Upcoming and Ongoing Projects
The Waiting is a folk musical that centers around widowed mother Chlo Evans shortly after the disappearance of her young daughter, Willow. As Chlo searches for her daughter, she discovers a parallel universe, The InBetween, where lost souls wait to pass through to the afterlife. Here Chlo learns that people she’s lost in life are not as far gone as they may seem. As Chlo’s understanding of her reality bends, will she be able to go beyond the pain of her loss, or will her soul stay trapped by the padlock of grief?
The Waiting
A New Folk Musical
Silvermoon
By Andrew Young
"To Louisa Díaz...and her father...from one fossil hunter to another "
- Schofield
In the rolling dunes of the Mojave Desert, fossil hunter Lou searches for what remains of an ancient beast to avenge her late father's legacy. When hijacked by academic gringos, she must look deep and kick ass to protect her father's life work. Along the way she faces her own past and learns that the love and lessons of her ancestors are more powerful than she ever thought possible.
"It's true that hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?"~ Ronald Reagan
What happens when the story you've been sold for your entire adult life of the American Dream never comes true? This documentary film follows the stories of three working-class families who have found themselves at retirement age and are disillusioned to find that the once-promised fantasy of enjoying retirement is not a promise available to those who work and live paycheck to paycheck. A bitter-sweet collection of stories, Salt of the Earth sheds light on the systemic failures while finding the light and lessons of hope that these individuals have inspired in their children and families.
Salt of the Earth
A Documentary of Hope
About
Abigail Grubb
"Before you embark on any path ask the question: Does this path have a heart? If the answer is no, you will know it, and then you must choose another path. "
- Carlos Castaneda
Bienvenidos! I'm Abigail (she/they), a multi-cultural director born in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and currently based in the Bronx on the unceded lands of the Lenape people. Growing up in Appalachia and steeped in folk music, southern sun, myths, legends, stories, and histories of those mountains blended with the tales, recipes, superstitions, and songs my Abuelo would share as we prepared meals together, I am a storyteller by nature.
I find immense joy in creating intersectional opportunities that push the field and form forward. My process is founded on deep textual exploration and physical work that brings new stories to life. Stories have the power to heal and challenge systems of oppression. Having trained as a Curandera and in studying herbalism and meditation, I have experienced how energy manifests in our bodies and minds, how that energy impacts the physical world around us, and how this energy cycles from the physical world to our bodies and minds. We are potent forces of change on this planet, and when we choose to use that power to create spaces of radical healing, we can collectively choose a better path forward. The goal of every project I take on is to heal by provoking discourse toward progress in centering our shared humanity.
I have a deep passion for working with writers & actors at the generative stage to create and craft new plays, musicals, and films. A dramaturg at heart, I dig deep with writers and makers to unlock the most profound truths and questions about these stories to build the world of our piece and have it fully realized. When we move into phases working with actors, physical work is vital, whether it be a reading or a fully-staged dance-dominant musical or film. Having trained as an actor in Lucid Body, Meisner, and Uta Hagen techniques, and as a dancer trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern, I find leading actors through physical exercises brings immense depth and intentionality to their roles and to the world of the play.
Being at the confluence of many different cultures, jobs, art forms, and experiences has inspired me to embark on a path of art-making for change-making. My vision of the entertainment industry is one in which organizations work with artists to meet needs collectively to develop an ecosystem of community support that uplifts and celebrates one another. I want to see an industry where everyone has a seat at the table, and power & "success" are not synonymous with financial capital.
I am currently on staff with Musical Theatre Factory & CJAM Consulting and am a proud associate member of SDC.
Contact: Abigaillgrubb@gmail.com