Adding Imagination to theMedia Multiverse
As artists, it is our responsibility to help shape the world with our vision. My dream is to create bold, weird, and wild theater where love, futurism, and Afrocentric themes collide.
As a Director...
I’m driven by a love for weird, whimsical, and deeply human storytelling.
I want to create work that surprises people, challenges them, and makes them fall in love with the performing arts all over again.
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My love for directing comes from my background as an actor, where I learned to be curious about imagined worlds as seen through a character's eyes!
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Now, I bring that curiosity and wonder into the big picture. I love pulling together all the elements of design and performance to create a world that feels fresh, exciting, and alive.
For me, directing is about creating an atmosphere where the cast and crew feel empowered to do their best work while giving the audience an unforgettable experience.
Gabrielle's Work
The Little Mermaid Jr.
Working with youth theatre makers is one of the most moving things in the world to me. Their joy and wonder at even the simplest things about the art form renew my excitement. I believe that artistry is a life cycle and that we, as theatre makers, have a responsibility to continue to ignite the spark for future artists. It was a joy to bring this production of The Little Mermaid Jr. to life with my students.
Born Fighter- A New Musical
By Joseph George
It's always an incredible undertaking to workshop a new theatre work, particularly a brand new musical. I was so grateful when I was tapped by a colleague, Joseph George to helm the team directing his new musical. This gave me a great opportunity to work with stage management and learn more about the ground floor experience of bringing a new work to the stage.
Crimson- A New Horror
By Kate Checkwood
I was a little intimidated when I was presented with the unique opportunity to direct a horror play. I was unfamiliar with the horror genre and had never directed anything like it. This horror story was set in a preschool, which was a bit unexpected, but the concept was made for a fun and thrilling show!
Crimson was presented through California State University Fullerton's 10-minute play festival.
Written By Kate Checkwood and Featuring Chris Suarez, Naiomi Valendia, Macy Fay, and Lorenzo Isacs
Cover image credit: Mark Ramont
Concepts
They Tend To Themselves:
The Black Woman Grows Unwatered
I am Blackness and Womanhood. For me, the future is complicated by the intersections of
my identity. They Tend to Themselves is a story of how I am using the lessons and blessings
from my past to become an architect of the unfettered future I wish to see.
They Tend to Themselves is about the self-determination that guides my life and the lives
of Black women everywhere. We move forward bravely in the face of fear and heartache,
and we constantly go back to get the things our ancestors left for us.
The Cowboy Carter Chitlin Circuit Rodeo
Imagine what would happen if Cowboy Carter really reclaimed the rodeo! From fairground rides to Cowboy Carter themed snacks and games, the possibilities are endless. In my concept for the Cowboy Carter World tour, Beyonce joins the cowfolks from the Bill Pickett rodeo to bring the incredible world of Black Rodeo to a wider audience, hungry for a fresh take on an age old passtime.
The Mountaintop
On April 3, 1968, in room 306 of the Lorraine Motel, history gives way to a surrealist dream world. My vision for The Mountaintop transforms this space into a world where the ordinary and the extraordinary collide. From snow filling the doors and windows to feathers raining from the sky during a pillow fight, the room itself becomes alive with possibility.
This isn’t a play about the myth of Dr. King; it’s about Martin and Michael, too. The many layers of a man with scuffed shoes, stinky feet, and the world's weight on his shoulders. Opposite him is Camae, a sharp, unapologetic angel of death whose humor and boldness push him to reckon with his legacy.
Through their dynamic, the play reveals King’s humanity: his fears, flaws, and fierce commitment to change. It asks us to see greatness not as perfection but as persistence in the face of imperfection.
This production invites the audience to meet Martin as a man, to feel the messy beauty of his story, and to reflect on their own role in the unfinished dream he left behind.