Hi! My name is Gina Naomi Baez, and I am a latine actor, singer-songwriter, writer and the creator of Abril a new musical! I have built a career on TV shows like "Only Murders in the Building", Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It," and "Orange is the New Black", on the musical theatre stage both off-Broadway and regionally and on the internet via YouTube, Instagram and TikTok with my self-written original music and parodies recognized by Rolling Stone, Billboard, People Magazine, Access Hollywood, Huffington Post, American Songwriter and many more!

My journey, however, began long before my career took off. As a childhood cancer survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma, I have a deeply personal story to tell, and that story is the heart of "Abril". Being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma as a child was a life-altering experience. I faced the physical and emotional challenges of treatment, the uncertainty of remission and the bumpy road back to "normalcy" after achieving remission. One of my biggest fears since achieving remission was the possibility of recurrence. Unfortunately, in 2021, that fear became a reality when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This second battle with cancer, along with my experiences as a childhood cancer survivor, has profoundly shaped my perspective and inspired me to create "Abril".

Throughout my journey, I realized that there are fewer resources available for adult survivors of childhood cancer. The scars left by cancer are not only physical but deeply emotional, and the need for comprehensive survivorship resources is critical. Through "Abril," I aim to shed light on the challenges faced by survivors and the unfortunate vulnerability one can face without proper support. The musical explores the fear of recurrence, the struggle for normalcy, the longing for understanding, and the vulnerabilities one unfortunately can sometimes succumb too. Abril highlights the necessity for holistic survivorship resources to address both physical and emotional needs.

I wrote "Abril" not only because of my experiences but also because songwriting, musical theatre, and Broadway are not only a part of my career but have always been my first love and passion. Musical Theatre is the genre that got me through my cancer battle as a kid and why I have pursued becoming a professional actress. I believe "Abril" can help so many others by offering a narrative of resilience, hope, and healing through the transformative power of musical theatre.

Abril recently had its first 29-hour developmental reading in NYC in May 2024 with a cast of professional Broadway actor/singers. We are now seeking to raise funds to help us jumpstart our next phases of the developmental process, including recording the songs professionally in a studio, workshopping and developing the script and story further, and planning for a full concert presentation of "ABRIL." As we all know, all of this requires money and support, and this is where you come in!

"Abril" is more than just a musical; it's a testament to the strength of those who have faced cancer and a call to action for better support systems. By sharing my story through "Abril," I hope to inspire, heal, and create a lasting impact on audiences, raise awareness and foster empathy for the cancer survivor and those touched by cancer community.