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For more than five decades, Paula Rossman has built a career defined by curiosity, versatility, and a lifelong passion for storytelling. An actor, director, producer, writer, and educator based in New York City, Rossman has worked across an extraordinary range of theatrical and screen projects, from Shakespeare and classical theatre to avant garde works, Theatre for Young Audiences, independent film, and new play development. A Florida native, she relocated to New York after her youngest child left for college, embracing a new chapter that expanded both her creative opportunities and artistic reach.
Rossman’s career has been shaped as much by leadership as performance. During her many years with The Walt Disney Company, she served in creative, production, and management roles while helping launch both Disney MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As a performer, director, producer, stage manager, and Performance Specialist, she championed the belief that every guest interaction could become part of the story. She trained cast members to bring imagination, authenticity, and performance value to everyday moments, creating immersive experiences that extended far beyond the stage.
Driven by an insatiable intellectual curiosity, Rossman earned her MFA in Theatre before teaching Script Analysis and Introduction to Theatre at the university level. For more than twenty five years, she has collaborated in the development of new plays while continuing to explore the power of improvisation in rehearsal rooms, educational settings, street theatre, and professional training. Whether working with seasoned artists or first time performers, she is passionate about helping others discover the transformative power of storytelling.
In 2015, Rossman expanded her creative pursuits into filmmaking, immersing herself in every aspect of production. Beyond acting, she has worked as a production assistant, gaffer, grip, first assistant director, producer, and director, developing a comprehensive understanding of the collaborative process behind the camera. During the pandemic, she turned her attention to screenwriting, using lockdown as an opportunity to explore yet another creative discipline. The result was Refractions, her debut short screenplay, which has received awards and recognition at film festivals around the world.
Rossman’s screen credits include The Deuce, Women and Sometimes Men, and A New Christmas. Her New York theatre work includes collaborations with IRT Theater, the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, and Upright Citizens Brigade. She is also the founder of Wall Is the Way: Works, producing and directing award winning short films, championing original voices and meaningful stories. Guided by the belief that storytelling has the power to connect, inspire, and transform, Rossman continues to approach every project with generosity, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning.
