actor. writer. teacher. dog mommy.
What happens when the only Puerto Rican girl at a Jewish sleep-away camp gets cast as Aunt Eller in Oklahoma? She grows up to be an actor, of course! Not really one for musicals (they rightfully took away my songs in Oklahoma) I didn't do theater in high school. Oh, I was a nun in The Sound of Music, but I don't think it counts since everyone else in my all-girls Catholic high school was one too.
I did, however, discover Speech and Debate. It was a slightly skewed way to feed my performing jones. I wound up doing well enough to receive a full scholarship to St. John’s University to compete on their Speech and Debate team, at the time one of the top-ranked on the east coast. Sadly again, SJU only had a minor in theater so, used to the slightly skewed way, I took every theater class they offered and snuck in doing plays while competing at the national level of Speech and Debate.
After graduation, I found myself at HB Studio studying for many years with esteemed teachers like Edward Morehouse, Jess Osuna, Michael Beckett, John Monteith, Rochelle Oliver, Carol Rosenfeld and of course, the incomparable Uta Hagen. Not long after, I started writing and performing sketch comedy with longtime collaborator Ted Baus. Baus and Troché performed at theaters, performance-art venues, clubs and cabarets throughout NYC and the country. We were awarded a Backstage Bistro award, as well as two consecutive Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) awards for Best Comedy Group. We also had the singular honor of being thrown out and banned from performing in Bayhead, New Jersey, when the townsfolk decided that our “Safe Sex” sketch was too obscene for the sleepy seaside town (decide for yourself here). Throughout the years, I have been in plays and performance pieces in nearly every off-off Broadway theater the city has to offer. Most notably, since 2003 I have been in the cast of the award-winning (Drama Desk for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience, NY Fringe Festival Overall Excellence, and others) docudrama, Charlie Victor Romeo. I have continued learning from amazing people like Mark Zeller, Howard Meyer, John Strasberg and E. Katherine Kerr; improv with John Monteith (Monteith and Rand) and at Upright Citizens Brigade; and film and TV with every major NY casting director at The Actor’s Green Room.
Recent years have included film and TV roles that have brought me to Sundance and other film festivals as well as put me on primetime network TV. Not one to forget my skewed past, I still write and perform my own work, alone and in collaboration, and this millennia brings a new one-woman show, a couple of screenplays and a TV series into the mix. I also teach. Pilates to help people get stronger and connect with their bodies (come take class with me at Core Pilates NYC); and acting by incorporating the Four Principles of E. Katherine Kerr to help people get and stay present in their bodies.
I did, however, discover Speech and Debate. It was a slightly skewed way to feed my performing jones. I wound up doing well enough to receive a full scholarship to St. John’s University to compete on their Speech and Debate team, at the time one of the top-ranked on the east coast. Sadly again, SJU only had a minor in theater so, used to the slightly skewed way, I took every theater class they offered and snuck in doing plays while competing at the national level of Speech and Debate.
After graduation, I found myself at HB Studio studying for many years with esteemed teachers like Edward Morehouse, Jess Osuna, Michael Beckett, John Monteith, Rochelle Oliver, Carol Rosenfeld and of course, the incomparable Uta Hagen. Not long after, I started writing and performing sketch comedy with longtime collaborator Ted Baus. Baus and Troché performed at theaters, performance-art venues, clubs and cabarets throughout NYC and the country. We were awarded a Backstage Bistro award, as well as two consecutive Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) awards for Best Comedy Group. We also had the singular honor of being thrown out and banned from performing in Bayhead, New Jersey, when the townsfolk decided that our “Safe Sex” sketch was too obscene for the sleepy seaside town (decide for yourself here). Throughout the years, I have been in plays and performance pieces in nearly every off-off Broadway theater the city has to offer. Most notably, since 2003 I have been in the cast of the award-winning (Drama Desk for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Experience, NY Fringe Festival Overall Excellence, and others) docudrama, Charlie Victor Romeo. I have continued learning from amazing people like Mark Zeller, Howard Meyer, John Strasberg and E. Katherine Kerr; improv with John Monteith (Monteith and Rand) and at Upright Citizens Brigade; and film and TV with every major NY casting director at The Actor’s Green Room.
Recent years have included film and TV roles that have brought me to Sundance and other film festivals as well as put me on primetime network TV. Not one to forget my skewed past, I still write and perform my own work, alone and in collaboration, and this millennia brings a new one-woman show, a couple of screenplays and a TV series into the mix. I also teach. Pilates to help people get stronger and connect with their bodies (come take class with me at Core Pilates NYC); and acting by incorporating the Four Principles of E. Katherine Kerr to help people get and stay present in their bodies.
Best of all, I have the cutest dog in the world: Herschel.
He has the body of a dachshund, the face of a black lab
and the muscles of a pit bull. He turns heads wherever he goes.
Check out his Instagram: Herschel_the_doxador.
what's new
Just got cast in a cool new feature called Patti Cake$ with writer/director Geremy Jasper. This is Geremy's first feature, but check out the cool short he did, Outlaws, starring David Beckham.
Recently shot a short film entitled A Thousand Days Without Sun with writer/director Ted Maroney. It's in post-production right now. The producers are planning to send the film to festivals and hopefully make a feature from it sometime next year. So stoked to be involved in the process!
A comedic short film I am in, It's All About Me had its premiere at The Brightside Tavern Short Films Fest. The film was written by Angela Cohen and Kelsey O'Brien Ruvulo and directed by Cohen and casting director Kimberly Graham of Judy Henderson Casting. I know there are more festivals still to come!
Another short film I'm in, Welcome won the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase Best Student Film Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, Best Short Film at the Trinity International Film Festival and the International Jury Special Mention at the Reggio Film Festival in Italy. This film is blowing up the festival circuit with over 40 entries and 6 awards. So proud!!
Hear me give the "Get Rich Quick Tip of the Week" on several episodes of the podcast Get Rich Quick With Josh and Noel on Radio Free Brooklyn.
Also working on several writing projects: a new one-woman stage play with Ted Baus that will be ready for an invited reading soon, a TV series with the super-talented Jane Dashow, and a screenplay of my very own.
Recently shot a short film entitled A Thousand Days Without Sun with writer/director Ted Maroney. It's in post-production right now. The producers are planning to send the film to festivals and hopefully make a feature from it sometime next year. So stoked to be involved in the process!
A comedic short film I am in, It's All About Me had its premiere at The Brightside Tavern Short Films Fest. The film was written by Angela Cohen and Kelsey O'Brien Ruvulo and directed by Cohen and casting director Kimberly Graham of Judy Henderson Casting. I know there are more festivals still to come!
Another short film I'm in, Welcome won the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase Best Student Film Award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, Best Short Film at the Trinity International Film Festival and the International Jury Special Mention at the Reggio Film Festival in Italy. This film is blowing up the festival circuit with over 40 entries and 6 awards. So proud!!
Hear me give the "Get Rich Quick Tip of the Week" on several episodes of the podcast Get Rich Quick With Josh and Noel on Radio Free Brooklyn.
Also working on several writing projects: a new one-woman stage play with Ted Baus that will be ready for an invited reading soon, a TV series with the super-talented Jane Dashow, and a screenplay of my very own.
