( ENSPIRE She Did That ) Giraud is Set to Star in Hello From Berth This November
ENSPIRE Contributor: Alexandra Rivera
Marie-Claire Giraud is a soprano, jazz, musical theater singer, songwriter, composer, playwright, and actor. Giraud was born on the island of Dominica and raised in The Bronx, NYC. She was a jazz singer first but trained in operatic, learning in Rome, Italy. The pandemic afforded Giraud the luxury of time to reflect, in order to overcome a creative block. Once inspired again, she wrote her first musical and discovered her true voice of Soprano.
She uses her social media platforms to spread positivity through her voice and share her struggles and strengths. We can see her upbeat persona and smile in just about every single one of her videos. Right now she is performing at Caffé Dante in the West Village every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
When did you become interested in music and performing and when did you realize you wanted to pursue it professionally?
My mother says I sang before I spoke so singing is part of my DNA but it was years later taking part in an open mic night that God, and the universe spoke to me. I found my calling and never looked back.
You started your operatic training in Rome, known as the home of Opera, what was that like? And do you think it gave you a leg up in the industry?
Going to Rome to begin my operatic study was the best decision I have ever made. Italy is the birthplace of Opera and I believe in getting information from the source. Italians are such passionate people and opera is all about passion. I’m grateful I could study this great genre of music where it was created and I learned to speak fluent Italian so that was a bonus!
Of course, I could study opera right here in NYC but nothing beats learning from the source.
Throughout your social platforms, you always express positivity even when something does not go exactly as planned. When you have a creative block how do you get your creative juices flowing again and how do you remain positive?
I view mistakes or setbacks as a learning opportunity that helps me to learn and grow. I welcome challenges!
I’m human just like everyone and I have my down days but I always look on the bright side and have firm faith that things will improve once I stay on my course and do not deviate from my plan.
During the pandemic you took the time to reflect and ended up writing your first musical, what is the story behind it, and can we expect to see a live performance in the future?
CHARCOAL is all about the obstacles that come from being different and not letting that difference define you in a negative way or undermine you. I hope to see CHARCOAL on Broadway.
You will be on Broadway soon for the show Hello from Bertha, are you excited about this opportunity? Who will you be playing and when can we expect you to take the stage?
I am super excited, thrilled, and jumping over the moon. I enjoy the creative process utterly and completely, the more rehearsal the better.
Tony award nominee Lorraine Serabian will direct, my character’s name is Bertha and I am one of the leads.
Giraud’s voice is how she spreads love and positivity and she continues to do that with every event and project she is a part of. She looks forward to continuing her passion on the Broadway stage in the play, Hello from Bertha, which fans can go see this November. Giraud also has many other projects in the works, EP’s, screenplays, novels, and musicals, just to name a few.
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