Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Nicole George.
Hi Ariana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started performing when I was three years old — I inadvertently stood up at my uncle’s wedding to sing “Breathe” by Faith Hill because there was a microphone there and it had come on the speakers. I was living in the moment, a fan was blowing my hair, everyone applauded… and then I cried and ran away. Talk about stage fright! Something about little me did not want anyone clapping for her or acknowledging her singing, even after I started doing musical theatre in elementary school. Now, after having just graduated from Emerson College with my BFA in Musical Theatre with a Concentration in Voice-Acting, I can say I’ve gotten past that fear of recognition! I’m pursuing performing and I couldn’t be happier.
I’ve been blessed with an incredibly supportive family, group of friends, and mentors that cheer me on everywhere I go and remind me that the world needs artists to keep our spirits alive. I owe so much of my journey to them for encouraging me to take leaps of faith while still giving me honest feedback so that I can grow as a performer.
So many key roles that I’ve played have been formative for me as a performer. Some of my favorites have been Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), and Flora (Flora the Red Menace). Each of these roles actually represents an important facet of who I am. For Annie, I got to utilize my experience with dialects that had come from my years in voice-acting. For Belle, I leaned into the work I had done being a princess party performer for the company I co-founded when I was only fifteen years old. I got to encounter kids after the show and keep the magic alive for them, not even breaking character when the show ended. For Flora, I got to delve into of who I am as a person as the hopeless romantic who will do anything for her friends. At the end of the day, each of these women had parts of me in them: goofy, compassionate, maybe a little blunt at times. And they’ve also taught me about important qualities that I admire. As much as we learn going to see a show in the theatre, the actor learns equally as much as well. And I continue to learn every day and am raring to get going in the world post-grad!
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?
I’d like to say it has been a smooth road, but that wouldn’t be the truth. It’d be glamorous to say so, though, wouldn’t it? Performing is almost never a smooth road, but that’s what makes it exciting. It’s about unlocking who we are as human beings and being brave enough to be vulnerable for the people that need us to be. I’ve cried in acting classes while unlocking important discoveries about material, I struggled with a vocal injury in my freshman year of college, and particularly during this past year with COVID-19, I’ve seen my hope falter in the industry returning to what it once was.
And among all of that, I wondered if a career in musical theatre was right for me.
I’ve always seen myself as a multi-hyphenate, never being able to tie myself down to a single passion. Aside from being passionate about voice-acting, I’ve always loved writing. Particularly in this last year, I’ve discovered that I don’t have to limit myself to just one of my passions— I can pursue them all! During the pandemic, I was given freedom to explore the other careers I loved: I could do voice-acting from home with my own setup and I could write whenever inspiration struck. I even wrote a whole play during quarantine! In a world where live performance became obsolete, I was still able to satiate my appetite for creativity. And I have no plans to stop now! Having provided vocals for a beautiful feature film composition tied to my culture as a Greek and Cypriot, written music for movies which led me to release my first EP, and now working to develop my own novels and screenplays, I proudly brand myself as a performer, voice actor, and writer. I believe the ability to pivot in this industry and not limit myself has been incredibly fulfilling, and I hope it continues to be an asset in the future. It’s so important to be true to yourself and not just follow what everyone else is doing just because you’re afraid you won’t be taken seriously— that’s advice straight to my younger self! And now that the musical theatre world is opening back up, I’m so excited to get back to one of my first loves: performing on stage.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have specifically studied Musical Theatre and Voice-Acting during my time in college and the years before. I particularly specialize in stage performance and performance for animated television/movies/video games. I would say I’m known for the “Disney princess” characters and the comedic, sassy characters. Sometimes those can be a bit of a contrast, but I have so much fun every time with the challenge.
I’m most proud of the way that when I was younger, I discovered my love for voice-acting on my own and worked hard to pursue it, training myself and taking classes when I could. I constantly auditioned for projects online starting at the age of twelve and built up a sizable resume, and I’m so excited now that I’ve graduated to get back out into the world and start looking for agencies to work with.
I think what sets me apart from others is the way that I strive to be honest and candid in everything I do. I’ve always been a pretty open book, and I think that is evident as a performer. Someone who wears their heart on their sleeve is so much more interesting to see perform because we really get an inside look as to who that person is. I try to be that as a performer and as a person, and I always hope that reads on stage because I want to be a presence that is comforting and enjoyable to watch.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
The first time I went into a voiceover booth. I voiced “Shelley the Spider” in The Dog Who Saved Halloween when I was around twelve years old, and at that time I had only just started dipping my toe into the voice-acting world. The moment I got into a professional environment, I knew I had found my home. I’m constantly chasing that passion every time I get behind the mic!
Contact Info:
- Email: ariananicolegeorge7@gmail.com
- Website: ariananicolegeorge.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariananicolegeorge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=ariana%20nicole%20george
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/arianangeorge
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ariananicolegeorge
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/05pIuhuF8PwLSnBZZJXjsA?si=wJnOu6mBQ9aYWgWSbyJ3MQ
Image Credits:
– Craig Bailey – Dennis Dizon – Elizabeth Dupuy – Sara Graham-Costain
