Life & Work with Renee Marchol of Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Marchol.

Hi Renee, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started as a classroom teacher, working with children from preschool through high school, and later brought that same empathy and humor into creative work. Along the way, I earned my MBA and worked as a Creative for agencies and companies like Hot Type LLC ad agency and video game giant Ubisoft. But storytelling was always where my heart lived — whether on stage or in the classroom.
That spark grew into Lady Splitends, my Imperial Chinese Ghost Host character from 1380 AD. I began performing stories — in Spanish, English, and Cantonese — that mix a little fright with a lot of laughter. Parents especially enjoy the inside joke that I was once a ghostwriter for corporations — and now, quite literally, a Ghost Host. Through playful storytelling and character-driven comedy, I bring fantasy to life for families and adults alike — from spooky folktales to interactive cultural shows. You can find me performing live in Marietta and surrounding areas, including events like Winter Underland: A Dark Holiday Market.
Outside the ghostly glow of storytelling, I host online classes for kids who love action, language, and imagination. My goal is simple: to use play, performance, and cross-cultural storytelling to build connection.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not always. My characters — Abuela Cheng, who teaches Cantonese culture to Spanish speakers; Goblin Rosetti, the no-spice lead of Stolen Moments clean fantasy romance writing sprints; Ichabod Crane, the Sleepy Hollow music teacher; Barb Deer, the long-suffering neighbor of rude Rudolph; and Penny Eyebrows, a pet-care professional from Paw Prints Social Club teaching Cantonese to children of all ethnicities — are all roles I created, not the typical ones expected of East Asian American performers. To illustrate cross-over connection Abuela Cheng says: What if your love for Asian food could go deeper than the buffet tray? Pad Thai, eel sushi bowls, Korean kimbap, pork lo mein — it’s all delicious, but let’s be real: you’ve only scratched the surface. What if you had a cozy cultural ambassador to guide you from curiosity to connection? Hi, I’m Mrs. Cheng — your very own Chinese grandma for hire. leaf-wrapped sticky rice isn’t so different from Mexican steamed chicken in foil or tamales in banana leaf. And hey — Hakka dishes and Mexican recipes both use dried shrimp. We’ve been cousins longer than we realized.
Como digo en Write or Squirm, los héroes aceptan que todos tienen debilidades y las abrazan con humor; los villanos se enojan y tratan de asustar a los demás. As I say in Write or Squirm, heroes accept that everyone has weaknesses and embrace them with humor; villains get angry and try to scare others. Through training from Toronto’s Bad Dog Theatre and improv coach Ryan Sheedy, I became a performer with a commercial mindset, crafting family entertainment that’s clever, inclusive, and full of heart — just like a hero in one of my stories.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create experiences that blend humor, storytelling, and cross-cultural imagination. My work spans live performances, online classes for kids, and storytelling events for adults. I’m best known for Lady Splitends, my Imperial Chinese Ghost Host from 1380 AD, who entertains with playful, slightly spooky tales — from The Sneezing Ghost to Moon Rabbit to The Robber Girl — always kid-friendly, mischievously clever, and engaging across ages.
I create the hosting roles as a cozy cultural ambassador, bringing characters like Abuela Cheng, Goblin Rosetti, Ichabod Crane, Barb Deer, and Penny Eyebrows to life. I also bring my comedic side to the stage: my solo show Well, I Ate ran at Atlanta’s Fringe Festival, and I’ve appeared multiple times on The Moth and NPR’s StoryCorps, sharing personal stories with humor and heart. These experiences taught me how to connect deeply with audiences, whether it’s recalling being dumped by my best friend right before camp in sixth grade, or creating moments of imagination and joy for families today.
What sets me apart is inviting interactivity from parents and kids, even those who have never tried improv. At my Lady Splitends shows and character-led events, a dad in a blended family might hesitate at first: “Oh no, I’m not sure if I can act out a martial arts scene with my kid. Is it really okay to put on the Mandarin-collar jacket given by Lady Splitends? I’m not even Asian.” Within minutes, he’s making a mini action movie while his child yells, in Cantonese, “Dad, don’t let the Chinese jumping vampire get away!” — mm wu bay kerr jow lut!
I’m proud that my work empowers imagination across ages, cultures, and family structures, blending theatrical skill with empathy, comedy, and a commercial sense for what makes family entertainment both clever and unforgettable.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was curious, observant, and loved storytelling. I spent a lot of time reading, writing, and performing little skits for my Barbie dolls and GI Joe action figures. I also learned to stand up for myself — I remember being called to the principal’s office after defending myself when I was racially bullied. In a moment of dramatic toughness, I ripped a plastic 3-ring binder like Mr. T tearing a paper Yellow Pages.
Those early experiences shaped my approach today: blending storytelling, comedy, and cultural connection to engage audiences of all ages. Your readers can listen to excerpts from Well, I Ate, my Fringe Festival solo show that includes scenes from my childhood, at https://well-i-ate.com/renee-marchol. For adults who have already seen the show, I’ve hidden more than a dozen Easter eggs in each story — Pink Milk, Wonder Bread Matzo Ball, Bacon Sandwich, Carrot Soup, and Gas Station Linzer Tart — so that each tale is still entertaining and full of surprises on a second or third listen.

Pricing:

• Winter Promotion for live in-person engagements: $325 for 2 hours of costumed storytelling that includes puppets and interactive games for families
• For a limited time your readership can use this coupon to enroll your 8-12 in my online Outschool classes: Get $5 off my classes with coupon code TAMER6R7W25 until Nov 15, 2025. Look through my classes at https://outschool.com/teachers/Renee-Marchol-2025 and enter the coupon code at checkout.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@comedyabuelacheng
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyemcee/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-marchol-mba-17723a3/
• Other: https://explodingpicnicbasket.carrd.co

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Dr. Gina Gallois Author of Quantum Possum of Lady Splitends with Time Travel Events Suzanne at Georgia Indie Book Faire. Cassie Rae Design for photos of Abuela Cheng, Lady Splitends, Goblin Rosetti and Santa’s Favorite Postal Elf