PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Machinal With Maria-Christina Oliveras | Playbill

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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Machinal With Maria-Christina Oliveras

This look was my OK Cupid pic for a while— a surprising number of replies!

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Machinal With Maria-Christina Oliveras

No stranger to instantaneous character transformation and quick changes, Maria-Christina Oliveras is currently playing multiple roles in the Roundabout's revival of Machinal. She shares her daily activities and backstage rituals with Playbill.com.
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This look was my OK Cupid pic for a while— a surprising number of replies!
Good morning! Thrilled to be sharing my day with you. Inspired by Susan Lucci, I wake up looking like this every morning.
One of the first things I do is tune in to 880AM or 1010WINS to get the weather and the latest news on that ancient obsolete contraption known as a boom box. Then, change it to NPR for some background talk as I get ready to head to…
Love this place— best heated Vinyasa action in NYC. Great warm up for a 2 show day, and no one is freaked out when I vocalize. Lip trilling and sirens are welcome.
Ready to get my OM on with fellow yogi, Segun. Those guns are not photo shopped, and they are indeed certified.
Quick stroll through the Union Square Farmer’s Market— this booth’s sign always make me giggle.
Whole Foods’ Coffee Bar for some green juice and the Ultimate Breakfast of Champions: a Chocolate Peppermint Luna Bar and Large Decaf (I know I know) cup of Coffee with lots of skim milk.
A little pre-show primping action…
Off to the theater. Head underground at Union Square, and stop for a bit of inspiration and people watching. NYC buskers are the best in the world. Here is one-man band extraordinaire, Jeffrey Masin.
Spotted fellow pandas— and international ones, at that! These girls were on vacation from Bulgaria. Pandas are an endangered species, so I jumped on the opportunity to meet them. Good thing I had my panda in my bag for a quick change.
I love NY— always randomly running into friends. Here with Henry Russell Bergstein…
…and then, Josh De La Cruz. He is rehearsing <i>Aladdin</i> next door to our theater and just tore his meniscus. Flying carpets can be dangerous and introduce you to a whole new world of pain. (Sorry, couldn’t resist).
Head through the stage door, which leads into one of multiple quick change corridors.
The information matrix—our callboard—don’t forget to sign in! You’ll see why later…
Me and the lovely Ashley Bell.
Carly, our fabulous company manager, and company canine, Bailey.
Some of our incomparable, multi-talented crew.
A few of the many wigs done by Paul Huntley. Google him—he is legendary, and has the best stories.
Brendan, wig maestro, getting it done.
We are serious about our pin curls.
From the basement wig station, I climb 6 flights up to what we fondly call “Siberia” where my dressing room is. En route, I run into Sucha, a native from Russia and one of our fantastic dressers. I do know she likes Chobani yogurt and Richard Simmons
Like Lady Liberty and her torch, this sign greets me at the top of the stairs and affirms that I have arrived to my humble abode, breathless.
Time to beat the face…
Broadway speakers: iPhone in a cup. The amplification is quite good. Today, a little Otis Redding to get in the zone… love this Pandora station (put in “Change is Gonna Come”—Otis, Sam Cooke and some other amazing goodies pop up). Another favori
With the exception of Rebecca, we all play multiple characters in this piece. Here are a few of my many faces.
This look was my OK Cupid pic for a while— a surprising number of replies!
Prohibition be damned.
Meet Abbie and Randall, also known as the Court Stenographer and the Bailiff. They. Will. Cut. You.
Winding down after the show--reading (new plays mostly and just picked up Sotomayor’s memoir), preliminary prep for a couple of voice-over and pilot auditions, checking e-mails, Facebook, snacking, catching up on phone calls, brainstorming new adventure
We have a lot of time between shows (our 2pm matinee finishes about 3:40pm), so Saturdays, we sometimes watch movies. Here, the boys troubleshoot technical difficulties.
Dinner and a movie…
Today’s selection: Berry Gordy’s "The Last Dragon," starring Taimak. I pass on this one, and head to Cross-Fit, inspired by the film’s opening image…
BUT, need a little caffeine jolt, so grab a medium skim latte from Starbucks on the way…
At The Black Box, where Coach Joseph Campbell (that is his actual name) has us sign in on the infamous white board.
Today’s WOD (Workout of the day) is “Barbara.” 5 rounds of...”Why did I think this was a good idea, especially on a two-show day?!?” I alternate between thinking of Barbara Bush and Barbra Streisand to get through it.
In action, wig cap and all…
Still have lots of time, so stroll back to the theater from 26th Street, taking in all the tourists and the energy of the city. I am a native New Yorker, and still deeply in love with this place.
Saturday Night on Broadway!
The amazing Suzanne Bertish (I am secretly obsessed with her).
This is what happens if you don’t sign in on the callboard.
Back in the Chair…
Two shows done, I head down to the lobby to meet up with my old friend Meredith, in town from New Orleans.
Head to the West Bank Café for post-show revelry with Meredith, Scott and Justin.
Love it here—you never know who you’re going to run into. Meet Natasha Veruskhka, sword swallowing belly dancer, and two time Guinness World Record Holder…
Or the lovely Jack Doulin.
I finally head home on the 2 downtown. Thank you for sharing my day with me—here’s wishing you and yours health, love, laughter and delicious adventures. Good night!
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