Crocodile
By Patrick Hamilton
Directed by Cady McClain
Synopsis
After a drunken evening, a woman chains her one-night stand to a bed and demands an apology for the emotional damage she says he caused her. What begins as a darkly comic hostage situation spirals into a sharp excavation of intimacy, accountability, loneliness, and the stories people tell to survive themselves.
Bios
Freja Zeuthen(GRACE) trained at William Esper’s two-year conservatory and holds an MFA in Acting from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Most recently, she appeared in a recurring role as Jules in FX’s Love Story. Her work spans film, television, and theater, including Off-Broadway productions. Her accolades include Best Actress awards from the New York International Film Awards, Paris Film Festival, and Screamfest, among others.
Patrick Hamilton(PLAYWRIGHT and JIM) is a former high school chemistry teacher turned actor and playwright. He most recently performed in two separate runs of Austin Pendleton’s Orson’s Shadow at the Theater for a New City. Crocodile is his fifth play to make it to the stage. The film adaptation of one of his plays, the upcoming These Little Ones Perish- which he also penned- is currently in discussion for release later this year. His second film script, based on his play The Box, has been optioned and is currently in pre-production.
Cady McClain (DIRECTOR) is a three-time Emmy© Award-winning actor and Co-Artistic Director of Axial Theatre. Theater: PAINT MADE FLESH at The Cell by Howard Meyer at The Cell, NEVER THE SINNER by John Logan at Bethany Arts Community, CENSUS by Susan Miller for the Glass Ceiling Breakers Festival, THE PARK by Eric Conger at MTC Creative Center and Marilyn Monroe Theater at the Strasberg Institute, A CONNECTED PLACE by Youlim Nam at The Dramatists Guild, JUST A YELLOW CAB IN NEW YORK CITY at The Chain 2025 Summer One Act Fest, and over 50 readings of short and full length plays for Axial Theatre. Film: “Seeing is Believing: Women Direct,” (Jury Award, Newport Beach Film Festival; Audience Award, SOHO Film Festival, distributed by Collective Eye), “Burnt Feathers, Broken Wings” (Best Impact Film: Santa Fe Film Festival, Best Short Documentary: Mystic Film Festival). She can currently be seen on "Beyond the Gates" as Pamela Curtis on Paramount + / CBS.
On the Burners
By Toby Miller
Synopsis
When a police officer’s surprise investigation of a home chef reveals a simple misunderstanding, their ideal opportunity for reconciliation over a hot bowl of paella only leads to a further, more grave misunderstanding.
Bios
Laura Cable (Jocelyn): Laura is thrilled to make her Chain Theatre Festival debut! National Tours: Cats and Damn Yankees. Regional Highlights: The 39 Steps (Annabella/ Pamela/ Margaret), August: Osage County (Karen), The Little Mermaid (Ursula), My Fair Lady (Eliza Doolittle), The Music Man (Marian), and The Wizard of Oz (Wicked Witch). Praise to God for this beautiful life in the theatre!
Melody Ladd (Officer): Melody’s work can be seen in film, television, and theater, both in NYC and regionally. Select past credits include Act 39 (The Tank), Around the World in 80 Days (Shadowland Stages), Major Barbara (Barrymore Nomination), No Exit, and The Playboy of the Western World all at Quintessence Theatre, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Greenbrier Valley Theatre), Boeing, Boeing (Chenango River Theatre), The 39 Steps (Cornwell’s Theatre), Macbeth and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Hedgerow Theatre). www.melodyladd.com
Toby Miller (writer/director): Toby is delighted to be returning to the Chain following the world premiere of his play Game at the winter 2025 One-Act Fest. His comedy writing has been published in compilations from Harper Collins and St. Martin’s Press, and he directed the tv pilot SETH & KERA, with featured actor Paul Rudd.
Port Authority Breakdown
By Annie Raczko
SYNOPSIS
After a late-night improv show, Annie’s car dies on the fifth floor of the Port Authority garage…and so does her sense of control. Armed with 30% iPhone battery, questionable problem-solving skills, and a rotating cast of strangers, she spirals through roadside assistance, family group chats, and her own anxiety, until even the pigeons get involved. A solo musical comedy about being stranded, unraveling, and somehow… putting on a show anyway.
Bios
Annie Raczko* (Playwright/Director/Lyricist/Annie)
Annie is a multi-hyphenate theatre maker (actor/playwright/director/lyricist/improviser) and a member of Actor’s Equity. She regularly performs Off-Broadway, near Broadway, and in her living room. When she's not performing on Thursdays at The Magnet Theater with Spicy Dilemma, she's also making musical improv with Hell Yeah!, Dun Dun, and Sotto Voce. And when she's not improvising, she's writing songs and plays rooted in the belief that there are no mistakes - only discoveries. A longtime collaborator with The Chain Theatre, Annie is grateful to this company for giving her a safe space to not play it safe, and she is a better artist because of it.
Andy Wiggins (Composer)
Andy is a musician and improviser based in the NYC area. He performs regularly at the Magnet Theatre as a musical improviser and accompanist, as has appeared in the Off-Broadway musical improv show The Others of Oz. He has worked as a touring musician and is the creator of Painting a Song, a songwriting collective with over 100 volumes of original music. Andy holds a PhD from Drexel University, where his work focused on music technology.
Retribution
written By Jeff Checkley
Directed by David Adam Gill
Bios
JEFF CHECKLEY (Playwright)
Jeff is thrilled to be presenting his play RETRIBUTION in the Chain Summer Festival. This is Jeff’s third play to be accepted into the Chain Theatre Festivals. Previous scripts include INTERLUDE and most recent, RECOLLECTION. A co-founding member of New Ambassadors Theatre Company, Jeff is also an actor who has most recently appeared at the Spark Theatre Festival playing Matt in the production of PALINDROMES. Other credits include THE BOWL and WEDNESDAY in the PARK with BLAKE at New Ambassadors Theatre Company
DAVID ADAM GILL (Director)
This is David’s second time directing for the Chain Festival, his first being last Winter’s Getting to Go by Jenifer Margaret Kelly and featuring our current cast. Besides directing, David is an award-winning playwright, producer, teacher, and the co-founder and artistic director of New Ambassadors Theatre Company. He is beyond thrilled to be working with Sammy and Brian again and honored to be directing Jeff’s play. DGA member.
SAMMY SMEDLEY
Recent stage credits include THIS DREAM HAS TEETH with Theater for the Greater Good at The Tank, GETTING TO GO with The Chain Theater, THE BOWL, OPEN CITY (staged reading) with New Ambassadors Theatre Company, THE GREAT BLUFFER, THE VILLAGE BEAUTIFUL (staged reading) and LEDA’S CHILDREN (staged reading) with The New Perspectives Theatre Company and O' RUMBLES OF JOY (staged reading) with Morningside Players. Sammy is an award winning filmmaker and writer with Blue Plumbago Productions which she co-founded with her husband Brian Reilly. She is a theatre graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. www.sammysmedley.com
BRIAN REILLY
Recent NYC stage credits include Getting to Go (director David Adam Gill) and Interlude (written by Jeff Checkley) (Chain Theater); In the Garden of the Hesperides (written by David Adam Gill) and Back to You (The Secret Theater); Honor (A.R.T./New York Theaters). Some other favorite NYC theatre roles include Marat/Sade, bunkerbaby, and The Rise and Fall of the Farewell Drugs. He is also a filmmaker and co-founder, with Sammy Smedley, of the film production company Blue Plumbago Productions (www.blueplumbagoproductions.com). His short film Outside Voices recently had its world premiere at the Big Apple Film Festival. He is a graduate of Fordham University. www.brianreillyactor.com
*Shows in this block include Equity Members appearing with permission of Actor’s Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this off-off Broadway production.