By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Performances of Steven Dietz’s “Private Eyes” are now underway at Pierson Playhouse through Sunday, December 15—which offers “a comedy of suspicion” to dive into deeper themes, like marriage and an affair.

Presented by Theatre Palisades, the play is directed by Michael Keith Allen, and produced by Martha Hunter and Sherman Wayne. Lighting design is by Wayne, with Susan Stangl for sound design and Maria Pavone as stage manager.

The five-member cast features Erin Galloway in the role of Matthew (an actor and husband of Lisa), Cara Kluver as Lisa (Matthew’s wife and an actress), Richard Conolly as Adrian (the director of the play Matthew and Lisa are performing in), Nikki Marie as Cory (a woman the audience first meets as a waitress) and Richard Osborn as Frank (the therapist).

“Matthew believes his wife, Lisa, is having an affair with Adrian,” read a synopsis provided by Theatre Palisades. “Or is he just imagining it? Or is it actually a play they are rehearsing? Or is it something to keep his therapist entertained? The twists and turns keep coming, as the audience is left to determine, what is actually true in this self-styled ‘relationship thriller’?”

The two-act play is set in an American city in the 1990s, with the set designed to interchange between three locations: a rehearsal studio, restaurant and therapist’s office.

In order to follow along the story that is being weaved, it is best to come to this play with plans to pay full attention. At first, the audience believes they’re watching an audition, then it shifts to a rehearsal.

As the non-linear story continues, switching between rehearsals, the restaurant and Matthew speaking (and lying) to his therapist Frank, the only thing that is apparent is how unreliable its narrators are—with Frank speaking to the audience in an attempt to clear things up.

“The first time I read this play I was happily surprised by its humor, depth and truth,” Allen wrote in the Director’s Notes. “It is best described by the author, Steven Dietz, himself: ‘The play at its core is about the fear of loss. The low-level panic of two people, alone, looking in each other’s eyes, with nowhere to run. Nothing between them but distance. Nothing awaiting them but time.’”

Dietz goes on to say that a play about lies “must be a comedy, because only laughter can make us recognize truths we’re not fond of.”

It is not easy to take on the role of a deeply flawed, but very human character, but the five actors featured in the play make it look natural. As the plot unravels and more truths are revealed, the characters have to face some highly emotional moments, all of which they tackle and make believable, even while facing a convoluted storyline.

The role of Matthew marked Galloway’s Theatre Palisades debut—and what an introduction to the Pierson Playhouse stage it was. His frustration with the situation between Adrian and his wife Lisa is palpable—the emotions he exudes from start to finish made for a memorable performance.

Kluver is no stranger to Theatre Palisades—prior to taking on the role of Lisa, Kluver has been seen as Kay Strange in “Towards Zero” and Nikki Crandall in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.” For audience members who have seen Kluver in the previous roles, one thing is clear: Kluver has a wide range, which is made especially apparent through this most recent role.

Conolly—who has been part of two previous Theatre Palisades productions—does a good job of playing into the role of a dislikeable director, with a character who seems to have not done a lot of growing or self-reflection, even at the end of the play.

Marie and Osborn tackle their respective roles well—there’s not too much to write without giving away the twisty plot—especially when it comes to the second act.

For the actual theater-going experience, the set, designed by Allen, is uniquely crafted to suit the needs of the three locations featured. By simply moving around a few pieces of furniture, the audience is transported from space to space seamlessly. It also is an immersive experience, with the actors using different spaces near the audience’s seats throughout the play, which keeps things interesting and attention rapt.

Performances will continue on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays at 2 p.m., through December 15 at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road. Tickets are $22 for general admission, or $20 for students and seniors.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit theatrepalisades.org.

Palisadian Dr. Laura Gabayan Researched What it Means to be Wise for Her Book “Common Wisdom”

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

When Palisadian Dr. Laura Gabayan had to reevaluate her career, she took her research skills across North America on a quest to define what it means to be wise.

Now, Gabayan is celebrating the publishing of her book, “Common Wisdom: 8 Scientific Elements of a Meaningful Life,” which details “essential life skills that are not taught in school.”

Born in the Middle East, Gabayan came to the United States when she was 6 years old. She went to undergrad, attended medical school and completed her residency in emergency medicine all at University of California, Los Angeles.

Gabayan has lived in Pacific Palisades for about 18 years, first in Marquez Knolls and now Via Bluffs. Her four children—Jacob, Gabrielle, Michael and Sarah—have gone to Palisades Charter Elementary and Palisades Charter High schools.

She said that she chose emergency medicine for two reasons: “Control has been really important to me, and I wanted to control or know what happens to people in emergencies,” and because she liked “how fast paced it was.”

Gabayan then did an additional three years of research training, which is when she got her master’s. It was after that when she started publishing “a lot in academia,” including different journals.

Then, in 2013, Gabayan said she started to “develop a lot of random symptoms.”

“Ultimately, my body fell apart to a point that it still is,” Gabayan described, adding that her speech is muffled and that she cannot walk.

“I could no longer be an ER doctor or go to a medical office,” she said. “It made it hard to walk and talk, and I had to rethink everything that I thought was ‘normal’ and ‘important.’”

She said the physicians she encountered were quick to label her, saying they “just wanted to put [her] in a cookie-cutter … condition.”

“No one really thought outside the box,” Gabayan said. “The only people who did were the wise, so then I looked into wisdom and I was shocked.”

Gabayan has since “completely shifted gears” from being an emergency room doctor to focusing on a “new scientific study and new book” with a goal of helping “others find more inner peace, joy and success.”

She said she wanted to better understand “wise” people who “looked at conditions and life with a wider lens.”

Gabayan then launched The Wisdom Research Project, which included interviewing 60 people aged 50 to 79 years old across North America who were nominated as “wise.” What she found through her research is the basis of her book.

“Based on interviewing these ‘wise’ individuals, I was able to scientifically define wisdom as eight life skills that together instill wisdom—and are not taught at school,” Gabayan said. “I now believe that ‘things happen for you, not to you,’ and encourage people to look for the bigger meaning of things that happen to them. I also believe that wisdom is not related to accomplishments or wealth, but is a passion and love of life that results in meaning and depth.”

Gabayan discovered through her research that wisdom includes eight intertwined traits: resilience, kindness, positivity, spirituality, humility, tolerance, creativity and curiosity, in that order. The most common trait Gabayan said she encountered was resilience, which is why it is listed first.

“Each interviewee had at least two elements, most had five and only one person out of the 60 exhibited all eight qualities,” Gabayan explained. “It takes time to build these life skills.”

Among those interviewed were a widower of two husbands, a concentration camp survivor, a CEO of five companies, nonprofit leaders, marketing professionals and more.

“What’s surprised me the most is the amount of difficulty and trauma people have gone through, and yet they were not bitter, they were not angry and they were just more at peace,” Gabayan said.

The second surprise, Gabayan said, was how prevalent the element of kindness was among those who are considered wise.

“I came from the Middle East—kindness was not viewed with respect there,” she described. “It was viewed as weakness, but yet these people viewed kindness—and not only in a way of who they surround themselves with, but the way they treated themselves and the way they treated humanity with—kindess was very important to them.”

Through researching and writing the book, Gabayan said, she realized it was her husband’s kindness that she was originally drawn to, describing him as “very kind.” She said she now pays more attention to kindness in people.

Also in the book are journaling exercises at the end of each chapter to help guide readers to enhance these “core life skills, increase their wisdom, be more successful and be happier.” Gabayan also has peppered in “practical tips”—for example, in the “Positivity” chapter, she recommended that people surround themselves with “pleasant pictures and enjoyable music,” as well as “meditate and envision overcoming the challenge.”

Gabayan described “Common Wisdom” as more than a self-help book—it is a “practical guide to viewing life differently.” She shared that she hopes people go through life as “a warrior and not a victim,” that they realize “things are happening for you and not to you,” noting it’s important to “live in faith and not fear.”

She also said she does not believe in wasting people’s time—so the book is “very to the point.”

“I also had my share of writing very boring manuscripts,” Gabayan said, “and so I specifically made this one very easy to read, very simple but powerful. I feel like you can make your point and you don’t have to use jargon to do it.”

She suggested anyone “seeking more meaning and fulfillment in their lives” or “interested in enhancing and mastering life” pick up the book, as well as those “wanting to learn life skills not taught in schools.”

“My new mission is to help people find more joy, peace, happiness and success through these insights and new life skills,” Gabayan said. “The Wisdom Research Project interviewees gave me hope and new perspectives … when things look like they’re not in your benefit, just have faith. Don’t live in fear. Live in faith that things will turn around and work out.”

For more information, including a link to purchase the book, visit lauragabayan.com.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

St. Matthew’s Music Guild will host its annual Holiday Concert on the evening of Friday, December 6, with a program that features the music of Henry Purcell, Arcangelo Corelli and more.

The 40th anniversary season will continue with a “lively program of music for the holidays.”

“The concert—featuring The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s and Choir of St. Matthew’s Parish, conducted by Dwayne S. Milburn—kicks off with Baroque masterpieces by Henry Purcell and Arcangelo Corelli,” read a statement. “The Chamber Orchestra will be joined by choir and soloists in [Antonio] Vivaldi’s effervescent ‘Gloria’ in D major. A traditional sing-along of [George Frideric] Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ will round out the program.”

Vivaldi composed the majority of his major works, including “Gloria,” while working as master of violin at the Ospedale della Pietà, which was an orphanage for girls in Venice, according to Music Guild.

“The ‘Gloria,’ in the festive key of D major, is beloved for its charming melodies and driving rhythms, and features operatic arias and duets for soprano and alto—solos that would have originally been sung by the girls in Vivaldi’s charge,” the statement continued.

Together with Vivaldi, Corelli is credited with establishing the “language of Baroque instrumental music in Italy.” Corelli wrote “Concerto Grosso Op. 6, no. 8,” which is known as the “Christmas Concerto” for his hometown, Rome. It is written to evoke “the sense of calm and quiet on Christmas night,” with “a pastorale in a lilting ‘Sicilian’ rhythm.”

Purcell composed “The Gordian Knot Untied”—“incidental music for a theatrical production of the same name.” Though “little is known about the play,” it is “presumed to have been based on the legend of the Gordian knot.” The legend states that whoever untied the “complex knot tied to an oxcart” would become the ruler of all of Asia.

“No holiday concert is complete without a rousing rendition of Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus,’” the statement read. “The choir and orchestra will lead the audience in a sing-along of the holiday favorite.”

The concert will begin at 8 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Parish, located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue. Tickets are available for $45 or as part of a season pack.

A free, pre-concert conversation will be offered by Milburn starting at 7:10 p.m. in the church.

For more information, including a link to purchase tickets, visit musicguildonline.org.

Gianna Caruso—founder and CEO of GIGI C and nonprofit Hear With You—partnered with Cult Gaia Founder and Designer Jasmin Hekmat to host a shopping event in celebration of Cult Gaia’s holiday collection at its Palisades Village store. A portion of the proceeds from the event support Caruso’s foundation.

“Gianna’s foundation is dedicated to making a wide range of resources, community events, education and treatment opportunities more accessible to individuals and families affected by hearing loss,” according to a statement. “Hear With You also aims to raise awareness of hearing health among the general population.”

Level UP Los Angeles recently partnered with BOCA for their fourth annual fundraising shopping event at the Monument Street store. An event organizer described it as “the most successful fundraiser to date for the Pacific-Palisades nonprofit, which supports under-resourced community schools.”

“We are so grateful to BOCA for partnering with us on this incredible event to support our organization,” the statement continued.

Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club hosted a Holiday Gift Bazaar on Saturday, November 9, inviting the community to shop for the holidays while raising funds for its 2025 Grant Program. In addition to a bake sale, the event featured housewares, jewelry, mixed-media art, apparel, handbags, linens, baskets, candles and more.

“We are thrilled to share how truly remarkable our Holiday Bazaar was last Saturday,” the PPWC board wrote. “Together, we achieved our fundraising goals and created a memorable day for the community.”

Girl Scout Troop 70455 teamed up with Palisades-Malibu YMCA to open a Free Little Library and earn their Bronze Award. The grand opening event featured a book drive, with items collected going to Marquez Charter Elementary School. The troop includes students in sixth grade at Calvary, Corpus Christi, Paul Revere Charter Middle, Seven Arrows and Village schools.

Los Angeles-based children’s nature program HAWKs Kids—“dedicated to fostering a love for the outdoors, helping children grow up with reduced anxiety and a deeper connection to the environment”—hosted an event in Temescal Gateway Park.

The event featured a plant dye workshop with Berbo, foraging, apple tasting with Aliza Sokolow and a lunch under the oaks with HAWKs educators and special guests. It was co-hosted by Chudney Ross of Books and Cookies, as well as HAWKs Founder Emma Flanders.

Pali High Grad Releases New Song, Gives Updates About Producing and Making Music

By ALLIE YANG | Intern

For Marquez Knolls musician Chantal Trent, an elementary school poetry class was the catalyst of her career.

“That [class] really got me into writing poetry, which is kind of how I started,” she said to the Palisadian-Post. “I was like, ‘I love poetry so much; I feel like it wouldn’t be that hard to just transition it into songwriting.’ I started taking guitar lessons, and then I went on from there.”

Since her introduction to music and songwriting, Trent has released numerous albums and EPs, with her first, “Lights,” being when she was a student at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, which was featured in the Post in 2019.

Continuing into high school, Trent has utilized the resources and support of Palisades Charter High School, which she graduated from with the Class of 2024, to advance her career and build her style as a musician.

“Going to school in the Palisades was what started my whole music career,” Trent said. “At Pali, there’s been a ton of things that have been really great for me and my music. I made the music video with another Pali student that I met named Jonah Sachs, who’s incredible, and he’s a part of the film department. We met through theater with Ms. [Nancy] Fracchiolla. Everybody that I work with, even my producer, went to Pali when he was a kid. It’s all pretty connected.”

With a decades-long relationship with music, Trent has noticed the gradual shift in her work’s style, from youthful and unfiltered to mainstream and complex. She noted the introduction of modern instruments as an indication that her music has become sonically refined. However, “Stupid Love,” her newest song and release from June 1, has kept to her original taste.

“The style I had in the past was definitely very ‘singer-songwriter,’ almost a little folky,” Trent observed. “It had a lot more percussion, tambourines and shakers. What I kind of transitioned into was a sleeker, more electronic alternative pop hybrid. I’m getting more into the alternative sound in terms of synths that we’re exploring and electronic drums. ‘Stupid Love’ was meant to be an acoustic ballad, so we kind of tried to keep that as it was.”

In addition, the content of her work has matured alongside her. As the backdrop to her music, the production serves as an important way for Trent to control the finer details of her music, which she has grown proficient with over time.

“When I started writing, I was 12, so I think the subject matter developed, and I would say the biggest development for me would be my production skills,” Trent said. “When I first started, I would meet with my producer, I would show him the song that I wrote, and then he would imagine it and produce it how he thought would be best.

“Over time, and [by] listening to music, and starting to write more and getting a bigger catalog, I was able to find a sound I liked and was more authentic to me. I started to take over a bunch of the production. I’m not good with the technical aspects of it, but I’m pretty much planning it all sonically and directing the production of the music that I make.”

Where Trent’s musical agency comes to light is in her original song, “Stupid Love,” which is about feeling disillusioned by one’s experience with love, but wanting to believe in its beauty anyway. Trent’s choices in the music video mirror this central theme of love, with the help of Sachs’ creative decisions.

“‘Stupid Love’ is one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever written because it’s set in three instead of four, so it’s almost like a waltz, which I love,” Trent described. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before in anything that I’ve released. Sachs was like, ‘What if we do the scenes where you’re so in love and you’re so happy in this film, like it’s a beautiful memory, and then we switch to regular camera for the reality?’ which was the fighting scenes and where things started to fall apart. The juxtaposition between the film camera and the regular camera, I think, is so good and is part of what makes the music video for me.”

“Stupid Love” also includes references to Trent’s own musical inspiration, which her collaborator and fellow Palisadian Sachs, worked to incorporate.

“In the lyrics, I have this line that I really like,” Trent said. “It’s the opening line: ‘Spent all night with Tyler in my ears/My love’s gone/Is it really how it feels?’ That’s a reference to the Tyler the Creator song. I was listening to a ton of Tyler the Creator at the time, so I liked that I incorporated that. My favorite part of that song is definitely the bridge, because it’s super emotional.”

Trent said she believes her collaboration with Sachs has been critical for the direction and artistic choices displayed within her music video, as he offers a nuanced perspective on her ideas and how to bring them to life.

“He’s a genius,” Trent said. “He brought [‘Stupid Love’] to life, and gave it a real storyline and plot. His direction is just so incredible … He was able to bring everything to life and portray in the music video what happened in real life that inspired that song. He got the message across so beautifully with how he edited it and put all the pieces together. It just flows so well.”

As for the future after “Stupid Love,” Trent said she wants to continue her career as a songwriter while utilizing her catalog ideas.

“I’m working on a lot of new music,” she revealed. “I’m writing a lot, which I kind of took a break from, because I had a catalog of 100 to 150 songs. I wasn’t really running out, but I took a pause to focus on the production side, and I started writing more … I’m spending a ton of time on music this year, because I’m going to [Santa Monica College], but taking minimal classes. My goals are to play a lot more shows [and] release a lot more music. I’d love to do another EP or album in the future, and explore alternative production style as well.”