Check Out Maggie Politi-Stiggers’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Politi-Stiggers.

Hi Maggie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me! I was actually raised in the Olympic village of Lake Placid in upstate NY, and it was there that I cultivated a deep love of the outdoors and surprisingly enough, performing. Born into a long history of family musicians and musical ability, I quickly realized I wanted to be an actress. My parents always say I knew what I wanted to be ever since I was a little girl…they were right🙂

After graduating with a degree in Musical Theatre, I moved to NYC five days after graduation and started pounding the pavement. I lived there for 15 years, and those years were essential to my growth as an artist and to my development of “thick skin” as they say. I was lucky enough to have my voice and face in several national commercials, tv shows, and musicals around the U.S. But, when you’ve lived in New York, you know, the highs are high and the lows are low. In those ‘low’ times, I developed this overwhelming desire to create my own opportunities. Being on set, I had begun to notice a trend… a lack of female representation behind and in front of the camera and I was driven to change that. In 2017, I co-founded a production company, NikoFrank Productions with Spiro Marcos whose mission was to provide more work for women writers, directors, and actors- as well as other underrepresented, underestimated groups of people.

I’m proud to say our work has been selected (and won) over 25 international film festivals. We created a short sketch comedy show, “Theatre School Dropouts” for Amazon Prime. We wrote a book, “Dear Future Producer” all about producing and creating your own work available in paperback and Kindle. We produced a podcast for Radio Free Brooklyn and most importantly, wrote and produced over 30 short sketches, music videos, and screenplays, and short films.

In 2022, I moved to Atlanta with my husband to pursue more TV and film and to move on to one of the most exciting chapters of my life…motherhood.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Anyone who’s an actor will tell you there are always struggles. Not only is it one of the most competitive professions you can choose, but it can also weigh so heavily on your confidence and mental health. You have to learn to hear 1000 no’s to hear one yes and that can be a very challenging thing to get used to. But I’m so grateful for my personal struggles in this business because it’s motivated me. It’s made me want to be a better writer, actor, and producer. It inspired me to continue to take class, to explore other creative avenues in the business such as voice-over and commercial work and expanded my creative circle. It’s really about how you rise from adversity and how you can inspire other people to do the same.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I describe myself as a professional actor, voice-over artist, producer, and writer. When I first graduated college I focused primarily on musical theatre in regional and touring shows- being seen in musicals such as “Chicago”, “Cabaret”, “The Producers” and many others.

After signing with one a NYC agency, I began to lean more into voice-over and commercial work and was seen in national ads for “Swedish Fish”, “Verizon”, “Tick Pick”, “Timberland”, “Freshly”, with voice-over ads for “Sentara Hospitals”, “Old Bay Seasoning”, “Monistat”, “Jolark”, “Liberty Mutual”, as well as several animation series for Turner Broadcast Systems and Iconix Entertainment.

I have a passion for comedy and was seen as a guest star on “Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack”, “BrainChild” on Netflix, and starred in my own comedic sketch series for Amazon Prime, “Theatre School Dropouts”. 

I’m also passionate about teaching and have started coaching voice-over students over the past four years. Helping other actors learn all about the art of voice-over, the different types, and prepping their home studio for professional auditions.

I was the 2021 recipient of the City Artists Corps Grant which I used to produce a film screening at The Museum of The Moving Image in Astoria, NY to honor the work that women and the LGBTQ+ community created during the pandemic, but was never celebrated.  I was named “Best Female Filmmaker” at The Katra Film Festival Grand Finale in NYC and recently won “Best TV Episode Screenplay” at the Atlanta Women’s Comedy Film Festival presented by Cinema Life.

Credits are just credits. What’s most important to me is continuing to be a champion for other women in this business. I’m a firm believer in collaborating and creating a platform for all of us to succeed together. Your success is my success, too.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I want to tell new stories. I want to continue to push myself as an artist. The most fulfilling work is the work I’ve created for myself and for my friends and family. After all, my relationships are what matter most to me in this life!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maggiepoliti.com
• Instagram: @maggiestiggers
• Other: www.nikofrankproductions.com

Image Credits
Kevin Harry Photography- (Black and white coat pic) Spiro Marcos Photography (Red shirt photo) Darnell Bennett (Main headshot- red photo) Juan Patino (Freshly Print Ad) Gus Stratigeas (Bridge Photo)