwise been able to work with.

2. How long have you been a member of the Paradoja family? 

- Since "Paradoja" was nothing more than a word in a notebook.

3. What sets Paradoja Studios apart from other groups? 

- Courage.

4. What has it been like to see Paradoja Studios grow, develop and change over the past few years? 

- The growth of Paradoja is parallel to the growth of its members. Over the years the shows have evolved and developed because the people who created them evolved and developed. It's been exciting to see the original members stick around and mentor the new people.

5. What have you learned from Paradoja so far?

- That theater is alive and well to those who are passionate about it.

6. What is the rehearsal/meeting process like?

- An open, creative, fun experience. Everyone is focused but still flexible to new ideas. Theater is a collaborative art form, and Paradoja rehearsals exemplify this.

7.  How did you get started with Paradoja?

- I am one of the founders. Mike approached me 6 years ago asking how to put on a show of his own material. I didn't have any theater projects lined up so I said I'd help him produce it. Two months later, Grindhouse opened.

8. Are you a member of the cast or crew?

- Cast/crew/director/producer/consultant/style icon.

9. If you look back to when you first joined Paradoja, do you think Paradoja Studios turned in to what you thought it was going to?

- I thought Paradoja was a one-time-only production. We all did. Paradoja was the name of the original show, not the group, so any indications that it would continue were non existent. It wasn't until the months after Grindhouse, when we started thinking about Exodus Event, that it became clear that we could do a "Paradoja presents..." kind of thing. Vice Versa is when we became Paradoja Studios.

10. What do you think of Mike Pagano? What have you learned from him personally and professionally?

-Mike Pagano and I have collaborated on dozens of projects. He's a passionate, brilliant artist and an extraordinary human being (which, I argue, is a more important trait). I'm always learning from him.

1. Describe what Paradoja Studios means to you.

- Paradoja means the world to me. I was never given a chance before paradoja (probably cause I'm a little out of my mind) but, Mike saw that and embraced it. Now I have a collective brotherhood that I would give everything to.

2. How long have you been a member of the Paradoja family? 

- Since paradoja zero or the crat pack.

3. What sets Paradoja Studios apart from other groups? 

- The family and the madness. A lot of theater companies treat shows like work we treat it like we are all family. I've been around the so called professionals and they just don't have the fun we have.

4. What has it been like to see Paradoja Studios grow, develop and change over the past few years? 

​- We've seen it grow so much we were a handful of people putting on the first two shows. Now, we are like a full blown paradoja island of misfits . Watching all this talent come in and perform with us and enjoy themselves just shows that clearly we are going in the right direction.

5. What have you learned from Paradoja so far?

- To believe in myself when others refuse to.

6. What is the rehearsal/meeting process like?

- It's a party where we always get work done and make every show crazy.

7.  How did you get started with Paradoja?

- Mike Pagano asked me to!

8. Are you a member of the cast or crew?

- Crew

9. If you look back to when you first joined Paradoja, do you think Paradoja Studios turned in to what you thought it was going to?

- No, it has become more than any of us could of imagined. Who knew that we would still be going this strong, years after Mike, Frankie and I left high school. This is like our haven and it keeps growing.

10. What do you think of Mike Pagano? What have you learned from him personally and professionally?

-There are no words that I can actually say that would give justice to what Mike has done for me. Him and his family really have made my life better in everyway. I don't think I'd be the person you see today without the Paganos I love them all from the bottom of my heart.