Abbe Tanenbaum is a 33 year old creative who wears many hats. She is originally from America, but now lives in County Down.
She started acting in her local community theatre in Erie, PA around 10 and she really loved it. In high school, Abbe had an amazing music teacher who took her under her wing. She helped her get accepted to Ithaca College which has a very strong musical theatre program.
She found Arts school challenging because it’s not just about learning, it’s about becoming which can be intense. After university, Abbe moved to New York City and started pounding the pavement. She studied the Meisner technique at Matthew Corozine Studio where she believes she truly started feeling like an artist.
What genre / style do you create in?
Mostly theatre but I like all forms of storytelling. I would love to be involved with more film here as the locations are so beautiful and the film industry in NI is doing such exciting work.
What would you be best known for?
I was Cinderella on a Disney Cruise for a year. That is the closest to being a rockstar I think I’ll ever get.
What would you consider your biggest achievement?
So far? I think writing Committed Citizen. I never would have thought I could write a play in a million years. It’s still a work in progress but it’s the piece that is most fully mine from start to finish. It is a passion project and with each new iteration I learn more.
What would you consider to be the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your industry?
Trusting and believing in yourself. I know it sounds cheesy but when I was first starting out I was always looking for outside affirmation – being cast in a role, audience accolades, positive feedback from teachers or coaches – and it’s not always available. That was a big shift for me. Knowing that what I had to say was valuable even if no one was telling me it was.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Falling in love with the process. I’m still working on this one! I’m impatient and I want everything right away, but some of the best bits are making the discoveries or figuring out how to make something work as you go.
Tell us a little about your personal life, are you married, kids, hobbies etc?
I moved to Northern Ireland with my husband and our dog, Chewie, a few years ago. My husband’s originally from Mourne and we had the opportunity to build a house here. I thought it would be a big shock moving from New York City to the Irish countryside but it was a pretty easy transition. I love it here.
Tell us about your most recent work?
I’ve been working on Committed Citizen on and off since 2015. It’s based very loosely on an organizing session I had with a client (one of my side hustles in New York). She worked in an underground abortion clinic in the early 70’s – right when abortion was legalized in New York State. I always would have considered myself a feminist and pro-choice, but after meeting her I started to seriously dive into the history of it all.
We ended up unearthing letters from women all over the country asking for help. They were all unique and yet all had the same issue. I couldn’t stop thinking about them. I think it’s very easy to stereotype the kind of woman who gets an abortion but when you read these letters you know that’s just not true.
I want to find a way to share and honor their stories in a theatrical way. It all evolved from there and it continues to grow and change.
What would you like us to tell people about?
Follow @committed.citizen on IG to stay up to date on the latest happenings with the project.
If you had to describe your work to someone who has never heard of you what would you say?
I’m creative. I like to tell stories that move people and push boundaries.
What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in your business?
It’s hard to pick one! So many flubbed lines or costume malfunctions. That’s the nature of live theatre, you never know what is going to happen.
What would your advice be to young people hoping to pursue the same industry?
Find your tribe and make your own work. Do things you are passionate about with people you like and respect. Don’t wait to be ‘chosen’, choose yourself.
Anything else you want to tell people about yourself or your work?
I teach a Meisner acting class for adults. I’ve always wanted to teach and this past year I started a group called Meisner in Mourne. During COVID I’ve been able to teach some students virtually. Even if you don’t want to be a professional actor I think there are so many life skills to be learned from the training.
Who do you look up to and why?
Sarah Ruhl is my favorite playwright and I listen to Alicia Keys on repeat.
I’m a huge fan of Michaela Coel and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. They are brilliant women who are creating their own work and telling moving, funny and uncomfortable stories that center around women. I am incredibly inspired by them and the path they are carving out.
You can follow Abbe on her Instagram, and visit her Website!
If you would like to see more about Committed Citizen check out @committed.citizen on Instagram and Facebook.
For Abbe’s acting classes visit https://www.facebook.com/meisnerinmourne