Gabings-On Around Town:
Projects, Events, and More
Making Magic11/21/2018 This month has been a lovely one - so much to be Thankful for. I had the opportunity to do a professional staged reading of “Magic the Play” with some fantastic cast members, new faces in the audience, and live music. It was a also great to watch some theatre - “The New One” by Mike Birbiglia as well as Clybourne Park at Penn State (with a particularly memorable performance by Julia Chereson), and most recently “En El Tiempo de Las Mariposas” with Malena Ramirez at Repertorio Español. Excited for the upcoming Penn State showcase in early December and for the delight of this holiday season.
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Old Friends New Works10/23/2018 Happy happy Fall! The temperature is dropping, leaves changing, and Halloween decorations popping up across the City. Some lovely things have been takin' place during this beautiful backdrop of an urban Autumn setting - a wonderful workshop with ALP’s Sharone Halevy, a great coaching session with David O’Hara, and a fun headshot appearance on Moodcaster’s website. Moodcaster is an app designed to make self-tape submissions much more seamless and easy for both acting folk and casting folk, you can learn more about it here http://www.moodcaster.com/talent.html
Additionally, I was able to catch some lovely fellow Penn State Alumni and current Faculty in a new Musical staged reading of “Tyrants”. Jack Bowman and Steve Snyder did excellent work as part of a cast who explored the story of Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes. Music and Lyrics by Alexander Sage Oyen and a book by S.P. Monahan. It's always incredibly filling to see new work staged and to see old friends working. This upcoming set of months promises fun auditions, delicious Turkey, and ever-more adventuring - let's hope the winter coat doesn't have to come out for just a little longer! Fall Approaching, Carolina on my Mind9/17/2018 What a lovely month to be in New York. The Sun still shines like Summer but the cooling of Fall is starting to sneak in. I continued my workshop streak with the fantastic David O’Hara and had the pleasure of working in Spanish this time - simpre divertido! Additionally, I headed to Penn State for a weekend workshop in Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement with the ever-brilliant Andy Belser. This Fall promises to hold many treats: ever-more auditions, exciting new workshops, progressing creative projects (which I’m keeping somewhat under wraps but hopefully more on that in the future), changing leaves, cooler breezes, and cider!
Finally, while this is normally a space where I focus on sharing my professional performance life, I want to send all my good vibrations to my home State of North Carolina. Thankfully, friends and family there are safe and sound but for many others Hurricane Florence has been devastating. Much love, kindness, and thoughts to those affected by the storm may the recovery be profound. Carolina, siempre en mi corazón. August already over?! It has been a whirlwind month and in such a wonderful way. In the last few weeks I had the great pleasure of taking another David O'Hara workshop - this time on streaming comedies, participated in a delightful reading of a new work by Yaakov Bressler, and caught a few works at the "Festival of New American Short Plays" at Theatre 59E59. Additionally, it was a month of travels to San Francisco with my wonderful partner and down to North Carolina to be with mi familia. The performing is much richer when the soul gets to fill up with travel and fantastic company. Going to enjoy the shimmering sidewalks while that Summer sun still shines!
REEL good times8/1/2018 Couple of fun events I'd love to mention from the last few weeks: I was happy to do my first work with "Reel Arc" on the project "Princess with a Sword". Super fun experience and I look forward to working with that team of lovely folks in the future.
Additionally, I had the great pleasure of taking an HBO Drama Audition workshop with David O'Hara - looking forward to his next one in a couple of weeks on Streaming Comedies! It's been a hot minute!7/11/2018 Can it really be that two months have flown by since the last post? So much has happened in that time span I’m not sure where to begin: having a blast as a reader for a David O’Hara class, taking a great workshop with Tisha Ioli at Actors Launchpad, watching game after game in this World Cup (hasta la proxima El Tri). So much excitement as summer has bloomed. These last two weeks have been particularly special, however, as I had the wonderful privilege of teaching at my alma mater, Penn State!
For two weeks I got to work with some AMAZING young artists who are emerging musical theatre actors and saw them through an intensive acting program that culminated in two beautiful showcases. I’m so humbled that I was able to be part of the S.T.A.T.E program this summer, so lucky to be reminded of the delight of teaching, and so proud of the wonderful work my students did in those weeks. Thank you to Cecil Blutcher, Raymond Sage, and the rest of the PA team - old friends and new. All the best, especially, to all the wonderful actors who came through :) After a few weeks in PA it feels good to be back in the Big Apple. The grind continues with more submissions, upcoming classes, and some new creative development ideas brewing… Kim Graham Workshop & That's a Wrap4/19/2018 Wrapped up shooting on the short film "Release!" with another member of the SVA crowd, Amber Suzor. Below is a little street pic, snapped during a little break, from outside our awesome Meditation Center location down in Chelsea.
Also, this week I had a chance to soak in the wisdom of Kim Graham (of Judy Henderson Casting) during a cold read workshop through Actors LaunchPad. The practice of self-trust, of "letting" yourself fall, of the brilliance in really (really really, fo' real) listening - was so wonderfully filling. Trust! tWonderful workshop with Rachel Goldman this past weekend. Insightful and motivating. Got to work with material previously used by her casting office, Barden Schnee, on projects that they had cast!
Also, This past Monday I had the opportunity to do a filmed reading of "Gödel" directed by Tony Tambasco and written by William Hugel. It was quite the event getting to work with the team of memorable actors and to try to breathe and discover meaning in an unfolding work. Finally, Had the chance to attend the Colombia University MFA Showcase of 2018 with Maria Hubbard. Wonderful group of actors, fantastic time spent, and moving to recall the excitement and honor of having been in a similar position not too long ago :) Steve Stancato Workshop3/14/2018 First workshop through Actors Launchpad - and had a wonderful experience! Steve Stancato, of Paladino Casting, spoke about the entrepreneurship needed to navigate the waters of the performance industry. The workshop was a good reminder of certain practices, offered new insights, and was a lovely way to see, hear, meet more of the New York performing world. Looking forward to my next workshop with Actors Launchpad in just a couple weeks - more on that soon!
Third Mind3/5/2018 It was awesome getting to make Jenna Cleveland's short film, getting to act alongside Ino Badanjak, and working with the whole crew from the School of Visual Arts and those who came from out of town to make this project come together. It was FREEZING but working in the snowy landscape surrounding the lake house was BEAUTIFUL!
Gabriel Peña
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May 2020
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