Victoria Montalbano

Description

  VICTORIA MONTALBANO is a Chicago-based actress/solo performer. Her debut solo show "The Princess Strikes Back: One Woman’s Search for the Space Cowboy of her Dreams" has been called “delightful” and “highly energetic” by Around The Town Chicago, and will tour Fringe Festivals in 2022. Her workshop, "Storytelling for Performers" is for seasoned performers who want to learn personal narrative storytelling. The workshop de-mystifies the writing process and is designed to get participants on their feet performing their own work.

As a storyteller she has been featured at STORY CLUB CHICAGO, UNIVERSAL SOUND, TENX9 CHICAGO, WE HAVE QUESTIONS, POUR ONE OUT, and more.

Theatre: Twelfth Night (Olivia), The Comedy of Errors (Dromio of Syracuse), Arms and the Man (Louka), and Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (Donna/Terry). TV/New Media: Apartment 101 (Recurring Guest Star), Chi-Nannigans (Co-Star), The Studio (Co-Star). VICTORIA has a degree in Drama from Syracuse University. Website: VictoriaNotVicky.com.

Work Sample

Highlights from The Princess Strikes Back: One Woman's Search for the Space Cowboy of her Dreams, solo show presented July 9 2021. Total running time 60 minutes. 10-30 minute excerpts can also be presented.

Story - Magnum PI. Presented in January 2020 at the Fillet of Solo festival. This is a story from my solo show and can be presented on its own. I have other stories on different themes as well.

The first work sample is a "highlight reel" showing clips from my full-length show. The second is one complete story that exists in the full length show, and can also be told on its own. 

History

I have been a theatre actor in Chicago for 15 years, working mostly in storefront theatre and comedy. Four years ago, I began storytelling, working in the medium of personal narrative. Through storytelling, I created my debut solo show, The Princess Strikes Back: One Woman's Search for the Space Cowboy of her Dreams. The show premiered in July 2021, live-streamed from Rivendell Theatre. Since then, I have done the show both live and pre-recorded at the Elgin Fringe Festival, Theatre Crude, Fillet fo Solo, and the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival. This Spring/Summer I will take it to the Chicago Circus and Performing Arts Festival, Orlando Fringe Festival, and the Indianapolis Fringe Festival.

Artistic Vision

My solo and story work uses autobiographical material to explore how interpersonal relationships impact who we are. I utilize the structure of personal narrative, character work, dialogue, jokes and pop culture references. The Princess Strikes Back: One Woman’s Search for the Space Cowboy of her Dreams is my debut solo show about the universal search for love, through the lens of the Star Wars universe. It's a show about dating and relationships, but more broadly it's about Fantasy vs. Reality. Is the fantasy of what you want your life to be, really going to make you happy?

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

My show is geared toward a general audience, with a focus on young adults and those who consider themselves "nerds". I would love to take the show to college-level performing arts programs as a Guest Artist, and I have a workshop I teach along with it called "Storytelling for Performers". I taught performing arts programs for teens/young adults for 10+ years and do monologue and audition coaching. Creating work is essential for artists, and not often taught in undergraduate theatre programs. I want to combine my skills as a storyteller and teacher to guide young artists in creating their own work.