Meet Mary Ann Pianka of The Combined Forces

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ann Pianka. 

Hi Mary Ann, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It’s always been about story-telling for me. How good it feels to perform, how many people can be included in the process, how many audience members can be reached. I was never not in dress-up as a kid, running around outside make-believe-playing some epic saga with everyone in the neighborhood. The second I realized that could be a profession, I was after it. But I have incredible parents who wouldn’t let me pursue the entertainment industry until I was older (and had worked other jobs.) So, I did every bit of theater I could get my hands on until I started auditioning for film work. That led to my joining SAG-AFTRA when I was seventeen. So, I graduated high school early and left my wonderful hometown of Lancaster, PA to live, work, and bloom in LA for a year before going to Syracuse University. There I earned my BFA in Acting with a life-changing semester at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. 

I moved back to LA immediately after graduating and it kicked my ass in that special way that only LA can. I worked a million side hustles and explored other branches of the industry, which started to strengthen some production muscles I didn’t yet know I had. 

The pandemic reoriented my priorities, as it did for so many others. I spent a lot of time back east with my family which cemented the importance of human connection in my life and work. (It did so for just about everyone, I think.) 

It’s all taken me full circle back to Acting as my main love and goal, with the lesson learned that womxn and artists need to own their own work. So, I founded a production company: The Combined Forces, LLC. 

I also happen to co-manage the LA branch of a remarkable company called What The Float, which offers a monthly outdoor silent-disco traveling dance adventure… so that’s rad. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Sexism, Covid, and egregious student loan debt notwithstanding, my main struggles have been the sneaky self-imposed ones: Imposter Syndrome… Working hard and not smart until I’m too burnt out to function… Typical Virgo stuff. Looking back on my first official decade of being in the entertainment industry, my biggest setbacks were when I didn’t have enough faith in myself. Or when I let people take advantage of my kindness. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Combined Forces is a production company that tells stories by womxn, about womxn, for everyone. What is a production if not a combination of creative forces? What is a womxn if not a combination of divine forces? 

We produce anything and everything we think will bring people joy: theater in unconventional venues, film photography out in the wilderness, ecstatic dance parties, that funky short film you’ve always wanted to make. Any creative project you’re passionate about is one that we can help facilitate. We specialize in turning people’s dreams into actionable steps so they can become a reality. 

Since its birth, 2-ish years ago, TCF has produced a small library of short films and a few theatrical productions. Our work has been featured in over 30 festivals earning nearly a dozen awards. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
On a day-to-day basis I’m community-oriented: who are my people, how are they doing, when can we all hang out. And let’s plan the menu. 

On a grander scale, I care deeply about uplifting womxn, and how that directly translates into uplifting everyone. I was put on this Earth to create and facilitate safe spaces for people to feel. When you’re safe you can ‘face your feels,’ and from that catharsis comes art and joy. Seeming lack of modesty aside, I have the perfect cocktail of skill sets to host events and produce creative projects, so I’m determined to do so as much as possible. 

We see time and time again that people find solace, healing, and happiness in each other. People crave and love being understood. (And “I feel seen” is from this zeitgeist for a reason.) So, the more stories we tell- preferably with an in-person component- the more opportunities we have to connect and feel better. And when we feel better, we can do anything. 

Honestly womxn matter the most to me. Our magic is what makes the world turn. How can I help? 

Contact Info:

• Email: Maryannpianka@gmail.com
• Website: www.thecombinedforces.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannpianka/

Image Credits
Dana Patrick
Steve Darby
Rich Prugh Photography
Kat Eaton Graphic Design
Alicia M. Blair Photography