Meet Gabriella Antoinette | Musical Theatre Performer & Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriella Antoinette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriella, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
As a Musical Theatre performer, one thing “muggles” may not be aware of is how taxing the non-union musical theatre life can be. As a non-union performer without an agent, in order to be seen at auditions, there’s a very long process that takes place the day of the audition. On audition days, I wake up at 4am and make my way to the studio where the auditions will be held. There’s an unofficial non-union list taped to the outside of the building (this list is created by the performer who arrives first). I then have to write my name on the list, go home, sleep, wake up at 7am, get ready for my audition, and make my way back to the building by 9am. The unfortunate part of this whole process is that sometimes, the unofficial list does not get accepted by the monitor (key word being “unofficial”); And even if it does get accepted, sometimes the motor will come out and after I’ve waited hours to be seen, they will announce that they will not be seeing non-union performers today. I used to feel so defeated when that would happen, but I’ve learned to just be proud of myself for getting up and going through the motions.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I had a very full circle moment recently. I was re-watching Glee, which I had not seen in YEARS. The last time I watched it, I was a teenager dreaming of moving to New York and working in Musical Theatre. Now, as I sit in my New York apartment, re-watching Glee on my night off of working in Musical Theatre, I realize that I am doing exactly what I’ve always dreamed. It was not a straight path. There was no yellow brick road from Los Angeles (my hometown) to the bright lights of New York. I always knew what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to get there. I went to Immaculate Heart High School where they taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to, so I did…It just took some time. I applied to 8 colleges, and was denied from all of them. I didn’t understand why all my friends were getting into their dream schools, and I didn’t even get into my backup. This started the domino effect that taught me that everything happens for a reason. After High School, I attended Glendale Community College and started working concierge at The Americana At Brand. Because I stayed local after graduation, I got to meet the people who would become some of my best friends and I would also meet some people were meant to brighten my life during that time, people who I don’t know anymore but will never forget. All of this lead me to the school that would become my home, AMDA (American Musical Dramatic Academy). On my college graduation day, I had yet another full circle moment. I finally realized that in order to meet some of the most incredible people in my life and attend the school that gave me the greatest training/tools, I had to get rejected from every college I applied to. It finally made sense. Now, as someone who works in an industry full of rejection, I’ve learned that every “no” gets me closer and closer to where I am suppose to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As an LA native, I’ve had many friends/family come to visit. A few years ago, one of my best friends moved from Maryland to Los Angeles. We had met via AMDA zoom during the lockdown. For her first weekend in LA, I created a cute and exciting, touristy-enough, itinerary. We spent Saturday afternoon having a picnic up at the Griffith Park Observatory. We then went home, got ready, and went to dinner at my favorite family owned restaurant in Silverlake, Casita Del Campo. If you havn’t had their jalapeño margaritas, you havn’t lived! We then ended the night with a late night drink at Bon Vivant in Atwater! The next morning we went to the Famers Market in Atwater Village. Then we headed to Beverly Hills for brunch at A.O.C. After brunch, we went over to Melrose and did some window shopping! If you’re going to visit LA, feel free to steal my itinerary!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate every show, and now interview to my big Middle Eastern family. I was raised with aunties, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, always coming through the house. We all live very close (some even walking distance) so I tend to wake up in the morning to my Jiddo (grandpa) in the backyard watering the garden, my Sitto (grandma) playing piano in the living room, and my aunty sitting on the couch drinking coffee with my parents. It’s a beautiful thing to have endless built-in best friends. Because of them, I’ve never felt alone.

Website: https://www.gabriellaantoinette.com/

Instagram: @Gabriellaantoinettee

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabriellaantoinettee