PROGRAM 11

Dinner with Myself by Rachael Elmy

Hunger by Annie Raczko

I'm Not Leaving by Connor Spaulding

Christopher Brown - The Obsessions

Christopher Brown (he/him) is a filmmaker, writer, and actor living in Union City, New Jersey. He's been lucky enough to live in five countries and has performed on stage in two of them. You can view a sample of his work, including his award-winning short film "Clear as Crystal", at christopherbrownfilm.myportfolio.com.

Rachael Elmy – Writer/Director/Producer/Val

Rachael Elmy (she/her) is so pumped for her Chain Theatre debut! She has been writing plays since the ripe old age of nine and had two original plays performed at her alma mater Champlain College. This is her first year living in the big city and she hopes to make more productions like this in the future! To view her other work, please visit her website rachaelelmy.wordpress.com.

Roshan Mathew - Assistant Director

Roshan Mathew is excited to assist in his first production. He loves to tinker and put things together. That is the same principle that drew him to work behind the stage. In his free time he can be found biking or wandering through the city stepping in and out of stores, attempting futilely to curb his inner shopaholic.

Annie Raczko (Playwright/Director) Annie Raczko is multi-hyphenate theatremaker (actor.playwright.director.teacher.singer) in NYC whose mission is to make her mess her  masterpiece and empower women in the process. When not on the stage, she is a theatre teacher in New Jersey, sharing her love of the stage with the next generation of theatremakers. 

Samantha Hernandez (JESSICA) Samantha Hernandez, Singer/Actor/Dancer is thrilled and proud to be a part of the cast of, HUNGER - a play that explores the struggles of those affected by disordered eating. She is grateful to be part of a play that encourages dialogue and understanding and one that brings awareness to such conversation through theatre. Taking stages by storm with her unique style and powerful voice. Living life one song at a time. Samantha is always looking for ways to learn, grow, and explore the world through the art of storytelling. Her training can be rooted back to The Barrow Group where she began taking classes for improvisation, film, and musical theater, as well as Steps on Broadway for dance, and New York Vocal Coaching, where she continues to develop her technique. When she isn’t taking classes she can be found performing at cabarets and piano bars singing along to show tunes and heartbreaking ballads that soothe and heal the soul. Her first Off-Broadway debut took place at the Yorktown Stage in A Graveyard Smash. Coming up, Samantha is looking forward to bringing “Molly Brightwater'' back to life again in this summer's Off-Off Broadway play, Resurrection, which will be taking place in NYC and Oklahoma City, OK. 

Jillian Vitko (CLARA/TAMMY) is thrilled to be part of this festival with the show Hunger. She was last seen at Chain Theatre at the 2022 film festival with the short The Expected Guest (producer/actor), and the year before with the short HoneyDough (writer/director/producer/actor). You can catch her onstage in the long-running comedy shows On The Spot (Broadway Comedy Club) every Monday and True Crime the Musical (The Players Theatre) every month. She recently released the single Color Me Crazy from her upcoming musical feature film Synesthesia Story (pre-production) based on her solo show Synesthesia the Musical (Edinburgh Fringe, NY Theatre Festival). Upcoming: Judgment of Case #3331722372 (The Players Theatre), Baltimore Comedy Festival (BIG Theatre), Turky Hand (feature film). You can also find Jillian's work streaming on Amazon Prime, Plex, Tubi, and more. Thanks to Annie for bringing me into this important story and for amplifying women's voices! jillianvitko.com

Ella Phillips (KRISTEN) Ella is thrilled to be apart of the cast of Hunger! Ella is currently pursuing a BFA in musical theatre at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.  Some of her favorite  shows include Legally Blonde: The Musical (Elle Woods), Little Shop of Horrors( Audrey), and Shrek the Musical ( Gingy). Instagram: @ellaephillips

Alexandra Eller (TAYLOR/PENNY)  Alexandra Eller is an actor and fight/intimacy choreographer based in NYC. Recent credits include Under Woodside (Jasmine, Jenny), Mommy Milk Cafe (Rita), The Importance of Being Earnest (Jack), and Kiss the Fortune Teller (Selena). She has studied fight choreography under Christian Kelly-Sordelet at the City College of New York and is now a proud member of Sordelet Inc! Her fight credits include Sweat, Animal Farm: The Musical, Twelfth Night, The Motherfucker with the Hat, Dry Land and Savage in Limbo. She can definitely show you how to throw a nice right hook! She’s grateful to be back on the stage after taking a hiatus from acting, and would like to thank Annie Raczko for the opportunity to work on HUNGER. Instagram: @xandralex.maria 

Maggie McAuliffe (PAM) Maggie McAuliffe is currently a Junior at The New School College of Performing Arts getting her BFA in Dramatic Arts with a focus in Acting and Playwriting! Previous credits include Henry in NEXT TO NORMAL, Carrie in CARRIE, Maureen in RENT, Bradford in THE OUTSIDE, as well as her upcoming role as Veronica Sawyer in HEATHERS. Maggie is so excited to be a part of Hunger, she is beyond grateful to be able to tell such an important story. She would like to thank the cast and crew, her family and friends, her partner Myah, and Annie for the amazing opportunity. Thank you, love you, enjoy the show <3 @maggie.mcauliffe

Elana Kircher (COSTUME DESIGN) Elana Kircher is thrilled to be the Costume Consultant for Annie Raczko's Hunger, her first NYC based production. She earned her BA in Theatre from SUNY Stony Brook where she worked for 3 years in the Costume Shop, studying design and building costumes for such productions as Little Women, Romeo and Juliet, and She Stoops to Conquer. She has worked as Costume Designer for Joyce Kilmer Middle School and Spotswood High School in Central NJ, creating costumes for a wide variety of productions. Her credits include Into the Woods, The Wizard of Oz, Carousel, Shrek: The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Once On This Island, Little Shop of Horrors, and Chicago: Teen Edition.

CONTENT WARNING: Detailed discussions of suicide and a suicide attempt, a medically induced coma, depression, sex and adultery, internalized homophobia, alcoholism, vommiting sounds, use of strong language, and a brief mention of natural disasters.

Julia Gaudioso (she/her) is a recent graduate of  Marymount Manhattan College where she earned a double majoring in a BA Theatre Arts with a concentration in directing, and a BA in History. Most recently, Julia has directed "This Isn't You, It's Your Disorder" by Beck Farris and "How To Overthrow Your Mother's Funeral in Just a Few Easy Steps" by Basil Parnell. Julia is honored to have directed "I'm Not Leaving" by Connor Spaulding, and is so excited to share this incredible work with everyone! Enjoy the show!

Karina Singh (she/her) is so thrilled to be collaborating with her favorite people on such an incredible piece! Recently graduated with a BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College, Karina is looking forward to beginning her professional career! Recent credits include: Immigrants Love Stories by Penny Pun (Leviathan Lab) and Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play by Anne Washburn (Marymount Manhattan College). 

TJ Macaluso (he/him) is a 2023 graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, earning a B.F.A. in Acting with additional concentrations in Directing and Writing for the Stage. Notable credits: Mr. Burn, a Post-Electric Play by Anne Washburn (Gibson), Terminating by Tony Kushner (Billygoat), and She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms by Qui Nguyen (Great Mage Steve). Special thanks to Julia, Connor, Emily, Konnor, and Karina, for a wonderful experience working on this beautiful play. Instagram: @tj_macaluso. 

Emily Bernal (she/they) is a rising sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College, pursuing a BFA in Stage and Production Management. Throughout high school, and now college, Emily has stage managed shows of varying types, including new work, dramas, musicals, one acts, and ballets. Most recently, she has stage managed “How To Overthrow Your Mother's Funeral in Just a Few Easy Steps" by Basil Parnell at Marymount Manhattan College. Emily is thrilled to be working with such an amazing team.

Konnor Brown (he/him) is very excited to be in such a wonderful piece with an even more wonderful bunch of creatives. He is a recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Acting. Recent credits include Uncle Vanya (Marymount Manhattan College) and Case Closed (New York Theater Festival)

Connor Spaulding (he/him) is eager and thankful  to see this play staged again in front of a new audience. In his writing, Connor looks to create gripping immersive theater, even if it occasionally hurts to watch. He is a recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College Class of 2023 with a BFA in Acting and a BA in Theatre Arts with a Concentration in Writing For The Stage.