Quarter Life Crisis
Available on all Streaming Platforms
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In 2022 I graduated Cum Laude from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, receiving a BFA in Musical Theatre. Right after college I moved to New York City and began auditioning, recording and writing backing vocals for NYC artists and eventually I began recording the music I once considered my hobby. These songs culminated in her Debut Album "Quarter Life Crisis" and her singles "Grey Pavement Blues", "Crazy Pillz", and "Seasonal Depressive Seasons".​ I aspire to create art that builds joy, collaboration and sparks essential conversations about inclusion, intersectionality and emotional vulnerability. I aim to highlight societal issues regarding self care and mental health. My work often revolves around how these elements shape identity.
You can find me recording or performing my music, consulting on musicals, auditioning, and gigging in NYC (performing at 54 Below, Brooklyn Art Haus, Don't Tell Mama, Brooklyn Pride & The Green Room). You can check my work out on Spotify and all other streaming platforms; I am also on Youtube, Actors Access and Backstage.
Raised in New Jersey, I am a singer - songwriter,
actor, and dancer based in Upper Manhattan.
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I have had an impenetrable pull to performance from birth. Early memories are filled with driving around, my father drumming on the steering wheel and the sound of jazz music & 'A Chorus Line' wafting through the house. Early I began working with theatre companies and writers that gave my art a purpose and during college I met my long time collaborator Finnegan B. Faye & began working with him on what would become the musical 'Catching Fireflies'. Gabbi is thrilled to be making her Off - Broadway Debut in January with the show, she has played the role of Ember in every production of the new musical and appears on the Original Concept Album.​​​
MUSIC
Singer - Songwriter Material
Background Vocals
Theatre Work
Click photos for more music!
PHOTO
GALLERY
Video Content
Seasonal Depressive Seasons
Original Music
Grey Pavement Blues
Original Music
Crazy Pillz :
Original Music
Vocal Reel
Dance Reel
Stage Combat Scene
Back To Black
Lost in the Brass
House Of The Rising Sun
NEWS
&
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Updates
Catching Fireflies: A New Queer Musical
The Players Theater January 2025 Season
Now that a production is being mounted at The Players Theater Gabbi has been brought on to Assistant Direct, as well as continue as a principal actor.
The show will run at The Players Theater from January 9th-26th, 2025 in the Steve and Marie Sgouros Theatre.
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https://playbill.com/article/trans-folk-musical-catching-fireflies-sets-off-broadway-bow
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https://playbill.com/article/trans-folk-musical-catching-fireflies-sets-off-broadway-bow
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Clip photo to see our Playbill Article! ​​​​​​​
Clip photo to see our Broadway.com Article! ​​​​​​​
Twelve Maids
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Gabbi has recently been cast in a new musical that will be presenting its first staged concert at
54 Below on August 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM.​
Book & Lyrics by : Amanda Fischler
Music by : Amanda Fischler & Adam Gloc
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Twelve Maids is an original musical based in Greek Mythology. The story encompassing Queen Penelope, and her son, Telemachus's wait for Odysseus to return home from the Trojan War.
🌻 In The Name Of The Mother Tree Divined 🌱
​By: Ebony Noelle Golden
Running | September 13- 22, 2024 |
When she is not performing, Gabbi spends her creative energy and time as a Director, Stage Manager, and Production Assistant of NYC theatre productions.
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While financing, recording, and polishing her debut album she was offered a PA position on a show produced in collaboration with the Apollo Theater and The National Black Theater. This production has been produced before and is being brought to Harlem and NYC for the first time!
Creative Team :
Ebony Golden | Lead Artist, Writer, Director, Choreographer
Ebony “Es” Webster | Associate Choreographer
Kofi Hunter | M/D Composer
Jessica Howard | Vocal coach
Rodrigo Muñoz | Costume Designer
Ray Archie | Sound Design
Izmir Ickbal | Scenic Design
Viktor Givens | Scenic Environmentalist/Installation Artist
Belynda M’Baye | Props Design
Emma Deane | Lighting Design
Sierre Leverett | Script Associate
Omisade Burney-Scott | Dramaturg
Dr. Omi Osun Joni L. Jones | Dramaturg
Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs | Additional text/Dramaturg
Toshi Reagon | Project Mentor
Jack Meister-Lopez | Production Stage Manager
Ava Novak | Production Manager 
Brianna Guillen | Assistant Stage Manager
Gabrielle “Gabbi” McCarren | Production Assistant 
Amber Snead | Casting Director
Producing/Presenting Partners : Cast :
Apollo Theater @TrevorHayes @queenindian National Black Theatre @letsfletch @zennireach Double Edge Theatre @yagurl_si @ShesheDanz
The Green Room 42 ​presents :
​The Songs of Smash
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In the new year Gabbi has been invited by a couple of her collaborators to perform some of her favorite music from the hit NBC show SMASH ! This show is all about but and she is ready !
Scene And Heard :
A Songwriter's Night
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Gabbi will be opening the night with one of her originals from her Album "Quarter Life Crisis" and is honored to be performing alongside a list of incredible singer - songwriters. At the top of the list are Olivia Berkson and Amanda Berkson, the organizers and producers of the event. A huge thank you to them for organizing this night!
Debut Album :
Quarter Life Crisis ​​
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Gabbi began recording music for NYC singer - songwriters and composers and has now finished her Debut Album which will be dropping September 20th !! You can currently stream her singles, "Grey Pavement Blues", "Crazy Pillz", and "Seasonal Depressive Seasons".
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Instrumentalists :
Guitar : James Rubino
Drums : Austin Birdy
Piano : Adam Gloc
Bass : Joe Reichel
Trumpet : Eli Goldstein
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Production Team
Music & Lyrics by Gabbi McCarren
Production, Arranging & Engineering by James Rubino
Composition, Arranging & additional engineering by Adam Gloc
Harmonies by Gabbi McCarren
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"Catching Fireflies: A New Queer Musical"
Joins The Players Theatre 2025 Season
Gabbi has taken part in every production of 'Catching Fireflies', and is so thrilled to now take part in its Off - Broadway Debut. The new musical, written by Finnigan B. Faye, has now become one of the new Players Artists in Residence. Finnigan will be bringing the project to The Players Theatre with the help of orchestrator & music director Adam Gloc and E Gomez, the Director of the musicals most recent Industry Workshop. The show will run from January 9th-26th, 2025 in the Steve and Marie Sgouros Theatre.
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With two workshop concerts in 2021 & 2022, and a full concept album produced by James Rubino's Lorien Sound, this run will feature a new script and new songs from the team. The musical includes "Drunk Monroe," an iconic song most recently awarded as a Top 10 Finalist for Taylor Louderman's Write Out Loud Songwriting Contest 2023.
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Catching Fireflies is a folk musical that centers on a trans writer and his queer friend group of artists stuck together in Philadelphia over the 2020 pandemic, and follows each of their journeys of self discovery in an exploration of love, sexuality, gender and identity.
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The World According to
Finnigan B. Faye & Gabbi McCarren at 54 BELOW
Gabbi is thrilled to say she will be premiering her new music in anticipation of her upcoming Debut Album that will be released in September 2024! This is a beautiful night of collaboration between my close friend Finnigan B. Faye and I, we have grown so much as artists together and it is an unbelievable moment to see this concert come about.
Performers : Instrumentalists :
Kenza Nejmi Guitar : James Rubino
Marcel Joshua Drums : Austin Birdy
Sofia Marchese Piano : Adam Gloc
Joshua Turchin Bass : Joe Reichel
Katryna Marttala Trumpet : Eli Goldstein
RJ Christian Violin : Sam Gray
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Production Team
Music & Lyrics by Gabbi McCarren & Finnigan B. Faye
Production, Arranging & Engineering by James Rubino
Composition, Arranging & additional engineering by Adam Gloc
Harmonies by Gabbi McCarren & Jenavive
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Music of Finnigan Faye & Friends
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Gabbi has been asked to music direct and perform the work of his collaborator and good friend Finnigan B. Faye (as well as his own work) on the night of April 26th, 2023, a concert to honor and show the work of the young composer. This will be his third time performing at the venue and she could not be more thrilled or in awe! This will be the first time she presents his own work at this venue. The work presented is apart of an album still in the works!
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Album in Progress
Gabbi is currently working on her first EP: running title Negative Behavior. She is in collaboration with Adam Gloc and James Rubino and the album will be release at the Beginning of 2024. If you are interested and want a sneak peak, click here to listen!
Another 54 Below Show !
54 Below Sings Emo! Do you want a blast from the early 2000s past? Come down to 54 Below on October 25th to hear me sing a Paramore Classic!
Comeback Cabaret ​
Gabbi will be performing in the Comeback Cabaret at 7pm on May 8th at Don't Tell Mamas, directed by Sarah Laursen. She is lucky enough to be singing "Lost in the Brass" from Band Geeks with some other amazing other actors !
Bar Nine Cabaret Appearance
Gabbi has been invited by her incredibly TALENTED friend Sofia Marchese to sing a duet at her new York Cabaret Debut. Come out to Bar Nine September 27th to hear us singing a car karaoke classic.
Sleepy Hollow ​
Gabbi was cast as the lead performer and narrator in the recording of John Brautigan's Sleepy Hollow. This is the first recording since the 2018 production and a cast recording video as well as a production recording will be coming out in December of 2022!
The Story of The Bagel
In her 2nd collaboration with John Brautigan Gabrielle plays the young astronaut Dr. Sophie Chapman in the workshop and original recording of "The Story of the Bagel". It will be rehearsing and recording during May 2022.
CONCEPT ALBUM :
Catching Fireflies
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Gabbi is so lucky to have revived her role of Ember in the original cast recording of Catching Fireflies : A New Musical, written and directed by Finnigan B. Faye. This is his second time reprising the role, also playing Ember in the second workshop at Feinstein’s/ 54 Below and originating the role in the musical's debut in November 2021 at Don’t Tell Mama.
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Crimson Lit
Gabbi is currently in rehearsals for Jill Sobule and Krista Knight’s new musical Crimson Lit which will be performed as part of Philadelphia's Polyphone Festival. The show will be running April 13th-16th and is directed by Rose Freeman.
Catching Fireflies : A New Musical ​
Gabbi is starring as Ember in Catching Fireflies : A New Musical, written and directed by Finnigan B. Faye, having its second workshop at Feinstein’s/ 54 Below May 26th at 9:30 pm. Gabrielle is reprising her role from the musical's debut in November 2021 at Don’t Tell Mama.
CONTACT
