Maria was born in San Diego--the only child to proud parents,  Bill and Aida. From an early age, Maria’s parents encouraged her to follow her dreams.  She started dance lessons of every sort from the age of four, and aspired to be a prima ballerina in the San Francisco ballet company.  Unfortunately, puberty came to her at fourteen, and nature quickly showed her that she was not “Ballanchine ballerina” material.  (In other words, she got hips and boobs).  Devastated, she cried for days.  And days.  And sometimes nights.  Finally, her parents told her to get out of the house and do something with herself other than leave tear stains allover the furniture.  

    Maria decided to follow a friend’s advice auditioned for the local Christian Youth Theater’s production of “Cinderella.” Although had no singing or acting experience, she was cast as the Fairy Godmother, and ended up bagging the much-coveted Sparkplug Award for Outstanding Performance.  To make sure it wasn’t just an elaborate hoax, she decided to press her luck and audition for CYT gain—this time it was for the role of Nancy in “Oliver.”  After landing the role and once again receiving the Golden Sparkplug (Actual sparkplug spray-painted gold), she decided she was ready to conquer Broadway (at the ripe age of fifteen).  She would later find (and is still finding) that it’s a heck of a lot easier said than done!

   Maria went on to pursue a theater degree at University of California, Los Angeles, where she worked several jobs to pay off student loans.  One her favorite jobs (that didn’t involve food service) was working in Disneyland’s “Animazement!” as Pocahontas.  UCLA introduced her to her voice teacher, mentor, and psychiatrist—Gary Busby.  It was also at UCLA where she had the great honor to play Princess Winnifred in “Once Upon a Mattress,” directed by the illustrious Carol Burnett.  Maria believed she could have died after her closing performance, as it was dream fulfilled, but the Universe had other plans for her.  A few months before graduation, she was cast in Reprise! Productions’ “Bells Are Ringing” with Tony-Award nominee Carollee Carmello, and fellow Cali-girl Stephanie J. Block—whom she would later meet again upon the “wicked” stage...

    Directly after college, Maria enjoyed a string of small, but significant successes.  After returning from a two-year stint on the European tours of “Grease” and “Evita,” she thought she would leave musical theater and pursue a quiet life as a massage therapist. She thought wrong.  After much persuasion, a good friend convinced her to hear a cd of WICKED.  It was love at first listen.  Long story short (well, shorter, anyway)--After an 8-hour cattle call, 2 Los Angeles call-backs and 2 New York call-backs, she was finally cast in the ensemble of the First National Tour of WICKED as the Elphaba/Nessarose understudy. Massage therapy will have to wait, and for that Maria “Couldn’t Be Happier.”

Credit: Kathleen at www.freewebs.com/mariaeberline

 

National Tours: FAME (Serena)

European Tours: GREASE (Sandy) ; EVITA (Mistress)

Regional Tours: DAMN YANKEES (Lola); ONCE UPON A MATRESS (Winifred) directed by Carol Burnett

West Coast Premiers: DORIAN; FUNNY BUSINESS; BELLS ARE RINGING (Reprise!)

In 2000, Maria made her film debut in the film "Epoch of Lotus"

Maria is currently in the ensemble of the the first National tour of the hit Broadway musical WICKED, she also understudies the roles of Elphaba and Nessa.

 

Credit: Kathleen at www.freewebs.com/mariaeberline

 

Maria as Elphaba in Act I

Maria as Elphaba in Act II

  Maria as Nessarose in Act I

Maria as Nessarose in Act II

Maria in the Ensemble singing "One Short Day" on Jay Leno

Maria in the Ensemble singing "No One Mourns the Wicked" (she can be seen on the right side holding the red streamer)

 

Credit: Kathleen at www.freewebs.com/mariaeberline