Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Lozonschi.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am originally from Iași, the second-largest city in Romania. It’s also a very creative spot with a rich history steeped in the arts. I grew up in a very artistically diverse environment, with ballet classes, going to the philharmonic, the theater, etc. Whatever else you can imagine, I was involved in. Seeing that I had such an attraction towards this world, my mom signed me up for piano lessons, very young, at the age of four to be more exact, and that was it. As a pretty shy kid, I found my refuge in practicing for hours and developing my skills to eventually get accepted into the arts school in my city. I continued playing professionally and studying at the National Collage of Art “Octav Băncilă,” and then went on to playing the piano on many stages and winning competitions nationally and internationally. But even though I loved what I was doing, it always seemed like something was missing. After high school, I took a leap of faith and started exploring more the idea of going into musical theater, finding comfort in the fact that I’ve studied music my whole life. I was fortunate to meet my vocal coach and mentor, Ozana Barabancea, who saw my potential and urged me to chase my dreams across the ocean. I received fantastic training at the New York Film Academy for musical theater, then went on to sharpen my dancing skills at Steps on Broadway and finally decided that theater is my sweet spot and went on to train with the best at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. It wasn’t and isn’t an easy journey, but it’s definitely exciting and fueled by passion. This love affair with the theater was ignited by my grandfather, and it became an inseparable part of who I am.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth, and I don’t think I would’ve appreciated it as much if it was. I was a different person when I got to New York seven years ago. I was 24, I didn’t know much past the European borders, so it took a while to figure out how to fit in within this culture. I’m still not sure I fit in 100%, but I’ve definitely built a life for myself that makes me feel included, successful, and at home. I like to call the struggles “lessons” because every little thing that could be considered a failure or a challenge has taught me that I’m capable of doing everything that I set my mind on. I grew confident and unapologetic, which I believe to be two of the most important qualities I’ve developed here. I remain positive and optimistic about my life, and I wish to also give hope to other fellow international actors to remind them that if they follow their path and stay true to who they are, they will succeed no matter what. It took me long enough to realize there is no blueprint for life, and especially for the artistic life, so I encourage my fellow artists to look past that and remain confident that they are enough, and it takes time for the best things to happen. I cannot describe the peace I feel now when I look at my journey ahead and know that there is no timeline for an amazing career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My journey in the world of theater has been a thrilling adventure. I performed quite a lot in NYC, from the vibrant stages of Producer’s Club to the intimate setting at Under St Marks Theater in East Village. Some of my favorite roles are Lyubov Andreyevna in Anton Chekhov’s play “The Cherry Orchard,” #25-Captain in “The Wolves,” Chloe in “Fearless,” Wendy in “Wendy & Peter: A Mythic, Lyric, Comic Drama,” and Lu in Carson Kreitzer’s “SELF DEFENSE, or the death of some salesmen.”
One of the highlights of my career was playing Lyubov Andreyevna in the multilingual adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” this January. This innovative project has pushed the boundaries of traditional theater. Performing in eight languages simultaneously—Romanian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Japanese, and English—with supertitles in English was a truly unique and challenging experience. The production not only showcased linguistic diversity but also held personal significance for me as it marked the first time I performed in my native language, Romanian. I’m immensely grateful to my friends Anya Zhang, Roslind Finlay, and director Frank Pagliaro for their courage in bringing this innovative concept to life. The audience had an overwhelmingly positive response, and having all of our shows SOLD-OUT, as well as many people watching via streaming, has motivated us to continue exploring and expanding this concept. Our goal is to give the opportunity to people from all over the world to find a piece of home in our performances.
Another project close to my heart is the ensemble physical theater piece titled “Falling.” It was presented at PhysFestNYC, where I collaborated with a fantastic group of individuals, and was curated by Bill Bowers, Joanne Edelmann, and Nick Piacente. The festival, which premiered January 2024, celebrated a diverse range of genres, including mime, clown, performance art, puppetry, and dance theater. This experience allowed me to stretch my artistic abilities and contribute to a unique and multidimensional performance.
I also had the good fortune to collaborate for the play “Moss” with a fellow Romanian, Cătălina Florescu. She is a professor at Pace University, as well as a published author and playwright. Her and I joined forces with actor Carrie Ellman-Larsen (that played my grandmother) for the short play festival “Sex!” at The Players Theater.
In this festival, Cătălina fearlessly tackled subjects that are often considered taboo, including dementia, gender and sexuality, philosophy of love, and LGBTQ themes. Her writing brought a fierce and honest perspective to these complex topics, creating a powerful and thought-provoking experience for both us, the performers, and the audience. Cătălina’s unique approach to storytelling resonated with me, and I am eager to work again with her in the future.
On the cinematic front, I took on the role of script supervisor for the feature film “Flaky,” directed by Michael Obiazi and distributed on AppleTV+. Working behind the camera provided me with valuable insights into the intricate world of film production. Witnessing the collaboration of various departments and the meticulous attention to detail required to bring a movie to life has deepened my appreciation and respect for the filmmaking process and has made me a better actor in the process.
Looking ahead, I am excited to spend my birthday weekend, Feb 16th-18th, performing again at Producer’s Club in “A Sketch Of New York.” additionally, I’ll be soon collaborating with my friend Joe Staton (that played the flamboyant Simeonov Pishchik in The Cherry Orchard) on his production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As an artist, I am constantly evolving, and each new project brings fresh challenges and opportunities for growth. I eagerly anticipate the next chapter in my professional life, confident that the diverse experiences and collaborations will continue to shape and define my artistic identity.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’m just gonna go ahead and say it: the weather in LA has truly won my heart! Having called New York home for such an extended period of time, where the weather has a mind of its own, I feel like a content lizard soaking up the sun every time I’m here. One thing that I’ve noticed and find more of an observation than a dislike about LA is its emphasis on driving. I am not a great driver by any means, and I also come from a place where walking and taking the train are integral parts of my daily routine. Here, the city’s layout doesn’t seem to prioritize pedestrians or public transportation users.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elenalozonschi.com
- Instagram: @elenalozonschi
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-lozonschi/
Image Credits
Hraban Luyat
Sabrina DiGeorge
Joe Loper
John Lamparski
