Meet Meirav Zur | Actor, Producer, Writer, Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meirav Zur and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meirav, why did you pursue a creative career?
I love utilising creativity, and learning both about and from other people. I’ve always wanted to have a career doing what I love, so that’s why I’ve pursued an artistic and creative career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my career as an actor while living in Israel, going to auditions and booking various roles here and there. I quickly realized that I did not want to wait around for these opportunities and decided to create my own. I saw that there was a need for children’s theater in English to supplement and provide cultural context for the established English curriculum in the school system. So I combined all of my skills and background to write and produce a play in English. I also performed in it along with a couple of wonderful actors. It was very successful and there was demand for more, so that’s how I essentially founded a professional English-language traveling theater in Israel, eventually developing a substantial repertoire of different stage productions and theater education programs for audiences of all ages. The process was very challenging mainly because for most of the first years I had to take on many roles simultaneously, including artistic director, actor, writer, director, costume/set designer, marketer, salesperson, stage manager, driver, seamstress, carpenter, etc. I was able to overcome these challenges with constant support from family and friends, as well as other talented arts professionals who I was fortunate to meet and collaborate with along the way.
Now living back in the US, my family and I are new to Los Angeles and love getting to know the city and surrounding areas. Professionally, it’s of course a challenge to find my way but I’m utilizing the lessons I’ve learned over the years. The first and main lesson is that there is a lesson in everything and everyone, there’s always something to understand, reflect, or improve.
One of the projects I’m working on now that I’m proud of and excited about is my most recent production, which got a bit stalled at its beginning when the pandemic changed everything. But there were many lessons there, too, of course. I learned about vulnerability, intuition, and production evolutions, to name a few. This production was the first time I created and performed a solo show, and an autobiographical taboo comedy at that. I know the full potential of this production hasn’t been maximized yet so I’m working on that!
I want people to know that there are so many wonderful people to know about. I think there are a lot of amazing stories to be told, a lot of untapped creativity, and lots of laughs to be had. I’m grateful for any opportunity I get to share my story. I really love bringing joy to others and making people laugh, especially my family.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a still-newbie to LA, I could probably use an itinerary of favorite spots in the city myself. I think the main thing to note about LA is that there’s definitely something for everyone. This city is so big and diverse, there’s enough to see to take up a yearly itinerary. So far, my favorite spots have been the beaches (Malibu, the Santa Monica Pier), places like the Grove, many nice spots and restaurants in Santa Monica (and Rori’s ice cream!), Theatre Row the theater district of course, plenty of easy access to nature, and so many museums! And I love theme parks and behind-the-scenes experiences, so of course Universal Studios.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to my family, the ladies of ESHH, and my theater colleagues. They’ve been my muse as well as my little village of continued support, mentorship, encouragement, and love.

Website: https://www.meiravzur.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inconceivableshow/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/meiravzur

Image Credits
Herschel Gutman Liat Eldar Tomer Lupashko Shahar Ratzenburg