PROGRAM 10

Christian Ethics Committee by Jerico Bleu

Everest by Julio Vaquero Ramos and Momo Akashi

Kool Aid Drinking Age or (STOP EXCITING YOUR CHILDREN) by Daniel Oliver Lee

Open by Jaixa Irizarry

out skirts by Shelby Pickelny

Jerico Bleu (Director/Playwright) is an actor/playwright originally from East Tennessee. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Columbia College Chicago. While in Chicago his documentary style solo show Biscuits & Bullshit was featured in MPAACT’s Solo Jamz Festival at the Greenhouse Theatre. His written work has been seen at The Barrow Group, Naked Angels, and Prop Theatre. Recently, Jerico was a part of the Jackalope Theatre Playwrights LAB, while his short film Hissy Fits won Best LGBTQ short at the San Francisco Indie Short Festival. Next, Jerico’s piece The Kids Are Seeing Lavender will be featured in the RIPPED Festival at American Blues Theater, and this solo show Hissy Fits will premiere at Vivid Stages as a part of their Summer Solos.  

Monica Afesi (Thelma) is thrilled to be making her Chain Theatre debut! Her film work includes: A Bellevue Love Story, and Petty Therapy. Next, Monica can be seen as Karen in the TV series Mandated. Monica is also the founder of Auntie Momo’s Bath and Body Care, whose products are handcrafted, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free

Anna Paratore (Heather) is a 5’0” firecracker with a deep love of Shakespeare and orange Tabby cats.  Originally from New Hampshire Anna attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is excited to be making her Chain Theatre debut. Outside of theatre, Anna can be found painting faces with her kids entertainment company Tiny Tea pot Parties. Anna is one of the hosts of the Professional Friends podcast, where they talk about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happy hour. Love to Max, KirkAnna is represented by CESD    

Corey Blake Todd (June) is a Manhattan-based non-binary performer by way of KCMO. They are grateful to be performing in their first festival in the city. Love to Jerico and the cast, Chain Theatre, and to all y’all who help me to be happy, joyous, and free.

Brittany Polk (Tammy) is so excited to be back on stage in the Chain's One Act Festival! Some of her recent credits include Not Now, Darling (Maude), Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders (Miss Pyle), and the world premiere of a new play, Breaking Up With Elvis (Toof). Brittany holds a BFA in Acting from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. EMC. Visit brittanypolk.com for more!

Kyra Lamartine (Carly) is THRILLED to be making both her NYC and Chain Theatre debut! Originally from a small farming town in Southeast Iowa, she made the big move to the East Coast a year ago and couldn't be happier. Previously seen in Seussical (Mayzie), The Spongebob Musical (Electric Skate/Featured Dancer), Chicago (Go To Hell Kitty/Ensemble) and LIZZIE (Alice Russell). Special shoutout to Jerico for including her on this project, and for providing her a creative outlet in this city. Continuous thanks to her Midwest family, Aunt, and East Coast community for always supporting, loving and believing in her.

Debbie Baños (Sound Design) Is a Chicago based actor/playwright/sound designer originally from Arkansas. Debbie’s work has been seen at Victory Gardens, Teatro Vista, and 16th St. Theatre. Her piece American Side Efectos premiered at the Edge Theatre in Chicago. TV/Film credits include NBC’s Chicago Fire, Act of Faith, and Viral. Debbie is represented by 10 Management. www.debbiebanos.com

Momo Akashi-Book & Lyric 

Momo Akashi is a New York-based book writer and lyricist. She is delighted to be a part of Chain Theatre One Act Festival. Momo specializes in creating stories that include the concept of “East-Meets-West”, a blossoming collaboration between Japanese Culture and American Culture in response to the inferiority complexes that some Asian women face when confronted by the rise in hate crimes. She recently wrote a full-length musical, MINORU: Scrape the Sky, about the architect of the World Trade Center; this work was previewed at the Tank in New York City, and some songs were presented at New York City’s Feinstein'/54 Below.

Julio Vaquero-Composer 

Julio Vaquero is an award-winning Spanish composer currently living in New York. Julio has developed his career as a writer for the stage. He has been involved in dozens of musical theatre productions as composer, orchestrator and musical director. His musicals have been performed in the major theatres of Madrid and off Broadway Theatres in New York. 

Saki Kawamura-Director 

Regional theatre: Mystic Pizza (Ogunquit Playhouse), A Jolly Holiday: Celebrating Disney’s Broadway Hits, Clue, Murder on the Orient Express (Paper Mill Playhouse), Joy (George Street Playhouse). She also serves as Associate Artistic Director of Ren Gyo Soh from 2022. MFA Directing at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. www.sakikawamura.com

Matt Graham- Music Director & Pianist (May 25th performance)

Matt Graham is a Canadian musician, composer, musical director and performer originally from Edmonton, Alberta and now located in New York. A fresh grad from NYU Tisch’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program, Matt is excited to be getting to the NYC theatre scene. Favourite Musical Direction credits include Rent, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Bring it On and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Joo Won Shin- Lillian Irvine

Joo Won Shin is a singer, actress, and dancer based in New York and also in Seoul, South Korea. Most notably, Ms. Shin was the starring singer in the Netflix drama series, “Squid Game”. She sang a cover rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon" for the iconic “Red Light Green Light” scene. She also performed in numerous concerts, movies and musicals. More @jo0_w0n to check out her upcoming shows!

Bryan George Rowell-George Mallory 

Bryan Is thrilled to be performing in the Chain Theatre Festival this year! Special thanks to Julio and Momo. Boston Native. NY Film Academy Alumni. Avalon Artists Group. 

Shün Kanazawa- Andrew Irvine

Shün Kanazawa is  a mysterious Japanese individual currently located in Los Angeles. He likes singing and he studied singing listening to his favorite singers and watching their performances on YouTube. In Los Angeles, he performed solos and vocal ensembles as a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. He has also sung on tow Disney demo recording projects. Besides that, he delicated his life to education as an elementary school teacher for 10 years. 

Luka Marinkovic-Pianist (May 8th and 15th performance) 

A native of France, Luka Marinkovic is a pianist and composer active in classical music and musical theatre. He studied composition and piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Luka recently performed aboard the Zaandam cruise ship with Holland America Line, and served as the Associate Music Director of the 2022 national double tour of An American in Paris and South Pacific. He is excited to be a part of this production!

Ai Toyoshima-Stage Manager 

Ai Toyoshima is a New York based theatrical artist. She primarily works as a musical theater actor and choreographer, but also serves as a stage manager in a theatrical production. Follow her next adventure on Instagram @toyosienne!

Alex York-English Consultant

DANIEL OLIVER LEE (Writer-Dir., Designer) (he/him) is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and secret bokonist studying film and television at NYU. As a writer and director, Daniel has amassed several accolades, recently nabbing the Student Animated Short Award from MoMI’s Marvels of Media Awards, having his work featured both in the New Ways of Seeing Exhibition and by the Hollywood Reporter. At a ripe 19 years of age, Daniel’s work ranges from composing experimental animation to acting in developmental theatre by Jason Robert Brown and Tectonic Theatre Project to spraypainting obscenities on Comedy Central. His work as an artist has been featured by Nickelodeon, 54 Below, NoBudge, Kodak Shoot Film, Nowness, Montclair Film, and CBS to name a few. He can currently be seen leading the visual album Teen Troubles in Dirty Jersey as a teenage version of The Black Skirts, the project recently premiered at SF’s Roxie Theater and has over 200k views on YouTube.

LYLA MCADAMS (Sawyer) Lyla Clare Mcadams is a NYC based actor and artist.

CHLOE RAHAL (Riley) Chloe Rahal is a New York based actress currently pursuing her BFA in drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has worked on stage plays as well as feature films, screening at festivals and theaters worldwide. Most recently, she reprised her role of Karina in the sequel of the feature film Reunion. She is thrilled to be making her debut at The Chain Theatre as Riley.

STEPH PRIZHITOMSKY (Dorian) (she/her) is the eighteen-year-old head screenwriter of Future is Female Productions. She is the co-founder of the White Rabbit Film Festival, screenwriter/director of Imagine Networks’ horror miniseries Distress Signals, and editor-in-chief of Suits and Sage Magazine. Alongside all of this, she is a recovering Shakespeare fanatic.

ALLISON WOLTER (Wyatt) (she/they) is a performer, artist, and adorable oddball whose experience ranges from musical theater to aerial and visual arts. She loves blending performance and visuals into new, totally unique projects. Shakespeare nerd and Beatle-maniac, and always thrilled to be telling stories on the stage! AMDA BFA Grad. allisonwolter.com

BENJAMIN WILSON (The High Dianeticist) Benjamin Wilson is an artist and actor from Montclair, New Jersey. Despite earning a BFA in painting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Wilson has worked in a variety of media including video, photography, and writing. As an actor Wilson has appeared in upcoming independent short films “Long Beach” (dir. Haolun Xu) and “My Hyperpop Era” (dir. Finley King), as well as in the visual album “Teen Troubles in Dirty Jersey” (dir. Waley Wang), and in the workshop for the play “Ashland” by Melissa Toomey at The Tank NYC. IG: @ashcan.jpg

Jaixa Irizarry

Jaixa Irizarry (playwright/costume designer) is a current Hunter College student and a new playwright. Her stories often explore unabashed sexuality and rarely have any inhibition about it. When she’s not a writer, she’s an actor, a makeup artist and a wardrobe professional. She is so very excited to show OPEN at The Chain Theatre Festival and really hopes you enjoy It!  

Phillip Christian Smith

Phillip Christian Smith (director) has a Roe Green Commission-The Cleveland Playhouse, 2020-21 Playwrights Realm Fellow, Lambda Literary Fellow, two-time Blue Ink Playwriting Award Semi-Finalist, Finalist for The Dramatists Guild Fellowship and New Dramatists, Finalist for Bay Area Playwrights. His work has been supported by The Fire This Time Festival, Bennington College, Primary Stages ESPA, Fresh Ground Pepper and Pace University where he teaches acting and Hunter College where he teaches playwriting. MFA Yale School of Drama, BFA University of New Mexico. MFA Hunter ’23.

Jess Lauricello

Jess Lauricello (producer) (she/they) is an interdisciplinary theatre-artist and tree-hugger from NYC. Some recent credits include: PARTY TIME (director), LASAGNA (dramaturg), and SWEAT (assistant stage manager). Upcoming: REPLACED! (playwright, director, producer) at Teatro Latea. @jesslauricello

Jo Rodriguez

Jo Rodriguez (stage manager) is a student at The City College of New York. They are currently studying theatre with a focus on stage management and sound design. Credits include Production Stage Manager at WOW Cafe Theatre for “Resilience.” Assistant Stage Manager at Tribeca Performing Arts Center for “To Catch a Fox.”

Jack Jewell

Jack Jewell (lighting designer) is a lighting designer and filmmaker who is currently enrolled as an undergraduate at Hunter College. He likes merging the two mediums of theatre and film in his designs and finding techniques that bridge both applications. In film he’s worked on independent features, short films, and documentaries and in theatre he’s lit musicals, plays, and the occasional comedy show.

Zoe Mintz

Zoe Mintz (Ivy) is a New York-based actor and filmmaker. She recently wrote, produced, and starred in the short film Vibrator Girl, which had its world premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival. Notable acting credits include Z the Cat in Counting Crows’ Butter Miracle music video (dir. Bill Fishman), Gertrude in Hamlet (dir. Gregory Mosher), and Dusty in Party Time (dir. Jess Lauricello). She’s thrilled to be a part of the Open team and extends gratitude to everyone at The Chain making this possible! // zoeelysemintz.com

Samuel Taveras 

Samuel Taveras (Michael) has a BA in Theatre from Hunter. He acted in his first play at Hunter called Ablaze during Spring 2022. Also he have been in various productions since High School and he has been trying to set his mark ever since.

BIOS

Olivier Kegan Dubar (STAR; they/them) is elated to be returning to the stage for such an important story. A New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts alum, Olivier graduated with a certain self-assurance they needed to approach all art with a sense of adventure and fun. Olivier wants to dedicate their performance in “Out Skirts” to their Mother Leola and big sister Ayesha. You can catch Olivier in the upcoming original production of “Tides” as a part of Pride Fest at The Tank Theatre.

Al Groppi (MARY MOONE) is a genderfluid actor based in NYC, with a particular passion for new works and experimental theater. Recent NYC theater credits include “The Moss Maidens” at The Loading Dock Theater (staged reading), “The Making and Breaking of Glass” at the Harlem Dream Center (staged reading), “The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost” at Triskelion Arts, and “The Minotaur” at Theater for the New City. They will also be performing in The Tank’s upcoming PrideFest on June 18th as Venice in “What Love Did To Us” by Júlia Cerqueira. They have several upcoming film projects they’d love to share but alas, cannot - for career updates be sure to follow them on instagram @algroppi, or check out their website at algroppi.com.

Mia Ventura Lucas (KEISHA TAYLOR; she/her) is a Portuguese actress and singer, who has worked in 4 different countries. She is known for her roles in the TV series ' A Lista', the Off-Broadway 'Lady Power Project' and The Star Trek Audio Drama 'Operation Eos'. She trained as a merit scholar at AADA, briefly joined West End Stage and holds a Double Honours BA in Film and Theatre from Oxford Brookes University. Mia is incredibly excited to be part of Out Skirts and bring Keisha to life! You may find out more about Mia's acting journey at https://miaventuralucas.wixsite.com/miaventuralucas IG: @miavlucas

Jordan Richards (JIM ROBERTSON; he/him) is an Actor/Writer based in New York City. He is originally from South Florida, and is just happy he is here in this town, creating art with fresh voices! You can find him on Instagram at @jordanrichards.actor or check out more of his work on his website: www.jordanrichardsactorwriter.com

Jason Tobias (STEVE PRINCE; he/him) - NYC debut! A rising senior at the CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, Jason is super excited to share this brand new piece of theatre! Favorite credits include Uncle Fester (The Addams Family), Jimmy (Almost, Maine), and Roger (Grease). He has also spent summers with Papermill Playhouse and with New Jersey Performing Arts Center in their Young Artist Advanced Summer Intensive. He’d like to thank his family and friends for their all their continued support, encouragement, and love — Cheers! @jason_tobias

Liz Bealko (DIRECTOR; she/her) is excited to be back at the Chain Theatre with this impactful show! Liz is a multi-nominated, and award winning director and choreographer, who has directed in professional, community, and educational theatre. She is originally from Oklahoma where she started a successful theatre program in her high school from the ground up. Twenty-six students from that program are visiting New York City for the first time this June. Her next project is being a guest artist at Oklahoma State in the fall to direct and choreograph Ride the Cyclone. Go Pokes! Liz is also the associate producer of StrawHat Auditions that happen in NYC every spring. Thank you to my friends and family who come to my shows, good and bad, my cast for always being an inspiration, and to Shelby for trusting me with their work. @adayinthelifeoflb

Please visit winnyc.org to support women & children in NYC who are currently experiencing homelessness.

Shelby Pickelny (PLAYWRIGHT/PRODUCER; she/they) is a Brooklyn-based storyteller who has a passion for mixing mediums and confronting the audience with their own humanness. Most frequently, she works in the theatre as a playwright (2021: The Art of Peaking Too Soon, Dead Babies) and Management Assistant at 101 Productions, Ltd (Some Like It Hot, A Doll’s House). She has also worked in television as an Associate Producer on PBS’s Drive By History for seven seasons as well as TLC’s, I Am Shauna Rae. A sincere thank you to the out skirts cast & creative team, Kirk & Christina of the Chain, & everyone in the audience who champions new work. @shelbspickles

Kyriel Butler (DRAMATURG; they/she) is a Licensed Social Worker currently working at a Men’s Homeless shelter in Brooklyn. In 2021, They graduated with their Masters in Social Work from Fordham University and since then have been working with men struggling with substance use, those with a history of mental health issues and men arrested for Domestic Violence incidents. Kyriel would like to thank the playwright Shelby and director Liz for their support and expertise in helping incorporate this information into the show.

Mary Catherine Dougherty (SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR; she/her) is a Broadway enthusiast and junior at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality studying Entertainment Management. She has worked on the Festival of the Lion King in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Costuming and currently works with Endangered Wise Men recording studio in Jacksonville, Florida as their Marketing intern. Special thanks to Shelby Pickelny and her friends and family for their continued support.