#403 – Mariel Kathryn Hunter

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby speaks with actor, director, and casting professional Mariel Kathryn Hunter. Based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Mariel has worked extensively in theatre, film, and television, both as a performer and behind the scenes. Mariel shares her journey from Saint John to Vancouver and back, discussing how an unexpected dream pushed her to pursue acting. She also talks about her work in casting, her approach to directing, and why storytelling is essential in regional theatre. This episode explores:

• How a vivid dream convinced Mariel to become an actor.
• Her experiences in Vancouver’s theatre and film industry.
• Why she chose to return to Saint John to continue her work in the arts.
• The challenges and rewards of directing in a smaller theatre community.
• The importance of mentorship and supporting emerging artists.
• Her insights into casting and helping actors bring their best performances.

Guest: 🎭 Mariel Kathryn Hunter

With a versatile resume in film, television, and theatre, Mariel Kathryn Hunter brings a dynamic blend of production expertise and artistic vision to every project. With credits ranging from casting director to production roles on projects of every scale from commercials and corporate videos to MOWs, documentaries, animated series, broadcast television, short and feature films her diverse industry experience in all stages of production reflects her love of all facets of creating. Mariel has honed her craft across diverse genres over the last decade plus and has taken advantage of any training opportunities available to her to widen her skill sets. She’s worked on projects for Paramount +, MTV, CBC, APTN, and Just For Laughs.

Through her theatre company, Fort Heart Productions, founded in 2017 she has served as Artistic Director and has produced and directed dozens of pieces for stage all while providing training opportunities in the form of acting workshops. As the founder of Bicoastal Casting, Mariel has connected talent to opportunity, most notably for the sci-fi series Revival shot in the Greater Saint John Region. Mariel is looking forward to holding more community oriented events in 2025, including monthly acting workouts.

Connect with Mariel: Instagram: @unknownmariel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marielkathryn

Instagram: @fortheartprods Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortheartprods

Instagram: @bicoastalcastingnb

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