PROGRAM 11
Adunni by Taiwo Aloba
Eggs by Jeanette Delaney
The Princess of Tea by Sunita Deshpande
ADUNNI
PLAYWRIGHT & DIRECTOR: TAIWO ALOBA
Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of the African frenzy for independence, ADUNNI powerfully tells the story of Nigeria’s origins and past.
CAST BIO
Evan Simone Frazier (Adunni): Evan Simone Frazier is an actor, playwright, singer, and occasional dancer. Her writing credits include her solo show titled Perfect which was performed and filmed at The NuBox Theater – and her play Nothing But a Coincidence was accepted into The Valdez Theater conference in 2022. Theater credits include Ragtime (The Alexrod Theater) and The Cake (Philipstown Depot Theater). @evansimonef
Matt Braddak (Herbert Howell): Matt is thankful to be working on the “Adunni” play. Earlier this month, Matt was in the play, Resurrection (its third run) at the American Theatre of Actors. Credits include Detective White in Royal Oak (SoHo Playhouse) and Bobby in Case Closed: The Dorian Corey Story (Gene Frankel Theatre). More @mattbraddak
Jaclyn Baird (Angela Howell): Jaclyn Baird is a creative entrepreneur who graduated from the University of Montana business school in 2009. She has since lived in Los Angeles and Costa Rica, where she has a vintage clothing boutique emphasizing flowers. She is a gardener and appreciator of all things natural and authentic. @jacibaird
Nezim Mmegwa (Honorable Adegoke): A graduate of Princeton University, Nezim is proud to participate in this powerful play. @nmmegwa
Raheem Kareem (Olubadan): Raheem Kareem is honored to take part in the play “Adunni.” He is an avid team player with a creative mind and a knack for technology and the performing arts. @raheemkareem
CREW BIO
Taiwo Aloba (Playwright and Director) is a New York-based writer and director originally from Nigeria. She was educated at Lagos State University in Lagos, New York Film Academy in New York, and Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. She is a member of the Dramatist Guild. www.TaiwoAloba.com @modelvoss
Jenna Kole (Set Designer) is a printmaker by trade. Jenna has worked with artists such as Lady Aiko and the late Robert Indiana in printmaking and has traveled to places like Dubai and Copenhagen to make art. When she isn’t traveling, she is usually cooking something for friends and family at her home in Bellmore, Long Island.
eggs
by Jeanette Delaney
Directed by Hieu Bui
Synopsis: Eggs is a play centered around three generations of women: young Wren, her mother Lydia, and her grandmother Joan. At a pivotal moment in all of their lives, when Wren discovers she is pregnant, each woman collides with the odd dysphoria that comes with the knowledge that she is capable of carrying life—or not.
Actor Bios:
Shannon Mastel (Joan) – New York: The House of Bernarda Alba (Gallery Players). Regional: Bernhardt/Hamlet (Unicorn Theatre), Luna Gale (CoHo Productions), Othello (Post5 Theatre). International: Edinburgh Fringe 2017. Training: MFA Acting, University of Missouri-Kansas City. Shannonmastel.com, @shannonmastel. For more personal information, write to her mother.
Lauren James (Lydia) – Lauren James is a Brooklyn based actress. Her work includes the feature film Chantage on Amazon Prime, as well as many short indie films. Previous theater work includes dramatic and comedic shows at the Manhattan Repertory Theater. She’s thrilled to be making her Chain Theatre debut in Eggs!
Elizabeth Harvath (Wren) – An actor, writer and comedian. Elizabeth’s favorite roles have included Ophelia in Hamlet, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and Clara in the Nutcracker. Elizabeth is a proud alumna of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She would like to thank her family for their endless support. @elizabethharvath
Director Bio:
Making his directorial debut, Hieu Bui is a multidisciplinary theatre artist. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, he recently assisted Stephen Adly Guirgis in the production of Between Riverside and Crazy both on Broadway and at the Ojai Playwrights Conference. Special thanks to Logan Vaughn and Jeanette Delaney. @hie.u
Playwright Bio:
Jeanette Delaney is a protean artist from Kansas who currently splits her time between Chicago and New York. She recently graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a BA in Theatre Performance. She has never written a play before Eggs. This is her first rodeo. Special thanks to the whole family; and to you, for being here. @normaljeanette
princess of tea
by SUNITA DESHPANDE
Synopsis: After returning from her medical studies at Oxford to her homeland of India, ‘Princess’ Kumari must face a dark plague she’s not prepared for. Dark comedy.
BIOS
JANANI SREENIVASAN, DIRECTOR, IG: @jennyvasan
Janani Sreenivasan is a writer, director, actor, and composer. She’s directed/acted for the Tank's Rule of 7x7 festival, L.A. Comedy Festival & Iron Mule Short Film Festival + co-founded the long-running NYC improv band The Vigilante with Rebecca Vigil.
SUNITA DESHPANDE, WRITER/ ‘KUMARI’ / IG: @luckysunita
Sunita Deshpande (Samuel French OOB Finalist @SariForPallavi) is a playwright, improviser, and actor. Creds inc.: HBO Max Feature "Moonshot", “O Horizon” Film, Marvel’s DAREDEVILl Season 3, 50+ film fests + winner of Oscar-Qualifying Fest, ‘Gravid Water’ UCB NY & LA. She dedicates this play to Lord Narasimha.
KEVIN LYNCH, ‘AMOS’ / IG: @ Caoimhinnyc
Kevin Lynch is so thrilled to be part of this cast. Credits: Film: "Before The Snow," "Straight Line," "Bros." TV: "Law & Order," "Gossip Girl," "Bull," "Billions," "And Just Like That," "Let The Right One In," "The Affair," "FBI," "The Blacklist," "The Other Two," "Harlem," and others.
NIMO GANDHI, ‘HARBINDER’ / IG @nimogandhi
Nimo Gandhi is an American television and film actor. Recent credits include 9-1-1 (FOX), Tommy (CBS), Blacklist (NBC), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (NBC). Law and Order SVU (NBC), The Sinner (USA), Donny! (USA), Mysteries of Laura (NBC), Louie (FX), Guy Code (MTV), and Sharknado 2 (feature). IG: @nimogandhi
HEATHER VIOLANTI, ‘AGATHA’ / IG @HeatherWritesPlays
Heather Violanti is thrilled to be working on this wonderful play with this amazing team. Recent credits include Coney Island Christmas at the Heights Players and The House of Bernarda Alba at Gallery Players. Thanks to Gary Lizardo, Amanda Enriquez, and Linda Vega for their help. @heatherwritesplays
ZACH SHERRY, ‘NICHOLAS’ / IG: @ZachOfEarth /YouTube/Twitch: SolarPunkSkunk.
Zachary Sherry hails from Pompano Beach, Fl .He performs on stage & screen as well as streams games on Twitch to YouTube. Recent creds: “Off Campus” (DUTV, Dir. Andrew Susskind) “Evil Lives Here” (iD Discovery), We've Been Trying to Reach You About Your Car's Extended Warranty (2022), Covid Support Group (2022), Dark Valley Podcast (2021). “Commedia del Arte”, Sterling Renaissance Festival; “Down the FOX Hole”, Chain Theatre Festival, Dir. Joshua Warr/Valentine Aprile.
BELLE PACE, ‘WILLA’/ IG: @belle_pace
Belle Pace is an actress and writer based in NYC but born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Having worked a variety of feature films, a pilot television series, and over a dozen short films, she is excited to be making her theatrical debut with “Princess of Tea.” Her instagram is @belle_pace.
TAYLOR WELLIN, U/S ‘WILLA’ / IG: @wasupt
Taylor is so grateful to be a part of this amazing production! Creds: The Musicals of Tomorrow (Playwrights Horizons Downtown), The Lottery (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), and Anything Goes (Audience of One). A huge thank you to the incredible cast and crew of The Princess of Tea!