Meet Alyssa Batsakis | Artistic Director, Actor and Acting Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Batsakis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, how do you think about risk?
It’s funny because in the arts everyone is really a risk-taker in some way, shape or form. You have to be at least a little bit insane to want to constantly take on the risks that professional artists have to take on daily, and especially those that have a full time freelance life, like myself. The grind never stops. I am constantly searching for work, even when I am currently on a contract. It’s really a never ending risk when you are an artist full time. For me, this whole risk-taking mindset is fairly new though. While I took the risks of studying an artistic field in college (I got my BFA in Musical Theater from The University of the Arts), I played it pretty safe in the first years of my career. Looking back, I definitely did what I thought I should do whilst comparing myself to others, rather than doing exactly what I wanted to do and taking risks to get where I wanted to go. It honestly wasn’t until the pandemic, that I got a huge wake up call (like many I am sure) that life is just too short and you have to do what it is you want. It was at this point that I started to make a plan to move back to Ohio to be closer to family for my own personal life happiness and started hatching a plan to create a nonprofit arts organization. I eventually moved back in 2022 and we founded The Ghostlight Stage Company in 2023. Both of these things were huge risks with many people telling me my career would plummet in a small market like Cincinnati and that starting a business in your late 20s wasn’t the right move. Ultimately though, the biggest risks have always created the biggest rewards in my life both personally and professionally, and both of these choices were no different. I am so proud with just how much The Ghostlight Stage Company has grown and impacted the community in just the one year we’ve been around, and yet if I hadn’t taken the risk to start it, it wouldn’t exist at all. I once heard someone say “well if you don’t do it, who will?” and that truly has motivated me to stay the course and continue taking huge leaps of faith in both my personal and professional life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work professionally in the theater and film industries. Every week looks a little different and that’s part of what I love about the freelance life. Typically for me, a week can look like a mix of teaching acting to students at local public schools for an outreach art program to being on set acting in a feature film or commercial for a few days to doing producer work for The Ghostlight Stage Company to giving private acting coaching lessons. It’s a big mix of my skill set and definitely keeps me on my toes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question!! In truth, I am still getting to know Cincinnati again after being away on the East Coast for so long. I grew up in a suburb of Cincinnati and then spent about a decade away getting my college education and working professionally, and only recently returned at the end of 2022 so I am sure I won’t have all the answers here but if I had to give some of my favorites I would say:

For food they have to try: Ché, Losanti, Taste of Belgium, Arnold’s Bar and Grill, and Bakersfield! Also have to grab some Skyline if they’ve never had Cincinnati-style chili (or check out other smaller local spot Gourmet Chili). For a sweet treat they have to stop in Schneider’s Sweet Shop in Bellevue and for pizza, of course they have to stop at my dad’s place, Queen City Pizza.

For a drink & to hang out: Ghost Baby, Level One Bar + Arcade, Ripple Wine Bar.

For the arts, I have to shout out local theater companies of course! Support local and go see the talent in Cincinnati at The Know Theatre, Cincy Shakes, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, and more. The Ghostlight Stage Company basically has an event going on every month as well, but we are a mobile company so it could be in any neighborhood in Cincinnati at any given time so always check our website to see what we have going on! I would also definitely recommend visiting the The Contemporary Arts Center. Super cool and nuanced work is always featured there.

Other things to do: take a walk along the Ohio River, visit one of the many gorgeous public parks (my favorite is probably Ault Park), visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and be sure to check out Findlay Market! If you love roller coasters, Kings Island is also worth a day trip!! If you don’t mind going outside Greater Cincinnati, you could also take a short drive and camp for a few nights in Hocking Hills.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents definitely deserve some credit when it comes to any success I’ve ever had. They have always been super supportive every step of the way and for a kid growing up who wanted to pursue the arts, that is key (especially growing up in a small town in Ohio). My mom has always been a tough love kind of mom. She’s who you go to if you need to be kicked down a couple of pegs and will always “tell it like it is.” She is opinionated and strong, while also being fiercely loyal and nurturing. She’s who I would go to for feedback to improve. My dad was also a huge influence for me. He started his own successful business (Queen City Pizza in Price Hill, Cincinnati), as did his father before him. He is the son of an immigrant and knows that persistence is key. Being in a family where I got to see people pursuing their passions and being entrepreneurs, has always helped foster my creativity and go-getter mindset.

Website: www.alyssabatsakis.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssabatty/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssabatsakis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssabatsakisofficialpage

Other: The Ghostlight Stage Company website: https://www.theghostlightstageco.com/

Image Credits
Angie Lipscomb Photography, Ambe J Photography, Chris Miller