PROGRAM 10

Coordinates by Patrick McEvoy

Roleplay by Leo Layla Diaz

BIOS:

Writer/Director Patrick McEvoy: A former writer and editor for several sports publications, Patrick McEvoy has had stories included in various comic book anthologies such as Emanata, Continental Cryptid, Uncanny Adventures, Indie Comics Quarterly, and GuruKitty’s Once Upon a Time and Gateway to Beyond. Illustrated stories have also appeared on Slippery Elm's website, Murder Park After Dark Vol. 3 and in New Plains Review. A short story has also appeared on Akashic Books’ website. In addition, short plays he wrote were chosen to be performed at the Players Theatre in New York as part of their various festivals (Sex, NYC and BOO) in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. And he wrote and directed short plays for Emerging Artists Theatre's New Works series in 2021 and 2022. A play anthology called What May Arise was also streamed June 30-July 6th 2022 as part of the Rogue Theater Festival. He also wrote and directed Directions, which appeared in the 2022 Dream Up Festival. Photography has also been exhibited with the Greenpoint Gallery, Tiny Seed Literary Journal, Molecule, riverSedge and Good Works Review.

Bruna Lisa (Tolisa in Coordinates):Bruna Sampaio (she/her) is a Portuguese actress who fluently speaks English. She's been working across the globe taking part in productions in Portugal, United Kingdom and in the United States. She went to London to take a BA Theatre Arts. Due to her excellent academic results and commitment, after her first year she received a scholarship to study theater for one year at Baruch College, in New York. In 2021, she graduated with First class honours from Middlesex University, in London. Her most recent work was E.G.G at Teatro LATEA which was part of the New York Theatre Festival and Nightmare Gothic at Teatro SEA with media coverage from The Sun US. She was also seen in: The Beauty and the Beast and The Little Prince at Centro Cultural Vila Flor, with 700 seats, in Portugal. Arturo Ui at Ravensfield Theatre, in London, Death Steps Back at Holloway Prison, in London where she played the leading role and much more.  

Valentine Smith-Vaniz (George in Coordinates): Valentine Smith-Vaniz (She/Her) is a French and American actor and dancer who was most recently seen in E.G.G. , a new play which premiered at the New York Theater Festival in the fall. She was seen in Chasing Andy Warhol with Bated Breath Theatre Company in the Spring. Theatre: When We Were Young and Unafraid, Beautiful Bodies, The Last Days of Don Juan. Film: The Fool, Rois du Silence, Danielle. She also performs in musical theatre cabarets, as well as translates plays from English to French. She graduated from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in 2020 (and won't let anyone forget she's a pandemic grad). @itsvalentinesv

Director - Hannah Marie Pederson is a NY-based actor and director. She’s thrilled to be bringing you the messy mayhem of Roleplay! Recent directing credits include Croaks (The Tank) and Christianity (The New School). Upcoming: The Taming of the Shrew (The New School). You can follow her on Instagram at @hmpederson, or listen to her rant about Star Wars on TikTok at @discountbokatan  

Playwright - Leo Layla Díaz (they/them) is a Jersey native playwright and teaching artist. Their debut play Croaks premiered last year at The Tank (NYC). They are enrolled MA in Arts Management & Entrepreneurship and BFA in Dramatic Arts at The New School. Díaz’s writing in both plays and poetry has previously been performed at Rebel Verses (Vineyard Theater, NYC), The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues (NYC), The Tank (NYC), Brave New Voices (Houston & Las Vegas), Louder Than a Bomb (NJ), Poetic Theater Productions (NYC), Performance Anxiety Inc (WI), Loud! (NJ), Berg Originals (Muhlenberg College), and Mana Mic (NJ). Instagram @ljoy14

Assistant Director - Shannon is a working actor and dramaturg who's so psyched to be taking on her second assistant directing gig! Shannon is a current second semester senior at The New School for Drama and has acted in Guard Bitches (2022), directed Screen Door (2022), and has assistant directed and provided dramaturgical analysis for Playground Theater's production of The Moors (2022). Shannon is so excited to be a part of this production which includes both great performances and great people! Follow her on Instagram for some hot takes on old hollywood: @shannontrag

Stage Manager/Producer - Mariel Mercedes

Tara - Aria is absolutely delighted to be performing in Roleplay. She was last seen as ‘Melinda’ in the cast recording of Relapse The Musical. Her other roles include ‘Jane Porter’ from Tarzan at The Tenth Annual Jimmy Awards (Minskoff Theater), ‘Sexy Seaweed’ in The Little Mermaid, and ‘Wednesday Addams’ in The Addams Family. She would like to thank her supportive family (especially mum), Zoli, Peisha McPhee, and, of course, the incredible creative team behind this production.  @aria_critchley

Audrey - Naz is part of the The School of Drama at The New School. Over the years, she trained and performed in institutions such as the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and RADA in the UK before making her way to New York. Most recently, she has entertained audiences  as Helena in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Blanche in A Street Car Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, and Moll in The Roaring Girl by Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton. Naz is so excited to be a part of Roleplay, and thanks her family and friends for their continued support!

Ryan - John began his theatrical training at Developing Artists (DA) at the age of 11. He performed at the Vineyard Theatre, LAByrinth Theater Company (Barn Series), Marriott Marquis, The 24hr Plays (pieces written by Kris Diaz and Reg G. Gaines). @Johnyvelvetblack

Austin – Nathaniel Valdivieso