Creative Performer & Teacher 

The Long Story​

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The youngest of four girls, Marla's imagination was nourished and fostered by her mother's passion for stories.

 

With frequent trips to the library, long hours reading and meet n' great sessions with authors, Marla quickly learned that ideas could become reality, that artists were regular people and she could make art too.

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One time, on a family trip, Marla saw a juggler and she was mesmerized! 

 

Her sister Sara bought her a set of juggling balls and told Marla she could be a juggler too, if she practiced. So she started to learn, and by the time she was 12 years old she was juggling. 

 

In high school, Marla was depressed! It was a hard time, but then she auditioned for a play. She was cast as Myrtle Mae, a comedic character in the play Harvey. Acting gave Marla a break from her depression and totally empowered her. Art broke the spell of despair! On the encouragement of her high school drama teacher, she auditioned for theatre school at TMU (formerly Ryerson) in Toronto, Canada.

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Marla studied classical and contemporary theatre and she excelled in clown, mask, physical comedy and creative writing. She came to life in a new way!

 

Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance, Marla continued to study with the French theatre master Philippe Gaulier.

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Shortly after graduating, she began performing her one-person juggling show in libraries and teaching workshops. She spent 6 seasons performing family theatre shows with Mirador Theatre in Muskoka, Ontario, developing a great love for performing for young audiences.

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In 2012 Marla was the lead puppeteer and clown with the Canadian Opera Company in the production Love From Afar.

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Between 2011 -2015 Marla toured a one-person mask show by Faustwork Mask Theatre, playing over 25 characters in French and English. She travelled to over 400 schools sharing her artistry with Canadian communities including Indigenous and First Nations schools throughout Canada.

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As an arts educator, Marla taught at the Harbourfront Centre and with the Toronto District School Board since as an artist in residence.​ Her programs engage and empower students 6 -12 years old.

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Between 2015-2017 Marla toured with Dufflebag Theatre, performing in over 200 schools as an actress in improvised fairy-tales and classic stories, playing over 30 characters in 15 different shows.

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A self-taught musician, Marla is a songwriter and  plays ukulele, guitar, dabbles on the piano, the djembe and loves to freestyle! She plays in a Brazilian drum band, Maracatu Mar Aberto based in Toronto.

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​In 2018, Marla's first musical recording was released with Canada Covers Tom Petty, a tribute playlist to the great songwriter.

 

In 2022 Marla released her first original song

[LISTEN HERE]

with Stand Up to Cancer Music As Healing Program.

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From 2019 - 2020 Marla was living in West Los Angeles working at Ecole Claire Fontaine, a private french daycare, as a Special Projects Teacher.

 

She was performing regularly at the Mar Vista Farmer's Market as The Juggling Chef, developing her act for live audiences......and then along came a pandemic, followed by Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.

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Cancer changes everything. And for Marla, it has made her more powerful, passionate and on purpose. By overcoming her diagnosis, Marla discovered that her skills and experience as an artist can be put to use in the cancer world.

 

Her work, How My Imagination Saved My Life, is a multi-faceted project that aims to bridge the gap between the world of cancer care and the arts.

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Currently Marla resides just outside of Toronto, in Oshawa, Ontario. She recently completed a diploma in Expression Arts Therapy and is soon to be leading workshops that help people navigate life's challenges through art-making and sharing. 

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Marla loves to juggle and put on a show! She loves to throw parties and she is an awesome party entertainer.

 

In her spare time she is swinging in a hammock somewhere near a creek or along the shores of Lake Ontario. 

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