Meet Mary DeLan

We recently connected with Mary DeLan and have shared our conversation below.

Mary, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I believe finding your purpose is a lifelong adventure. Your purpose can change throughout your life. It can even be something you never even imagined or expected. However, that’s the beauty of it. When you find something that you’re passionate about, or something that you feel makes a real impact on your heart, as well as the heart of others, then I say stick to it. Chase after your dreams, and goals, and passions because that is where you will find your ultimate peace, your ultimate purpose. It will take hard work, dedication, and unwavering determination. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

I’ve been chasing after my dreams since I was a young girl, and I haven’t looked back. As a child I fell in love with the performing arts, and I came to believe that my purpose was to entertain and to be on stage. However, as I’ve grown and developed as a performer, as well as a human being, I have come to realize that my purpose has always been to impact and touch the lives of others. I want to make people feel something. I want to touch their souls in a way that can bring back happy memories, or inspire them to follow their heart, or leave them pondering for days to follow. I want to invoke creativity, curiosity, and hope.

I was once a little girl watching my very first Broadway show, The Little Mermaid. I watched as Sierra Boggess commanded the stage as Ariel with grace and captivated an audience of hundreds through her storytelling. Through song, dance, and acting she was able to touch countless lives in an instant, and she touched mine. From that moment, I was hooked. (no pun intended) I knew that was what I wanted to do. My purpose was to touch the lives of others, and whether that’s through performing or through simply sharing a smile with a stranger on the street, my purpose has not changed. I feel very grateful to have found my purpose at a young age, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be growth. I know my purpose will only continue to blossom in various ways throughout the course of my life. There will be obstacles to face, and mountains to climb, and treacherous waters to cross, but one day I will look back upon my life with gratitude and joy knowing that I touched as many lives as possible. I followed my heart, and I found my purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Well if you haven’t guessed it yet, I’m a professional performer! I am a singer, actress, and dancer with over 15 years of experience. I originally grew up in the countryside of Pennsylvania, and I have been performing since I was about three years old. The first official musical that kickstarted my love for the arts was Bugsy Malone. In the show I was dressed head to toe in my father’s oversized clothes, but I enjoyed every second of it. Since then I have performed in countless musicals, concerts, plays, and cabarets. I have entertained audiences as Fiona in Shrek, Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray, and Maureen in Rent. Most recently, I played Ladahlord, the narrator, in James and Giant Peach the Musical with Phantom Projects, and I was also featured in an upcoming film. However, I can’t say too much about that at the moment… In addition to film and theatre, I have also been doing some modeling work as well. I’ve worked with various photographers including Elizabeth Elder and Lilly Lilova doing lifestyle and fantasy shoots.

When it comes to education and training, in 2020 I moved to New York to follow my dreams and attend AMDA, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, which is a college/conservatory for the performing arts. I studied there for two years, and I studied at their Los Angeles campus for two years where I ultimately received my BFA degree last June. Living on both coasts gave me the opportunity to see both sides of the industry and gain so much knowledge and insight. I feel so grateful to have worked with such incredible instructors that are all currently working professionals in the industry. The rigorous training and invaluable lessons I gained prepared me so well for my journey after graduation.

Additionally, I have so many exciting projects in the works. I think what makes me unique as a performer is that I’m open to so many different artistic avenues, for example, not only am I interested in performing in musicals or being on the big screen, but I’m also interested in releasing music. Music and singing have always been my first love so they hold a very special place in my heart. I’m hoping to release a cover song soon, as well as an album of my own original work. Furthermore, I have been working with an amazing, multitalented pianist and filmmaker, Kyle Moore. Kyle and I have been vigorously preparing a huge collection of repertoire from classics, to pop hits, to musical theatre to Disney that we will be performing soon at various LA venues. But who knows, maybe one day we’ll take our show on the road? The sky’s the limit, so be on the lookout for us soon!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities that I believe have carried me through my performance career thus far are hard work, perseverance, and willingness to fail.
Hard work. Now what I can tell you is that being a performer isn’t easy. It takes unwavering dedication and drive, and you have to put in countless hours, constantly working on your craft. For example, at AMDA I performed every day, learned how to audition, the history of performers, the business world, how to create a resume, how to get proper headshots, how to do self-tapes, etc. I was also taking between 10 to 13 classes each semester which consisted of four different dance classes including tap, jazz, theatre dance, and ballet, acting classes, singing and theatre classes, etc. It was an extremely heavy course load, and I did have a lot of pressure. However, it’s what I love, so none of it ever really felt like grueling work, it felt like a dream come true. I believe that your education is so important, whether that’s attending college, or traveling abroad, or learning from an individual with more experience, all are valuable to help you work towards your goals. But any job, whether it’s being a performer or not, will take time, training, and sacrifices, but all of your hard work will pay off. However, you have to be willing to fight for it, to keep going, which leads me to perseverance.

Perseverance. There are days when I wanted to give up, when I thought I wasn’t good enough, but I kept pushing through. There are still days when I feel like that, but in moments like those I try to remind myself why I fell in love with performing in the first place, and I think of how far I’ve come to get to where I am now. As a performer you have to grow thick skin, be flexible, and learn how to handle rejection, especially because most of the time their choice has nothing to do with your talent. It’s a long waiting game, and you’re going to get a lot of nos before you get a yes. But one yes can change your life, and when you get to perform, that’s when you get to play and do what you love. Sometimes even when you book a gig you may doubt yourself, but know that you were chosen for a reason. And if you fail, that’s ok. Get back up and try again. You know failure is a beautiful thing, and it’s really just an opportunity to grow. A close friend of mine recently told me that the word FAIL actually stands for “first attempt in learning”, and I thought that was a perfect way of understanding it.

Willingness to Fail. Over the last several years I’ve auditioned quite a lot. I’ve auditioned for musicals, plays, national tours, Disney cruise lines, commercials, movies, and tv shows. However, I learned throughout my college career to turn the audition process into a positive experience. One of my favorite instructors taught me to enter any room with confidence and think to yourself, “Hi I’m Mary DeLan, I heard you’re looking for a performer, maybe I can help”. Because this way you realize the people in the room don’t want to see you fail, they want to see you succeed. They want you to be the one they’ve been looking for. So every audition is really just an opportunity to do what you love and share that love with others. Being a performer means being vulnerable and connecting with your audience, and that’s what makes it magical.

So my advice overall for young aspiring performers or for those who are just starting out their careers, is that if you love something, do it. If you have a dream, strive for it. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to try, then go for it. Reach for the stars. Dream big, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t because there will always be people in life who will try and dimmer your sparkle, but you remember that you will always shine if you believe in yourself. Yes, perhaps it’s cheesy, but it also happens to be true. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to try new things or jump out of your comfort zone. You’ll find that some of the best things in life come from when you take a leap of faith. Finally, circling back to my original points, put in the hard work, do your research, and ask those around you for help or advice. Stay strong and persevere through the tough days. Remember why you started and have other life outlets that bring you joy. Not everything in life has to be about your career. Lastly, let yourself make mistakes and fail big because failure is really just growth. Failing means you’re one step closer to your dreams.

Once upon a time there was a little girl sitting in the audience dreaming of singing on stage. That little girl was me. And she did it. And she’s just getting started. So why can’t that dreamer be you?

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Even now, as a professional performer I struggle with self doubt. I ask myself, “Am I good enough? Was it all worth it? Why haven’t I achieved all of my goals yet? Am I where I want to be? Who am I?” These are all pretty daunting questions, but I think they are all questions that everyone has asked themselves at one point or another in their lives. The answers are pretty simple when you take a step back, although it is easy to get lost in the pressures we put on ourselves or to overanalyze what others may think of us. The answers are as follows: Yes, you are good enough. You’ve always been good enough. Yes, it was all worth it because you worked hard to be there. No time was wasted. You haven’t achieved everything yet because your goals take time, and it’s just not time yet. If you’re not where you want to be, find something new, or work a little harder to get to where you want. You are the same person you’ve always been, you’re just changing and growing, and you may not know who you are yet, but that’s ok. Self doubt and confidence are obstacles that I constantly face on a daily basis, but they are challenges I am learning to overcome a little bit everyday with positive self-talk and a supportive inner circle that lifts me up.

It is so important to talk to yourself with kindness and positivity because if you are constantly thinking negatively only negative outcomes will occur. You have the power to change the way you think by identifying a negative thought, asking yourself what has caused this thought, and if the thought is beneficial or not. If the thought is not beneficial then let it go because it does not serve you. Something that I found helps me with self-doubt and confidence, especially prior to a performance, is reading through a self-talk script and centered breathing. Centered breathing typically consists of taking slow deep breaths and counting in order to enhance relaxation and relieve anxiety. A self-talk script is a written document you create for yourself that includes why you do what you do, how well you’ve prepared, your successes in the past, etc. It is a way to center and ground yourself as well as to help you forget about any fears or anxiety you may be feeling. Every time I use these tools before performing I feel a weight lifted off of my shoulders, and I feel confident I can give the performance my all.

In addition to centered breathing and self-talk scripts, having a strong support system is so important whether that’s friends, family members, partners, etc. It’s beneficial to have outside sources remind you of all of your wonderful qualities because as human beings we all seek love and validation. It’s also good to have those connections or relationships so you can fill your life with other outlets that bring you joy beyond your career itself. Having people show up for you in all aspects of your life is a great blessing, and it will help you to flourish as an individual.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Mary.del4

Image Credits

Lilly Lilova
Elizabeth Elder and Emily O’Dette
AMDA College