Roxana Baldovin: The Livewire Behind ‘MANIC’
Award-winning director, performer, and maximalist visionary Roxana Baldovin is crashing through the boundaries of cabaret, comedy, and confession with her solo show, MANIC—a musical meltdown for anyone who’s ever wanted to be adored, or at least algorithmically liked. “MANIC isn’t mentally ill—it’s alive with pleasure!” If you’ve watched a viral music video from Doja Cat, Snoop Dogg, or Maluma, odds are you’ve seen Roxana’s unmistakable visual stamp. Her directorial style is “bright, colorful, joyful,” and as she puts it:
“Minimal is overdone—less is less, more is more!”
But MANIC is something else entirely—a genre-defying, high-voltage solo performance that fuses original show tunes, Weird Al–style parodies, and a cabaret confession booth into one unforgettable, unhinged ride.
The Spark: “New York, New York” (But Not As You Know It)
“I got really high at my complex pool and started singing a parody of ‘New York, New York.’ That parody became the closing number of the whole show.”
That’s how MANIC was born—out of a flash of inspiration, a little weed, and a lot of guts. Roxana’s work lives at the intersection of camp, chaos, and catharsis, and MANIC is her most personal project yet.
14 Characters, One Stage, Zero Apologies
Roxana shapeshifts through over 14 characters, from a sharp-tongued Ukrainian grandmother to a chorus of shadow feelings to Corny Collins (yes, that Corny Collins). “Insecurita scares me, but she’s easy to play because our inner critic is always the loudest. They all feel like home—except Corny Collins, who made me realize just how girly I really am.” This isn’t just a one-woman show. It’s a cast party in Roxana’s head, and everyone’s invited.
The Chaos and Confession of Cabaret
“The burlesque mermaid part, for sure—wardrobe malfunctions are always looming! There are three layers of undressing, and one tiny slip of fabric that really doesn’t look cute when it’s out of place.” MANIC is fearless in its vulnerability. It’s confessional, chaotic, and deeply funny—often at Roxana’s own expense. “The whole show comes from the pain of chasing a childhood dream and realizing you’ve been dreaming adjacent. Creating it has been incredibly healing for my inner child.” Recent descriptions frame the piece as a therapy session for anyone with a family and hormones, centered on a neuro-divergent, Pansexual Jewish girl chasing fame while taming her addiction demons.
From Doja Cat to Hollywood Fringe
After directing for Doja Cat, Snoop Dogg, and Disney, MANIC was a return to roots: “It was a total breath of fresh air. No one to answer to—I was finally creating for myself.” “Each audience reacts so differently, it’s wild. Definitely stepping onstage is more nerve-wracking than dropping a viral clip.” March 2025 features continue to spotlight her music video credits alongside Doja Cat and Latto as influential examples of her colorful, humorous directing.
Fringe, Fame, and Finding Home
A Hollywood Fringe standout, Roxana’s weirdest moment might be dressing up as Madam Tsiganka and meeting all the popes from Oh Constantine—“that moment marked my reentry into theatre and felt like theatre camp in the best way.” She’s no stranger to the big stage either: as a breakout contestant on HBO’s Project Greenlight, Roxana pitched a million-dollar feature and proved she could hold her own with industry titans. “How the judges put me down just for being confident. For a show meant to empower women, it was honestly pretty shocking.” Continued performances include an April 2026 Hudson Theatres show and an Edinburgh Fringe listing, while a July 2025 interview outlines domestic and international tour ambitions.
Maximalism, Magic, and Making Space
“I grew up with a maximalist mom and aunt, so it’s actually my comfort zone.” Roxana’s visuals are a riot of color and energy, always grounded in story: “I’m rooted in magical realism, so the fantastical always supports the story’s message. Think 100 Years of Solitude—real but laced with metaphor.”
Queer, Camp, and Unapologetically Now
As a queer Latina creative, Roxana’s work is all about inclusion, absurdity, and the freedom to be fully yourself. “Chappell Roan being such a pop star right now says it all. She’s queer, camp, femininity embodied.” Her advice for young Latina directors? “Put yourself out there and don’t dumb yourself down for the boys. I got the nickname señora directora when Tokischa's manager said I was the first female director he’d ever met—now everyone calls me that.”
The Viral Touch
With over a billion views on her music videos, Roxana knows a thing or two about virality. But she’ll tell you: “Definitely stepping onstage—you never know what’ll happen. Each audience reacts so differently, it’s wild.” Her favorite absurd commercial moment? “Snoop Dogg chilling inside a champagne bottle as a ‘G in the Bottle.’” 2025 media recognition positions her among influential women directors shaping hip-hop and pop visuals with her quirky, colorful, campy style.
The Dream (and the Reality)
Roxana’s dream projects? “Sirens of Titan, Reincarnation Blues, a Clueless reboot, or the Britney biopic—I love big, millennial, franchise-y things. Someone once said I have ‘Marvel energy’ and it’s the best compliment I’ve ever gotten.” And her definition of success now? “Success means living on your own terms, being free, and having your voice heard. I’m not all the way there yet—but I’m on my way :)”
Where to Find Roxana Baldovin
MANIC on the Road: From Hollywood to Edinburgh and Beyond
MANIC has moved past its original Hollywood Fringe run. An April 2026 performance at Hudson Theatres is billed as MANIC: a Y2K Fever Dream. The show is also listed on edfringe.com for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where cinematic pre-recorded sketches blend with live performance. July 2025 plans call for runs in New York, London, Miami, Puerto Rico, and potential stops in Italy and Australia.
The Y2K Fever Dream: Nostalgia and Cultural References in MANIC
Recent marketing frames the show around Y2K celebrity culture and millennial touchstones. Event titles ask “Did you grow up on Britney Spears?” while Instagram posts lean into Y2K lore. The framing turns the solo performance into a feverish time capsule that mixes early-2000s pop excess with Roxana’s signature theatrical confession.
Neurodivergence, Identity, and the Personal Core of MANIC
Hollywood Fringe descriptions position MANIC as a therapy session for anyone with a family and hormones. The narrative follows a neuro-divergent, Pansexual Jewish girl chasing fame and taming addiction demons. July 2025 interviews highlight radical honesty and personal transformation as the engine behind the show’s raw humor and emotional release.
Ongoing Recognition in Music Video Direction
March 2025 Revolt and Yahoo features named Roxana among influential women music video directors. Her credits with Doja Cat, Latto, and others continue to showcase her quirky, colorful, campy approach. The recognition underscores how the same maximalist eye that powers MANIC also shapes some of the most watched visuals in hip-hop and pop.
Roxana Baldovin keeps expanding the map. From viral clips to one-woman confessionals, from Los Angeles stages to Edinburgh listings, she treats every format as raw material for the same high-voltage story. The work stays personal, the style stays maximal, and the next stop always sounds louder than the last.
