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After the Execution

Written by Gwendolyn Phair

Directed by Molly McQuillan

Synopsis

Gwendolyn Phair’s one-act play, After the Execution, is an active engagement with Anne Boleyn’s legacy. It takes place a few short hours after Boleyn’s execution. Two servants and a lady reflect, ridicule, and defend the actions of the currently villainized Boleyn. They cross class barriers to discuss, revel in, and test the safety of sisterhood. This causes them to quietly question the rules and restrictions around which their world has revolved. They each find themselves staring into Boleyn’s legacy only to see their own, or lack thereof, reflected back.

Bios

Rachel Leighson (Edith) is a performer/writer with a passion for gray morality, female-centric stories, and cheese. Off Broadway credits include: The Christians, Lili Marlene, and Before a League. If you watch true crime shows, you’ve probably seen her - she’s done most of them. Dive deeper at www.rachelleighson.com or give her a shout @rachelleighson on Instagram. 

Gwendolyn Phair (Joan) is an NYC based actor, writer, and singer. She has performed in 20+ productions. She has a great infatuation with the exploration of the human experience and this defines all her artistry. For. Recently, she appeared in Underground Skills Exchange, That’s a Wrap. She is very excited to be a part of the Chain Theater Festival. @gwendolyn.phair on Instagram

Lily Segal Steven (Isabelle) is an actor and theatre maker based in NYC, and is excited to be joining the Chain festival this year! Regional credits include work at Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Penobscot Theatre Co, Cape Rep, Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol, Greater Boston Stage Co, The Hanover Theatre, Umbrella Stage Co, The Huntington, and more. Love to MDAE.  www.lilysteven.com @lilymsteven

Molly McQuillan (Director): any pronouns. Molly is a theatermaker, Sarah Lawrence graduate, and Chicagoan. Stay in the loop on @downstagemolly on Instagram.

Music by Emma Jayne Smith

Vocals by Molly McQuillan & Gwendolyn Phair

Lighting by Molly McQuillan

Graphic design by Charis Santillie

MaryLou

Written by Sophia Cortes-Drapeau

Directed by Keara Benton

SYNOPSIS

Two employees of a nursing home clean up the dining room together. What does it mean to miss someone you love? How do we talk to each other when we don’t know what to say? What does it look like to be close to someone for the first time? A play about grief, silence, crushes, grandmothers, and pudding.

BIOS

Sophia Cortes-Drapeau (PLAYWRIGHT & CLARE) (she/her) is an actor, comedian, playwright, and teacher. As an actor, she has performed at The New Ohio, The Tank, Shakespeare on the Sound, and Garden Level Theater Co. As a comedian, she performs regularly around the city, often with her improv team Little Darlings. As a teacher, she teaches English and Drama to middle schoolers in Queens. As a playwright, she wrote this play! Training: BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, The Second City. MaryLou is her first play. Thank you for coming! Check out @sophiadrapeau and sophiadrapeau.com for more fun stuff.

Jater Webb (MAX) (he/him) is a Los Angeles native and recent graduate of the Juilliard School’s Drama Division, where he was awarded the Michel and Suria Saint-Denis Prize. Past credits include “Romeo” in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare on the Sound), “Simon” in The Caucasian Chalk Circle (The Juilliard School), and James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown (Searchlight Pictures). Jater also trained in England at the British American Drama Academy. MJ Management and the Gersh Agency.

Keara Benton (DIRECTOR) (she/her) is an actor, singer, writer and theatre maker. (If you ask nicely and give her an iced coffee she’ll also be a producer, social media manager, and director.) MaryLou marks her NYC directorial debut! She can also often be found doing theatre education across New York and Connecticut. Recent acting credits: The Brian Wilson Space Experiment (Brooklyn Art Haus), As You Like It, King John, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare on the Sound). TV/Film: “Mind Over Murder” (HBO), Goodbye Honey. BFA: NYU Tisch. www.kearabenton.com @kearabee

Ray

Written and directed by Jennifer Pepperman

Synopsis

A stressed teen and a forlorn musician forge an unlikely connection on a park bench in Brooklyn.

Bios

Jennifer (Jen) Pepperman (PLAYWRIGHT & DIRECTOR) is a three-time Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer, Writer and Director. Currently working for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in Creative Development, Jen is lauded for 20+ years of network television experience on Guiding Light, As the World Turns, and One Life to Live, as well as WWE’s Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown. Jen wrote RAY for her daughter, Natalie and she would like to give special thanks to her family, and to Bob Bessoir, Larry Carpenter, Cady McClain, Tony Khan and Michael Cuellari.

Delaney O’Neill (RAY) is a NYC based actress and recent graduate from NYU-Tisch, and she has also studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her recent credits include Law & Order: SVU and Lydia in Beetlejuice the Musical on NCL. She is very excited to be a part of this story, and she’d like to thank her family and her team at Resolute. 

Brian Gaskill (JAKE) is thrilled to make his debut on the New York stage in RAY. After growing up in local theater and performing arts schools on the Jersey shore, Brian graduated from the acting conservatory at SUNY Purchase and secured contract roles on All My Children, Models Inc, Port Charles and others, with his most recent stint being on The Young and The Restless. He extends a hearty “thank you” to Director, Jennifer Pepperman for inviting him to play.

Aidan Cheek (LOGAN) is excited to make his NYC performance debut at the Chain Theatre. He wants to thank the cast and team, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Kelly Glover (Producer/Stage Manager) was a former production crew member for The Education of Max Bickford, Law & Order, and The Rachael Ray Show who currently works as a Copywriter. She’s excited that Jen asked her to be a part of the RAY family. 

Lauren Kurnit (Casting) has 15+ years of experience and most recently served as Senior Manager of Casting at CBS, contributing to more than 50 pilots and series. She is a proud member of the Casting Society of America and the Television Academy.

Brian Lydell (Sound Designer) is a 30-year television veteran who received Emmy Awards for his work as a Music Director/Supervisor. Credits include One Life to Live, As the World Turns, All My Children, and General Hospital. Brian also serves as a Professor at Montclair State University teaching Music Technology, Sound Design, Sound Analysis and Music Editing for TV and Film.

You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone

Written and directed by Felicity Winter

Synopsis

Two childhood best friends have a falling out- and then meet for the first time in eleven years in a Planned Parenthood exam room.

Bios

Clara Cowley (she/they) Cass: Clara Cowley is an actor and art administrator from Miami, Florida. She currently serves as the Institutional Giving Manager at Playwrights Horizons. She would like to thank Felicity and Nia for giving her this chance and her scene partner Gray for their openness.

Gray Choi (they/them) Shay: gray is queer nonbinary artist of Korean descent based in NYC. You may have caught them at a regional theater gig or indie play festivals in the city. Offstage, they live their life a quarter mile at a time: coaching kids in climbing, raging against their tarot deck, and overcoming generational trauma and the crushing weight of capitalism through art. They send love to their family (found and biological) and mentors.

Kayla Sofia (she/her) Young Cassandra: Kayla Sofía is a New York City born and based actor currently training at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. She holds a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College, where her stage credits include Marisol and Ugly Lies the Bone. Additional theatre work includes the NYC Fringe Festival (Lady Parts) and a 2025 staged reading of Looking for Gold in Boyle Heights by Matt Steinberg, in which she played Carmen Alvarez. She is currently appearing as Young Cass in You’re Gonna Miss Me (2026). IG: @kaylasofiaa_

Angel Sun (she/her) Young Shannon: Angel Fan (she/her) is an NYC-based singer, musician and actress. She has a background in music technology, having studied Music at Stanford University, and has worked in audio engineering/music production. She is also currently working on composing her first full-length musical! Recent credits as a performer include "Sweet Smell of Success" at Lincoln Center and starring in the indie short horror "Hungry Creatures."

Felicity Winter (she/her) Director: Felicity Winter (she/her) is a New York-based director, writer, and actor. Her play Unidentified Female was featured in the Chain Theatre's 2024 Summer One Act Festival and she's happy to be back for this festival! Past directing credits include Hope Is The Thing With Feathers (Murmuration Theatre Co.), To Be Loved Is To Be Alive (Audacious Owl), Constellations (Chatham Community Players), American Idiot, Into the Woods, and Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Cabaret Theatre). She will be making her film directing debut with "Lovesick" in 2026. Thanks to Nia and our amazing cast! For more information on her work: @winterfelicity and http://felicity-winter.com 

Nia Abdullah (she/her) Producer: Nia J Abdullah is a proud arts administrator, producer and lighting designer based in New York City. Her past credits include Unidentified Female (Chained Theatre & Staged Reading), Grand Horizons (Playhouse 22), To Be Loved is To Be Alive (Audacious Owl Productions). Nia was a 2025 Perry Nominee for Best Lighting of a Play.