BGSU alumna stars in leading role in iconic musical “CATS”

Gabriyel Thomas ‘18 calls the opportunity a ‘dream come true’

By Laren Kowalczyk '07

As a little girl, Gabriyel Thomas ‘18 couldn’t get enough of the musical “CATS,” always dancing along to the choreography in her living room, never imagining that she would one day be playing the lead role of Grizabella.

But that’s precisely what happened.

The Bowling Green State University alumna is starring in the iconic musical during its Australian tour — a dream she says wouldn’t have become a reality without BGSU.

“A career in the entertainment industry always felt like something that was out of my league,” Thomas said. “I loved performing, but I didn’t think that I had what it took to pursue it as a career until I got to Bowling Green.”

As a BGSU student, Thomas had an opportunity to practice and hone her skills as a performer, starring in numerous mainstage productions, including “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “A Perfect Wedding,” “Threepenny Opera” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”

She said her experience at the University, both academically and through extracurricular activities, prepared her for the realities of becoming a professional performer.

“Those experiences allowed me to gain confidence in my performance skills and also prepared me for the type of work-life balance that you must have to be a working actor,” she said. “Balancing going to class and being a student on top of rehearsing and being a performer definitely prepared me for the type of life I live now.”

After graduating with a degree in communication, specializing in musical theater, Thomas moved to New York City and worked for a marketing agency that promoted Broadway and off-Broadway shows — an ideal fit for her degree and passion for theater.

She moved back to her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, during the pandemic and began auditioning for theater productions virtually, landing a role as Lorraine in “Hairspray.”

Thomas performed in the American and Australian tours of Hairspray and then starred as Michelle in the Australian tour of “Sister Act,” positioning her for the lead role in “CATS.”

“Playing Grizabella is honestly a dream come true,” she said. “I have loved this musical ever since I was a little girl. Although this is such an amazing opportunity, I still experience phases of impostor syndrome. But the moment I step onto that stage, all of those feelings just melt away, and the only thing I can feel is pure gratitude and pride.”

Dr. Geoffrey Stephenson, a teaching professor in the BGSU Department of Theatre and Film, commended Thomas for her willingness to audition for a wide range of productions, which he said is crucial in this industry.

“She auditioned for everything, and she kept getting cast,” Stephenson said. “It kept her constantly working and utilizing the skills she learned, and it also made her extremely versatile. I’m looking forward to when she comes back to New York with these credits she’s building and seeing how well she continues to do.”