“Cara Gabriel is the real deal. The real deal being a sense of deep intuition. She’s an expert “people reader.” While she’s explaining to you how she sees your potential, she is, meanwhile, already imagining you in the spaces you can go to succeed. If happiness is the actualization of your talents, Cara is a happiness queen., able to give you the hard and easy truths of how to market and where to sell your best future self.”

Brandon Adams

“Cara Gabriel changed the way I learn. If you are lucky in your academic journey, you find a mentor who sees you: the passion you wear on your sleeve and the light you have yet to recognize in yourself. They encourage curiosity over achievement and value growth in failure as much as success. They offer a resounding “yes” when you wonder if you have it in you to do the next hard thing and celebrate you as you do. In sixteen years of knowing Cara, she has been this person for me at every turn. But I am not alone. Cara’s gift as an educator is that she offers this to each and every one of her students.”

Katie Ryan

“As a passionate theater educator and deep empath, Cara excels at drawing out remarkable performances from her students, forging emotional connections that create a safe and courageous environment. What sets her apart is her exceptional ability to guide young actors through the character development process with both depth and challenge, all while infusing humor and care. When students feel secure enough to take bold creative risks, they unlock extraordinary, artistic potential.”

Javier Rivera, High School Theatre Teacher/Director

“Cara has a unique ability to balance rigor with making students feel "seen." As a result, her students are thoughtful practitioners with an enviable mix of theory and real world experience.”

Melanie George, dance educator and dramaturg Website: melaniegeorge.org

“I  cannot think of a more dedicated and generous teacher, a more whip-smart and eager learner, a more joyful and collaborative colleague, and a more decent human being than Cara Gabriel.  She has my utmost respect as an artist/scholar/educator.”

Caleen Jennings, Playwright

“Theater is a vulnerable thing. You're put on the spot, and you have to be honest and open, and that's difficult," Vaidya said. "But [Gabriel] does a great job of getting people to do that without it seeming like it's an overwhelming or hard or scary thing. When I was at AU, I did four different shows with her, and each time I learned something about myself and about my form. She shaped how I view performing and how I approach every show.”

Viishal Vaidya, Broadway Performer

“My daughter’s confidence as a director for her high school senior capstone project grew before my eyes while working with Cara. Through Cara’s skillful mentoring, my daughter learned how to bring out the best in her actors and create a performance that resonated deeply with the audience. Cara’s style is relatable, fun, and smart. My daughter loved working with her! “

Becky Mahoney, Parent

“Cara was a valuable mentor as I directed my first one act play. She advised me on how to  make my play comedic without losing the social issues and themes central to the show, and taught me to accept and use professional feedback. Cara was always honest, supportive, and insightful, and working with her gave me a much needed confidence boost! In the end, Cara’s feedback helped me put on a successful play – my actors had a great time and audience members were impressed with the show’s social themes and comedic aspects.”

Paige Mahoney, Yale University student

“I always felt respected as a performer and person working with Cara. I felt we were working towards a unique, memorable piece of theatre that best utilized me as an individual. Cara helped me find a sense of ease for performance.”

Remy Gee, NYU student

“I gave Cara and early draft of my book, Minding the Edge: Strategies for a Fulfilling Successful Career as an Actor. Aside from her constructive comments about flow and thought progression, she also provided valuable content feedback and insights that guided our rewrite process. The work was vastly improved because of her contributions.”

Carl Menninger, Professor, Writer, Director

“My writing became honest as a result of working and becoming friends with Cara. In her humorous, kind, knowledgeable, and fierce way, Cara helped me not only handle the truth, but turn it into a story to be offered to others. I am grateful to call Cara a colleague and friend.”

Callie Feyen, Author  http://www.calliefeyen.com 

“She has the unique ability, as a teacher and collaborator, to look a person in the eye and meet them with an authenticity and sense of humor that is disarming, and rare… As an editor, she possesses many of the same qualities that make her such an excellent director: a patient guide, but never prescriptive, always asking the kinds of questions that are meant to open up new ways of looking at form, style, and structure.”

Caroline Angell, Author