Gabriela Serena Sanchez, Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Power Street Theatre, has created a Womxn of Color- led multicultural theatre collective with fellow artists, culturally producing, directing and starring in several powerful new plays in the heart of el barrio. A Philadelphia native, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Temple University. Her former leadership roles include, Director of Education at Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Cultural Enrichment and Facility Manager at Taller Puertorriqueño and six years in residence at the Department of Recreation with Conflict Resolution Theater. Gabriela has used the power of theatre to activate imaginations within diverse classrooms for over a decade. Currently, she is a teaching artist with Philadelphia Young Playwrights and Power Street Theatre.

 

In March 2020, Gabriela received a Citation from Council of the City of Philadelphia for her dedicated work to the arts and community building. Gabriela is also a proud recipient of the  Phenomenal Women’s Award (2020), Leeway Art and Change Grant (2016, 2019), GALAEI David Acosta Revolutionary Award (2017), Knight Foundation Emerging City Champions Fellowship (2018) and keynote speaker with Quiara Alegría Hudes at the 2018 Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) Conference in Boston, Theatres of Revolution: Performance, Pedagogy, and Protest. Her keynote is featured in Theatre Topics Volume 9 (2019). She also has a joint tumblr blog with her hermana Quiara called Latinx Casting Manifesto. Gabriela activates joy in her life by centering amor, theatre, familia, culture and imaginación.