Maryann Ivy Amakor is a trained actor and acting teacher. She discovered her passion as an acting teacher for kids in the year 2016 when she taught drama at an orphanage during her NYSC year. She has gone on to teach drama to children in different schools and institutions. She believes that the art of acting is a way to teach a child confidence and expression. She also strongly believes that children who have a talent should have a place to hone their gift. 

After observing how much Performance Arts improves a child’s confidence and instills a sense of discipline and direction in them, Maryann Ivy started Ivy Theatre School as a means to make performance a part of the culture of children’s upbringing in Nigeria. She is also aware of the need for professional child actors in the Nigerian film Industry and so is creating a bridge for children with a passion for acting, to get training and work professionally. 

As an actor, Maryann Ivy has performed in various Stage Plays, Television and film projects. She has worked with notable production companies like Ndani TV, Africa Magic, ROK Tv amongst others. She received critical acclaim for her role as Rume Oghene in the critically acclaimed 2019 stage play, Hertitude and was nominated for best actress at the 2021 Inshort Film Festival for her role in the film, Irreplaceable.

Maryann Ivy has a degree in Theater Arts with a major in acting and speech from the University of Ibadan and a diploma in Acting for film from Ebony Life Creative academy. She hopes that theatre training for children becomes the norm in the Nigerian society and that children will one day have true representation in the film and television industry. Her mission is to make Ivy Theatre School an institution for performance training for kids across Nigeria churning out professionally trained child actors and confident, emotionally intelligent children who will excel in any field.