 Included in her class were Penny Johnson Jerald, Lorraine Toussaint, Jack Kenny and Jack Stehlin.She then relocated to Los Angeles, California to further pursue her career; during this time she also took on a job taking care of stray cats.Gallagher began her career on stage, appearing in a production of Paul Osborn "Oliver Oliver" before being cast in the 1989 Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin's "A Few Good Men".