Former Theater student Cabrera credits CCRI with opening the doors to his success
Former Theater student Cabrera credits CCRI with opening the doors to his success
April 18, 2022
As a “hands-on” learner, Providence’s Rudy Cabrera credits his success in entertainment
to his vast array of experiences outside of the classroom, but remains equally thankful
for the foundation he built as a theater student at the Community College of Rhode
Island.
The 33-year-old Cabrera, a poetry slam veteran and professional actor, spent two years
honing his craft at CCRI under the guidance of theater professor and program coordinator
Ted Clement.
As he prepares for his upcoming role as Clotaldo in the Trinity Repertory Company
production of Sueno, Cabrera fondly remembers his time as a student, which gave him the confidence to
test the waters in the wildly-competitive entertainment industry.
“I loved CCRI. My experience in the classroom taught me how valuable the technical
aspect of theater is,” said Cabrera, who attended CCRI from 2009–2011. “Raw talent
is one thing, but you can only do so much with raw talent.
“An education helps you fine-tune it and put it to practical use.”
Cabrera’s role in Sueno – a contemporary English-language reimagining of Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s Life is a Dream, which runs through May 8 at Trinity Rep – is his first on-stage theater performance
since prior to the start of the pandemic. He last performed in Trinity Rep’s A Tale of Two Cities in February of 2020, but the production lasted only a week and a half until the pandemic
hit.
Cabrera stayed busy performing at one-off poetry events and also starred in the independent
short film Deep Redd, a horror anthology/hip hop musical filmed in Rhode Island that also featured a handful
of CCRI students.
Most recently, he participated in the Rhode Island PBS panel discussion “Black Joy:
History, Tradition, and Legacy of Joy in RI’s Black Community.” His resume also includes
bilingual and Spanish-speaking roles in a variety of modern contemporary theater productions
in addition to his performance on the poetry slam circuit, where his team from the
Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA, earned a top 10 finish at the 2013 National Poetry
Slam competition.
A self-proclaimed “lover of language,” Cabrera is a throwback performer with unmatched
versatility and depth, but admits “a big chunk of myself was missing” during the two
years in which he couldn’t perform on stage due to the pandemic. His love for theater
surfaced at the age of 17 amidst a troubled past at Central High School and developed
into a lifelong passion under the tutelage of CCRI’s diverse theater faculty.
Cabrera vividly remembers working on the CCRI Players’ production of Much Ado About Nothing during his final semester at the college. A member of the Kennedy Center American
College Theater Festival (KCACTF) committee – a committee Clement has served on for
more than a decade – attended the show’s final performance and gave Cabrera an important
piece of advice that he credits as the “turning point” in his development as a performer.
“At the time, I had a bit of a mumbling problem. That, coupled with my Rhode Island
accent, was short-changing the work I was doing,” Cabrera recalled. “He told me, ‘You
need to work on your articulation. You swallow too many of your consonants and I have
trouble hearing you.’
“That made me realize that the raw talent I had and everything I could do on that
stage wouldn’t matter if I didn’t work on the technical aspects. I credit that to
the resources CCRI made available to us as theater students – just the fact that someone
from the KCACTF came to give us advice.
“I have no doubt my journey would’ve taken longer without that.”
Theater, Cabrera says, allows him to express himself in ways other forms of entertainment
don’t allow. When he was uncertain where his journey would lead him at a young age,
or when he felt the pressure to run with the wrong crowds, theater kept him grounded.
“Theater changed everything for me,” Cabrera said. “It gave me a passion that was
stronger than the influence around me.”
Even with the success he’s had as an actor, poet, and storyteller, and his reputation
as a reliable performer who works tirelessly behind the scenes, Cabrera remains a
student of theater despite no longer being a theater student.
“I credit CCRI with opening the door for me to fully grasp the importance of all the
work that goes into this craft before the curtain rises,” Cabrera said. “CCRI encouraged
me to pay attention to those details, which helped me fine-tune my speech, my voice,
and my articulation.
“I’m all the way back and fully locked in again. I’m blessed to be a part of this.”
A Providence, RI, native, and Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2011 alumna, Flavia A. Albert, M.A., is on the verge of releasing her first children's book next month to combine her passion for behavioral health and early childhood development with her love for storytelling.
CCRI announces partnership with Building Futures to deliver new Apprenticeship Readiness program
November 22, 2024
With the support of a $250,000workforce investment from the RI Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT), the college will begin offering apprenticeship readiness programming in January through the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness curriculum that delivers an industry-recognized credential.
CCRI recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting
November 20, 2024
For the past two election cycles, the Community College of Rhode Island has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as part of its Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition program.
Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship
March 07, 2025
NEWPORT, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of an associate in arts degree in Culinary Craftsmanship on CCRI’s Newport Campus in fall 2025. To support this initiative, Governor McKee is proposing $850,000 to create a Culinary and Hospitality hub at CCRI’s Newport Campus. The hub will serve as a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals in Rhode Island’s workforce.
CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare
March 05, 2025
For students like Esther Duran, of Providence, Wanda Wrobleski, of Cumberland, and Richard Garcia, of Providence, the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare has been transformed thanks to the Community College of Rhode Island and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Funded by a $75,000 grant from the legendary rock band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, this initiative provides financial support to students enrolled in CCRI’s Medical Assistant and Patient Support Specialist workforce training programs—helping to alleviate financial burdens and empower students to focus on their education and career goals.
CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament
March 05, 2025
Warwick, RI- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Women’s Basketball teamshowcased their dominance once again in the NJCAA Region XXI Conference, securing the regional title for the fourth year in a row and, punching their ticket to the National Tournament.
WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Players continue their 2024–25 season with a bold and thought-provoking production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, running March 6–9 at the Bobby Hackett Theatre on CCRI's Knight Campus.
The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.
February marks Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country; a time to acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history; and a time to walk alongside today’s Black leaders as they lead the work to create a truly anti-racist, inclusive community for all.
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2024 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
World Languages student and Rhode Island native wins fifth Emmy Award for film-editing technology
December 13, 2024
Cranston, RI, native Thomas Ohanian, a World Languages & Cultures student completing his independent study, recently won his fifth Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award for co-inventing the Avid Multicamera System, a technology that has revolutionized the film-making and editing industry.
College's Division of Workforce Partnerships earns 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award
December 12, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships has won the 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award for its work in developing free training programs to help upskill more than 50 employees through online trainings and in-person courses at PACE’s East Providence, RI, headquarters and CCRI’s Providence Campus.
CCRI Players tackle themes of doubt and uncertainty with final production of fall semester
December 12, 2024
Beginning today, the CCRI Players launch a four-day run of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, produced by CCRI Performing Arts Professor Luke Sutherland and scheduled for five performances at the college’s Providence Campus Auditorium. Showtimes are 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday with 2 pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Michael Marrapodi has joined CCRI as the new Executive Director of Online Learning. He has been involved with education since teaching music at a private school during his senior year of college in 1976 and is now an innovative leader in the online learning sector.
Second-year Biology student, PTK scholar helps feed the homeless one sandwich at a time
November 26, 2024
Eighteen-year-old Rhode Island Promise scholar and Warwick, RI, resident Lucas Johnson revived an old family tradition this past summer with Sandwich Party Sundays – a unique opportunity to spread joy and good cheer to Providence's homeless population each weekend at Kennedy Plaza.
A Providence, RI, native, and Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2011 alumna, Flavia A. Albert, M.A., is on the verge of releasing her first children's book next month to combine her passion for behavioral health and early childhood development with her love for storytelling.
CCRI announces partnership with Building Futures to deliver new Apprenticeship Readiness program
November 22, 2024
With the support of a $250,000workforce investment from the RI Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT), the college will begin offering apprenticeship readiness programming in January through the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness curriculum that delivers an industry-recognized credential.
CCRI recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting
November 20, 2024
For the past two election cycles, the Community College of Rhode Island has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as part of its Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition program.
Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship
March 07, 2025
NEWPORT, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of an associate in arts degree in Culinary Craftsmanship on CCRI’s Newport Campus in fall 2025. To support this initiative, Governor McKee is proposing $850,000 to create a Culinary and Hospitality hub at CCRI’s Newport Campus. The hub will serve as a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals in Rhode Island’s workforce.
CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare
March 05, 2025
For students like Esther Duran, of Providence, Wanda Wrobleski, of Cumberland, and Richard Garcia, of Providence, the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare has been transformed thanks to the Community College of Rhode Island and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Funded by a $75,000 grant from the legendary rock band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, this initiative provides financial support to students enrolled in CCRI’s Medical Assistant and Patient Support Specialist workforce training programs—helping to alleviate financial burdens and empower students to focus on their education and career goals.
CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament
March 05, 2025
Warwick, RI- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Women’s Basketball teamshowcased their dominance once again in the NJCAA Region XXI Conference, securing the regional title for the fourth year in a row and, punching their ticket to the National Tournament.
WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Players continue their 2024–25 season with a bold and thought-provoking production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, running March 6–9 at the Bobby Hackett Theatre on CCRI's Knight Campus.
The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.
February marks Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country; a time to acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history; and a time to walk alongside today’s Black leaders as they lead the work to create a truly anti-racist, inclusive community for all.
The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2024 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
World Languages student and Rhode Island native wins fifth Emmy Award for film-editing technology
December 13, 2024
Cranston, RI, native Thomas Ohanian, a World Languages & Cultures student completing his independent study, recently won his fifth Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Award for co-inventing the Avid Multicamera System, a technology that has revolutionized the film-making and editing industry.
College's Division of Workforce Partnerships earns 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award
December 12, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island’s Division of Workforce Partnerships has won the 2024 PACE-RI Academic Partnership Award for its work in developing free training programs to help upskill more than 50 employees through online trainings and in-person courses at PACE’s East Providence, RI, headquarters and CCRI’s Providence Campus.
CCRI Players tackle themes of doubt and uncertainty with final production of fall semester
December 12, 2024
Beginning today, the CCRI Players launch a four-day run of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, produced by CCRI Performing Arts Professor Luke Sutherland and scheduled for five performances at the college’s Providence Campus Auditorium. Showtimes are 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday with 2 pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Michael Marrapodi has joined CCRI as the new Executive Director of Online Learning. He has been involved with education since teaching music at a private school during his senior year of college in 1976 and is now an innovative leader in the online learning sector.
Second-year Biology student, PTK scholar helps feed the homeless one sandwich at a time
November 26, 2024
Eighteen-year-old Rhode Island Promise scholar and Warwick, RI, resident Lucas Johnson revived an old family tradition this past summer with Sandwich Party Sundays – a unique opportunity to spread joy and good cheer to Providence's homeless population each weekend at Kennedy Plaza.
A Providence, RI, native, and Community College of Rhode Island Class of 2011 alumna, Flavia A. Albert, M.A., is on the verge of releasing her first children's book next month to combine her passion for behavioral health and early childhood development with her love for storytelling.
CCRI announces partnership with Building Futures to deliver new Apprenticeship Readiness program
November 22, 2024
With the support of a $250,000workforce investment from the RI Department of Labor and Training (RI-DLT), the college will begin offering apprenticeship readiness programming in January through the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness curriculum that delivers an industry-recognized credential.
CCRI recognized as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting
November 20, 2024
For the past two election cycles, the Community College of Rhode Island has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as part of its Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognition program.
April 18, 2022
