Gabriella Green ’19
What have you been up to since graduation?
After graduation, I went straight to New York City and hit the pavement! I met my talent manager through Northwestern’s NY Senior Showcase and did nearly 100 auditions in three months, booking jobs like a commercial for an assisted living facility, a fairytale show for young audiences at the 92nd Street Y, and a regional theater production of Matilda the Musical.
Unfortunately, nine months after graduating, COVID-19 hit and my regional show closed unexpectedly early. I was at a creative low point and struggled to deal with the entertainment industry shutdown. Thankfully, my job as associate producer for the Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project, normally taking place on Northwestern’s campus, was made a remote position. I learned all the ins and outs of optimizing Zoom technology for musicians and facilitating creative spaces in a digital medium. Also during this time, I began freelancing in animation writing and voiceover work. I’ve continued to invest in that side of my career even as the theatre industry re-opened, recording commercials for a handful of household brands and companies.
My most recent theater job (and possibly the most exciting) was the year I spent touring North America with Barlett Sher’s Fiddler on the Roof, the same acclaimed production from Broadway. This experience opened so many new doors, introduced me to a wonderful and wacky traveling village of fellow artists, and gave me an impressive view of this country and all the people who make it up. I was proud to bring this story of family and community to all sorts of different audiences.
Who made an impact on your life at Northwestern?
Two organizations made the biggest impact on my life at Northwestern: The Waa-Mu Show and the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP).
Over my four years, I filled many roles and positions for Waa-Mu, culminating in my senior year as co-chair. I credit that organization with allowing me to fully explore my potential as a writer and giving me confidence as a creative voice and a collaborator. I’ve used my skills from Waa-Mu in so many ways, from my animation writing and joke punch-ups to when I’m helping students brainstorm ideas and draft their college application essays (one of my day jobs when I’m between acting gigs).
The other Northwestern experience that changed my life was the opportunity to travel to Scotland for a summer with the American Music Theatre Project and collaborate with MFA students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The lessons I learned from this program about working on a new musical constantly come into play in my life, most recently when I appeared in the developmental lab of a new musical in New York City, Paul Gordon’s The Gospel According to Heather. In fact, a member of the show’s music team, Jonathan Bauerfeld ’16, was a writer I worked with on the Edinburgh trip! These connections are invaluable and prove just how small the entertainment world is.
What does success look like to you?
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what success, especially as a performer, looks like to me. It has probably changed since I graduated from Northwestern almost five years ago! I am very proud of the year I had coming out of the pandemic; I was consistently employed and contracted for creative work for eighteen months, a feat that any actor knows is a win considering the fickle and fast nature of show business. And now, I’m back to the grind of auditioning and making connections that will hopefully lead to the next long-term gig! It’s taken me time to realize the emotional reality of the ups and downs of a career in the arts and find ways to support myself using the myriad of skills and talents I got to nurture at Northwestern. To me, success looks like the ability to nurture my creative spirit and turn the many passions I have into work that I love doing. I’m not just an actor. I’m also a writer, an editor, a musician, a social media consultant, a performance coach, and more. I feel like I’m on the right track to finding lasting success and look forward to seeing what future opportunities bring.