Mari Ferguson has been on the stage most of her life. Her acting career has spanned some 20+ years. She has taken advantage of national, regional, and local opportunities in television and feature film, including appearances in Black Jaq, a T.V. pilot directed by Forest Whitaker, and the USA Network series, The Big Easy.
Mari has appeared in corporate films as a spokesperson and actress and she has been seen in broadcast commercials for such clients as Conoco, Buick, Road Runner On-Line, Fiesta, Southern Dental, Safe Link wireless and Sea World. Her voice has been heard on numerous radio commercials and corporate film narrations and she was the voice of Texas Ford Dealers and Woman’s Hospital of Texas, just to name a few. Mari was co-host and associate producer for The Internet Television Network’s travel show, Net Escapes and hosted Memorial Health & You three times a week on the Mississippi coast.
Mari has been an active member of SAG/AFTRA since 1985. She has served on the local SAG/AFTRA Board of Directors, served on the Continuing Education committee, and was on the National Nominating Committee for the 2017 SAG Awards.
Before embarking on her acting career, Mari danced professionally with several Ballet and Opera Companies. She received a Ford Foundation Scholarship, after high school, to The School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. She also received a scholarship to The American Ballet Theatre School and was an apprentice with The Manhattan Festival Ballet. After leaving New York, Mari danced corps de ballet and demi-soloist roles with The Houston Ballet and principal roles with The Houston Grand Opera. She has been teaching acting for children, teens, and adults for over 20 years. She now owns her own studio, Studios on 3, located in The Houston Design Center on Old Katy Road in Houston.
With her years of experience as a working actor and acting coach, Mari produces results. She has students that are starring and co-starring in major films, award winning television shows, and national and regional commercials. Some have received major awards including Television Emmys and Golden Globe Awards. Students have had starring and co-starring roles in such feature films as Collateral Beauty, Parental Guidance, Paranormal Activity 3, PREY, Sweet Dreams, Mending the Line, The Tutor, Miracles from Heaven, Break Point, Space Station 76, Sex, Death and Bowling, High School Musical 3, Spooky Buddies, Disney's Splitting Adam, Disney's Geek Charming, Disney's G-Force, Crooked Arrow and Mr. Peabody and Sherman (animated feature). Also students have had leading and series regular roles on such television series as Amazon Prime Paper Girls, Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, Disney's Andi Mack, Amazon Prime Just Add Magic, Amazon Prime Pete the Cat, ABC's Splitting Up Together, SYFY network's Deadly Class, ABC's Resurrection, ABC's The Whispers, CBS's Seal Team Alexa and Katy on Netflix, Teen Wolf, Disney's A.N.T Farm, ABC Television's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Adventures of Puss in Boots on Netflix(animated series), and Disney's The Lion Guard (animated series). Some have had guest starring and recurring rolls on such television series as: Yellowstone, Outer Range, The Good Doctor, Apple TV Surfside Girls, Perpetual Grace, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Hulu Queen Sugar, NCIS Hawaii, The Boys, Fear the Walking Dead, Speechless, Modern Family, Liv and Maddie, Law & Order SVU, Salem, Major Crimes, Secrets and Lies, Up All Night, Bones, Sleepy Hollow, Chuck, Deadtime Stories, Medium, Heroes, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Criminal Minds, Carly, Lie to Me, Melrose Place, Chase, Hannah Montana, The Night Shift, True Jackson, Lincoln Heights, The Forgotten, Austin & Ally, and Kickin' It. Some student co-starring roles were on 1883, The Rookie, Patriot Act, The Mayor, The Mick, Girl Meets World, Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, The Middle, Parenthood, American Crime Story, and Hot in Cleveland.
Mari knows how to motivate her students to really listen and respond. Her main focus is reality and commitment with an emphasis on spontaneity and relaxation.
To see more of the student bookings, click here.