Juilliard-trained actor, singer, writer, and teaching artist. Decades on stage. A lifetime studying what makes people believable.
My work lives where craft meets humanity: theatre, voice, movement, original performance, poetry, and coaching.
Maya Francine Thomas is a Juilliard-trained actor, writer, voice artist, and educator whose work bridges theater, movement, music, storytelling, and emotional truth.
Originally from Oregon and shaped by years in New York's theater community, Maya's performance work spans classical theater, contemporary drama, devised work, music-driven performance, and original storytelling.
Deeply influenced by language, embodiment, humor, jazz, human contradiction, and the transformative power of story, Maya is drawn to work that explores resilience, intimacy, identity, longing, liberation, and what it means to remain deeply human.
In addition to performance, Maya develops original theatrical work, including Billie: A Conversation with Lady Day — her original solo performance inspired by the life, voice, and spirit of Billie Holiday. A piece about survival, song, and the cost of telling the truth out loud. Part theater, part love letter to a woman who gave everything to the music. Her ongoing project Proud Flesh continues that thread: memory, womanhood, survival, humor, voice, and the body as archive.
As an educator and creative mentor, Maya works with actors, artists, and storytellers seeking deeper presence, emotional freedom, and truthful expression. Her approach combines classical training, movement, intuitive text work, vocal exploration, and embodied storytelling practices to help unlock what is most alive and authentic in performance.
At the center of Maya's work is a belief in story as transformation — a way to reconnect people to themselves, to one another, and to the deeper humanity we share.
Presence. Voice. Story.
Whether you're preparing for an audition, stepping into a courtroom, delivering a keynote, leading a room, building a business, or finding your voice for the first time — I help people communicate with greater clarity, presence, heart, passion, conviction, and truth.
Every collaboration begins with a conversation.
Drawing on Juilliard training, decades of professional performance, movement, voice, Alexander Technique, and embodied storytelling, I work with actors, attorneys, executives, entrepreneurs, educators, and artists who need to be fully seen, heard, and believed.
Together we'll discover what is already true — and make sure everyone else can see it too.
Let's begin.
For actors and artists at every stage — from audition prep to deep creative breakthrough.
For trial attorneys, executives, keynote speakers, and leaders who need to command a room with truth — not tricks.
Move your body like you want to use it forever. A FUNK Mama mix with dance-club energy — rhythm, strength, flow.
Trained at The Juilliard School and Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Decades on stage. A really good sense of humor. (Just ask — she'll tell you.)
Ready to work together? Start with a conversation.
Whether you're developing a new play, preparing for an audition, standing before a jury, leading a room, recording a voice-over, or discovering your voice for the first time, I'd love to collaborate.