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Page 1 of 4  From LeanneCabrera.com Contributing writer for Lost in the Woods Productions, Gerhard Guevarra, spent a little time with Leanne to get the facts. With two Filipinos together, they also shared some tongue and cheek comments about their culture.
LITWP: Leanne Cabrera! Thanks for doing an interview for Lost in the Woods Productions. Leanne: Hi! Happy to do it. LITWP: When I think of New York, I don't readily think of it as a place where I'd find Filipinos, maybe it just gets too cold during the winter. Are you originally from here? Leanne: (Laughs) I’m actually originally from the Philippines — born and raised in Quezon City until my family moved here in the 90s. LITWP: So you are full Filipina? What do you think about Filipinos in the mainstream media? Some great examples slowly making the Filipino culture more known are Black Eyed Peas APL and maybe the not so recent movie, “The Debut”. How do you think Filipinos are now being portrayed in the public eye?
Leanne: Yep, aside from the few Spanish/Portuguese ancestors a lot of Filipinos have, I am full Filipina. We’re a very talented race, and I’m excited to see us steadily making strides to show that we’re not all nurses or maids as often portrayed. It’s getting there, but we and all Asian Americans still have a ways to go towards wider representation in the media. I don’t think we’re at the point where our individualities instead of our stereotypes stand out.  From LeanneCabrera.com
Leanne: I also do musical theatre, so I have run into people who’ve pointed out a resemblance. (Then again, that could just be from us being both Filipina.) We’ve never met, but she’s helped pave the way for a lot of Filipino performers in America, and I think it’d be nice to meet her someday. LITWP: Let's talk about how you got started. Rumor has it that you started at age 3 and you were singing on top of a cafeteria table. What was the song, was it "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"? (I tried that once, crashed and burned.) Leanne: (Laughs) The song was actually “Kahit Kaunting Pagtingin”. It’s one of my mom’s favorite songs, and I’m sure she still has the cassette tape of that stunning performance lying around somewhere. LITWP: Did you have a karaoke machine at home? Leanne: Of course! What Filipino family doesn’t? LITWP: Did you have those plastic runners on the carpet, too? Leanne: Yes, but not until we moved here to the U.S. We didn’t have carpet floors in the Philippines. LITWP: Did you ever turn them upside down to see if anyone walked barefoot on them and ran off screaming when those little points stuck in their feet? Leanne: Um, no. (Laughs) But it’s happened to me accidentally plenty of times, so I know how painful those little points can be and would never wish it on anyone. LITWP: You do a lot of theatre, where did you go to college? Did you always know that you wanted to get into acting? What did your parents think about you going into "the arts"? Leanne: Not really. I was always drawn into the performing arts, but I had a bout of shyness that started some point after my cafeteria table concert and lasted most of my life. I went to NYU and finally braved performing, but I majored in Comp Sci and Math. My family always insisted I pursue a “real” career, and I never really entertained the thought of pursuing a career in the arts until I tagged along with a friend to an audition just for fun and managed to get called back. I’ve since had the incredible luck and privilege of getting paid now and then to follow my dreams, and my family’s starting to come around.  Millbrook Playhouse - King and I
Leanne: The goal’s definitely Broadway! There have been a lot of little milestones in my career so far, but if I had to pick one right now, it’d be getting a lead and wonderful role in my first Equity show. It was a lot of fun, I learned an incredible amount, and it gave me the strength and inspiration to keep going. LITWP: Any interesting new projects in the works? Leanne: Just taking the time to do a lot of things I’ve had to put off. Currently taking a Shakespeare acting class. Shakespeare rocks! LITWP: After you become an accomplished actor -- will you then seek presidency for the Philippines? Leanne: (Laughs) No way. Politics is definitely something I’m not wired for. LITWP: How did the relationship between LITWP and you start?
Leanne: Met Matt Woods doing a musical in Brooklyn, and he later contacted me about the “Peculier Tales” project that LITWP was producing. I read the script, thought it was hilarious, and jumped onboard. LITWP: Your character Mimi seems like a far cry from who you actually are, are you anything like Mimi? Leanne: I don’t think I’d ever approach things the way she does, but I find I can usually stretch some part of my personality or draw from some of my own experiences and observations to become whatever character I need to be. LITWP: I hear Matt Woods is such a mack daddy, was it difficult playing opposite of Ronnie's love attraction with Matt nearby? Leanne: Nah. Believe it or not, we were all just trying to get the work done. LITWP: LITWP started with doing suspense/horror type of shows and theatre like the Woman in Black. How do you feel about LITWP venturing into a comedy/romantic comedy genre like “Peculier Tales”? Leanne: I personally enjoy comedy more than I do horror. At the very least, it’s probably a lot more fun for the actors and the audience psychologically. But I’m sure there’s room enough for both genres (maybe even simultaneously) and for other genres as well. A good story is a good story, and the possibilities are endless! LITWP: Thank you for taking the time to be with us and answering some of our questions! We'll avoid asking, "Boxers or briefs?" Leanne: No problem. (Laughs)
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