Marva Ray, a native of Albany, NY, has been performing on stage and in film since her debut as the mother in "Bye, Bye, Birdie" in seventh grade.  A standing ovation for that role sealed her fate as an actress.  As an adolescent, she also appeared with the Mars Hills Black Experience Ensemble, and went on to earn a degree in Drama from Dartmouth.

In addition to her roles with the Dartmouth Players, Marva has performed with Capital Repertory Theatre, The New York State Theatre Institute, The Oldcastle Theatre, Womans Repertory of the Bronx, Park Playhouse, Actors Collaborative, QE2, and the Albany Civic Theatre.  She has numerous voiceovers, commercials, and industrial films to her credit, many of which were produced for the State of New York.

In addition to being a group facilitator and diversity trainer, Marva is a poet and dramatic speaker.  She has presented many of her own works at venues ranging from the Governors Annual Martin Luther King Celebration to weddings, church anniversaries and womans programs.  Ms. Ray has received awards for her poetry from the NAACP, the Womens Press Club of New York State and Apollo Night Committee of New York State Black Arts and Culture Festival.