Today we’d like to introduce you to Raina Silver.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in Maryland, primarily grew up on the island of Kauai, graduated high school in Southern California, and received my BFA in acting from NYU in New York City. My versatile and vibrant upbringing allowed me to constantly explore different aspects of who I am. Each place I’ve lived, each community of people I’ve loved, has influenced the artist and person I’ve become and I will forever be grateful. My parents met while doing educational theatre for Kaiser Permanente, instantly making both arts and activism central in my life. When I was in kindergarten I wanted to write a play for my class to perform, so I dictated dialog to my parents and created a play about a princess who ends up helping to save herself. My kindergarten did do the play, and it’s that type of support by my family and community that has allowed me to continue to believe in myself. I got cast in my first “real” role when I was five years old, Gretl in The Sound of Music, and I haven’t stopped performing since. Flash forward to college and I was not only challenged to be the best actor I could be but also to continue to create and produce new work. Most recently, I utilized all those skills in the virtual production of Macbeth. It was my first foray into virtual theatre, and it completely exceeded my expectations of what is possible. I’m currently preparing for two virtual holiday concerts: one that I’m producing and one that I’m performing in.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to my current destination has been winding and unexpected. There have been moments of staggering beauty. There have been moments that felt like I was clawing my way up a jagged and unforgiving cliff, unable to see if what I was looking for was even at the top. Much of 2020 has felt like that. Right up until we all went into quarantine, I was thriving. I was about to graduate from NYU, I was working alongside my favorite immersive theatre production, and I was set to star in a sci-fi short film. In the blink of an eye, all of those things were gone, and in their place was isolation from loved ones, a massive shutdown of the arts, and news of thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people dying. Before I started creating again I had to work through the immense loss and aimlessness I felt. There will never be enough words to express how thankful I am for my closest friends and family. I spent the first two months virtually finishing school while quarantined with one of my best friends, Makenna. With endless patience, she listened to all my frustrations and pain. At the same time, when I told her I was bored out of my freaking mind, she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye and said, “only boring people get bored, Raina.” I don’t think either of us truly believes that, but she knew I needed to be challenged, to have a push not to dwell in misery. We made a list of things we could do and achieve while in isolation. She helped me make a short film and later was the sound designer for Macbeth. My family also wonderfully balanced endless understanding and reminders that I am capable of creating my own opportunities.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an actor I love both stage and film. I recently played Lady Macbeth in a virtual production of Macbeth, and played the titular role in a short film called Gina. I’m also a singer and currently in preparations for two virtual concerts. In addition, the aerial arts has been a wonderful part of my artistic practice. My first passion is performing, and I cannot wait to continue to be in front of a camera, and to someday get back on a non-virtual stage. As a producer and creator, I was able to intern with the company Emursive (Sleep No More), and since then have produced virtual theatrical productions, and am currently working with a film production company called Eudoxia. I love being a part of the process of turning ideas into reality. I am particularly interested in immersive theatre, as I think it’s really challenging what is possible. I’ve always wanted to fall down a rabbit hole, go over a rainbow, take a train to a magical school, walk through a wardrobe, and immersive theatre has turned some of those dreams into reality. I want to be a part of theatre that gifts audiences adventure, wonder, and perhaps a bit of adrenaline: an experience that makes them entirely forget about their phone.
What matters most to you? Why?
“Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.” – Bertolt Brecht. This is one of my dad’s favorite quotes, and he says it often. It’s important for me to be a part of productions that help to shape the world into a kinder place. Whether that’s illuminating struggles that have too long been ignored, or by spreading hope and joy, or by making an audience believe in magic, I want to feel like what I’m acting in or creating is going to leave the world just a touch better than before.
Contact Info:
- Website: rainasilver.com
- Instagram: rainasilver
Image Credits
The two headshots: Photographer Deborah Lopez The purple image: Other woman is Isabella Gomez Giron The silhouette of the acrobatics: Photographer: Makenna Olson, the other acrobat: Bryan Triana The photo of me screaming: the play: Age of Bees directed by David Hilder, photographer: Kenneth Shook, other actress: Chloe Citron The photo of me in a lyra: photographer: Linnette Orozco The photo of me and a man in blue: Play: Pericles directed by John Gould Rubin, other actor: Alejandro Rey Bike photo: photographer: Black Z Eddie Hospital photo: Film: Gina directed by Aubrey Resto, actor: Jose Martinez
