Burn
By Megan Kemple
Bios
Elle Prado - Veronica
Elle Prado is thrilled to bring the role of Veronica to life in Burn. A graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and The New School, Elle has appeared in a range of TV and film projects, and is a passionate educator. In addition to acting, she is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with a deep love for storytelling in all its forms. Elle is grateful to the cast, crew, and everyone who still believes in the magic of theater. @ellepradoofficial
Leighton Carcha - Daniel
Originally from California, Leighton Carcha is a New York City based actor and AMDA graduate. It is his first time being a part of The Chain’s One-Act Festival and is excited to be acting alongside his close friend Elle again.
Megan Kemple - Director
Megan Kemple is a multidisciplinary writer, performer & teaching artist. Her short plays, “Tough Love”and “Where There’s a Will”, were chosen for The Chain Theatre’s 2025 One-Act Festivals. Her play, Accidental Intimacies, won the "Spirit Award: Fostering Pride, Survival, History, and Progress" at The Fresh Fruit Festival in NYC (2022). She has facilitated drama therapy workshops for TodayTix, EdTA, and the International Thespian Society. She has an MA from NYU Steinhardt in Drama Therapy, and has a BFA in Theatre Performance from Niagara University. @megkpoetry
Sarah Vishnev - Assistant Director
Sarah Vishnev is thrilled to be back with the Chain Theatre for another round of One Acts! Previous to the Chain, Sarah has been a dramaturg and director for several Off Broadway theatre festivals and Regional plays including The George Bernard Shaw Theatre Co., Omnipresent Magic, and Barter Theatre. She would like to thank Megan for the opportunity to be a part of another one of her ground-breaking works and the Chain Theatre for giving us the platform to share.
Cafe d'Automatique
By Dave Hanson
Bios
Alex Sapozhnik
Alex (Gavroch, the cook) is very excited to be a part of Cafe d'Automatique and the Chain Theater One Act Festival! Alex is a character actor with training from the William Esper Studio. He has been heavily influenced and inspired by Paul Reubens, Pierre Richard, Charlie Chaplin, Adriano Celentano, Andrei Mironov, Buster Keaton, Louis de Funès, and Marcel Marceau.
Katie Aldhizer
Katie Aldhizer (Erin) is an NYC-based actress specializing in characters and comedy. Her current projects include the scripted podcast ‘Vex Voom in the 21st Century’ and the film ‘Counterfeit.’ Her love of comedy led her to study improv, sketch writing, and musical improv at Upright Citizens Brigade, and she also has a BA from Penn State University. Katie would love you to check out her sketches on YouTube’s ButterBottomComedy page, where she is also a writer and producer. Katie loves lemons, and her favorite sign is STOP because it reminds her not to take things too far.
Nate Foster
Nate Foster (Jim) studied Acting at Adelphi University longer ago than he’d like to admit. You’ve probably seen him in some Mike’s Hard Smashed Apple Ale commercials or heard his voice in gems such as that one North Carolina Lottery radio ad. He performs regularly as an ensemble member at various improv theaters across the city and is thrilled to be a part of this production!
Matthew Preston
Matthew Preston (Waiter) - Preston hails from Pittsburgh, PA and Queens, NY. Theater: Flamengo Unicorn (Sonny), Rough Magic (Tisiphone), Straight Up (Robert), The Tempest (Antonio). TV: Inside Amy Schumer (Rick). Film: Custody (Peter). Voice Over: Forever and A Day (Jonah), Everyday Women (Matt), Heritage (Sebastian). Matthewpreston.me
Dave Hanson, Writer/Director
Dave Hanson is an actor, screenwriter and playwright known for his international hit comedy Waiting For Waiting For Godot as well as his work on Chelsea Lately (E!), Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central), and Trainwreck (Universal Pictures). Dave is a member of the Actor’s Studio Playwright/Director’s Unit and won Best New Play in the 2020 New York Winterfest Theatre Festival for his play The Tenants.
Melissa Ruiz, Producer
Melissa has been on stage since she was five, from community theatre to the Miss New Jersey stage to a TEDx talk. She holds a Master's in Social Work and spent nearly a decade in higher education before turning her stage experience into a career coaching others to speak with confidence. She's over the moon to be producing this hilarious one-act and working her husband, Dave!
Storc
By Audra Zook
Bios
Audra Zook is an actor, writer, and director based in NYC. She has recently appeared in Fresh Out the Nursery, Girls in the Bathroom, Stay Tuned, I’m Afraid You’ve Got Ghosts,Alice in Tinderland, and Hellcab, and has directed multiple plays including Looneys, The Venona Decryption and The Glass Menagerie. She is a proud member of Theatre 68 and regularly writes and performs sketch comedy with Punchline Loading.
Veronica Murphy (she/her) is an actor, writer and stage manager. She studied at Providence College, where she earned a B.A. in Theatre and Film, and received the Leonard Award for Excellence in Theatre. Previous NYC credits include Miss Bennell (Dylan’s Meeting), Emersyn (Girls in the Bathroom), Susan (The Secretaries). Her original sketch comedy was performed at The Tank with Punchline Loading’s Trashy Humans. As a stage manager, her most recent projects include Murmuration Theatre Co.’s First Flight Festival and Tier5’s productions of Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet. Keep up with her at www.veronicamurphynyc.com/ and connect with her on Instagram: @ronnie_murph
Alan CordoBa - Diaz - Born and raised in New York City, Alan got the acting bug after not being able to follow his dream of being a wrestler (thanks in part to not knowing where exactly to train). Realizing that the theatrics needed to be a wrestler wasn't really any different from acting, he concentrated more on the theater path. He received his bachelor's degree in Theater, by accident, at City College of New York. From there, he dabbled in both theater and film. After taking a long break, due to COVID, returned to the acting world by first joining the New York chapter of Theatre 68 and taking on a new chapter in his acting path: directing and writing. Alan has recently presented two original one act plays at the SPF LUV & NYC festival this past February and June respectively. Alan is thrilled to be a part of “Storc” and working with such a talented group of people.
Saturday Lawson is an NYC based actor, playwright, and director! She is so excited to be a part of Storc and to work with Audra on another project! Saturday created the Punchline Loading sketch team where she frequently performs and writes for. She also is producing the Short Play Showcase this December at The Attic! Recently, she has performed in Alice in Tinderland, TrashFest at the Tank, and her own solo show at The Pit! Thank you to everyone who came out to see the show and to her amazing cast and team!
To Gloria, Or Not to Gloria
Written by Kelsey Puttrich
Directed by DJ DAVIS
SYNOPSIS
Wren is sitting in a coffee shop, eating an entire box of chocolates, when she's interrupted by Cody—a man she finds absolutely abhorrent, despite his nice eyes….
BIOS
Kelsey Puttrich (PLAYWRIGHT & WREN) is a writer, actor, director, and producer. Her play Someone Should Start premiered in the Awakenings Reading Series, where it was presented alongside Your Name Means Dream, written and directed by José Rivera, and shared the lineup with new works by Regina Taylor, Catherine Filloux, and Erik Ehn. Her other plays and one acts include Saddled (in development at The Actor's Studio), Cosmic (Finalist in The Queens Short Play Festival, Secret Theatre, NY), The Itch (The Studio Players, KY), I Can’t See You Clearly (Clementine Players, NY), AFI’s Top 100 (The Chain Theatre, NY), And They Lived Beneath the Waves (In Death’s Company, NJ), and Start Video (Playdate Theatre’s “Screen-Play” Festival Finalist). Her short films include Warm/Fuzzy, which she starred in, wrote, and produced (finalist in the OIF Challenge), Ellipses (third place at New York’s 48 Hour Film Festival), and The Master of Secrets (finalist in the “Yes We Cannes” Festival). Member of The Actor’s Studio PDW. As an actor, Kelsey got her first professional job at the age of 8 and has been performing ever since. BFA Musical Theatre, Emerson College. @kelseyputt KelseyPuttrich.com
DJ Davis (DIRECTOR) is a New York City–based actor, writer, director, and producer with a passion for storytelling that sparks connection, laughter, and meaningful conversation. As an actor he is a graduate of the Full-Time Conservatory at the Atlantic Acting School, select acting credits include The Maenads, Fences, A Raisin in the Sun, It Can Happen Here!, and Stupid Fcking Bird. DJ is also a board member of Naked Angels. A non-profit theater company celebrating its 40th year of operation. He is also the founder of Outside Entertainment! LLC, a production company dedicated to creating bold, original work for marginalized voices. DJ hopes you leave a little differently than when they came in. “I love you, God loves you, namaste.”
Esau Greene (CODY) is an actor, writer, director, producer, and entrepreneur originally from Liberia and across the east coast. His stage credits include Hamlet, Hotspur, and a mix of various other new works. Beyond the stage, Esau is the founder and CEO of Stray, a media and technology company focused on discovering and developing emerging filmmakers through community-driven audience intelligence. His work bridges storytelling, performance, and innovation, exploring new ways for artists to connect with audiences and bring meaningful stories to life. Esau’s artistic practice is rooted in themes of identity, resilience, belonging, and human connection. He is grateful to his family, mentors, collaborators, and fellow artists who continue to inspire his journey.