Photo by Relia Slaby Photography

Larisa Amaya-Baron

With her experience as a New York City Stage Manager, Larisa has been teaching theatre in Japan for almost a decade. She founded International Stage Academy of Performing Arts (ISA) after a group of her Japanese students expressed they wanted to go to New York to study, but didn’t have the means. Larisa believes everyone deserves a chance to realize their dreams, so she has gathered her friends from New York to bring the very best education to professionals and amateur performers across East Asia.

Larisa grew up in Michigan, USA. She started piano at 7 years old, and became a drummer/percussionist at 10. After high school, she spent a year in Spain studying Flamenco with the esteemed Chua Alba. While in Spain, she was working on an International Business degree. Shortly after, she moved to New York and switched to a degree in Stage Management. For the next few years, Larisa stage managed shows with casts of large numbers, worked with well known directors and artists, and interned at a major entertainment company. In 2012, Larisa moved to Japan, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Currently, Larisa works with schools in Japan to create theatre programs in English, and can be seen interviewing both Japanese and touring celebrity performers as the Regional Editor for BroadwayWorld. She is also teaching private voice lessons online, as well as acting coaching, and theatrical business consulting.