Meet Mario Greiner | Actor and Singer

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

Hi Mario, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Since I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with the Performing Arts. It’s a passion, a way of experiencing life to its fullest. It allows me to connect with humanity in a different way both as a performer and consumer. Acting, moving, and singing fill my soul with joy and often help express what words cannot. My younger self would not believe what and where we are getting to perform and make art right now. I closed my first Off-Broadway show in a leading role, get to work on new musicals, and had a solo performance at 54 Below, recipient of the 2022 TONY AWARDS Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. Then, just a few days ago, I had the absolute honor to sing in concert in the chorus alongside Kristin Chenoweth at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway – excuse me? Theatre pieces are never the same since they are live in front of an audience. The connection between the audience and the actors themselves is magical. There are other big artistic influences in my life. My grandmother was a ballet dancer, my mother plays the piano and cello, and my father *tried* his hand at the recorder. I’ve also been acting and hip-hop dancing from a young age, with musicals becoming a strong interest in my teenage years. And also … my attempts at sports such as soccer during elementary school helped me realize that those weren’t pursuits I would continue.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a collaborator and connector at heart. I love telling stories and creating art together with likeminded people around me. This is reflected in anything that I do. Being able to accept help and support is just as important as giving it to others, creating a beautiful symbioses of balance and support. The close people in my life make me proud. I feel so honored to have all of them and they make life so beautiful. Getting here wasn’t easy. It required missteps, taking a real deep look at myself in the mirror many times, and steering the steering wheel in what feels like the right direction. At the same time, while theatre has always been a part of my life, I feel so curious about life and what we can do. This is why I explored careers as a professional DJ, travel blogger, business consultant, and web designer among others, before I ended up dedicating my entire being to the musical theatre industry. I used to feel so much pressure on using my time right and doing the right thing, and the thought of only getting there, to make it by the end of my twenties felt like I wasted my life. By now I know that that could not have been further away from the truth. I am so happy experiencing the daily journey of it all at this time in my life. While I do have aspirations and dreams, they do not control my happiness today, and for that I am very grateful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would definitely go see a Broadway or Off-Broadway show. There is so much about the world of plays most people do not expect or know that I see it as part of my contribution to the world to expose my friends to new ideas and my areas of interest. Apart from that, for first time New York visitors, I have a couple of ideas. Say we start of the day with a sunrise walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge Park. We could then take a ferry to Battery Park and enjoy a classic New York Bagel there. Besides Wall St., that location also allows you to take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty up close. We can then take a ferry up to The High Line Park and slowly make our way to Midtown to a viewpoint and Central Park. Since I’m a performer and I work at Ellen’s Stardust, I couldn’t possibly miss out on recommending to go there to grab a bite. It’s a world famous diner with singing servers which is truly mesmerizing, especially the first few times! Some of the most fun and interesting things to check out to me are the East and West Village for dining, the Domino Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for great nighttime views. Also, I highly recommend traveling the city by bike!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
While success is a lot about your own drive, ambitions and ability to handle rejection, it is also based on the people and environments around you. I must give the biggest shoutout to my family and their unwavering support of my dreams. Their trust and encouragement mean the world to me. Additionally, I am grateful for the teachers I’ve had, the friends I’ve made, and the talented artists I admire. I am especially thankful for everything I’ve learned as an actor across all projects, and specifically at Theater Hagen, a renowned public German theater, and for my experience in the musical theatre conservatory program at NYFA, the New York Film Academy. They provided me with an extensive curriculum, as well as exceptional instructors and connections, paving the way for my entry into the industry in New York City. I also have to mention the entire team at The Frankenstein Project, where I had the privilege of performing my first Off-Broadway leading role as Victor Frankenstein. There is so much to learn and to be grateful for. To all readers, let’s keep connecting and exploring. Thank you for having me.

Website: mariogreiner.com

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

Other: https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Mario-Greiner/ (Mario Greiner on BroadwayWorld)

Image Credits
Andrew Alstat Photography Desiree Conston NYFA Theater Hagen