From the film sets of Argentina to the stages of New York, LSTFI alumna Venezia Katabian has always lived at the intersection of art and identity. A writer, actor, and creator, Venezia draws from her rich multicultural background and deeply personal experiences to tell stories that heal connect, and reveal. Her latest work, an original play titled Coffee at 7?, is a reflection of that ethos. The one-act play touches on memory, intimacy, and the quiet power of being seen. Developed with fellow LSTFI alumni and backed by the Argentine Consulate, the production marks not only a creative milestone but a testament to the training, resilience, and voice Venezia has honed along the way.
Finding Home at LSTFI
Venezia Katabian has never been far from storytelling. Raised in Argentina, she spent much of her childhood on TV sets and in a home filled with art. By age six, she was already studying acting. “It was always part of my language,” she shares. A solo trip brought her to New York and eventually to the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, where she enrolled in the Two-Year Conservatory program. “Strasberg completely changed my life,” Venezia says. “It’s where I really met myself.” She credits faculty like Geoffrey Horne, whose classes she left feeling “like a better person,” and Suzanne DiDonna, who helped Venezia move the metaphorical “rocks” in her path. “Their influence still lives in the work I do now,” she adds.
The Birth of Coffee at 7?
This spring, Venezia premiered her original one-act play, Coffee at 7?, at The Vino Theater in Brooklyn. Venezia starred in the production alongside fellow LSTFI alumnus Juan Teisaire. With live original music from alumna Amel Litim, the play explores fleeting connections, memory, and intimacy between strangers. “It was inspired by a very personal moment,” she shares. “It’s about how a small conversation can truly heal you.”
The production came together with a small team and a tight timeline. Venezia wore multiple hats until just a week before opening. “I’d have eight to ten minutes backstage to shift from producer mode into acting,” she recalls. “It was the ultimate test of my training.” She credits her LSTFI training, especially the emotional preparation work, for allowing her to drop into character quickly, even in high-pressure moments. “That foundation helped me separate everything else and focus on being fully present,” she says.
The play was supported by the Argentine Consulate in New York, who promoted it on their official Instagram, hosted Venezia and co-star Juan for a meeting with the Ambassador, and later invited them to perform it at the embassy.
Looking Ahead
Now based in Los Angeles, Venezia is embracing her full identity, including both her Argentine and Armenian roots. “In the U.S., being different can feel like a challenge. But I’m learning to make it part of my art,” she says. Her cultural background is no longer something she feels she needs to adapt, and it’s a source of strength, pride, and inspiration.
Venezia’s advice to fellow creatives? “Do things for the sake of doing them. Even if it’s just a month-long project. Even if it’s not perfect. Remind yourself of what you’ve already done, that’s what grounds you.”
You can stream Venezia’s earlier work, Melody, on Prime Video — and keep an eye out for what’s next from this bold, original voice!