The Creative Team

Robyn Bishop-Marin (Playwright / Performer)

When, in her 50’s, Robyn found herself anonymously alone among the millions in New York City, she started to speak out by writing and performing on the stages of her friends’ kitchens and backyards. A Girl Far From Normal was born.

Robyn started journaling at age 13 when her parents divorced, and continued journaling whenever her life was in chaos. And, as the owner and operator of yoga studios for over a decade, she brings a self awareness and quick wit to A Girl Far From Normal, which materializes directly from the pages of her journal.

Robyn also brings her life experience as a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, wife, mother, and grandmother to her recently discovered new passion for writing and performing, believing it’s never too late to live your dreams.

Robyn lives in Southwest Florida where people complain about the traffic. Her response: “You can’t scare me. I've lived in L.A.”

Matthew Harrison (Director)

Matthew is a renowned director, educator and performer. He has directed numerous stage productions in Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles including everything from Neil LaBute to David Ives. Matthew created The Actor's Foundry, both a virtual and in-studio training campus for professional actors. He teaches both online and around the world in Vancouver, Toronto, Cape Town, Los Angeles, and NYC. Matthew has worked Off-Broadway in New York and with the National Theater performing classical stage plays throughout the United States. At the Washington Shakespeare Festival, he met his wife Michelle and they have continued their acting careers both on stage and on screen for over two decades. Matthew has appeared in over seventy-five film and television productions. He received his BA in political philosophy in his hometown of Montreal, and studied acting at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

Brian Olsen (Assistant Director)

Brian is a director, actor, and writer in NYC. He studied acting at the National Shakespeare Conservatory and got his MFA in Directing from the Actors Studio at the New School. He’s directed for such companies as the Washington Shakespeare Festival, the Weathervane Playhouse, and the National Theater for Arts & Education, and as a performer was a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade’s sketch comedy team After School Snack. More information at btolsen.com.

Daniel Friedman (Producer)

As Dan has no prior experience in the theater (although he did see Cats once and kinda liked it), no one really understands his involvement in this production. And even though his lack of experience is breathtaking, he did recognize in Robyn a diamond in the rough and as someone who needed to be brought to the stage. If you like A Girl Far From Normal, Dan will take credit for it. And if you don’t, well… you can’t have your money back.

Seriously though -- Dan met Robyn Bishop-Marin at a writer’s workshop, where she performed a scene from A Girl Far From Normal. He was stunned by Robyn’s no holds barred, personal story and immediately offered to produce her play as an off-off Broadway stage production. As producer for this production at The Flea, he looks forward to helping to develop other possible live, film or streaming opportunities for the play.

Dan is an accomplished real estate investor/operator with over 35 years of experience. His expertise is in the areas of strategic planning, valuation, capital raising and financial structuring. His firm, Radiant Partners, LLC, has a track record that, since inception, has delivered positive returns on all Radiant sponsored deals.