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Self-Editing

Written and directed by Jordan Richards

Synopsis

This is an abstract analysis of the little moments in life where we choose to not be ourselves. Whether it's for private embarrassment, or public gain, we all have a self-editor inside and this play attempts to confront our reasons for keeping them around.

Bios

Adam Forward is thrilled to be a part of the One-Act Festival at Chain Theatre, bringing new works to the stage! SELECT CREDITS INCLUDE: SAW: The Musical (1st National Tour), Joseph and The Amazing… (Joseph), Bare: A Pop Opera (Jason). Adam graduated in 2024 with his BFA in Acting from Syracuse University

Justin Banton is a Florida native, now a NYC resident that has lived in the city for a year. Justin is a Florida State University BFA in Acting graduate, who has done shows like As You Like It (Orlando), The Flick (Avery), and has featured in the World Premiere of A Chance for Redemption (Vernon) with the New Professional Theater based in NYC. Justin currently has a film called ‘HIM+’ that will be available on Tubi starting in February that is in partnership with Paramount. Justin is excited to share this piece and wants to thank the entire team for sharing their art, and Jordan for making this piece of art!

Allie Beltran Credits include: Off-Broadway: Golem Owned A Tropical Smoothie (Asst. Choreographer, SoHo Playhouse). Select Regional: 42nd Street | Billy Elliot (Maltz Jupiter Theatre); The Mother (Zoetic Stage); August: Osage County (Palm Beach Dramaworks); The Girl on the Train (Actors’ Playhouse); Michael Feinstein and the Palm Beach Pops (Kravis Center); Escape to Margaritaville (Theatre SilCo). Grateful for this show and team. Love you, Betty. Hi, Donna! IG: @allie.beltran

Brooke Hall is a theatre artist born and raised in South Florida.  She is an alumna of the University of Miami with her BFA in Musical Theatre, as well as National Theater Institute’s Theatermakers.  Favorite acting credits include: Lenore in Oni No Mori (Young Playwrights Festival at the O’Neill), Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Florida Shakespeare Theater), Simone in Money Heist: The Experience (Netflix/Fever), Grace in Soft. Driven. Mad. (independent thriller short), and Joan in Solitary Guitarist, 1865 (PBS Film-maker TV Series selection).  When not on stage or in front of the camera, Brooke can be found playing a Chopin waltz on the piano or singing with her band Live Coverage.  A storyteller with boundless imagination, Brooke hopes her artistry will inspire change and growth.  Follow her journey at @brookerebeccahall on Instagram or brookerebeccahall.com

Ajax Ammons is a New York based writer and digital creative from North Carolina. Her work has previously appeared in publications such as Autostraddle and Grace the Table: An Exploration of Food and Civil Rights in Southern Folk Art. You can keep up with Ajax’s other works on instagram/tiktok, @ajaxammons. 

Cassandra Cruz is thrilled to be a part of Self-Editing as the Understudy. Previous credits include Yelena in Uncle Vanya and Delilah in ON/OFF at the Downtown Urban Arts Festival. Cassandra recently studied with the Midsummer in Oxford program at BADA and earned her BFA from Marymount Manhattan College.

Jordan Richards is an Actor/Writer/Director from South Florida, he studied at the University of Georgia before getting his BFA in acting at Florida State University.  Some previous credits: Proud to Present, This is Our Youth, Ximer (American Theatre of Actors), Machinal, Cabaret, Spurt of Blood. He has also directed Off-Broadway at the Tank Theatres' International Human Rights Arts Festival (Guellen, Kansas), and at the 2024 Chain Theatre Winter One-Act Festival when he directed his first piece to be in this festival: "Another Minute"! He wants to thank his family, this incredibly hard-working cast/crew, and the Chain Theatre for having him back as a playwright! Follow his work on instagram @jordanrichardsactor

The Upright Truth

Written and directed by Emma Sarah Davis

SYNOPSIS

When Nono and Tay are transferred to a new environment, they are confronted with the choice to continue the controversial work that got them transferred in the first place. This comedic one act asks: What if happiness to some comes at the cost of evolution- I mean -revolution to others? 

Bios

Emma Sarah Davis (Playwright and Director) Emma is a NY based actor and theatre maker with a BFA from Emerson College. Emma is the founder of Heavy Balloon Productions. This is HBP’s fourth original production since its founding and second time at the Chain’s One Act Festival. Emma would like to thank this beautiful group of actors for monkeying around together. Em is so deeply grateful to her parents, brothers, friends, and partner Mason. Without their love and encouragement none of this would be possible. Although this play is a comedy- at its heart it is about othering and the harm that comes with it. Please do your part to stop ICE.  https://immigrantjustice.org/ways-to-help/

Julia Brunelli (Tay) Julia Brunelli (she/they) is a California-grown and NYC-based artist, with a love and appreciation for all art forms. Since living and loving in New York, they found another love for writing poetry and screenplays, as well as producing and performing in film. Recent productions include I Keep Leaving Parties Early (The Rat), Picturesque (Dr. Mailman Productions), The Rocky Horror Picture Show and STRIKE/OUT (KSTC). Julia’s goal is to make art that is inclusive and universal, reflecting the human experience and healing our collective consciousness through storytelling. @juliatbrunelli 

Julianna Egidio (Nono) Julianna is so excited to be back at it again with Heavy Balloon Productions. Last summer, Julianna was a part of A Hoarder’s Guide to Resurrecting The Dead with some familiar faces you’ll see on stage, and of course with writer and director Emma Sarah Davis! When she’s not on the theatre stage, Julianna can be seen in short films, singing on her Instagram, and, in a few months, performing in a Steely Dan cover band.  She is so grateful to make art with her friends and hopes you enjoy watching them ape around on stage together. www.juliannaegidio.com @juliannaegidio

Lou Rasse (Tiny) Lou Rasse is a queer Belgian-American actor and theatermaker. Newly back in Brooklyn after a two-year stint touring France and Belgium as a principal actor and facilitator with Pickles by EITC, Lou’s previous New York credits include WHO PUT BELLA IN THE WYCH ELM? (Olive), Metamorphoses (Myrrha/others) and I’m Trash And So Are You (Jo). Before moving to New York, Lou received her BFA in Acting from Emerson College. Lately, Lou’s been thinking a lot about swans, beautiful boys, and how perhaps they are one and the same. www.lourasse.com

Mason Forringer (Mikey) Mason Forringer is a New York based actor and performer originally from the heart of Central New Jersey. A graduate from the Purchase Acting Conservatory, his recent credits include The Adventures of Robin Hood, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stranger Things: The Experience, and Money Heist: The Experience. He is eternally grateful to his family, friends, and partner Emma for their love, support, and encouragement. Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination. 

Claire Layden (Seth) Claire graduated Emerson College with a BFA in Acting and a newfound passion to cultivate her craft within the practices of Action Theatre and Devising. She thanks the bonobos cast, Jane Goodall, and Em for inspiring, challenging and sharing witching hours with her. Claire was voted best actor in I'm Trash and So Are You (Smith) at the Queens Short Play Festival. Other credits include Roominate (Bed), A Hoarder’s Guide to Resurrecting the Dead (Alex), Men on Boats (Old Shady), Women Who Weave (Meleager/Zeus), Ipseity (Devised) Film/TV: From Here On Out by Felicia Varlotto (Nova), Piyar by Omar Ahmed (Mary)

June Lienhard (JJ) - June is an NYC based actor and teacher. She is a graduate of Smith College where she studied Theater and Education. June has a true passion for new play development: working as an assistant director/actor at Connecticut Theater Exchange, being a member of the Clubbed Thumb Winterworks 2024 acting company/staging workshops, and starring in Hook&EyeTheater’s devised show Space Nunz of the Rescue Mainframe. She’s self-produced and starred in three plays: Happy Days by Samuel Beckett (Eggtooth Productions, 2020), An Intervention by Mike Bartlett (Eggtooth Productions, 2021), and Miss Margarida’s Way by Roberto Athayde (The BRICK, 2024.)