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BIOGRAPHY |
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Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Naava Piatka began her professional acting career as a child, appearing in musical shows with her comedienne/singer mother, Chayela Rosenthal (the "Wunderkind of the Vilna Ghetto Theatre"). Naava earned her BA in Drama and English from the University of Cape Town and went on to teach and perform at the Entertainment Education Centre. After traveling and living abroad, she returned to Johannesburg, where she co-founded "Stages" children's theatre company, producing and directing her own musical plays and working in radio and TV. Naava is also an accomplished artist, exhibiting in both solo and group shows in galleries worldwide. Her paintings are held in private collections internationally.
Naava immigrated to the USA in 1977, settling in Boston, Massachusetts where she raised her family of three children. While continuously painting, Naava also worked as a professional actress, director, voice over artist, drama coach and founded the successful children's theatre group “SHOWSTOPPERS.” Naava was known in the Boston theatre scene for her work with the Jewish Theatre of New England, The American Repertory Company, The Chekhov Film and Theatre Company, Turtle Lane Playhouse, and Boston Playwrights' Theatre, where she performed her first one-woman show, "Lovelines". She won "Best Actress" award at the 1996 Capital Film Slam in New York, and was profiled in Cyndi Kaplan’s book: "Awaken Your Business Creativity." Naava directed the original production of the musical, "The Orphan Bride" by Robbie Solomon of Safam fame and directed pop star Sherri Lewis’s one-woman show: “Life’s A Beach.”
As a playwright, Naava has been a repeat winner of the Boston Playwrights' Platform New Works Competition and has been commissioned by local theatre companies for playwriting and musicals. In 1996, Naava was winner of a local Cultural Council Grant for the production of her full-length musical WORLD GONE CRAZY, based on her mother's life in war-torn Europe.
From that musical emerged Naava Piatka's internationally acclaimed one-woman show, BETTER Don’T TALK! (aka FINDING MY MOTHER’S VOICE) a musical theatre show about her comedienne mother, Chayela Rosenthal’s remarkable life during and after the Shoah. A winner in the 1998 Boston's "Women on Top" Theatre Festival, BETTER DON’T TALK! had international premieres in South Africa, Australia, Canada, and Germany, and was featured in the United States Holocaust Museum’s “Acts of Courage” Performance series. In 2003, Naava performed at London’s New End Theatre, in the London Jewish Arts Festival, at the 60th Commemoration of the Liquidation of the Vilna Ghetto in Vilnius, Lithuania and at the Hollywood Art and Culture Center, Florida. In 2004 Naava performed her play off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters and in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was featured presentation at the World Federation of the Hidden Child Survivors Conference in Denver. In 2005 Naava was a smash hit at a sold out performance at London’s The Arts Depot, returning to London by popular demand in the Fall for more sellout performances for charity organizations. Naava was featured guest artist at the 2005 O’Neill Cabaret Conference and the 2006 Cabaret Conference at Yale, sharing the stage with Broadway star, Tovah Feldshuh.
EXPRESS4SUCCESS is Naava’s performance coaching program. Known as the “BREAKTHROUGH QUEEN,” Naava expertly helps her clients get clear about blocks and barriers that prevent them from living a liberated life. Her direct, no-nonsense coaching and insightful inspiration spurs people on to “go for their dreams, ” and express their best selves in full confidence.
Naava’ distinct dynamic, positive encouragement, humor and psychic ability to hone in on the heart of the matter, gives those she counsels clarity, motivation and inspiration. With Naava’s empowering coaching, clients quickly identify and break free of old fears, negative thinking and limited beliefs to dare to live a life of creative, rich outer abundance and inner peace.
Naava offers interactive workshops, such as MOVING ON, MOVING UP! -and the Power of Words –Raising Tolerance Awareness for students, for schools and colleges.
Naava now resides Cliffside Park, New Jersey where she enjoys the majestic view of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline.
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