Check Out Mary Hynes’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Hynes.

Mary, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My dad would tell you my artist story started from day 1. My parents would frequently find me off on my own accompanied by an assortment of old wrapping paper tubes, faceless Mr. Potato Head, a beat up red plastic firefighter’s helmet and whatever else I decided was necessary for imaginative play. They saw my delight and encouraged it. I was in every theatrical production possible, and they saw how much it lit me up. I considered it like my soccer, and early choir practices and late night rehearsals became part of my personality. “I can’t, I have rehearsal,” was my motto.

When it came time to choose a college I decided on a BA from Butler University because as much as theatre was calling to me, I was afraid to fully commit. A well rounded education plus conservatory level theatre and vocal training seemed like the safest way to pursue the dream that wouldn’t quit me.

I was tenacious and wouldn’t let a “No,” or a “Not yet,” stop me. I kept taking classes and risks, letting the highs propel me forward. I call it “following the flick.” Like when you click a Bic lighter, it sparks to a flame. I kept making my way spark to spark knowing that if I made choices aligned with my core values, success was inevitable. “Do what you love and the money will find a way,” my parents always told me.

I remember one time in NYC I had $4.19 to my name and I used it to buy a pint of Haagen Dazs Pralines and Cream from my corner bodega. I sat in bed and ate the whole thing that night thinking, “if I’m broke I may as well go out in style.”

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?
After graduation I moved to NYC with $2,000 and a place to live for 4 months over a nail salon in Brooklyn. While moving my dresser up the stairs with my roommate she said, “I can’t handle it anymore here, I’m moving back home.” I spent most of the next week in the fetal position in bed fearful for what I’d gotten myself into. A few days later a friend took me to Central Park and I was taken by its magic. I was still fresh to the city with mid-west friendliness and not afraid to talk to people. I saw a girl with a gorgeous Salvador Dali tattoo of a tiger bursting through a fish out of a pomegranate, and I complimented her on it. Her boyfriend said, “You have a great personality, do you need a job?” “As a matter of fact I do!” I chirped. “I’m a manager at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company,” he replied, “and we are hiring. Can you be there tomorrow at 2?” “I’ll be there at 1:45 because early is on time!”

I like to live life by experiences. I had fantasized about being a waitress in NYC so this was that invitation, the flick of the Bic. After 8 months serving pails of cajun shrimp and entertaining tourists in the heart of Times Square I checked that off the list.

After being a waitress at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company ran its course, I got some temp work doing cold call sales for a staffing firm. My cubicle buddy was also an artist, and we were miserable. We had an alphabetical list to go through and cold call for sales. I was on the F’s that day and came across FAO Schwarz. Me, working in THE toy store? Say less! After I finished the sales call I turned to my cubicle buddy. “Should I call back and ask for a job?” She nodded a big yes. “Hi, This is Mary. I just called inquiring about your needs for staffing services and I was wondering if you had any job openings.” The next day I dashed out on my lunch break for an interview that led to being a Toy Soldier. Soon after that I became the NYC rep for a fanciful children’s clothing and stuffed animal company called Bunnies By the Bay in their flagship location at FAO Schwarz.

When things got hard I wouldn’t give up. I knew another door would present itself if I kept moving down the hallway. When I found myself not being cast as much as I wanted to be I took my father’s advice and dove into stage management and tech. “Mary, if things don’t work out, you would be a great stage manager.” and he was right!

I knew I wanted to try improvisation. I found a school affiliated with The Groundlings here in LA, Gotham City Improv. I took a free sample class and felt like I just took my first breath. I remember stepping out to 23rd street and 7th ave in the rain, excitedly calling my dad and declaring, “I found my thing!” I was broke, so I negotiated to pay for half of the class and pay off the other half by doing sound and lights for their mainstage show, Off the Top of Our Heads. This is where I learned impeccable timing, and how to feel when a scene was over. I worked my way up to being a regular performer in that short form improv show.

I trusted my education and adaptability, with a fire fueled by the love and support of my family. I kept telling myself that if I can’t hack it, I could get a job in stage management, advertising, or something else creative and adjacent to theatre. There have been a few moments where I’ve thrown my hands up and tried to quit, but every time I felt like giving up the dream “Bang!” another door down the hallway would burst open. Sometimes I wish my calling was something safer and more financially stable, but I know what I have is precious and necessary in the wild world.

I loved NYC so much, but I found that the ROI on my hustle wasn’t equivalent. I wanted to be the best improviser I could be so my next step was either The Second City or The Groundlings. I opted for Chicago first, and knew I’d make my way further west soon enough. This time I had $3,000, a place to stay for a month, and a transfer of a gym membership sales job with Equinox NYC to an Equinox in Chicago. I selected the gym location closest to The Second City, and found an apartment nearby. I made myself as available as possible to the dream of teaching there and performing on the Mainstage. I went through the Conservatory program and patiently stalked a faculty position. I posted up at the corner of North & Wells on a couch in the training center whenever I could to work on things and be in the building. I applied for a faculty position, got the interview, and then didn’t hear anything. Every month I would send another email, “Hi! Mary here, I just finished teaching a summer improv series at my Alma Mater Butler University with a very similar curriculum to your program. Here is a letter of recommendation. Looking forward to hearing from you!” I was persistent, and soon enough there was a last minute need of a sub for a class. I lived within walking distance and walked right through that open door.

During the Covid pandemic, I hunkered down in my sister’s basement in Maryland while still paying rent on my Chicago apartment. We had many Second City faculty Zoom meetings to figure out how to keep the theatre alive once the plague passed. I remember my friend Winter Davis said in one of those meetings, “We need to figure out how to do virtual stage management. Who wants to do that?” “ME!” My hand shot up, not knowing how but knowing I wanted a theatre to return to and I knew adaptability was the only way through. A handful of us hacked our way through Zoom figuring out how to transfer a very in person art form to a virtual setting. Fast forward to now, and I am revered and in demand as a virtual stage manager, technical producer, remote operator, and facilitator for online events in education and entertainment.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am known for my big comedic characters. I grew up hypnotized by Carol Burnette, Madeline Kahn, Lucille Ball, Mo Collins, and Molly Shannon. The list goes on, but I remember being in awe of how in one moment they would be these gorgeous pillars of charm, and in the next bawdy and raw. To me, this was truly athletic in how they oscillated in immersion between ugly and beautiful.

In addition to my character work and improvisation, I am known for being the behind-the-scenes champion that makes a show run like clockwork in alignment with the artist’s vision as a stage manager and lighting and sound designer.

I also discovered a passion for helping students of all ages discover and hone their creative voices. I started teaching to be the feminine presence I found lacking in the improv scene, and to carry on the torches of my fabulous teachers. I wouldn’t be the performer and person I am today without the mentorship of Gary Austin, Michael Gellman, David Razowsky and Scotty Watson. I wanted to pay forward all of the love and encouragement I received, and toss some logs onto the heart fires of fellow aspiring artists. I have vivid memories of every “Aha!” moment and I wanted to be able to facilitate those moments for others.

In addition to my acting, improvisation, and stage management I’ve made a name for myself as an engaging and entertaining Emcee. I was the host of the Creator’s Lounge at The International Manufacturing Technology Show. IMTS is the largest manufacturing technology trade show and marketplace in the Western Hemisphere. They gave me my own steady cam camera man, a microphone, and set me off to make content. For all of the times I’ve been chastised for being too big and too much, it is an amazing feeling when your unique skill sets are seen as an asset.

One of my proudest moments was booking a commercial campaign that was featured on the Jumbotron in Times Square. I remember standing on the sidewalk in the throng of pedestrians, looking up at myself and declaring to everyone and no one, “That’s me!”

Another proud moment was when I was asked by the amazing ladies of Bunnies By the Bay to create a spokesperson character for them to continue to tell their story. Because of this work I was asked to be a wish granter through the Make A Wish foundation for a little girl who conquered cancer and wanted to give every patient in the cancer ward one of Bunnies By the Bay’s iconic “Buddy Blankets.” Camera crews in tow, I went hand in hand with this little warrior of a human and we distributed bunnies and encouragement.

I think what sets me apart is how I protect the child-like wonder that launched me down this path in the first place. I’ve learned to embrace that my whimsy is not a weakness, but an asset of authenticity. It is possible to be both professional AND playful.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
True to the “leap before you know where you’ll land” attitude that brought me to NYC right out of college in Indiana, I packed all I could in 2 suitcases, a trimming from my favorite plant in my carryon, and booked a 1 way ticket to LA with a place to dog sit for a month. After all, I had gotten good about taking leaps of faith. Dear Reader, you will be happy to know that plant is thriving and reminds me of Chicago every day.

The talent in LA is astronomical. I am surrounded by people who have worked hard to get here, have massive talent, and a calling that won’t quit them. Because of that high saturation of talent, and the current anemic atmosphere of the industry, the challenges are more than any other I’ve faced to date. It requires stamina, adaptability, surrender and an entrepreneurial mindset. I still protect the dream of an ensemble centric multi-cam sitcom or comedy revue show with a big budget for costumes, wigs, all run by a fantastic crew and delightful writers.

Each of the cities of my professional life – New York, Chicago, LA – has a flavor, a verve. You soak into the culture while marveling in it as an outsider. You take on it’s mannerisms and even adapt to the colloquial speech; while never really losing the attitude you brought with you. I respect that LA demands a certain reverence despite its myriad neighborhoods and villages with their own sub-cultures. LA doesn’t really care what you brought with you, it demands your contribution to its culture. Education, experience and talent are merely useful. An outstanding resume gets you invited to talk, and skills can be learned. Success comes from being available. It takes a lot of planning to be lucky.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @merrymaryhynes
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-hynes-88619214