Pittsford Mendon grad bringing Broadway show 'SIX' to hometown as music director

As far back as she can remember, Lena Gabrielle wanted to write movie scores.

Classical music filled her childhood home in Pittsford.

Her parents, Jan and Mike Weinstein, are multi-instrumentalists. Jan can play the piano, violin, oboe and bassoon. Mike can play guitar, French horn and trumpet.

“And my mom and dad can both sing pretty well,” said Gabrielle, 34. In fact, her entire family — including her two younger brothers, Cliff and Kurt — is very musical, she said.

Gabrielle started violin lessons at age 3, taught herself to play piano and at age 7 recalls being swept up in John Williams’ “E.T.” score.

She remained committed to her goal while a student at Pittsford Middle School and Pittsford Mendon High School, graduating in 2007.

However, at Ithaca College — where in 2011 she earned a bachelor of music degree in music theory — she had a change of heart.

“I wrote two film scores while I was there,” she said, “and I realized I actually didn’t love it that much.”

Even though the work involved collaboration, it also involved spending a lot of time alone in a studio.

“I like really hands-on collaboration where everybody is working in the same room together,” she said.

She found that first by focusing on writing stage musicals — and now as music director for a Broadway touring production of “SIX,” which has an eight-show run May 16 through 21 at Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s Auditorium Theatre, 855 E. Main St.

Music-directing is different from composing music, which Gabrielle said remains her passion. “But music-directing ‘SIX’ is really rewarding and fun,” she said.

The Tony Award-winning show is about the six wives of Henry VIII, presented in the form of a pop concert.

“I’m basically responsible for maintaining the musical integrity of the show,” Gabrielle said, by conducting seven out of eight weekly performances, running rehearsals, getting new actors and musicians up to speed and “being that manager on tour that people can come to if they have problems or issues.”

It’s a lot, and she didn't imagine doing until about a decade ago when she was asked to expand her role at a performing arts school outside Pittsburgh while working there as a composer in residence.

Likewise, the “SIX” opportunity sort of came out of left field.

She was at home in Upper Manhattan near Hamilton Heights when her phone rang. By this point, she had racked up many more professional experiences, including as associate music director for a touring production of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Ten minutes after answering the call, “I had the job,” she said. A friend of a friend had to back out of the "SIX" assignment. “And it so happened that I had another project lined up that had fallen through. So, it was a very easy sell for me to come out on this tour, especially because I saw that Rochester was on the itinerary.

“It’s very special to bring the show to the place where I had my formative years,” she said, and where her parents, relatives and friends can come see the show and her.

And she will be seen because “SIX” doesn’t tuck away its musicians in an orchestra pit — they share the stage with the actors.

“It’s really cool, and it’s great representation for musicians,” she said. Plus, she’s never seen the Auditorium other than as a ticketholder for “Rent,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Wicked” during the mid-2000s.

“I’m really excited to look in the opposite direction,” she said.

Gabrielle has been with “SIX” since last August and will stay on at least through this August. “I have the option to extend,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ll take it yet." But the tour, with dates throughout the United States and Canada, continues through 2025.

Not having a consistent home base and having to pack up and move every week or two can be challenging, she said.

On the other hand, being part of a Broadway touring production can be lucrative for people who are able to sublet their apartments or rooms in apartments, as Gabrielle is doing, because the cost of lodging is covered.

“That’s definitely a huge benefit," she said.

“Also, because cast and crew members don’t go home at the end of the day, there is a great sense of community on the road,” especially in the case of “SIX,” which is a relatively small company of around 35 people.

When her time with the musical wraps up, she'll resume working on a one-woman show that’s about one-third written and reflects another of her passions: promoting mental health.

Gabrielle has been open about her struggles with anxiety and trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder that began in childhood, and also has worked as a mental health counselor.

“I’m really hoping that after this tour I’ll have a little more financial stability so I can work on the next two-thirds of my show, because I would love to develop that more.”

Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Lena Gabrielle brings Broadway show 'SIX' to Rochester NY