Funny Enough
By Natasha Lancaster
Bios
Reid Ivanoff (he/him) is a Bay Area born / New York based actor, playwright, and musician. He studied at Pace University and was recently seen as Kostas in the stage premiere of Lauren Holmes’ “Zeus IV,” as well as the English Dub of Thierry Mugler in Hulu’s “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld.” Reid strives to create art that educates and builds a better home. @reidivanoff on Instagram.
Nina Samaan is a Syrian American NYC-based actor, director and writer from Indianapolis. Nina was recently seen in new plays like Horse Boy at Hunter College and Anti-Hero at New York Theatre Workshop, and classics playing Perdita in The Winter’s Tale and Cassandra in Troilus & Cressida with the Carnival Players, a Brooklyn-based Shakespeare company she co-founded. Nina also recently appeared as the lead in the short film Elsewhere: A Place for Girls Like You and Me with Tomato Tomato Pictures, which premiered at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last fall. BA: Kenyon College. Atlantic Acting School.
Natasha Lancaster (Playwright/Co-Director) is a writer and native New Yorker named after a character in War and Peace (a book she's gonna read). A graduate of Kenyon College, her plays have been developed and produced with The Secret Theatre, The Chain Theatre, LAByrinth Theater Company as part of the 2025 Intensive Ensemble, StageFemmes, Mind the Gap at New York Theatre Workshop and Playground-NY (upcoming). Her play, Riley Coyne, was selected twice to be taught as part of the playwriting program at University of California, Santa Barbara.
Lilo Wittenborn (Co-Director) is a writer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York.
Nothing Like Before
Written by Adrienne Acevedo Lovette
Directed by Adrienne Acevedo Lovette
Assistant Directed by Rica de Ocampo
Executive Produced by Margarat Romolo Zukor
Synopsis
After the suicide of their childhood friend Sofia, five former theatre kids reunite in their old high school theatre for her funeral. When Sofia seemingly reaches out from beyond the grave, a final letter forces them to confront buried truths, abandoned dreams, and whether it's too late to become a family again.
Bios
Adrienne Acevedo Lovette* (PLAYWRIGHT, DIRECTOR & MAYA) is a Puerto Rican award-winning actor, writer, director, and filmmaker. She is an SXSW Audience Award winner and a SUNDANCE Collab Film Challenge winner. Some of her television credits include The Penguin (MAX), The Equalizer (CBS), Better Call Saul (AMC), Ray Donovan (Showtime), Fosse/Verdon (FX), and The Deuce (HBO). She has appeared opposite Colin Farrell, Naomi Watts, Queen Latifah, Aziz Ansari, Joaquin Phoenix, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Williams, just to name a few. She also stars in the award-winning feature I'm Okay, We're Okay and When I’m With You (Prime/Tubi). Favorite theatre credits include By The Look Of Her (By David Rabe, Chain Theatre, Off-Broadway Premiere), West Side Story, Top Girls, Oedipus, Nickel & Dimed, The Seagull, and Grease. Insta and TikTok @AdrienneAcevedoLovette. For more info, visit https://linktr.ee/AdrienneAcevedoLovette.
John A. Rice (PRODUCER & NASH) is an award-winning actor, writer, and filmmaker based in New York City. He recently received the Best Actor in a Feature Film award at the Catalina Film Festival for I'M OKAY, WE'RE OKAY. His acting credits include MANIAC (Netflix/Paramount), the Metropolitan Opera, BLOOD FEUDS, and WHEN I'M WITH YOU. As a writer and producer, his films IN2U, THE DARK ROOM, and HIDDEN DAYLIGHT have screened internationally and are currently streaming on multiple platforms. John is grateful to reunite with this talented cast and creative team for the premiere of NOTHING LIKE BEFORE.
David Rey (ELI) is an actor from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Student of the Circle In The Square Theater School, and a Chain Theatre company member since 2015. Recent credits include Leo (I’m Okay, Where Okay), and Oscar Guzman (GTA Online: Oscar Guzman Flies Again). Gracias a Adrienne, por la oportunidad, y Marty por la tranquilidad. Instagram: @dahveedrey
Victoria Bennett (LENA) Victoria Cheri Bennett is a versatile artist who works both in front of and behind the camera, having recently appeared on Tubi in "Beverages with Bevin," a show she created and produced. She also contributed to the immersive X-Men experience, where she was involved in both development and performance. Additionally, she discusses various fandoms on the ViceTV show "Icons Unearthed" and hosts the Nacelle Company's companion podcast for their Prime show, "A Toy Store Near You." You can also catch her showcasing her singing talent and geeking out over superheroes in the digital series 'ADULTish'. For more information, visit https://linktr.ee/victoriacheri.
Diego Aguirre (MARCUS) is a New York City based actor, writer, and Marine Corps veteran. Selected Theatre credits include: STALLED (Written by Diego Aguirre - Dir. David Zayas Jr. - Chain Theatre World Premiere); On The 5:31 (dir. David Zayas Jr.); Occupied Territories (59e59, dir. Mollye Maxner) Selected Film credits: Invisible Borders (Heitor Dhalia); The Upside (Neil Burger); New Year’s Eve @ Sunny’s (Bob Giraldi); Wooly Bully (Kristen Buckels) Selected TV: Dexter: Resurrection, FBI, Monsterland, The Punisher, It’s Bruno. Diego is a frequent storyteller with The Moth. IG: @diego.aguirre.actor
Rica de Ocampo (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & SOFIA) Originally from Northern Virginia, Rica is a Meisner-trained actor (William Esper Studio, David Newer), singer, and ukulele enthusiast. She is a proud New Yorker, whom you may have seen throw a Frisbee on your TV (Crashing, HBO). Favorite NY credits: This Goddamn House - (Chain Theatre World Premiere) The List by Kirra Cheers (The Box). Along with performing, Rica enjoys working behind the scenes as a Costume Designer and Assistant Director for stage and screen. Favorite Design credits: Brownsville Bred (feature film dir. Elaine Del Valle) and This Goddamn House. www.ricadeocampo.com
*Member of Actors' Equity Association
Vicious Dogs in Marietta
Written by Lane Bernes Genee
Directed by Daniela Schrier Kafshi
SYNOPSIS
On a sweltering midnight in suburban Georgia, an estranged daughter sneaks home to say a goodbye she's been dodging for two years — only to find a half-forgotten classmate in her parents' backyard, cleaning the pool and refusing to leave.
BIOS
Lane Bernes Genee (PLAYWRIGHT) was born and bred in Georgia. She barely graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Theatre and Journalism. She completed a year of MFA training at The New School for Drama in playwriting before being nicely asked to leave by Bob LuPone. Productions include, Bestfriends (The Bloomington Playwrights Project), The Mercy Swing (The New York International Fringe Festival) nominated for the Cherry Lane Mentor Project, (w)hole (The Samuel French OOB Festival) and New York, New York (The Estrogenius Festival). Her tv pilot, Start-Up, was a quarter-finalist in the Slamdance Film Festival pilot competition. She is a proud member of The Dramatist Guild. She lives in Brooklyn with her amazingly-supportive husband Jordan, and two amazingly-funny kids Drew and Elliot. Many thanks to Martin & Marla Genee, and Gary & Shirley Bernes for their support.
Daniela Schrier Kafshi (DIRECTOR) is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker with a soft spot for renegades and rabble rousers. Her provocative short film, LADYBUG, has screened internationally, won a Best Drama award, and landed her a Best Director prize. Currently, Daniela is in post-production on THE MAYFLOWER, a feature film she produced with director Nick Sandow, featuring Michael Imperioli. Previously, she produced FALL TO RISE, a feature film starring Daphne Rubin-Vega and Desmond Richardson, and directed the award-winning play JULIE, PAUL AND JACK at the Chain Theatre. As an alumna of The Black List x Women in Film Episodic Writing Lab, she honed her skills with mentorship from leading female creators. She is a mother to two sons, the owner of a full-service NYC production company, and a terrific whistler.
Jesse Boitel (CHIP) Born in Washington Heights, Jesse Boitel is a New York-based actor whose on-screen experience ranges from a featured role in the independent short film They Rescue Horses, Don’t They? to Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Additionally, he is currently leading in a conceptual sci-fi thriller project, The Manor. He is a recent recipient of a Music Recording Technology diploma at Laguardia Community College, and loves making music.
DREW SPRINGER-MILLER* (SARAH) Drew Springer-Miller is an NYC based actor, singer, and producer originally from Stowe, VT. NY/Regional: World Premier of The Recipe (La Jolla Playhouse), The Cottage (Theater Workshop of Nantucket), Horse Girls (Jane Street), Cabaret, Gruesome Playground Injuries, The Drowsy Chaperone, Love/Sick, Pete(her) Pan. Readings/Workshops: A Short History of Women (dir. Judith Ivey), Showtune Blowout (dir. Sam Pinkleton), The Dramatists Guild New Writer’s Series. Producing: Our Town (Broadway 2024, Tony Nom Best Play) among others. Training: BFA Pace, The Actors Center Mentorship Program Inaugural Cohort 2025, Circle and the Square. Outside of theater, Drew is a private chef and a certified personal trainer. She also owns and runs a by-order micro-bakery called CakeryD. Love to iter and her family! @drewspringermiller
Lois Drabkin (CASTING DIRECTOR) is a New York-based Casting Director and Producer who has worked on a wide range of award-winning films and TV series, with a focus on independent films and shorts, many of those for first-time directors. Also a long-time avid theatre-goer, she is thrilled to collaborate on Lane Genee's wonderful new one-act play, and with the talented Producer/Director Daniela Schrier Kafshi.
*Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
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.