Meet Emily Maverick

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

Hi Emily Maverick, how do you think about risk?
To me, most everything I am seeking is on the other side of risk and fear. Whether I’m seeking love or creative freedom or both, I need to feel at least a little like I’m about to fall off of a cliff. A fool jumping straight off the rock and somehow landing in a field of grass and discovering a beautiful bed of flowers I’d never get to witness had I not taken the big leap.

Every time I take a risk, I strengthen my creative muscle and am ready to take a bigger one. If I’m scared, I try to move toward it, because it’s probably the medicine I really need. I definitely go through periods of avoidance. But avoiding risk is often where I stay creatively and personally stuck.

When I was little, I was very shy. I had a lot of performance anxiety, and even in college, would tell my teachers not to call on me. I wouldn’t even introduce myself during the first day of class and would leave the room during intros! I was scared to be seen and wanted to hide my chaos. I remember a college professor yelling at me when I refused to speak and saying “Emily, the cracks are where the light gets in.” I didn’t quite understand it then, but I really, really do understand now.

I’m trying to show you all my cracks now. That sounds weird if read wrong and I should probably edit this, but I won’t.

It’s wild to think about my deep shyness now, because these days, I perform weekly–on small stages, big stages, and definitely out in the world (most recently, wearing a huge vintage ballgown to the airport at 5 a.m. and pretending like it was completely normal, or wearing a huge fur coat and fur hat to the park in 100 degree weather and dancing while people sunbathed).

Even though I was a shy kid, I was always very imaginative and loved pretending to be different characters. A bit of a mini prankster. But when it came to being myself . . . I would definitely shut down. Eventually, when I discovered performance and comedy, I started to break open. I began taking bigger and bigger risks and realized time and time again that everything I want is on the other side of fear.

Every time I take a big risk, I shed a bit of shame about my own humanness and let people really see me. It’s freeing for me creatively, and my hope is that it’s freeing for others to witness, too.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a comedian, clown, performance artist, VoiceOver artist, and an actor. I used to try to hide my sensitivity and intensity, but now I really lean into it. One of my favorite things to do in the world is speak gibberish. In college, while studying abroad, I didn’t want anyone to think I was American, so I began speaking gibberish to convince them I was from another country. Somehow it worked, and it kept working, and many people believed it was a real language. It’s been so freeing to bring this into my comedic work. I am currently building an entire hour that’s completely in gibberish. I can’t wait to see what I can express in this completely made-up language!

I really love to play with the absurd and treat my life like an immersive theater. If I need to get up early to get on a flight, I try to make it fun by putting on a ridiculous outfit and documenting myself traveling through the airport in a ball gown. In high school, I wore a party hat while taking a standardized math test that I later found out I completely failed. I also wore a party hat when I competed in high school tennis. I try to turn even the most bland activities into an adventure. I can’t wait to go to the DMV and make it hilarious. I bring this sense of unending sense of play into everything I do on stage.

I have had to overcome a lot to get where I am now. When I first discovered comedy and performance in 2016/17, I was completely locked up. I didn’t want anyone to see the real me. My performance anxiety was at times completely all-consuming. I’ve learned time and time again that everything my soul is seeking is on the other side of that anxiety. The bigger risks I take, the bigger love and creativity flows into my life. I am still scared, but my passion keeps me moving forward. I absolutely love to perform. Nothing feels better to me than making people laugh.

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.
I would absolutely take them to shows at The Elysian Theater, and to niche alt-clown shows around town. Out-of-towners often have such a misconception that LA is somehow far away from nature and is simply “too cool.” I try to show them how weird and inventive LA is, and how much natural beauty surrounds us!

From taking people to hikes in Malibu, to little treehouse cafes in Topanga, to Korean spas in K-town, to sunset hikes at Elysian Park or Griffith, I show them all the natural beauty that surrounds and replenishes us.

I love to take people to really immersive, sweet restaurants like Bar Bandini, where you feel transported into a whole new atmosphere.

I’d take them to Dance Church at Stomping Grounds and to Night Zoo at Griffith Park, introducing them to the collectives of people who join together freely to create and express without shame.

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?
I really want to honor all of the teachers along the way who have encouraged me to take BIG risks! That all started at Kickstand Comedy in Portland, OR, where I really began to unlock myself creatively. I took my first improv class there in 2016, and my shyness and shame began to melt away and alchemize into something I had always wanted to express. I met so many beautiful people and found myself. I could really express everything about who I am.

Kickstand Comedy and the community there really prepared me to take my big leap to LA in 2021 mid-pandemic. The moment I arrived, I was embraced by the Los Angeles clown community (HUGE shoutout to everyone there!). I discovered myself as a clown and a freak and stopped trying to hide it. I have gotten the chance and opportunity to study and collaborate with so many beautiful souls who have helped me feel more free.

Some particular projects I want to shout out include Planets, Planets, Planets (the clown-meets-astrology collective!), FLWLS, and the Nonsemble. I also want to really highlight the Twin Flames Show (NO association with the cult!), which I’ve co-created alongside the amazing Geri Courtney-Austein. Geri and I have grown so much together, and have created such a dreamy show that features diverse artists across a variety of creative disciplines, from cirque to drag to clown and beyond.

I love how limitless the Los Angeles arts scene feels. You have an idea, and meet someone you connect with, and the next week, you’re creating something magical together. People are so open to creating together and this has been such a healing surprise and discovery.

Website: http://www.emilymaverick.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilyshankman

Image Credits
Cameron Rice
Sara Sabzi