Book an author visit for the 2021-2022 school year with ‘Isla and Lulu’ author, Nöelle Gentile!
Noelle Gentile is a director, producer and artist educator, who seeks to create spaces for people to tell their stories through film and theatre as a vehicle for transformation, healing and connection.
With over 20 years of experience as an artist educator, Noelle has worked with Youth FX; Workforce Development Institute; Albany High School Theatre Ensemble; Brooklyn’s P.S. 8 and M.S. 8; CCNY; Brooklyn College,NYC DOE Theatre Program (worked on a panel to develop the theatre blueprint for NYC schools); and Arts, Letters & Numbers. At Arts, Letters & Numbers, for members of UNICEF's Office of Innovation, Noelle co-facilitated a workshop on transformative power of storytelling.
Noelle worked as an acting coach to the three lead actors on an Official Sundance Selection and winner of Sundance's NEXT Innovator Award, We The Animals, directed by Jeremiah Zagar and based on the novel by Justin Torres. Noelle worked alongside Jeremiah Zagar again on a Netflix film, Hustle, starring Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah and Juancho Hernangomez. Noelle also recently wrapped her work as the acting coach, alongside director Jingyi Shao on Disney and Hillman Grad Productions film Chang Can Dunk.
Noelle is the creative director and producer on an immersive documentary website Piece of The Dream. The site, designed to take a closer look at the lives of workers, takes the viewer through the multi-faceted issues that New Yorkers are facing across the state. Noelle also co-directed short film, Between Us. This film explores her relationship with her five-year old daughter with medical fragility and disabilities. Their unexpected journey together led them to a deeper love than thought possible. For decades, as a teaching artist, Noëlle led countless young people through the process of writing their stories and fully realizing them in multi-media theatrical productions and films.
In her offerings to schools as the author of Isla and Lulu, Noelle’s mission is to create inclusive spaces for people to share their stories; workshops will focus on the themes of identity, diversity, disabilities, and belonging, to gain a better understanding of themselves and all of the people you share a community with; ultimately creating meaningful and affirming relationships.
Author visit
Book Noelle to visit and read her new book ‘Isla and Lulu’. She will talk about the process of creating the book and discuss themes in the book. There will be a Q&A, as well as curated participatory group activities for various grade levels.
Author visit with professional development for staff
Depending on the organization’s focus, Noelle is able to curate a workshop experience for staff to find new ways to create space for student voices through writing and performance. Noelle will also lead staff through activities on creating meaningful, inclusive experiences and building community in their classrooms. She will lead staff through activities that support students’ social and emotional needs and development, as well as their own.
Author evening visit for families
Noelle will provide an evening of storytelling, focusing on navigating her family’s journey facing the obstacles of an ableist society; taking the audience through a more mature exploration of the book and the events detailed in the book.