Her Story
About Marie
Marie Alessandro is a Boston-based storyteller, performer, tour guide, and creative professional whose unconventional career reflects her curiosity, adaptability, and passion for learning. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston Honors College, Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies with a 3.9 GPA. Her professional journey has spanned hospitality, healthcare, performance, tourism, and communications, including work in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, burlesque, veterinary and hospital settings, and academic media projects. This diverse background has given Marie a distinctive combination of communication, performance, writing, research, and audience-engagement skills.
Marie currently serves as Lead Actor, manager, and tour script writer for Ghosts & Gravestones Tour Boston, where she combines historical research with immersive storytelling and live performance. She portrays the character Petunia Pickman, guiding audiences through Boston's darker history through stories involving ghosts, true crime, medical history, and other unusual historical narratives. In addition to performing, Marie writes and edits tour scripts, trains actors, designs walking tours, manages costumes and equipment, and serves as Manager on Duty. Her earlier experience includes leading historical tours in Salem focused on the Salem Witch Trials, working as a Boston night tour guide, and serving as a docent at the American Burlesque Collection Museum.
Beyond her professional role, Marie is deeply engaged in creative writing, storytelling, historical costuming, interactive media, and performance. She has explored Twine game creation, songwriting, character development, film editing, and narrative audio projects that bring her original stories and characters to life. Her academic and creative work also includes writing for the UMass Boston Cinema Studies blog and completing an honors project incorporating film editing and an AI-generated voice model. Marie's career demonstrates her willingness to pursue unconventional opportunities and embrace her creative instincts, while continuing to develop her talents in storytelling, acting, writing, tourism, and creative project development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I grew up with a family who wanted doctors and lawyers, not artists. I was discouraged and told it was a hobby. To find myself performing in costume, writing scripts, and sharing storytelling is surprising and fulfilling. I always downplayed my creative side but now I embrace it fully.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If you have a drive, especially a creative one, don't quell it. Don't listen to people who advise you to do something different other than your passion. Keep it going. Have some faith that it will bring you somewhere fulfilling.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Tourism is a place where you can shine bright if gregarious, but quieter people can also succeed by sharing authentic local recommendations like favorite cafes. Personal, genuine, and authentic suggestions add polish to trips.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Tourism is on a downswing, especially non-domestic tourism affecting Ghosts and Gravestones and Old Town Trolley. Focus on improving performance and storytelling skills during downturns. Both outgoing and quieter personalities can succeed by sharing authentic local recommendations.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Clear communication of your intention, what your product is, and what you expect from others. Always ask clarifying questions to avoid miscommunications.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.