2025 One-Act Winter Festival

Tickets are $23 in advance online and $26 at the door

NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. NO LATE SEATING, PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY AND STAY FOR THE WHOLE PERFORMANCE.

VIRTUAL TICKETS FOR THE LIVE STREAMING DATES ARE $23 (please check you are buying a virtual ticket)

There will be no rewind or fast forward during the live presentation.

Program #1 (3rd Floor)

By the Look of Her

Written by David Rabe

Directed by Kirk Gostkowski

Synopsis: When Clara McCaffery slips into a coma her family struggles through a variety of storms to be by her side.

David Rabe (PLAYWRIGHT) has been hailed as one of America’s greatest living playwrights. He is the author of many widely performed plays, including The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, Sticks and Bones, Streamers, The Orphan. In the Boom Boom Room,  Hurlyburly, Goose and Tomtom., The Dog Problem, and Good for Otto. Four of his plays have been nominated for the Tony Award, including one win for Best Play. He is the recipient of an Obie Award, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, Drama Desk Award, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, among others. His numerous screenwriting credits include The Firm, I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can, Casualties of War, and Hurlyburly,. 
Rabe is the critically acclaimed author of the novels Dinosaurs on the Roof , Girl by the Road at Night, Recital of the Dog, and two collections of short stories, A Primitive Heart, and Listening For Ghosts. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Rabe lives in Northwest Connecticut.

Kirk Gostkowski (DIRECTOR) – Artistic Director Chain Theatre ; Select acting credits: Simpatico as Carter, World Premiere of Garbageman as Dan Bandana, Nick Moroni (NYC Premiere Keith Huff’s Six Corners), The Pillowman as Katurian (2016 Queens Kudos Winner Best Actor), Talk Radio as Barry Champlain (2015 NYIT Award Nominee for Outstanding Revival), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as R. P. McMurphy, Hurlyburly as Eddie, After the Fall as Quentin, Fool for Love as Eddie, In The Boom Boom Room as Al, True West as Austin, Wait Until Dark as Roat (Nominated as Best Director 2016 NYIT). He is the founder and Festival Director of the Chain NYC Film Festival. Kirk made his film directorial debut with the film Leave Me Behind, which was featured in ten film festivals across the world, won awards, and is distributed through Screen Media Ventures. Recent film: My Sister’s Wedding, Robotonomy. Kirk is a graduate of Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree focused in performance.

Rafaella Rossi (STAGE MANAGER) is a Manhattan based stage manager and is thrilled to be a part of The Chain’s One Act Festival and this production. Proud Hofstra graduate; credits include:Keith Huff’s Six Corners and Garbageman, David Rabe’s In the Boom Boom Room, Joe Landry’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Comedy Troupe The Usual Rejects, Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark, and Dale Wasserman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Erin Layton’s Magdalen at United Solo Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Jonathan Larson’s RENT Edinburgh Fringe Festival with On the Quays, Much Ado About Nothing (The Brick), Else C. Went’s Old Names for Wildflowers with The Renovationists. 

Christina Elise Perry (LORNA) is a film/theatre actor and producer. She has produced and performed in dozens of critically acclaimed productions Off-Broadway. Highlighted theatrical roles include: SIX CORNERS by Emmy Nominated Keith Huff (Amanda). Sam Shepards SIMPATICO (Rosie) and FOOL FOR LOVE (May) Critically acclaimed CHASING THE RIVER, and WAIT UNTIL DARK as Susan (NYIT Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role). Film: HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION with In the Garage Productions, Award Winning short, IN THE DARK ROOM. Training: New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts; School for Film and Television. Perry thanks her family and the 'Sisu' her grandparents instilled within her. @christinaperryperry 

Adrienne Acevedo (SISTER VERONICA) is an award-winning actor, director, producer and filmmaker. She has played opposite Colin Farrell, Naomi Watts, Queen Latifah, Aziz Ansari, Joaquin Phoenix, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Williams, to name a few. Adrienne’s favorite TV credits include The Penguin (MAX), The Equalizer (CBS), Better Call Saul (AMC), Ray Donovan (Showtime), Fosse/Verdon (FX), The Deuce (HBO), and Master Of None (NETFLIX). She is also known for her roles in Sunlight Jr. (Tribeca Film Festival) playing opposite Naomi Watts, and the lead role in the award-winning suspense feature drama I'm Okay, We're Okay (PRIME/TUBI). Her favorite regional theatre credits include West Side Story, Top Girls, Oedipus, Nickel & Dimed, The Seagull, and Grease. For more information and to follow her journey, visit her at https://linktr.ee/AdrienneAcevedoLovette

Brandon Hughes (HANK) is a prolific actor and director of both stage and film. Film and TV: A Crime To Remember, Six Degrees of Murder, Good Man, and The Righteous. Off Broadway: Simpatico and Hurlyburly (Chain Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing and Ghosts of Provincetown at New World Stages. He is known for his humanistic television portrayal of Charles Whitman on A Crime to Remember. He also co-stars in a web series, ADULT-ish. His directorial episode of ADULT-ish was an official selection of Seoul South Korea Web Fest.

Sachi Parker (CLARA MCCAFFERY), the daughter of internationally acclaimed film star Shirley MacLaine and the late producer Steve Parker, is an accomplished actress in her own right, appearing in theater and films throughout the world. Born in Los Angeles, she moved to Japan at age 2 to live with her father, and spent much of her childhood there before moving on to boarding schools in England and Switzerland. She spent her early adult years in Hawaii, Australia and France, before returning to Los Angeles at the age of 25 to live with her celebrated mother.

Parker made her film debut in 1985 in “Stick,” directed by Burt Reynolds, and appeared in “Back to the Future,” “About Last Night,” “Peggy Sue Got Married,” “Riders to the Sea,” “Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael,” “Bad Influence,” and “Scrooged.” She recently completed “All Me, All the Time,” with Keir Dullea. When television beckoned, Parker soon found herself guest-starring in numerous popular series and TV movies, including “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Equal Justice,” “Eerie, Indiana,” “Alien Nation,” “Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre,” “Santa Barbara,” “Capitol” and “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” . Her theater work included “The Lulu Plays,” “Ladies in Waiting,” and “Pastorale.” She was invited to perform at Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival in “My Cup Runneth Over,” “West Side Story,” “Moon Children” and “Independence.” She has appeared in regional theatre companies in the Chekhov classics “The Cherry Orchard,” “The Seagull” and “The Three Sisters.”

Staying true to her Japanese roots, Parker has served as the daytime anchor for a Japanese language news program out of New York City, and starred in daytime Japanese television. She was recognized for her work as an actress bridging cultural differences between Japan and the US in l990 with the prestigious Kurosawa Award. In 2008, Parker appeared in the acclaimed Japanese film “The Witch of the West is Dead”, playing the leading role of a 75-year-old grandmother and winning the Best Actress Award. She is currently starring in a web series The So So You Don’t Know, having won 3 Best Actress Awards.

She lives in New York City.

C.K. Allen (FATHER THEISEN) –  Chain Theatre: Keith Huff’s Six Corners (dir. Ella Jane New); Carnival Girls Productions: Christie Perfetti Williams’ The Magazine (Dir: Matilda Szydagis); WorkShop Theater: Scott C. Sickles’ Composure (dir. Fritz Brekeller); Rich Orloff’s Couples (dir. David Gautschy - “Notable performance” -NY Times), Levy Lee Simon’s The Bow Wow Club (dir. Keith Greer); SAG-AFTRA. Film: The Brotherhood (dir. Reneé Flemings), RUOK (dir. Jay Russel). TV commercials, soaps and industrials; Video game: Red Dead Redemption 2.

Justin Andrew Davis (JIM) is an award-winning actor, writer, and filmmaker based in NYC. As a filmmaker, he wrote, directed, and starred in three short films: You Look Great, Powerful Stuff, and Definitely Something, which is now on the 2024-2025 festival circuit. Notable acting credits include Peter in You Look Great, a story based on Justin's personal experiences with eating disorders, and Alex in writer-director Brian DiLorenzo's Myth, a dark, cautionary comedy about a young screenwriter meeting his manipulative film director idol. Currently, Justin is auditioning, writing a family drama feature film, and playing too much guitar as a general life distraction.  justinandrewdavis.com

Kyle C. Mumford  (DR. BENKE) - Kyle is a writer and award-winning filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. He attended the School Of Visual Arts where his then thesis film, His Naked Mind was an award-winning feature at SVA's Dusty Film Fest. Since graduation, Kyle has worked in the editorial and locations departments for film and TV, as well as an assistant for writer/director Tom Gormican. Since then, his written works have made it to 2nd round twice at Sundance Labs, and seven times at the Austin Film Festival. In 2021, his play The Victims was accepted into the Actor’s Studio Playwright and Directors Unit, where he is still a proud member today. More recently, his plays Shrimp Pudding and Hangmen premiered at the Chain Theatre’s One-Act Festival in 2023 and 2024. IG: @kylecmumford www.kylemumford.com

Brothers*

Written and directed by Lyle Kessler

Synopsis: Two brothers struggle for survival in a college dorm.

Connor Chase Stewart (Mark) is a NYC based actor. He made his Off Broadway debut in Bettingers Luggage other off-Broadway credits include; A White Man’s Guide to Rikers Island, Soup in the Second Act. He appeared in the short film "Man's Fate" at the 48 Hour Film Project. He founded Bloomingdale Theater Company in 2020. He trained at The London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts, Stella Adler, The Neighborhood Playhouse and HB Studio. Lyle Kessler’s Master Class and Bobby Moresco's Actors Gym. Special thanks to Lyle Kessler and everyone who's worked so hard at this festival. 

Christopher Cortez Adams (Van) is a New York based actor, writer and producer. Film Credits include 'The Dutchman' and 'Chilltown' as well as the short 'In Between' which he also wrote and produced and will be having its world premiere at Venezia Shorts Festival in May 2025. Theater Credits include the world premiere of 'River Time' produced through the Actors Studio and 'Goldberg's Kaddish' at the New York Theater Festival. He is the co-founder of Good Evening Rep, the downtown New York theater company introducing theater to new audiences of young creatives in all fields. Christopher is very excited to be working alongside a playwright hero of his in Lyle Kessler.

Lyle Kessler (PLAYWRIGHT & DIRECTOR) Lyle Kessler’s Orphans began its life at L.A.’s Matrix Theater followed by the acclaimed Steppenwolf production directed by Gary Sinese. It received two Tony nominations for its Broadway revival starring Alec Baldwin and Ben Foster. Albert Finney won the Olivier award in London’s West End production. Al Pacino and Jesse Eisenberg are among the actors who have appeared in the play. Orphans continues to be produced in almost every country in the world. Other plays include The Watering Place, Unlisted, Robbers, House on Fire, Collision and Perp.  Films include Orphans; The Saint of Fort Washington; Gladiator and Touched, written and co-starring Mr. Kessler.  He is the Director of the Actors Studio Playwrights/Directors Unit and is a member of the Labyrinth Theater Company. Mr Kessler served as Artistic Director of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and participated in the Sundance Screenwriters Conference in Hungary working with writers from all over Eastern Europe. He currently runs a Master Class for actors, writers and directors every Monday night in the West Village. He and his wife, actress Margaret Ladd, developed an original artistic modality which is used in Psychiatric Hospitals called the Imagination Workshop, the longest running Arts and Mental Health Program in the world. Mr. Kessler’s plays have been published by Random House, Grove Press, Samuel French and Dramatists Play Service.

The Robot, the Spy and the Love of A.I.

Written by John Arthur Long

Directed by Kirk Gostkowski

Synopsis: The Robot, The Spy, and the Love of AI centers around the dangers of AI and the classic sci-fi trope of what it means to be truly human. It is a never-before-seen immersive experience with actors and robots performing together on stage.

John Arthur Long (PLAYWRIGHT), Literary Director of the Chain Theatre, has also been active as an educator, a writer and a director in theater for his entire professional career. Along with Kirk Gostkowski, the Chain Theatre’s Artistic Director, Long received a Best Director nomination for the Chain Theatre’s Off-Broadway revival production of Wait Until Dark. It was also at the Chain Theatre that Long developed the original musical, DRAGULA: A Transgender Tale, written in partnership with Theodore Kastrinos, through a series of critically acclaimed Chain Theatre workshop  productions that Long then transposed into a best-selling audiobook in which both his narration and singing performance won 1st prize for the SOVAS Best Voiceover Fiction Narration award out of some 35,000 audiobooks produced in 2020. Along with several fiction novels, Long is also the co-author of a children’s book, The Tooth Fairy Legend, a perennial top-seller and favorite of children which was based on his original family theatrical musical, the audiobook winning nominations for Best Author/Narrator and Best Sound Design. Long is excited to have the opportunity to explore the ever-evolving and often controversial world of robots and A1 through his latest fiction creation at the Chain Theatre’s Winter One Act Festival.

Kirk Gostkowski (DIRECTOR) – Artistic Director Chain Theatre ; Select acting credits: Simpatico as Carter, World Premiere of Garbageman as Dan Bandana, Nick Moroni (NYC Premiere Keith Huff’s Six Corners), The Pillowman as Katurian (2016 Queens Kudos Winner Best Actor), Talk Radio as Barry Champlain (2015 NYIT Award Nominee for Outstanding Revival), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as R. P. McMurphy, Hurlyburly as Eddie, After the Fall as Quentin, Fool for Love as Eddie, In The Boom Boom Room as Al, True West as Austin, Wait Until Dark as Roat (Nominated as Best Director 2016 NYIT). He is the founder and Festival Director of the Chain NYC Film Festival. Kirk made his film directorial debut with the film Leave Me Behind, which was featured in ten film festivals across the world, won awards, and is distributed through Screen Media Ventures. Recent film: My Sister’s Wedding, Robotonomy. Kirk is a graduate of Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree focused in performance.

Rafaella Rossi (STAGE MANAGER) is a Manhattan based stage manager and is thrilled to be a part of The Chain’s One Act Festival and this production. Proud Hofstra graduate; credits include:Keith Huff’s Six Corners and Garbageman, David Rabe’s In the Boom Boom Room, Joe Landry’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Comedy Troupe The Usual Rejects, Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark, and Dale Wasserman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Erin Layton’s Magdalen at United Solo Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Jonathan Larson’s RENT Edinburgh Fringe Festival with On the Quays, Much Ado About Nothing (The Brick), Else C. Went’s Old Names for Wildflowers with The Renovationists. 

Monica Park (Melanie) is a second-generation Korean-American actress and producer. Native to NYC, she is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the William Esper Studio, and has since been appearing predominantly in international commercials and short films that have premiered at the IFFSA Toronto, International NY Shorts, and Austin Lift-Off Film Festival. On stage, she has been seen in CPR (NY Theatre Festival), All The Time in the World (Theatre for the New City) and Simpatico (Chain Theatre).

Gabriel Rysdahl (Trevor) is an actor based in New York City. Gabriel graduated from Terry Knickerbocker Studio in June of 2021. Gabriel is known for the feature films On The End (opposite Tim Blake Nelson and Anna Chlumsky), The Devil's Teardrop (premiered at the 2024 Morbido Film Festival), and the Amazon tv show The Better Sister (opposite Elizabeth Banks). He has been seen on stage for the productions This G*d Damn House (Chain Theater) and The Sweet Spot (59E59th Theater).

David Rey (VOICE AS ROBIE) 

Dariel Garcia (ROBIE OPERATOR)

*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.

Program #2* (3rd Floor)

The Interlude

Written by Jeff Checkley 

Directed by Sara Thigpen

Synopsis: A couple contemplates a turning point in their 20 year marriage over a romantic dinner when a mysterious man approaches their table in the restaurant. Is he a face from the past? 

Or is their entire future about to be turned upside down- for better or worse?

Jeff Checkley (Playwright) is a consistent contributor to the independent theatre scene as a playwright, actor, and producer of countless new works featured in some of New York's favorite venues. A founding member of New Ambassadors Theatre Company, Jeff is thrilled to be making his debut at the Chain Theatre with his production of Interlude. @checkley.jeff 

William Franke* (Doug) has worked with all these folks before, plus: Morningside Players; J City Theater; Retro Productions; Theatre East; New Georges; Cake Productions and others. TV: FBI, Blacklist, Hunters, Law & Order: SVU, and more. Film: Alone, If the Trees Could Talk, and others. William also co-produces the award-winning paranormal audio drama podcast Uncanny County (uncannycounty.com). AEA & SAG-AFTRA. William Franke.com 

Marie Eléna O'Brien* (Melissa) is a NY-based stage & film actor, writer, director, producer, and the Founder & Artistic Director of the newly developed Jade Rabbit Theatre Company and the Conscious Creatives Circle. Last seen: as Dottie in Bettye & The Jockettes Spinning Records At The Holiday Inn (Retro Productions; nominated for a Pulitzer), as Veronica in Shitty Shitty Bang Bang (Best Actor, Queens Short Play Festival; Secret Theatre), Faces Of America: 6 (The PGE), as well as new play development projects with Jade Rabbit, New Perspectives and Breaking The Binary Theatre. Follow on Instagram @jade.rabbit.theatre.company 

Brian Reilly (Matt) Recent NYC stage credits include In The Garden Of The Hesperides and Back To You (The Secret Theater); Honor (A.R.T./New York Theaters). He also acts in films and tv. He is a co-founder of Blue Plumbago Productions, and a graduate of Fordham University. www.brianreillyactor.com 

Sara Thigpen (Director) An award-winning actor and director, Sara is thrilled to return to the Chain One Act Festival. She won a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Director for her work on Twelfth Night with Boomerang Theatre Company. Other directing credits include On The Verge, Chasing The River, Nudists In Love, and most recently, Bettye And The Jockettes Spinning Records At The Holiday Inn. Sara's performance experience encompasses theater (regional, downtown, Indie), film ('SUB AI', 'PRESIDENT OF THE FAN CLUB'), commercials, and workshops/readings, in addition to her work co-writing and producing GRACE. Thanks to Jeryl & Jeff. Love to Tim. www.sarathigpen.com 

The Same Place

Written and Directed by Rory Lance 

Synopsis: A son while visiting his elderly mother in the hospital is visited by a priest.

Rory Lance (Playwright, Director, McCloskey) is an accomplished character actor with  experience in both the musical and legitimate stage and numerous film and television  projects throughout his career. In addition to his work as an actor, he has spent much of  his career teaching and introducing young people to the joys and challenges of the  theatre. Rory's original solo adaptation of Death In Venice has been performed  successfully at the United Solo Theatre Festival, winning the Festival's prestigious award for Best Period Piece. He is delighted to be returning to The Chain Theatre.  

Jordan Elman (Randy) is an actor, voice-over artist, improviser, musician, and comedian based in  NYC. He is currently an MFA candidate with The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace  University (Class of 2027). Jordan earned his BA in Theatre and Psychology at Muhlenberg  College, completed the Magnet Theater’s Improv Training Program in NYC, and studied Commedia dell’arte at L’accademia dell’arte in Arezzo, Italy. He is excited to return to The Chain Theater stage and hopes you all had a Happy New Year. www.jordanelman.com 

Gail Nalven Fuchs (Fanny) is a long-time supporter of community and regional theatre. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, she studied Theatre Arts at Brooklyn College. She is an active member of The Heights Players and sings with ROCK VOICES in Brooklyn Heights. Her favorite roles are wife, mother, and Bubbe. 

We Were Girls Together

Written by Jacklyn Collier

Directed by Kate (K8) 

Synopsis: What happens when the woman you are meets the girl you used to be? In We Were Girls Together, three lifelong friends stumble into a surreal night that bridges their past and present. As they come face to face with their teenage selves, old wounds, forgotten dreams, and unexpected truths rise to the surface. With humor and heart, they discover the power of who they were—and who they’ve become

Kate (K8) (Director) is a multidimensional artist who loves experimenting within the connectivity of play, consciousness, and light. She studied Theatre Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University (BFA) and trained at Second City. Theatre theorists from the beginning of time inspired her to develop experimental methods of devising and harmonizing ensembles and individuals. She sees theatre as an impactful way to offer the world a refreshing new mythology. Instagram: @kinetic.k8

Isa Mellody (Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Youth Coordinator) is an actor, writer, theatre-maker, and Native New Yorker–she also lives there now! She has a Bachelor's degree in Theater Studies from Duke University where she graduated with distinction and currently studies at Michael Howard Studios. She loves participating in new works and telling queer stories. Instagram: @isam3ls

Josephine Huang* (Callie) is a Brooklyn-based, Taiwanese American actor, voice actor and filmmaker. Josephine recently starred as Miriam Osprey in the feature film Space Cadet on Amazon Prime. TV: WeCrashed, Billions, Ramy, Pose, L&O: SVU, Crashing, The Following. VO: Past Lives and multiple award-winning audiobooks. As a filmmaker, Josephine's comedic short, In Sync (which she co-wrote, produced, and starred in), was made in just 72 hours and has been an official selection and award winner at over 35 film festivals internationally. Upcoming: The Spaces Between Us – shot in Iceland, this film was proudly made with an international group of all AAPI creatives and talent. Outside of making films and performing, Josephine is an avid foodie, travel fanatic, fitpro, and dog mom. Instagram: @itmejosephine

Elisabeth Choi (Young Callie) is very excited to be a part of We Were Girls Together. She is 10 years old and loves musical theater. Elisabeth most recently appeared on Saturday Night Live! She performed as Pabbie in a Frozen Jr. production by A Class Act NY. She also played the roles of Dory in her school's Finding Nemo Kids production and Pumbaa in Lion King Jr. at BergenPAC in Englewood, NJ. When she's not on stage, Elisabeth is listening to Kpop, dancing ballet, ice-skating or swimming. She is thankful for this opportunity and would like to thank her family and all her wonderful teachers.

Cordelia Cornell (Young Alex) (2/21) is thrilled to join the cast of We Were Girls Together. Select theater credits include Annie in Annie (Milton Theater), Small Allison in Fun Home (Nxt Generation Theatrics), Annie in Annie (A Class Act NY), Alice in Matilda (Broadway Workshop), and Fritz in Happy Birthday Anna Loggins (Off-Broadway premiere). Cordelia can be seen in a short film as Ella (Can’t You See I’m Trying) and also in a National Geographic Voice Over project. Cordelia was also recently nominated for a Broadway World Award. Cordelia thanks her marvelous manager Jason at Bercy Talent, her dance teacher Janine Molinari, and her phenomenal coaches Alyson Isbrandtsen and Rance Wright for their guidance. Instagram: @cordeliacornellofficial
Glory be to God.

Stella Coviello (Young Grace) is thrilled to be a part of We Were Girls Together! Stella is a 15-year-old New York based performer whose favorite theatre credits include: MPAC’s School of Rock (Shonelle), Polar Express (Hero Child), Festivites (Ivy), Annie (Duffy), and Peace, Love & Cupcakes (Sadie Harris). TV credits include: Law and Order: Organized Crime (Kesha Jones), Sisters Pilot (Young Meghan). Short Films: Harlem Fragments (winner of 19 Film Festival awards), Goldenrod, Peekaboo. Commercials: Rockettes/Radio City Christmas Spectacular, US Cellular, Up 2 Us Sports, Phil Murphy Re-Election Campaign. Stella is grateful to friends, family, coaches, Bercy Talent and Zuri Agency for their endless support. Thank you to Jacklyn Collier for this incredible experience!

Zuela Besmertnik (Young Alex) (2/9 and 2/29) is 12 years old, recently performed in the short film In Between Bites. Theatre credits include Footloose the Musical (Gateway Productions), Seussical the Musical (Ocean City Theatre Company), Legally Blonde Jr., Shrek Jr., Mary Poppins Jr., Moana Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., and Annie Jr. She is thrilled to be a part of We Were Girls Together and would like to thank Jacklyn Collier for this amazing opportunity. Zuela wrote and performed the original songs for this production. Spotify: Search for "Zuela"

Alia Hodge* (Grace) has been a New York based singer and actor for over 10 years. National Tours include: First National of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, 20th Anniversary Tour of RENT. Regional credits include: Waitress (The MUNY), Dreamgirls (Goodspeed Opera House), Little Shop of Horrors (Berkshire Theatre Festival). Television: Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent. BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Much love to my family, friends, and agents at Hudson Artists! Instagram: @blackiesnackie

Jacklyn Collier* (Alex, Playwright) is a girl’s girl. We Were Girls Together is her love letter to female friendship, and she’s grateful to the incredible team bringing this play to life. Thanks to The Chain for supporting artists and to her parents for putting her in community theatre even though they are a sports family. Callie, watching you grow up is a joy. I hope you get into as many adventures as your mom and I did when we were girls together. Instagram: @jacklyncollier

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Wipeout

Written by Jeryl Brunner 

Directed by Sara Thigpen

Synopsis: Wipeout is about the lengths we go for people to love us. Justine has many first dates that rarely turn into second ones. Insecure about connecting, she uses her research skills as a magazine fact checker to do a deep dive to understand the passions of the men she dates. With ski-obsessed Leo that means learning about moguls and "hitting the fresh pow." 

Chris Harcum* (Leo/Mr. Judson) is an award-winning actor, playwright, and filmmaker. His duo improv show Pedro & Chris, airs on MNN Lifestyle on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and anytime on YouTube. He is currently training for the New York City Half Marathon. Love and appreciation to his partner in life and art Aimee Todoroff. www.chrisharcum.com. 

Amy Ziff* (Carol on the subway platform/Suzy/Mom) In addition to being a pop icon and touring the world with the band BETTY, Amy has appeared in movies and TV, including Showtime's The L-Word, and originating the roles of Mom and Ida on the ABC series Edith Ann. Amy has also written and performed her one-woman shows, Superlatives and Accident in several festivals and theaters across the United States and Canada. She has also co-written an opera about Typhoid Mary, called A Danger to Us All.  Amy is excited to be a part of Wipeout.  To celebrate the new cd, and 39th anniversary, be sure to grab a ticket for BETTY’s concert series this month in New York City and tour! Hellobetty.com. P.S. Love to Kristi, Saylor and Slate.

Jeryl Brunner (Justine and playwright) is ecstatic to return to the Chain Theatre’s One Act Festival as a performer and playwright. Other Chain Theatre Festival shows include Catch, directed by Sara Thigpen and Dill, directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Jeryl has done voice overs for books on Audible.com, appeared in Younger and Law & Order and wrote for Anika Larsen for 24 Hour Plays. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Jeryl performs improv throughout New York City. She is developing her full-length play, Love Justine, which was workshopped at The Hundredth Hill. Jeryl also hosts the podcast, When Lightning Strikes!, on the Broadway Podcast Network, produced by Anna Strout. 

So much gratitude to the Chain Theatre, Christina Perry, Kirk Gostkowski, Rick Hamilton, Sara Thigpen, Anna Strout, Jesse Eisenberg, Barbara Toy, Amy Ziff, Chris Harcum, Laura Vogel, Krista Detor, Dave Weber and the Hundredth Hill, Elizabeth Perkins, Julie Besonen, James Knapp, Scooter Alpert, Paige Morrow Kimball, Jenica Bergere, Patrick Boll, Ben McHugh, Jason Kravits, Courtney Laine Self, Gray Thurstone, Spencer Giles, Ilene Angel, Dina Zuckerberg, Sarah Elizabeth Greer, Andrea Kannapell, Denice Nortez, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Karen Schaler, Katie Rosin, Bonnie Brodner and Sherry Brodner. 

Sara Thigpen (Director)  An award-winning actor and director, Sara is thrilled to return to the Chain Theatre’s One Act Festival. She won a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Director for her work on Twelfth Night with Boomerang Theatre Company. Other directing credits include On The Verge, Chasing The River, Nudists in Love, and most recently the world-premiere of Bettye and the Jockettes Spinning Records at the Holiday Inn. Sara's performance experience encompasses theater (regional, downtown, Indie), film ('Sub Al', 'President of the Fan Club'), commercials, and workshops/readings, in addition to her work co-writing and producing Grace. Thanks to Jeryl & Jeff. Love to Tim.  www.sarathigpen.com

Anna Strout (Producer) produces and casts programs, as well as serves as an educator for Voices of a People's History and their many partner organizations from high schools to universities, unions to performing arts centers—and develops new programs, community collaborations, and artist engagement models.  Over the years, Anna has consulted on numerous socio-historical documentaries, multi-media DVDs and world music releases, animated and fiction film productions, and museum exhibits. She also is an advisor for The Hundreth Hill artist residency and a volunteer with Middle Way House, an organization that works to end domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking through an empowerment model. Anna produces and books talent for When Lightning Strikes! with host Jeryl Brunner on the Broadway Podcast Network. 

Jesse Eisenberg (Producer) A writer, director, filmmaker and playwright, Jesse Eisenberg is an Academy Award–nominated actor and writer who has appeared in more than 40 films and TV shows. Additionally, he has written plays, essays for the New Yorker and McSweeney's and is a cast member with Theater of War, a performing arts non-profit that presents readings of Sophocles and Philoctetes to communities throughout the United States and Europe. Jesse made his directorial debut with the movie, When You Finish Saving the World, which he also wrote. His newest film, A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed and stars in, has been listed as one of the ten best films of 2024 by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the National Board of Review.

Barbara Toy (Producer) is the director of development for New York Stage and Film. She has extensive fundraising experience for both non-profit arts organizations/social service agencies and commercial enterprises, centering on fund raising for and management of the arts, culture and education. Barbara’s focus is on giving a voice to a new generation of artists: work that is reflective of the diversity of backgrounds and experiences in the New York community. 

*These Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association. Equity approved showcase. 

Program #3* (3rd Floor)

Eulogy

Written and directed by Gus Kaikkonen

Synopsis: Frank tries to speak truth at his father's funeral.

Gus Kaikkonen (Playwright/Performer) Plays produced at Playwrights Horizons, the Production Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the BoarsHead and Peterborough Players (NH Best New Play 2002).  Translations: Mint Theatre (Dr. Knock, Donogoo) and NJPAC (Lelio with the NJ Symphony).  Gus directed Hindle Wakes for the Mint Theater (Drama Desk, OOBA Nominee for Best Revival 2018, Newsweek 10 Best).  Television appearances include: Law & Order CI, All My Children, One Life to Live, Paul’s Case.  Broadway: Equus OBC.   

Mr. Daniels

Written by Jonathan Green 

Directed by Josh Kellman 

Synopsis: Mr. Daniels is visited by a mysterious figure from his past. In the course of an evening they examine his life, how it has been lived…and where it is to go.

Jonathan Green (Playwright) is an award winning writer/actor/director who developed a love of storytelling by listening to his grandfather spin tales of growing up in rural Kentucky during the Depression. He graduated Cum Laude from EKU and then studied film and theater at AMDA NY. His plays Baggage and Afterglow have been performed regionally and Off-Broadway. He currently has 2 films in production with Amazon. Jonathan has a passion for using storytelling to deliver universal themes and a desire to show people that, through art, there is hope of a good ending.

Brad Fryman (Mr. Daniels) recently appeared as Orson Welles in Austin Pendleton’s Orson Shadow directed by Mr. Pendleton and David Schweizer. Favorite NY credits include The Drawer Boy and American Rapture directed by Alex Dinelaris, Order By Christopher Stetson Boal directed by Austin Pendleton, and Pimm’s Mission also by Mr. Boal directed by Terrence O’Brien. Recently with Strindberg Rep appeared in The Creditors, Hedda Gabler, The Father and The Isle of The Dead. He played Theo Van Gogh in Committed directed by Brock Harris, Occasionally Nothing directed by Ivette Dumeng and Hiroshi directed by Roger Hendricks Simon all written by Natalie Menna. A Wilder Christmas by Thornton Wilder directed by Dan Wackerman and Einstein directed by Randy Curtis Rand are also Off Broadway favorites. You might have seen him in Blue Bloods, the film Damned If You Do or the short films Behind Bars, Seeking Man, or Overdue. Brad is the Artistic Director of the Oberon Theatre Ensemble currently celebrating its 27th season! www.bradfryman.com

Orlando Segarra (Mr. Grey) is a writer, director, actor, musician, composer, filmmaker, sound editor, and former birthday party clown. He wrote the libretto for Self-Defined Circuits, a contemporary science-fiction opera, with music composed by Jillian Flexner. Self-Defined Circuits had its world premiere with Fresh-Squeezed Opera in May, 2022. Orlando is co-creator of Just Press Playhouse, an acclaimed audio drama production company. He co-directed, wrote, and scored Time Trip!, a science-fiction adventure comedy which was an official selection to HEAR Now: Audio Fiction and Arts Festival, and was also nominated for an Audio Verse Award, and the Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction in 2018. Orlando composes music under the name, The Brooklyn Bystander. Additional credits include, OPERA: When He Was Good (Director) THEATRE: The Velveteen Rabbit (Playwright, adaptation), Simprov (Score), Open (Score), Incident At Vichy (Actor), Henry V (Director/Score/Actor), Heartbreak House (Actor), Not About Nightingales (Actor/Sound Design), After Miss Julie (Director), The House that Jack Built (Playwright), Tape (Director), Night Maneuver (Director). AUDIO: Timestorm (Actor), The Cellar (Actor), Stumpy's Campfire Stories (Director/Writer/Actor/Score), All of Us Demons (Director/Writer/Actor), Kid Pros (Director/Writer/Actor). FILM: I Am Who I Am (Director/Producer/Score), Undead Anonymous (Screenwriter). GAME: Aokigahara (Score).

Josh Kellman (Director) wishes to thank Mr. Green for the play and the opportunity, and to thank Mr. Fryman and Mr. Segarra for bringing their heart, their minds, and their talent to Mr. Daniels. Josh is founder and AD of The Empirically Theatre Group, and has directed John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Paul Rudnick’s Jeffrey, Tennessee Williams’ Not About Nightingales, Moliere’s Don Juan, and Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile for the company. During the pandemic, he directed Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy in virtual productions. Josh is also an actor who has spent 11 seasons doing musical theatre repertory at Rocky Mountain Repetory Theatre. In 2023 he debuted his One Man A Christmas Carol. Love as always to Tyler Symone, the greatest star of all.

Poke Along the Ohio

Written by Colleen Cosgrove

Directed by Mary Linehan

Synopsis: Evansville, Indiana, 1854. A comedy of sorts. Addie and her grandson Horace have been to church now it's time for supper. But first a little talk along the banks of the Ohio River as the opinionated grandma and her slack-jawed grandson chew the fat over such all-American subjects as life, politics, pie, popular music, and setting out on one's own.

Daniel Antonino (Horace) is a 2024 graduate of Pace University’s Sands School of Performing Arts, where he honed his craft in Acting for Film, Television, Voiceovers, and Commercials. Shaped by New York’s indie film scene, he now returns to his theatrical roots, making his NYC stage debut. Discover more at DanielAntonino.com.

Colleen Cosgrove (Playwright/Addie) has been involved in multiple Chain festivals. Playwright: The Stoop. Actor: Purgatory and Exit…Stage Right both by Domenick Danza as well as A Procession of Clouds by Lynda Crawford. Her web episode Fun with Nan:Yuppie Go Home was an official selection in The Chain's 2019 Film Festival (Nan is on YouTube). Other one-acts: A Cross to Bear (Drilling Co, Spectrum Arts) and With Benefits (Drilling Co). Recent acting: Maria (Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot). Member: AEA, Drilling Co and K/Q Playwrights. Contact: ccozgrove@gmail.com    

Mary Linehan (Director) Recent: Boann and the Well of Wisdom (NYC: Morningside Players; Best Director Nomination, First Irish Festival, and Ireland 2024: St. John’s Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry; McHugh’s Music Venue, Drogheda, Co. Meath). Other select: -30- (Best Director Nomination, Hudson Guild), Competence is Key (Theater Project, NJ), Goblins and Gates (Pleasant Valley Prods, NJ). Select Acting: Ophelia (Hamlet, Bryant Park), Hero (NYT Critics’ Pick, Much Ado About Nothing), Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Drilling Company), and Brenda (Herself, 2024 First Irish Festival). Recent Film: Hannah (Post-Infest, making its national festival tour).

Thank you to Colleen Gleason, Tom Miller, Lisa O'Hara, Byron O’Hanlon, Prudence DiBenedetto, Lynda Crawford, and K/Q Playwrights, for their help with the play’s development and production.

The Barbecue

Written and Directed by John Avino 

John Avino (Writer/Director) has directed numerous theatrical productions in New York City including The Importance of Being Earnest, Noel Coward’s Tonight at 8:30 at FAPC Theatre, and Morning, Noon and Night on Theatre Row. His short film, Nadia Knows won Best Short Film Mystery at the Silicon Beach Film Festival. The screenplay for Nadia Knows was a finalist in the American Gem Short screenplay competition. 76, John's feature screenplay, won Best Unproduced Screenplay at The Grove Film Festival and is currently in development. John is proud to be part of the editing team of Wardensville, Tales from Tiny Town, a documentary currently screening on PBS.

John dedicates The Barbecue to his husband, Dave Fung.

Paula Orndoff (Producer) recently produced and directed Wardensville, Tales from Tiny Town, a feature documentary that was made possible with financial assistance from The National Endowment for the Arts and West Virginia Commission on the Arts and which is currently airing on WV PBS. The Smithsonian Institute has screened How Sweet the Sound, a documentary she produced, co-directed and co-edited, as part of their Smithsonian 2019 Year of Music in Washington, DC. The Smithsonian has acquired this film along with a collection of 400 photographs and 12 hours of video footage by Ms. Orndoff for their permanent collections. Her experience includes producer, director, writer, editor, and camerawoman on numerous projects. Past clients include Discovery Communications, Hallmark Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting, and PBS.

Tanya C. Jones (Costume Designer) has designed and worked on teams for various films, TV shows, music videos, and commercials. Her credits include Celebrity Crime Files (season two), Story of Vice, Emblem Health, Zappos, Nusred to Death,  Big Fat Daddy (Lady Leah), and Marjorie Prime. Previously, Tanya worked on the film Nadia Knows with The Barbeque Writer/Director John Avino and Producer Paula Orndoff. She feels the actor's eyes shine brightest once they don the costume.

Gilly Caulo* Born in Manhattan and grew up in New Hampshire, previous theatre credits include work at The Peterborough Players, Shakespeare & Co., The Metropolitan Opera, and The Colorado New Play Festival. Previous film work includes Nonno (Official Selection: Austin Film Festival, HollyShorts), Christmas at the Interlaken (Gemilli Films), and Peek-A-Boo (Gemilli Films). MFA, The Theatre School at DePaul University.  www.gillycaulo.com | @gillycaulo

Gary Dooley* Recent credits include Luciernagas (National Queer Theatre), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (John Bourne Theatre), Forever? (Players Theatre) and Blanche in a Wheelchair (Samuel French One Act Festival).  TV: The Blacklist and The Good Fight. Short Film: Dinner with the Uptighty's, Dug Up and Sweet Tooth. 

Kiran Merchant is a multi-faceted artist/architect with a passion for theater, film and television. His credits as an Actor, Director and Producer include Theater, Film, TV and Advertising in the US, UK and India. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab.  Among his many acting credits include the plays Fantasticks, We’re no Angels, and Noises Off; TV shows The Sinner, God Friegillycaulonded Me, Law and Order, Blacklist; and films 200 Cigarettes and Trust the Man.  Kiran is currently developing two feature film projects, The Voice, a comedy set in a small French village, and Christmas in Temple, the story of an Indian-Catholic family reunion in Temple, Texas.

Julia Pasiorowska (Actor) is an actress, dancer, and performer originally from Warsaw, Poland. A recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she earned her BFA in Drama while training with the Atlantic Acting Company, The Classical Studio, and Stonestreet Studios. Julia is thrilled to make her Chain Theatre debut alongside such a wonderful cast!  www.juliapasiorowska.com | @julia.pasiorowska

*Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association

YOLO

Written by Raver Petretti-Stamper

Directed by Allen MacLeod

Synopsis: On a NYC subway platform, two lonely strangers, Judith and Ralph, connect in the early hours of the morning. Judith, a spirited widow, has escaped her nursing home to fulfill a promise from her late husband. Ralph, moved by her vulnerability, joins her in a heartfelt conversation about love, loss, and finding purpose. Together, they embrace the mantra "you only live once," discovering friendship and adventure when they least expect it.

Mitch Greenberg (Ralph) is a native of Brooklyn. After 50 years as a working actor, he’s finally making his Chain Theater debut. Mitch studied with Sanford Meisner, William Esper and Uta Hagen. His credits include 13 Broadway shows, as many Off-Broadway, and dozens more, musical and straight, at theaters around the country. He can also be seen and/or heard in numerous films, TV shows, audiobooks, etc. The NY Times dubbed him “a certifiable genius.”

Susan Neuffer (Judith) is thrilled to help tell this lovely story.  She recently played Stella in Duality and Shadows by Anthony Laura.  Susan studied at the Michael Howard Studios, in this very building at The Barrow Group, and Kimball Studios.  She appeared off-Broadway in In the Room.  She has appeared on TV, in commercials, indie films, cabaret shows, and musicals. Susan proudly toots her flute as a member of the New Horizons band.  www.susanneuffer.com. 

Allen MacLeod (director) is a NYC-based director of new plays and musicals—and excited to be back at the Chain with this heartwarming short piece. Recent credits include Love + Science (City Center), More of a Heart (BLUEBARN Theatre), Light Switch (Spectrum Theatre Ensemble), The Trade Federation: or, Let’s Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels (IRT Theater); Prophesy (The Wild Project; best direction award, Fresh Fruit Festival); You’re Not My Type (The Duplex). www.allenmacleod.com

Raven Petretti-Stamper (writer/producer) is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Her full-length and short plays have been produced domestically and abroad. Her short films have been screened across the country and abroad. She was selected for the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive in 2021, Yale Writers' Workshop in 2022 and Stowe’s TV Writer’s Room program in 2025. She is thrilled that YOLO, a piece she wrote for her mother, is having its World Premiere at Chain. Thank you Allen, Susan and Mitch for doing such a fabulous job and bringing this play to life. https://www.strangebirdproductions.com

Program #4* (4th Floor)

Just a Yellow Cab in New York City

Written by Youlim Nam

Directed by Cady McClain

Synopsis: The story centers around Regina, a tipsy woman approaching 30, who finds herself pouring out her birthday woes to a cab driver. As the ride unfolds, the driver becomes an unlikely confidant, and Regina confronts the bittersweet challenges of entering a new decade.

Cady McClain (Director) Directing credits include Paint Made Flesh by Howard Meyer at The Cell in New York City (with support from Sothebys); Never the Sinner by John Logan at Bethany Arts Community, Census by Susan Miller for the Glass Ceiling Breakers Festival and multiple staged readings for Axial Theatre including Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by Advisory Board Member John Patrick Shanley. Film: Seeing is Believing: Women Direct - Jury Award Newport Beach Film Festival, Audience Award for a Feature Film at the SOHO Film Festival, Best Documentary Pro-Action at the Artemis Women in Action Film Festival. Official Selection - St Louis Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, Oxford Film Festival, Sedona Film Festival, and High Falls Film Festival. Short films: Burnt Feathers, Broken Wings Winner - Best Film, Best Ensemble, Best Screenplay at the Paramount Studios KITS Movie Awards, Best Impact Film: Santa Fe Film Festival, Best Short Documentary: Mystic Film Festival); The World of Albert Fuh (Best Comedy Drama Short at the Indie Gathering Festival, Honorable Mention for Best Director by the Los Angeles Film Review, Honorable Mention from the SaMo Indie Film Fest). Web Series: Venice the Series by Crystal Chappelle (two Emmy nominations) and Switch by Stavroula Toska starring Olympia Dukakis (Winner Best Pilot - Santa Fe Film Festival, Official Selection Hollyshorts, Dances with Pilots, and more). 

Youlim Nam (Playwright, Regina) is a Brooklyn-based actor and playwright from Seoul, Korea. Her works have been produced off-off-Broadway, including the experimental play a connected place at the Gene Frankel Theater, and was showcased in the Dramatists Guild's Friday Night Footlights® Program directed by Emmy-winner Cady McClain. As an actor, she performed in Never the Sinner, directed by McClain, with Axial Theatre, where she is an ensemble member, and appeared in numerous independent theater productions and films. She is a member of AEA and the Dramatists Guild, integrating postmodernist techniques like Six Viewpoints to explore innovative theater forms. You can see more of her work on youlimnam.com.

Hari Bhaskar (The Cab Driver) is a South Asian actor who has been residing in New York City since 2021. He graduated from the Stella Adler Professional Conservatory in 2022, and has done a variety of projects in theatre and film, in addition to numerous commercials. Notable works include Disgraced (Stella Adler Professional Conservatory), Comedy of Errors (Hip to Hip Theatre Company) and Love's Labour's Lost (Theatre 315: The Salvation Army) to name a few. You can follow his work on Instagram @bhaskarettan. 

Potholes

Written by Luisa Tanno 

Directed by Andrea Lynn Green 

Synopsis: On a bumpy plane ride in 1998, CHRIS and TRACY meet and make a memorable connection. They make no effort to keep in touch, but in the ensuing years they each find themselves reflecting on their encounter. Bits of their conversation haunt and inspire them as they move through turning points in their individual lives. The play takes place over a ten-year span 1998-2008.

Mike Boland* (Chris) is excited to perform Potholes for the Chain audiences. BROADWAY - An Enemy of the People; OFF-BROADWAY – The Orphans’ Home Cycle; NATIONAL TOURS - Twelve Angry Men, West Side Story; REGIONAL – Hartford Stage, Yale Rep, Playhouse on Park, ACT of CT, Stonc, MTC, Ivoryton, Westchester Broadway, Fulton, Judson, Engeman, Coastal Carolina and many others. AWARDS – Drama Desk (2010). TV – The Blacklist (recurring), FBI, Person of Interest, Zero Hour, Rubicon. Mike’s feature screenplay Yo Andrea is a winner of the Milan Indie Film Festival (2024), Southwest Film Festival (2024), 4theatre Film Festival (2024) and Miami Screenplay Awards (2023).

Elizabeth Simmons* (Tracy) is excited to be back at the Chain Theatre for Potholes. She was also in GoodBadUgly by Robyne Parrish in the one act play festival at the Chain. Previously she was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for her two woman show David's RedHaired Death. Select regional credits: The Miracle Worker/And Then There Were None (Judson Theatre Company) Sexy Laundry (Millbrook Playhouse), The Diary of Anne Frank (Playhouse on Park), To Kill A Mockingbird (Queen's Theatre in the Park) Brighton Beach Memoirs (Broward Stage Door Theatre) BFA Acting Point Park University/Pittsburgh Playhouse. MS Ed. Theatre CUNY City College of New York.

Andrea Lynn Green (Director) is delighted to make her Chain Theatre directing debut! This past fall, Andrea directed a concert staged reading of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, for Theatre Artists Workshop, and has directed several plays for the Workshop since 2019. Andrea is co-artistic director of Greenwich Theatre Company where she directed A Christmas Memory (digital production) which was named one of the best professional productions in 2021 by late Connecticut Critics Circle member Jim Ruocco. Notable acting credits include Broadway: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? directed by Joe Mantello, several top regional theatres, T.V. and film.

Bryan Garbe (Original Score) is a composer and multi-instrumentalist specializing in drums, percussion, and steel pan. He has toured globally, recorded with Grammy-winning artists, and performed at renowned venues such as Madison Square Garden. Through his project, CASTOFF, Bryan composes for film and TV, blending creative steel pan with modern production. He is the winner of the 2023 BMI Pete Carpenter Fellowship and the selected composer for the 2024 ASCAP/Columbia Film Scoring Workshop. https://www.castoffmusic.com/

Luisa Tanno (Playwright) is writer of plays, songs, and personal essays. She is a member of Theatre Artists Workshop and has a BFA in Musical Theater from The New School, which she is proud to have earned at age 50. Luisa is a performing singer/songwriter with the acoustic duo Twice Around and has co-produced three CDs of original music. She is a teacher of joyful dance classes, a choreographer, and a yoga instructor and movement coach. She is always seeking to cultivate inspiration and finds it endlessly in theatre, and in the people around her.

* Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production. Equity Approved Showcase.

Table

Written by Kayla Hense 

Directed by Megan Billings 

Synopsis: “Table” begins with a host leading a guest to a table the guest does not want. As the scene develops, the host becomes a “temporary” server as they answer all the guest’s concerns, with the dynamic between them becoming increasingly ludicrous. In the second scene, the same host attends- again, as a “temporary” server- to a woman and her uncle. The elderly man is hard of hearing (perhaps intentional), the woman full of specifics and the host progressively apathetic.

Kayla Hense (Playwright/Woman) is a writer and actor based in New York. After studying philosophy and art history at school, she trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and has additionally attended various acting workshops under instructors from the Royal Shakespeare Company and Juilliard. As a writer, she has been published in online magazines and literary journals. Her play, Pastiche, premiered at the Chain Theatre’s 2024 Summer One-Act Festival in New York. As an actor, this will be her New York stage debut. She is immeasurably grateful to the cast and director, as well as the Chain Theatre, for making this production possible.

Megan Billings (Director) is an actress-singer-dancer in NYC. Previous credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Titanic, The Music Man, The Polar Express, and Magic-A Ballroom Musical. www.meganbillings.com

Andrew Boszhardt (Host) is an actor, writer and producer primarily known for his work in independent film. Most notably, he wrote, produced, and starred in the psychological thriller Breed of Greed alongside Gina Gershon and Adrian Enscoe, which will be released this year. This past fall, he had his Off-Broadway debut in The Resurrection at the American Theatre of Actors. After working on such a heavy, dramatic play (The Resurrection is about the 1921 Tulsa race riot), he is excited to exercise his comedy chops in Table. 

Teddy Fischer (Guest) is a Brooklyn-based actor and comedian. Recent theater: New Oleanna (Whale Watch Reading Series), Three Sisters (Columbia University), On Secrets (Columbia University), Bread of Life (UP Theater Company). Recent film: Madame Mayor (NYU), One Night Only (Quinnipiac), Dark Limbo (Cinescape Pictures), The Glorbis (Rutgers). Teddy performs stand-up comedy nightly throughout NYC and is an ensemble member at The People's Improv Theatre. 

David Boldt (Man) fell in love with acting at Cornell where he performed in three plays including Man and Superman starring Jimmy Smits. His life took another direction, however, and he packed himself off to Southern Seminary where he was ordained in Louisville, pastored a church, performed three weddings and two funerals (all of whom are still married or dead) and got his Master of Divinity. When he returned to NYC, he studied with Michael Howard among others and did every Off and Off-Off Broadway play he could. He got married, opened an UES bar then sold it, became a NYC Teaching Fellow, taught fifth grade in Bed Stuy, had a daughter, got his master's in education and became the President of a small nursing school. Now retired and with his daughter thriving at college, his time to act has come. 

Where Voices Linger

Written by Jeremy Rafal 

Directed by Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li & Nina Zoie Lam

Synopsis: Set in 1968, Where Voices Linger follows 70-year old Antonio Lugano, a Filipino man confined to an asylum for fifty years, as he faces an evaluation that could change his future. Through fragmented memories and an unexpected connection with Nurse Schmidt, the play explores love, loss, and the enduring power of memory.

Jeremy Rafal (playwright) is a multi-faceted artist based in New York. Born in the Philippines and raised in Hawaii, Rafal's creative pursuits span writing, acting, music, filmmaking, and education. His playwriting credits include The Boy from Bantay (FringeNYC, Flying Solo Festival), Funhouse Funk (NY Theater Fest, Decent Company), and Waiting (Take 10 Fest). His current play Where Voices Linger was recently awarded third runner up out of 169 submissions at Kinsman Quarterly’s Holiday Playwright Contest. As a screenwriter, Jeremy’s film "Exit 15" garnered awards for Best Short Film and Best Screenplay at the Southeast Asian Film Festival and has earned official selection status at the SOHO International Film Festival, HAAPI Fest, and the All-Asian Independent Film Festival.

Dennis Yueh-Yeh Li (director) His works explore sexuality, power structure and diaspora experiences, culminating often in devised, immersive and participatory theatre which allows audiences to not only learn but experience stories. Dennis is especially interested in adapting rarely produced modern classics by connecting them with current socio political phenomenon and issues. His directorial portfolio spans across plays, musical theatre, dance theatre and opera. Dennis earned his MA in Performance Studies, New York University. Dennis is an alumnus of the New York Directing Fellowship of Drama League and the Institute Fellowship of Target Margin Theater. Dennis is also a member of Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. Dennis worked with The Living Theatre and is one of the founding members of Al Límite Collective. Currently, Dennis is the Director of Performance, Storytelling & Community at the Museum of Chinese in America. www.dennisyuehyehli.com

Nina Zoie Lam (director) is first generation Chinese American and grew up in NYC’s Lower East Side/Chinatown. She has been in the theater and performing arts profession for over 40 years. She earned her BA in arts and theater arts from Brown University and is a founding member of National Asian Artists Project - a nonprofit organization that showcases the works of emerging Asian American playwrights and theatre artists through performance opportunities and educational programming. She last directed Lloyd Suh’s, The Heart Sellers at Cape Rep Theatre.

Jay Q. Green (stage manager) is graduating in the spring with a BA in English Literature, Culture, and Media from Pace University. He has worked previously as a sound technician and a dramaturg for various projects in Florida and New York, and pursues various hobbies such as embroidery and collaborative creative writing in his free time. 

Ariel Estrada (ANTONIO) OFF-BROADWAY: A Persistent Memory, MBL Productions (Jessi D. Hill, dir.); Double Falsehood, Letter of Marque (Andrew Borthwick-Leslie, dir.); Far East, Lincoln Center Theater (Daniel Sullivan, dir.); Shogun Macbeth, Cambodia Agonistes, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. SELECTED INDIE/REGIONAL: Full Contact, Perseverance Theatre; Blended 和 (HARMONY): The Kim Loo Sisters; Theater Mu/History Theatre; My Anniversary, Theatre for One; Tartuffe (NYITA Nominee), Phoenix Theatre Ensemble; Made In China (NYT Critics Pick), Wakka Wakka (Gwen Warnock, dir.). TV/FILM: No Loss Here, Title VII, Future Folk, Don’t Let Me Drown; The Night Agent, Occupy White House Sprites, Tell Me A Story, Bull, Blue Bloods, The Americans, One Life to Live, Another World. His self-penned solo performance, Full Contact is a recipient of a 2024-26 NNPN Rolling World Premiere Award. www.arielestrada.com | www.leviathanlab.org

Julia Burnier (NURSE SCHMIDT) is a Brazilian actress and theater director based in NYC. Julia has worked consistently in theatre and on-screen, in both classical and contemporary/experimental projects. She co-founded the Brazilian theatre group Teatro da Peste, focused on new forms of storytelling through immersive theatre, serving as artistic director for over six years. She was also a member of the theatre group [Ph2]: estado de teatro, acting in its adaptations of the Oresteia and The Cherry Orchard. Key film credits include The Young Baumanns (Filmadrid, FICCI), Blood Drive (Soho Film Festival) and Terra Natal (by Lucas Manuel-Sheibe). Recently, Julia made her theatre debut in New York as lead in the play Saudades at JACK and in A Seagull in the Hamptons, directed by Tom Rowan.

“Fantasie Impromptu” music by Frederic Chopin, performed by Jeremy Rafal

“I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy, performed by Teresa Hui (soprano) and Jeremy Rafal (piano)

Graphic Design by Jenno Contreras

Program # 5* (4th Floor)

An Indian Wedding on a Starry Night in South Georgia Somewhere in Early November

Written by Sunita Deshpande 

Directed by Janani Sreenivasan

Synopsis: Ravi and Saanvi run into each other at an Indian-American reception accidentally, but will their reunion lead to a positive union of the mind and heart - or not?

Sunita Deshpande (Saanvi/Playwright/Producer) is an actor/writer/improviser — Daredevil (Netflix), Moonshot (HBO), Samuel French OOB Finalist (Gravid Water/UCB). She thanks her parents for never forcing her to be a doctor/get married/have a son. IG: @luckysunita

Sashank Gummella (Ravi) has been on the New York scene for the last 5 years taking classes with the T. Schreiber Studio, which has been a lovely second home to him. He's fairly versed in theatre, having worked on contemporary texts like Burn This (his favorite) and Heroes of the Fourth Turning & classical pieces like Othello and Henry V. He frequently collaborates with MFA students at NYU and Columbia and really enjoys the physical filmmaking process behind on-screen work. He likes to read and write poetry and loves folk music; lately he's been crushing this neat little Irish folk band's entire discography on Spotify (and that band is called ‘Amble’). He is honored and excited to be a part of this piece that'll allow him to bring the unique nuances of his cultural upbringing to the public arena (of sorts). He hopes to see you at the show :) IG: @shawshankgu

Rishi Rajagopalan (Understudy, Ravi) is an actor, writer and producer who has been in New York for the past few years working in TV and film. He most recently played a supporting role in the indie feature Meet Cute in Manhattan. Off-camera, Rishi enjoys making music and attending an Indian Wedding or two. IG: @rishirajagopalan

Janani Sreenivasan (Director/Producer) is excited to direct Sunita for the third time in two years, previously at the Chain’s 2023 Winter One-Act Festival and as Gwendolen in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest at Under St. Marks. Janani enjoys adding diversity and comic mayhem to classic plays; she recently wrapped A Midsummer Night’s Dream (featuring Odissi dancer/choreographer Jeevika Bhat) and she invites you all to her production of Much Ado About Nothing in March (IG: much_ado_25). To Sashank, Sunita, and Rishi: Gud. 👍 www.jananisreenivasan.art

Game

Written by Toby Miller 
Directed by William Doble 

Synopsis: A simple misunderstanding between a police officer and a home chef reveals to both how much contemporary American life revolves around anonymous online fun. 

C.K. Allen (Officer) – Carnival Girls Productions: Christie Perfetti Williams’ The Magazine (Dir: Matilda Szydagis); Chain Theatre: Keith Huff’s Six Corners (dir. Ella Jane New); WorkShop Theater: Scott C. Sickles’ Composure (dir. Fritz Brekeller); Rich Orloff’s Couples (dir. David Gautschy - “Notable performance” -NY Times), Levy Lee Simon’s The Bow Wow Club (dir. Keith Greer); SAG-AFTRA. Film: The Brotherhood (dir. Reneé Flemings), RUOK (dir. Jay Russel). TV commercials, soaps and industrials; Video game: Red Dead Redemption 2.

Ben Sumrall (Thomas) – Ben Sumrall is a New York-based actor and media artist. He has performed in theatres throughout New York City, on Comedy Central, and was a part of the Drama Desk-nominated Ryan Case 1873. Ben has appeared in the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and the Tribeca Festival.

Toby Miller (Writer) – NYC: Reverie (Raw Space), Ether (William Redfield). Toby’s comedy writing has appeared in compilations from HarperCollins and St. Martin’s Press and his short film scripts Celia and Typeface received Honorable Mentions in Barnstorm Media’s 2024 Bolt Short Screenplay contest. 

William Doble (Director) – William Doble has worked in theater and film in NYC for over 30 years as a director, editor, and producer. This play marks yet another project with his longtime collaborator Toby Miller. He thanks his wife Susanne, daughter Claire, and friends Michelle Humphrey and Elysa Marden for their support. 

Same Time, Next Bite

Written by Jon Spano 

Directed by March Gualberto 

Synopsis: In the future, when Earth is a toxic wasteland and humans are scarce, two vampires formed in different centuries meet for their annual tryst. But as their generational differences and the consequences of climate change loom over them, will the part-time lovers come together or be torn apart?

Jax Terry* (Gil) On stage: Beatsville (world premiere), Jersey Boys (NSMT), June Moon (Williamstown), Altar Boyz (Sharon Playhouse), Joe Iconis Xmas (54 Below), Spring Awakening, Urinetown, Assassins, Theater Row, Playwrights Realm, and more.  Their debut short film "The Invite" screened at festivals nationwide and on the Tiny Scripted platform. Jax co-devised and acted in Tyler Taromina’s feature film “Happer’s Comet” (Berlinale, BAM).  They served as Assoc. Producer on IFC Films' “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” starring Michael Cera.  Other credits include "HomoSapien" (LogoTV), “Mrs. Maisel.”  They've provided voiceovers for Nickelodeon, Disney, and HBO Max's "We're Here" and "Somebody, Somewhere.”  Jax produces for the stage with The Queer Ensemble (5&Dime, VHS).  IG: @_jaxterry_

Jon Spano* (Darius/Playwright/Producer) is a multidisciplinary performer and writer whose first multi-award-winning short film, The Big Gun, has screened at several NYC venues, including The Chain. Recently appeared in a Paramount Promo with Drew Barrymore and played colonialist Richard Clarke in the Rob Lowe-produced Boston Tea Party: Liberty or Death. Onstage, Jon has appeared in The Shadow Box and Small Craft Warnings for Regeneration Theatre, and two productions of Golden Boy. His Anthology of Short Plays & Monologues for Diverse and Inclusive Casts includes many of his produced plays and is available from that ubiquitous online shopping platform we should boycott. Jon’s dance play Joey Variations was an award-winning hit at the New York Fringe Festival.  www.jonspano.com ~  IG: @jonspanonyc ~ imdb.com/name/nm7464334

Marcus Gualberto (Director) Born in Manila, Marcus currently serves as Deputy Director for BAAD! whose programming serves women, POCs and the LGBTQ+ Bronx community.  Co-Founder of Regeneration Theatre, Marcus directed The Shadow Box, Small Craft Warnings and As Is.  Marcus serves as dramaturg and staging consultant on Nélida Tirado's flamenco-infused dance theatre piece Dime Quién Soy? (2024 Abrons Art Center, 2023 Queens Theatre, 2022 Hostos Center for the Arts). Additional credits: Wayne L. Firestone’s Teatro en Vivo, Senseless and Still Life on Campus; Joe Moe’s Deny We Were and Rage Gap; Richard Curtis’ Quiet Enjoyment, Dead Zone, and Lunch With Your Editor; Sonam’s Gift; The Madness of Memory; and Ether: The Strange Afterlife Of Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. For four summer seasons with Actors Conservatory Ensemble / TreePeople he produced and directed An Alfred Hitchcock Radio Play starring Academy Award nominee Robert Forster. www.MarcusGualberto.com

* Equity Approved Showcase. Actors Appear Courtesy of Actors Equity

The Counterfeit Moron

Written by Joe Queenan

Directed by Emma Denson

Synopsis: The FBI has learned of a plot by out-and-out morons to take over the United States. The morons, millions strong, belong to a nefarious organization called B.O.Z.O.: The Benign Order of Zenophobic Oligopolists.

Desperate to infiltrate B.O.Z.O. before its legions of dimwits can seize control of the nation, the FBI sends out two agents who are charged with recruiting a very smart but very klutzy MIT grad and Geiger counter repairman.

Duane Lippenfolger is not in fact a moron, but he sure acts like one. By cunningly passing himself off as a first-class idiot, Duane may be able to gain access to the inner sanctum of B.O.Z.O. and help foil its pernicious, albeit brain-dead, plans.

The only question is: Will Duane agree to go undercover and pretend to be a complete and utter dingdong? Or will the FBI fail in its efforts to recruit him? The fate of the Republic is in his hands. Hands that tend to drop things, especially things that are precious but fragile. Like democracy.

Ed Altman (Agent Phelan), AEA, appeared in last year’s festival in T.J. Elliott’s Honor, which later had an extended run at the Gene Frankel Theater. Recent stage appearances include Atlantic Pharmaceuticals at The Tank; The Oracle, Victoria Woodhull, and Nowhere Man all at Theater for the New City. Recent film: Joe Queenan’s Top Hat, Rob Margolies/Jonathan Geffner’s The Dummy Detective (with Sean Young), and Deborah Twiss’s Crave, all in post-production. Recent TV includes The Good Cop and Food That Built America, as well as several commercials. Ed is also a voiceover artist for commercials and drama, and has recorded several audio books. He is represented by Maryann Raposo (DreamMaker) and Anne Marie Perrault (AMP).

Jasmine Dorothy Haefner (Agent Ramirez) is an actress, writer, and producer. She would like to thank Joe Queenan, for his unending artistic collaborations, support and generosity. Her produced work currently includes 2-Faces, a one-act play that premiered at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe ‘23 following a London preview; 28 is Great and Zoomers, two short films; and more. She is currently developing her first TV series, NOT DEAD. Her last film, 28 is Great, a mockumentary in which she plays all five roles, went to 4 festivals and won several awards and nominations including Best Solo Performance, Best Actress in a Short Film, Best Comedy and Overall Audience Awards. Other credits not listed above include - Theater: Is it so crazy? (Engarde Arts), The Oracle (Knowledge Workings Theatre Co.), True Love (New York Theatre Festival), Dust Vanishes Away (Latino Theater Company, RE:Encuentro 2021), EVICTED (Teatro Yerbabruja Experimental) and others. Film: Top Hate (EP: Joe Queenan), I’m Listening (Best Comedy Finalist, NY State International Film Festival) and The Unexpected (Hoboken International Film Festival), and others. TV credits include: Saturday Night Live and others On Instagram @TheJasmineDorothy or join her mailing list at www.JasmineDorothy.com

Tut Gregory (Duane Lippenfolger) is thrilled to be working alongside familiar faces in this production. Tut made his NYC theatre debut this past summer in Luke Bond’s Still Waiting for Lefty at Teatro LATEA. Recent film credits include Joe Queenan’s independent feature Top Hate, set for an imminent 2025 release, and Alek Abate’s short CEMENT, currently in post-production. Tut trains at the Bob Krakower Studio and the Wynn Handman Studio here in NYC, though it all began under Maura Vaughn at the Branson School in Ross, CA. Sandwiched in between but certainly none the lesser, was a formative time at Wake Forest University. When Tut isn’t acting, he enjoys long brisk walks and a quotidian life. And feta cheese. Tut thanks Emma, Joe, Ed, Jasmine, Aislinn and all friends and loved ones for their time and energy. For enquiries and social media etc., visit Tut’s personal site: tutgregory.com.

Joe Queenan (Playwright) is the author of ten books and two collections. His memoir Closing Time was a New York Times Notable Book of 2009. Queenan has written the Moving Targets column in The Wall Street Journal since 2010. He has written regularly for The New York Times and published hundreds of stories about movies in Great Britain’s The Guardian. Formerly an editor at Forbes, television critic at People, and a columnist at Spy, TV Guide, GQ, Smart Money, Men’s Health, Barron’s Online, Chief Executive and Movieline, his stories have appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, The New Republic, Time, Newsweek, Playboy, Golf Digest, Us, The Rotarian, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Allure, the New York Daily News, and New York. His work has been published overseas in The Independent, The Spectator, The Toronto Globe & Mail, and the Times of London. Queenan has been a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman, Real Time with Bill Maher, Politically Incorrect, The Daily Show, Today, and Good Morning, America. He regularly writes and hosts programs for the BBC, and for three years was host of the BBC’s Postcard from Gotham. In 2005, he won a Sports Emmy for his work on HBO’s Inside the NFL. In 1994, Queenan made a low-budget film Twelve Steps to Death. He wrote and appeared in the short films Mickey Rourke for a Day, My Fair Hugh and So You Wanna Be a Gangster for Britain’s Channel 4.  He has co-written four plays with T.J. Elliott and recently finished making a film about the golden age of Hollywood entitled Top Hate. 

Emma Denson (Director) is an Alabama-born, Brooklyn-based director and playwright. She is the inaugural recipient of the Drama League Rose Fellowship, where she worked in London at the Rose Theatre as the Assistant Director on the world premiere of Never Let Me Go, and directed the Rose Youth Theatre in her own play, Happy Sleep. In February 2025, she will head to Milan to direct The Taming of Kate, her bilingual dance-theatre adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. She is set to direct Good Girls Don’t Go to Hell by A.A. Brenner at Brooklyn Rep in London in Summer 2025, and a mainstage show (title TBA) at The Gulf Coast Rep in Fall 2025. She directed a staged reading of the new musical Runaway Home, starring Melissa Gilbert, Michael Park, and Abigail Breslin in September 2023. She was a 2023 Berkeley Rep Ground Floor Artist, she worked with LeAnne Howe and Colm Summers on The Keening (Co-Deviser/Associate Director). Her short play Christmas Cactus is set to be published in The Kinsman Quarterly. Emma won Best Short at Downtown Urban Arts Festival 2023 for her play, Otis and Anna, which she wrote and directed. In January 2023, she directed a reading of the bilingual Ukrainian play, Hunger (which she co-adapted with Maria Rewakowicz) at Irish Arts Center for Origin Theatre Company’s First Irish Festival; a second reading took place at the Ukrainian Museum in May. She was recently a director-in-residence at Mississippi State University. Currently, she is the Associate Director at Origin Theatre Company. www.emmadenson.com 

Aislinn Cain (Associate Producer) is a NYC based actor, producer, and creator from Decatur, Alabama. She holds a B.A. in musical theater from Birmingham Southern College and has performed at notable venues such as 54 Below and Brooklyn’s Super Secret Arts Cabaret. Aislinn has collaborated with Emma Denson on several projects as an actor, such as Vella in Sex and the Southeast and The Mysterious Voice in sub[vert]way. This is her third time working with Emma and Joe on a project together, after serving as Assistant Stage Manager for The Oracle and a producer and as a producer for the staged reading of Top Hate. 

Program #6 (3rd Floor)

161 Maiden

Written and directed by Sebastian Hagelstein 

Synopsis: During his daily work commute on the Staten Island Ferry Sam is approached by a man who shares with him conspiracies about the ferry, 161 Maiden Lane, and Merpeople living in the waters around New York City. The man insists that Sam must join him on a journey to fulfill the prophecy of the Upper Bay Merpeople.

Lukas Chaviano (Sam) - (he/him). Grandstreet Theatre: tick, tick…BOOM! (Jon); Classic Theatre of Maryland: The Tempest (Antonio); Hippodrome Theatre: As You Like It (Swing); Jennie T. Anderson Theatre: Assassins (Charles Guiteau). Thank you for supporting new work! Love you, Seb.

Sebastian Hagelstein (Penjamin/Playwright) - Sebastian Hagelstein is an actor and writer based in Brooklyn. Most recently he appeared in The Pillowman as Michal at the American Theatre of Actors and produced and performed his full length play Letterhead for the NY Theater Festival in May 2024. His short play The Death of Fantasy was produced by the T. Schreiber Studio in August. Love you too, Luke.

Old Stomping Grounds

Written and directed by Chris Gacinski

Synopsis: Two friends in their late-20's revisit Crabapple Anne's, an old dive bar they spent their college years at, in hopes for Mikey to get over losing his job and girlfriend. Little do they know absolute chaos will ensue, while giving them a glimpse at their maturity (or lack thereof.)

Chris Gacinski (he/him) is a playwright/drummer/poet/actor based in Massapequa, NY.  He is ecstatic to be participating in his third consecutive Chain Theatre festival, with his plays Unhinged and Le Petit Bateau being performed in Summer and Winter 2024 respectively. Chris was the resident drummer for Measure for Measure Theatre Company, where he played drums for shows like In the Heights, Next to Normal, and 35MM: A Musical Exhibition.  Other writing credits include All Hearts Matter...Except Yours (City Theatre), Three Hours Until Departure (Secret Theatre), and Three Drunk Poets Find God (Secret Theatre.)  Acting credits include King Sextimus (Once Upon a Mattress), Michael (A Dog’s House) and Beethoven (Dog Sees God.)  Chris would like to thank his friends, his family and his cat Magic for all the support. He would also like to thank Christina, Kirk, Rick, and all Chain Theatre personnel for believing in him and his silly ideas! Instagram: @psyduckchris. 

Titan Carlman (he/him) was previously seen in Unhinged at The Chain Theatre, Urinetown with The Secret Theatre, Le Petit Bateau at The Chain Theater, His Life with The Promise Productions, SpongeBob: The Musical with NTPA. Titan has a BFA in Theatre with an Emphasis in Performance at UNT. Fun facts about Titan are that he has both flown an airplane, and scuba dives. He would like to thank his late Mother, his Father, and Little Brothers for supporting him through everything, and always pushing him towards his dream. Instagram: @titancarlmanofficial

Samuel Regueros (he/him) is an actor from Bogota, Colombia. Some of his recent credits include: Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged Revised Again at the Gene Frankel Theatre, And Your Little Dog Too at the Appolinarie Theater, and Mortals (Reading) at the Tank and Shakespeare In Love at Boston University. Samuel holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Boston University.  Instagram: @samregueros 

Gabriella Rae Jimenez (she/her) is stoked to perform in her first play at The Chain! REGIONAL: Grease, Rocky Horror Show/ Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. OTHER THEATRE: Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares/ NBCUniversal; Sweeney Todd, RENT, Band Geeks/ University of Central Oklahoma; Chicago, Courtyard Theatre; Beauty and the Beast, Artisan Centre Theatre. ADDITIONAL CREDITS: Studying at William Esper Studio, BM in Musical Theatre from the University of Central Oklahoma. Instagram: @gabriella.rae.jimenez

Luis Feliciano (he/him/any) is an actor-director who focuses on Clown, Bouffon, and Commedia dell’Arte. He has recently completed a Clown Teaching apprenticeship with Christopher Bayes (Head of Physical Acting @ Yale) and worked as Studio Manager for Clown Gym’s 10th season. He devised and performed in Flock The Vote at the ATL Fringe alongside master bouffon Eric Davis. He is also a proud member of the Department of Fools, a Commedia troupe that ensemble-devises their material for a recurring show at The PIT. In the Fall of 2024, he performed as DAVID in Family by Oscar-nominated Celine Song, directed by OBIE-winning Alec Duffy. He is happy be back at the Chain One-Act Festival after performing as PETER in What Happened to Peter's Peter? in Summer 2021, as SON in American Fruit in Winter 2023, as FRANCOIS in Le Petit Bateau in Winter 2024, and directing UNHINGED by Chris Gacinski in Summer 2024. Instagram: @leezusprime

Kristen Hoffman (she/they/any) most recently performed at Under St.Marks theater in Coyote Oughtta Eat That Salesman!!! This past year hosted & performed as Betsy! in Varieta Comico Per Clowns in historic Padova Italy, made her Off-Broadway Debut @Playhouse46, performed in Flock The Vote at the ATL Fringe alongside master bouffon Eric Davis, & her theater company Torch Ensemble won BEST PLAY at NYC Fringe after a 5-star run at Edinburgh Fringe! Instagram: @thekristenhoffman

Parallel Parking

Written by Lenny Hort

Directed by Beatriz Esteban-Messina

Synopsis: A ghostly image in the backup camera disturbs a father-daughter lesson in parallel parking.

John Fraissinet (Dad) is an actor, producer, director and theater photographer who has appeared in close to 50 productions.  He serves as Managing Producer at Studio Players in Montclair, New Jersey, and Treasurer at Teaneck New Theatre. After all of that, this is his first time performing in New York City, which will be a highlight of his twenty-year theater career.  Thanks to Beatriz and Lenny for helping him cross the River. And thanks to Donna for her support.  

Kayla Torres (Vet) is an actress/comedian from Nutley, New Jersey. She graduated from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in 2018, studying TV and Film. After college, she and her improv troupe Showrunner earned a residency at The PIT in NYC. Her most recent onstage roles include Dale in 5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE (Perry Award Winner for Best Play), Melody in THE GROUND ON WHICH WE STAND (Luna Stage) and Gemma in Nutley Little Theatre’s production of TIN CAT SHOES. She would like to thank her acting teacher Ruth Nerken and her family (including her cat, Quiche!) for all of their love and support! 

Lenny Hort (playwright) is a member of the Dramatists Guild and of the Forge play development lab at Hudson Theatre Works. He is a veteran of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, where his musical PIRATES IN THE GAZEBO! won a BMI Foundation Award for outstanding creative achievement. His short A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT MY POWERS was voted Best Play at the Equity Library Theater of New York Virtual Play Festival. His plays including CHEMISTRY DATE, GRAVE OFFENSE, JULIUS C-SPAN, and ORIGIN STORY have been featured on radio, YouTube, and Zoom, and performed in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington State. www.lennyhort.com 

Beatriz Esteban-Messina (director) was an arts educator for 40 years.  Since retiring, she has worked on over 100 shows both on and off stage. She received an NJACT Perry Award (2018) for direction of an original play. Some directing favorites are RADIUM GIRLS, 'NIGHT MOTHER, TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and JC SUPERSTAR. Beatriz is president of Teaneck New Theatre, and serves on the board of Nutley Little Theatre, where she co-chairs the Children's Stage Project. 

The Only People Here

Written by Andrew Donnelly-Yunga

Directed by Giovanna DiSanto

Synopsis: After returning from a friend's party, Eric and Maya sleep together. As snow falls in the early morning hours, the two longtime friends work to figure out where this leaves them.

Andrew Donnelly-Yunga (Playwright): Andrew Donnelly-Yunga is a playwright and dramaturg based out of NYC. He is honored to be returning to the Chain Theatre after writing The Heat for the 2024 Summer Festival. A full length version of The Heat recently had a reading performed by The Drawing Board. As a production dramaturg, some recent credits include After The Revolution by Amy Herzog (Morningside Players) and The Liar by David Ives (Ithaca College). 

Giovanna DiSanto (Director): Giovanna DiSanto is thrilled to be returning to the Chain Theatre after directing The Heat in the 2024 Summer Festival. Credits include: For A Barbarian Woman (Director, Hangar Theatre), The Wolves (Brook Arts Center, BroadwayWorld 2024 NJ Winner- Best Direction of a Play), Black Beauty: The Classic Reimagined (Script Consultant, United We Dance International). She is a recent graduate of Ithaca College, receiving a dual degree in Theatre Studies and Integrated Marketing Communications. Associate Member, SDC. giovannadisanto.com

Nina DiNorscio (Maya): Nina DiNorscio is a senior at Montclair State University’s BFA Acting program and is thrilled to be making her NYC debut with such a lovely team. She can be seen later this spring in MSU’s department production of Stupid F*cking Bird by Aaron Posner. She is so grateful for everyone who comes to support her work and her journey <3

Will Ingram (Eric): Will Ingram is a recent graduate of Ithaca College’s BFA Musical Theatre program. He’s very excited to be making his NYC debut in The Only People Here, and wants to thank the team for asking him to be involved! Most recent credits include The Liar (Ithaca College), Oklahoma! (Jackson Hole Playhouse), and Sweeney Todd (Jackson Hole Center for the Arts). He also wants to thank Mya, Lucas, Emma, Aidan and Zack for their endless support :) will-ingram.com & @will.ingram

The Runaround

Written by Alex Vara 

Directed by John Gionis 

Synopsis: In this comedy of errors, when Caitlin finally works up the courage to ask her best friend and secret admirer, Daren, to be her sperm donor, Daren mistakenly thinks she’s asking him to raise a baby with her, and the pair struggles to recover their friendship while on a jog together.

Alex Vara is an actor and filmmaker making her playwriting debut with The Runaround. She is grateful to The Chain Theater for providing their stage, to John and Jack for making this production possible, and to her friends and family for their unwavering support.

Jack Zittel is a writer and sometimes actor. He was born inside of a hospital in Manhattan and currently lives next to a hospital in Brooklyn. The Runaround is his theatrical debut.

John Gionis is an actor, director, and recovering lawyer. The Runaround is his theatrical directing debut.

Program # 7 (3rd Floor)

A Play Directed by Keanu Reeves - Part II

Written by Jeremy McClelland & Gray Thurstone 

Directed by Luis-Daniel Morales

Synopsis: Two actors arrive for their first rehearsal of a play directed by Keanu Reeves.

Jeremy McClelland is a NYC based actor, writer, director, and producer. He is a graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Theatre credits include  “Cop/Colonel Mustard” in Clue at the John W. Engeman Theatre, “Curt” in Blue Surge independently produced at the Chain Theatre, “Phoebe” in As You Like It, “Christopher” in Blue/Orange”, and “Gary” in I Hate Hamlet - all at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

Film credits include “Davis” in Roughly Tyler, directed by Evan Rosen. 

He wrote, directed, and produced the short films Rocky Jones, Oh Look @ That, and Classics by the Hearth - all of which were filmed in Seattle, Washington where he grew up. 

Jeremy also volunteers as the Executive Chair of the Stella Adler Studio Alumni Council (SASAC).

Gray Thurstone is an actor and writer based in New York City. His stage credits include “Doctor” and understudy for “Soldier” in A Fortnight at Tripler, which played at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre; “Doug” in Blue Surge, which was independently produced at the Chain Theatre, “Jeff” in Still Life, “Gloucester” in Family of Lear, and “Philip” in Elephant.

His film and television credits include Raising Kanan (2025), Law and Order (2024), and 2nd Serve (2015). Gray is a member of SAG-AFTRA

He also co-wrote and produced a modern short film adaptation of Bartleby, the Scrivener with Robin Drummond in 2024.

Keanu Reeves: The man needs no introduction.

Luis-Daniel Morales (Director) is an actor, director, and a native New Yorker. Luis has been affiliated with the Stella Adler Studio of Acting since 1997. He began his training at the LaGuardia High School (The “Fame” School) then continued at NYU Tisch/Stella Adler Studio where he received his BFA in Theatre. Acting: Charlie in In a Little Room (Ten Bones Theatre), Hamlet in Hamlet (American Globe Theatre), Prior in Angels in America: Perestroika, Teach in American Buffalo, Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Ken in Rumors, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Pinky in Our Lady of 121st Street to name a few. Directing: The Whale (Harold Clurman Lab), By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, A Doll’s House Part 2, Anna in the Tropics, Crimes of the Heart, Hurlyburly, The Motherfucker with the Hat, Punk Rock, and The Color of Desire. He has also appeared in several independent films and commercials. Member: SAG-AFTRA, Hispanic Organization of Latino Actors.

Baked

Written by Sebastian Zuniga 

Directed by Elisa Tarquinio

Synopsis: 3 goofy 16 year olds get baked and then bake a gluttonous treat to satisfy their munchies. As the temperature of the oven rises, so do tensions amongst the 3 “friends.” 

Elisa Tarquinio (Director) is so excited to make her directorial debut at The Chain! She is an actor and content creator, who believes in telling stories that open minds, create empathy for others, and fulfill an urgency to make a change in our own reality. Based in New York, Elisa began her professional career at NYU Tisch School of the Arts where she received a B.F.A. in Acting and became a content creator at the independent film company, Stonestreet Studios. Since graduating in 2022, she has booked various films and commercials with companies like NALIP, Good Mother Films, Stonestreet Studios, NRTA, 5&GO, Lonesome Swing Productions, and The Dyon Collective LLC.

Grace Nakazawa Santos (Sam) is a Japanese-Brazilian actor who’s excited to be baked in Baked. After watching the original production and sobbing her eyes out upon realizing she might have been the Cyrus of her friends (see below), she fell in love with the play and is honored to be part of it. She hopes you cringe, but ultimately enjoy the show!  

Sebastian Zuniga (Cyrus/Playwright) is so excited to present Baked at The Chain. He’s been onstage at INTAR, The Sol Project, The Tank, The Chain, and more. Over the last few months, he’s been on film sets from A Complete Unknown (starring Timothy Chalamet) to Dream Baby Dream (a short proof of concept). Most recently, he was on set for the TV pilot, Revelations where he played the lead, Angel Cortez, as well as onstage at St. Marks Under in “Obsessed. Enjoy Baked! 

NYU Alum (Strasberg/ETW). Insta: @sebastianzuniga_ 

Dorothea Miller (Alex) is thrilled to be a part of Sebastian’s incredible piece! She has recently worked with the Ensemble Studio Theater, Second City New York, the Chain Theatre, and the New York Theater Festival. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama & Dramatic Writing.

Inclination

Written and directed by Kate Katcher

Synopsis: A young woman conflates the mountain she is about to hike up with her pre-marital jitters.

Kate Katcher (Writer, Director) is a playwright, actor, director whose Layover at Reagan National received a rave review at the Chain Theatre Summer Festival last August. Her novel, 36, will be released by Vine Leaves Press in July, 2026. Go see Aftershock at the Queens One-Act Festival, also running this month. Other published works include Scarsdale in the Best Short Plays, 2021, Bread in Laughter is the Best Medicine, (Smith and Kraus) and Blue Sky with Approaching Storm in Ageless (ArtAge Senior Resource Center). Full length plays include International Theatre Script and FutureFest Finalist A Fox in the Henhouse, and an award winning stage version of 36. She is currently working with the Bertolt Brecht Estate on extending his six-page The Jewish Wife to a full-length work called The Continuing Story of Judith Keith. Kate is a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women, Dramatists Guild and The Actors Studio-Playwriting and Directors Unit. She holds a BFA from Boston University and an MFA from Western Connecticut State in Creative and Professional Writing. www.katekatcher.com

Elizabeth Bays is a New York based actor/burlesque artist/filmmaker. Theatrical credits include Simpatico (Off-Broadway), Angelina Ballerina the Musical (National Tour) the world premiere of The Tower at Obie Award winning HERE Arts Center, and the NY Premiere of Tony/Oscar/Pulitizer Prize winning playwright, John Patrick Shanley’s Banshee. She has performed with Labryinth Theatre Company, Actor’s Theatre NYC, Antimatter Theatre Company, and more. Elizabeth is part of Hotsy Totsy Burlesque (named the Best Burlesque Show in NYC by Broadway World) a “nerdlesque” troupe that performs monthly at the world famous Slipper Room. 

Dan Goldring is an actor living in New York City. After a 20+ year career in finance, Dan came back to acting at The Barrow Group several years ago. He has appeared on stage in lead roles in productions of Adele’s Way, The Plunge, and Owl Theory. On screen Dan’s credits include Recall, Georgette in the Garden, Love All, and Before I Go. He’d like to thank the Wednesday Night crew, Kate for inviting him to join the Inclination project, and of course his family for their love and support. www.dangoldring.com (password: DG)

Program #8 (4th Floor)

I Hate the Dedham Mall

Written by Andrew Wells

Directed by Emily M. White

Synopsis: Erin attempts to make casual conversation with a stranger, sparking a debate about kindness, human connection, and the culture of New England.

Kiera Mullany (Erin) is a writer, director, and actress based in Brooklyn. Her credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rumors, Sense and Sensibility, and Failure: A Love Story.

Jen Pytlewski (Denise) is thrilled to be making her debut at The Chain Theatre in this production of I Hate The Dedham Mall. She has also performed at the Producers Club in A Sketch of New York. When not on stage, you can find her traveling and playing with her cat Pierogi. Thank you to my family and friends for all the love and support! 

Sean Kelliher (Mike the Security Guard) says Hi! 

Emily M. White (DIrector) is a director, dramaturg, and arts administrator. Previous directing credits include Passover Parodies and The Box (Places in 10 Festival) with Script Club NYC, and several shows with Living Radio NYC. New York dramaturgy credits include Coal Country (The Public Theater), White Rose (Theatre Row), The Roaring Girl (Theatre Row), and more. She is currently the Editorial Manager at New York City Center and has a BA from Emerson College. She is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, and her work has been published on HowlRound Theatre Commons. You can catch more of her directing work in Program 9 of the festival, in Dear Diary.

Andre Wells (Playwright) is a writer and filmmaker from Boston, MA. He currently works in film production in New York City where he has worked on productions from directors like Martin Scorsese and Derek Cianfrance. He has directed and produced multiple short films. I Hate the Dedham Mall is his first play. 

Lyra's Journey (A Work in Progress)

Written by Karina Verna

Directed by Gyandro Marselia

Synopsis: A Narrator tells the story of Lyra, an adventurer from the mythical land of Everes. But he comes across some blocks in the story when he's not sure how the story could go. With the help of his protagonist in progress, Lyra's Journey takes a look at the emotional highs and lows of writing a work in progress.

Gyandro Marselia (director)

Karina Verna (Lyra, playwright) 

Eric Xavier Diaz (Narrator) 

Veronica Hitchen (stage manager)

Nate and Nora

Written by John Nizzari

Directed by Ivette Dumeng

Synopsis: When Nora drags Nate away from his highly viewed online game to her apartment, his petulant attitude soon turns frantic as she reveals to him the stark and grim outcome of their teenage irresponsibility. Nora, believing she has no good options due to her status, beseeches Nate to aid her in the evidence disposal of what may or may not be cause for deportation. 

Deanna Tarraza (Nora) is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Deanna discovered her passion for acting at the age of 7. Now calling Brooklyn, New York home, she is excited to continue her acting journey in the big city. Her recent theater work includes Semicontinuous at Teatro Círculo. Her recent film work includes Growing Pains, Letters to Santa, and Absolution opposite Liam Neeson. @DeannaTarraza 

David Pralgo (Nate) - David is a 24-year-old actor out of Queens, New York. He’s worked under acting coaches, Lauren B Martin, Pamela Scott, and Susan Batson. His TV and film credits include NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, the feature film You’re Not There, and short film By The Window. David is also a boxer and is fortunate to have learned many things from this to apply to his acting career. Being the hardest working and best actor he can has always been his goal, and is confident and ready to take on any challenges thrown his way. 

Ivette Dumeng (director) is an award winning director. She was born and raised in Brooklyn. Recently directed Semicontinuous by Carlos Jerome. Produced and directed Sentenced to a Life Without Music in collaboration with Voices Inside which will return in 2025. Among her directing credits is The Listening Room by Michaela Jeffrey, Italian American Reconciliation by John Patrick Shanley. New play: I'm Going To Touch Your Neck, award winning Marina / Mata Hari plays by Don Nigro. Occasionally Nothing by Natalie Menna. Ivette is Producing Artistic Director and founding member of Nylon Fusion Theatre Company, a member of The Actors Studio Playwrights Directors Unit, League of Professional Theatre Women, SAG/ AFTRA and TRU. NyLonFusion.org 

John Nizzari (playwright) is a native New Yorker who was born and raised in the Bronx. As an independent filmmaker, John wrote, produced and directed: the feature film, Grand Slammed, the documentary Jobsite and the short film Weight. John’s plays have been performed at the American Theatre of Actors, Dixon Place and the Actors Studio. John’s podcast Def Dialogue: Audio Plays about Everyday New Yorkers can currently be heard on Spotify and itunes. John is a member of the Actors Studio Playwright and Directors Unit.

Roominate

Written by Emma Sarah Davis

Directed by Sam Lane

Synopsis: Roominate invites the audience into Person’s room on the strangest day of their life. After three days of staying in bed, Person is contemplating what it actually means to “be alive” when they suddenly realize their bed is stuck to them. Like literally. The bed sticks to them. Weird, right? In this semi-absurd physical theatre piece, we ask you to come live a couple inches above reality as we figure out how to get unstuck- together. 

At its baseline this play is about mental health and isolation. We encourage everyone in our audience to take the time to check in on those in your circles and keep checking in. We all need little reminders that we are not alone in this world. If you are financially able, please consider donating to a mental health organization in your community or to the Anxiety & Depression Association .

Sam Lane (Director) - is a Brooklyn based artist who most recently directed Graveyard Shift at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and The Chain Theater Festival. Sam also made their off Broadway debut acting in Rachel Bloom’s Death Let Me Do My Show and has assisted in the production of off-Broadway hits such as KATE, Alex Edelman: Just For Us, Jes Tom: Less Lonely, and Alison Leiby: Oh God A Show About Abortion. Kisses to Emma and Claire for letting me play with them.

Claire Layden (Bed) - is a graduate of 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 Emma for sharing their curiosity and indulgence of play both on and off stage. She is lucky enough to learn from and laugh with Em all of the time. She thanks Sam for Sam’s invaluable direction and leadership as we dance between the true gravity and spirited levity this piece thrives within. 

Emma (Person & Playwright) is an actor and theatre maker with a BFA from Emerson College. Roominate premiered at The Philadelphia Fringe Festival in Fall 2024. Emma can be seen in an upcoming production of It Can Happen Here, set to run in March at CultureLab LIC. Emma is a published playwright with her play I’m Trash & So Are You. She is beyond grateful to sift through the muck of it all with Sam and Claire. A big thank you to her parents and brothers for their unwavering encouragement and love. Em also thanks her partner for reminding her: journey before destination. 

South 13th and Chestnut

Written by Gavin Petersen

Directed by Maggie Dunn

Synopsis: In South 13th and Chestnut, Ruby boards a late-night bus, soaked and searching for a way out. With only one other passenger—a mysterious woman—Ruby finds an unexpected sense of calm as they ride through the rain. What starts as a simple ride becomes a moment of unexpected connection and self-discovery.

Gavin Petersen (Playwright) is an NYC-based Theater Artist. They are excited to be making their Playwriting debut at the Chain. Recent Directoral works include Both REGICIDE by Jude Cramer and This is Government By Nina Kissinger! As a Stage Manager, Gavin has also worked with 24Hr Play National, 24Hr Broadway, most recently working on new productions of FOUR:A Play with Music, Moses Man and Sleep No More (PA). Gavin Would love to thank all of their loving friends and Family but a special thanks to Micheal for Helping record the audio for the bus! You rock king. 

Maggie Dunn (Director) is an NYC-based director, writer, and producer originally from Boston, MA. Her work untangles complicated relationship dynamics, confronts societal taboos, and explores the root of underlying desire. Favorite credits include Girls Online (The Tank, Gerard Cannon Playwriting Award), EOL (Secret Theater Festival, Best Play & Best Director Awards), and Ancestra (The Vino Theater). BA Directing & International Performance Ensemble, Pace University - MaggieKDunn.com

Sami DeVries (Ruby) is a NY based artist who is thrilled to be a part of this show! She is from NJ and graduated from Northwestern in 2023 where she studied Theatre and TYA. You can see more of her at samidevries.com, or on Instagram @samigdevries!

Sasha Rechler (Women) is a New York based actor, improviser, and sketch comedian. Her recent acting credits include Portia in The Underground Theatre Alliance’s Julius Caesar, short films “Trouble in Law'' and “Shoe Love” and comedy web series “Out There.” Sasha regularly performs with her improv and sketch group Skip Skip, current shows include Brooklyn Comedy Collective’s home teams every other Tuesday, and “Skip Skip Visits Your Neighborhood” monthly at The PIT. Find her on Instagram: @sasharech @skipskipcomedy

Program # 9 (3Rd Floor)

Between the Wired Fence

Written and directed by Kevin T. Dufee

Synopsis: Sawyer McKinney worked hard for the life she has created. She has a successful career, is well-traveled and lives in a high rise, luxury Manhattan apartment. All these accolades have led to feelings of... stress, resentment and boredom, until an unlikely delivery forces Sawyer to reflect on her past choices, face her current situation and decide what’s next. Between the Wired Fence explores the sobering feelings of "What could have been” and "What is” that stays with us when we are forced to choose one of the paths at a fork in the road.

Shannon Adams-Gray (Sawyer McKinney) is so excited to take to the stage again after a long hiatus. After meeting Kevin during a production of An Enemy of the People in 2012, Shannon has spent the last several years performing alongside him in the At Your Expense Improv troupe and is so honored to be included in his third production. Off-stage, Shannon is a photographer under the name Shannon Adams Creative and spends her days capturing and preserving love stories. Special thanks goes to Shannon's family, friends, and husband James for their unwavering love and support! 

Elisa Falanga (Delivery Girl) is excited to be a part of this production! Elisa has been performing her entire life and is currently in her last semester at Circle in the Square Theatre School, where she studies musical theatre. Her New York credits include roles in new-work Professional Workshops and shows in the Circle Graduate Repertory season. Roles include Alice in The Creature (Alexa Derman), Rosetta Wakeman in new musical Wakeman (Jenn Grinels), female swing in A Midsummer Night's Dream (dir. Mark Barford) and featured ensemble in Urinetown (dir. Jeanne Slater). Thanks to Kevin for providing the opportunity to share his words and story. Also, special thanks to family and friends for all of the support they have given through these past years.

Daniel Bishop (Odie / Tucker) is thrilled to be back after last appearing in Poems Of… [Insert Title], a Factory Series at the Chain Theatre.  Some past favorite credits include: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (Sebastian), Dog Sees God (Matt), and Pippin (Leading Player). Thanks to Kevin for the opportunity. IG: @dude_named_dan_200

Kevin T. Durfee (Playwright / Director) is a queer artist and playwright who uses the art of storytelling to understand the world around him. Kevin is excited to debut Between the Wired Fence as part of the Chain Theatre One-Act Festival. Past productions include full-length plays, Poems of… [Insert Title] (2024, Factory Series at the Chain Theatre) and Oh, Those Little White Lies (2017, Mosaic Theatre Company), in which he produced and directed. He was a finalist in 2023/24 INKubator Playwrights Program. A special thank you to his family, friends, cast, creative team and the Chain Theatre for allowing this dream to become a reality.

Rafaella Rossi (Stage Manager) is a Manhattan based stage manager and is thrilled to be a part of The Chain’s One-Act Festival and this production of Between the Wired Fence. Proud Hofstra graduate; credits include: Keith Huff’s Six Corners and Garbageman, David Rabe’s In the Boom Boom Room, Joe Landry’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Comedy Troupe The Usual Rejects, Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark, and Dale Wasserman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Erin Layton’s Magdalen at United Solo Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Jonathan Larson’s RENT Edinburgh Fringe Festival with On the Quays, Much Ado About Nothing (The Brick), Else C. Went’s Old Names for Wildflowers with The Renovationists.

Dear Diary

Written by Kevin Cheng

Directed by Emily M. White

Synopsis: When a young woman's daily journaling routine is suddenly interrupted by an intruder, the two strangers soon discover more they have in common than either have imagined. As their interactions unfold, memories of their past begin to seep in, and they find themselves compelled to reveal a part of them that has been hidden from the rest of the world. Dear Diary is a play about childhood, healing, and loneliness.

Emily M. White (Director) is a director, dramaturg, and arts administrator. Previous directing credits include Passover Parodies and The Box (Places in 10 Festival) with Script Club NYC, and several shows with Living Radio NYC. New York dramaturgy credits include Coal Country (The Public Theater), White Rose (Theatre Row), The Roaring Girl (Theatre Row), and more. She is currently the Editorial Manager at New York City Center and has a BA from Emerson College. She is a member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, and her work has been published on HowlRound Theatre Commons. You can catch more of her directing work in Program 8 of the festival, in I Hate the Dedham Mall.

Kevin Cheng (Playwright / Pablo) is a Taiwanese actor and writer based in New York City. He received his training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and HB Studio. Notable theater credits include: The Seagull (HB Playwrights), It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Fiction Brooklyn), The Cherry Orchard (Under St. Marks), Pedo Punchers (Producers Club), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (A.R.T./New York). Film: Light in Shadow (2019), The Unbearable Weight (2024), and Hong (2024). Kevin is deeply interested in telling stories that highlight human connections and explore how people grope their way toward a sense of equanimity in face of unexpected life events.

Elizabeth McBryde (Josie) trained in musical theater at the Young Americans College of Performing Arts, later touring with the company in Japan and Germany. She continued her studies in opera in Cologne, Germany, under private coaching. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has worked as an international spokesmodel, model, and emcee for various brands. She is also a singer-songwriter specializing in alternative and jazz music, as well as an event and film producer, and a personal stylist.

Hana Roh (Stage Manager) is an international actor currently training at HB Studio. Since her experience as a dancer in The Eye That Saw Death in Tennessee Williams Theater Festival (2023), she has been fascinated by theater's liveliness and power of collaboration. She aims to incorporate her training in Shakespeare, musical/jazz singing, Laban Drives to an intimate and authentic storytelling.

Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

Written by Erin Moughon

Directed by Perryn Pomatto

Synopsis: One has come to break up with Two using Meatloaf lyrics. Little do they realize that Two orchestrated the whole thing in an attempt to live out the plot of a 1970s soft rock song, Escape (The Piña Colada Song).

Erin Moughon (Playwright) (she/her) is an award-winning playwright and teacher based in New York City.  Her plays have been produced across the U.S. and in England, Canada, Australia, and France. Selected short plays can be found in editions of The Best Ten Minute Plays edited by Lawrence Harbison and Debbie Lamedman and her monologues can be found in Voices of America Vol 1, 3, & 4 edited by Mike Lesser of the Playground Experiment. Her play Prewritten won the 2024 best play award from the Loved Ones series by Broken Arts Entertainment. She was commissioned by the Educational Theatre Association to write short adaptations for their design lesson plans.  She is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild and an Arthur Miller Fellow. 

Perryn Pomatto (Director) This is Perryn's third production in a Chain Short Play Festival, having previously directed A Rose By Any Other Name by DC Green in the 2023 Summer Fest and Requiem for a Bench by Helene Galek in the 2024 Winter Fest. He has also directed plays featured in the Heartbroke and Blurring Boundaries festivals for the New Ambassadors Theatre Company and the Boo and LUV fests for The Players Theater. The latter of which, This is What Doctor Shapiro Was Talking About by Matthew J. Kaplan, plays over Valentine's Day weekend. He was also the founder and Artistic Director of the sketch comedy show The Grease Monkeys for egarage.tv. Thank you so much to Erin for entrusting me with her words and to the actors for making my job so easy.

Claire Shiell (One) (she/her/hers) is an actor, singer, improviser, director, pretty good tap dancer, but most importantly, a menace to society. She can often be found performing improvised one act plays with her improv team The Attic Players at The Tank, or making up musicals with her musical improv team Unheard Of! in the back room of a bar near you. She's done too many readings, workshops, and plays to name and this bio is long enough, so just trust her on that. Proud CAP21 alum. @claireshiell 

Matthew Menendez (Two) Theatrically and film trained actor Matthew Menendez has played roles in short films, indie series and original staged productions in New York such as Aunt Jack and Mary of Astoria. The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is where he honed his skills to gain experience and recognition. He continues to work with indie writers and directors in short film series such as Ignis and theatre festivals like the Chain Theatre. In his spare time he loves to submerge himself in RPG video games and sing his heart out in karaoke, until his first record deal. He waits patiently for his first big break in a network or steaming series.

Last Train to Nevada

Written by Pascal Phoa

Directed by Yibin Wang

Synopsis: In 1942, Fred and Ida want to take a train to Nevada to start a life together but they have a hard time packing their suitcase. As they race against time and learn to pack the right way, they learn how much sacrifice they are making for each other.

Pascal Phoa is a NYC-based actor from Indonesia who has a passion for classical and contemporary plays. He would like to thank the Chain Theatre team for giving him this opportunity to showcase his artistry. He is beyond thankful for his friends, family, and artistic collaborators and mentors for their unwavering support throughout his career. His recent acting credis include Macduff in Macbeth (Circle in the Square Theatre), The Ghost in Princess Hamlet (The Flea Theater), and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Commonwealth Shakespeare). Training: Circle in the Square Theater School. @pascalphoa

Gwyneth Benitez-Graham (she/her) is an NYC-based multidisciplinary artist. She is a recent graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School’s Musical Theatre Conservatory and is very excited about this project! She is very grateful to the Last Train to Nevada team for this opportunity, and is eternally thankful to her partner, family, and friends for their support. @instagrahamgwyn

Yibin Wang is a New York-based theater and performance director from Hangzhou, China. Yibin’s interdisciplinary work explores cross-cultural experiences, new technology, and vibrant audience relationships. His recent directing/curatorial projects include Cabin (East Village Basement), A Hunger Artist (Lenfest Center for the Arts), A Tree Has Not Yet Woken Up In A Dream (Beijing Fringe Festival), Playdate (En Garde Arts), A Theater Letter To You (Columbia University), The Vanya Project (Columbia University), Designing Care (Hangzhou Fengshan Community). BA, Bard College; MFA in Directing, Columbia University. @yibinbillwang

Program #10 (4th Floor)

Listen, Won't You?

Written and directed by Philip Cioffari 

SYNOPSIS: An insomniac priest offers comfort to the patrons of an all-night diner in the Bronx.

Philip Cioffari (Playwright/Director) is the author of the novels: Night And Its Longings; If Anyone Asks, Say I Died From The Heartbreaking Blues; The Bronx Kill; Jesusville; Dark Road, Dead End; and Catholic Boys; and the short story collection, A History Of Things Lost Or Broken, which won the Tartt Fiction Prize, and the D. H. Lawrence award for fiction. His Indie feature film, which he wrote and directed, Love In The Age Of Dion, has won numerous awards, including Best Feature Film at the Long Island Int’l Film Expo, and Best Director at the NY Independent Film & Video Festival. He is a playwright member of the Actors Studio. He teaches fiction writing at the Gotham Writers Center in NYC.  www.philipcioffari.com

Tod Engle (Father Mac) is thrilled to be speaking Phil’s words again. Many NYC theatre credits over the years.TV roles include Law And Order SVU, The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, New Amsterdam. Tod’s agents, The Collective Talent Agency and CESD. More info on his IMDB page.

Scott Rogers (Soldier) Hailing from sunny San Diego, I grew up immersed in theater, performing in productions like The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. After a long hiatus from acting, I’m thrilled to return to the stage and continue this lifelong passion. Soon I will be appearing in an upcoming performance of Lysistrata. I’ve been studying at HB Studio and Upright Citizens Brigade, where I’ve been fortunate to learn from incredible mentors and peers. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who’s come out to support—it means the world!

Sara Beneke (Waitress) is an actress and model, born and raised in Minnesota. There, she discovered her love of acting through local theater productions and was a trained dancer for 16 years. Since moving to New York, she’s had the opportunity to work in commercials and film while studying at HB Studio. Sara was seen recently as the lead in A Dream in 303 in the New York Theater Festival.

Jemma Giberson (Girlfriend) is thrilled to be returning to performing after a several year hiatus. She has previously appeared in I Am Not That I Play (Emory University), Pinter Kaleidoscope (Emory University), Mandragola (Emory University), Rathskellar Improv Troupe (Emory University), Chamber Music (Oregon Children’s Theater), Gatherings in Graveyards (Oregon Children’s Theater), among others. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she has trained at HB Studio, Upright Citizens Brigade, Emory University, Oregon Children’s Theater, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Big thank you to her loved ones who encouraged her to return to acting!

Same Dog, New Tricks

Written by Jess Senie & Maile Binion

Directed by Lucy Roberts

Synopsis: A mother helps her daughter June get ready for prom. When she realizes her other daughter, Daisy, is planning to go too, she tries to put a stop to it. It's revealed that in a sweet (but problematic) attempt to connect to her trans daughter (June), Mom transformed the family dog (Daisy) into a human girl that June can "relate" to.

Holland Lane Curtis (June) is delighted to be making their Chain Theatre debut, and would like to thank the cast and crew for inviting her to be a part of this story of queer joy. Alongside acting, they find passion in songwriting, springtime, and D&D. Previous credits include Young Eleanor Roosevelt in Eleanor and Alice, Touchstone in As You Like It, and Little Girl in Corpse Crusade, a choose-your-own zombie apocalypse musical.  Holland is an American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni. 

Kelsea Baker (Daisy)’s first Winter One-Act Fest at The Chain!  NY Theater includes On the Verge (Retro Productions), Urinetown (Fracture Theatre Co.), Three Sisters (Red Monkey Theater Group), Dissecting Civil Rights (The Tank), Against the Wall (Playwrights Realm), Your Colonel (Metropolitan Playhouse). Regional credits include the world premiere of Horseshoe Empire, a play about Jersey City’s most notorious mayor directed by TACT’s Scott Alan Evans. Other regional credits at Connecticut Rep Theatre, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Millbrook Playhouse. Kelsea recently shot her first feature film near her hometown called The Girl Who Cried Her Eyes Out (Yes, that’s really the title. No, she wasn’t the girl who cried her eyes out. But it is available on Amazon now.) Next to speaking in third person, Kelsea’s greatest joy is her ten pound chihuahua-mix, Tippy, whom she has requested remain a dog and alive forever.

Phoebe Leonard Dettmann (Eileen) is an actor, writer and director. She is a founding member of Randomly Specific Theatre (randomlyspecifictheatre.com), a Taurus and the devoted servant to a cat named Aurora. Thanks to Maile, Jess and Lucy for the opportunity to play with this marvelous play!

Jess Senie and Maile Binion (Playwrights) are a gay, clown-lovin’ writing duo (They are also engaged to be married!) Jess is an NYC native with a background in comedy and music. Maile is a New Orleans native with a background in theatre and crawfish boils. Together they try to create more queer art that’s fun and filled with joy!

Lucy Roberts (Director) would like to thank Jess, Maile, Holland, Kelsea, and Phoebe for their collaboration and camaraderie. Recent projects include All-American Sex Addict/Woke Af (American Theater of Actors), Practice (Hudson Guild Theater), Katy And Jennifer Vs The Flasher On New Year’s (Theater for a New City), Slanted! Enchanted! (Sheen Center for Thought and Culture), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Village Gate Theater) and multiple collaborations with New Ambassadors Theater Company. 

The Aliens Came

Written by Matthew Daley

Directed by Hunter Fenstermaker

Synopsis: Nora and Wallace are madly in love. Right at the moment Nora is about to propose to Wallace, he confesses that he is an intergalactic porn star controlled by aliens. Now, the fate of the world and their relationship rests on Nora embracing her own porn star persona. You know. Typical rom com stuff.

Caitlin Howe (Nora)  is thrilled to be making her Chain Theater debut! As a graduate of AMDA, she is so proud and excited to be working with some of her fellow alumni on this production. She was most recently seen as Katie Lapp in The Bird-in-Hand Stage’s The Confession, and has performed with various other companies such as Dollywood and Disney Cruise Line. For more information please visit her website: caitlintheresehowe.com

Jordan Blue (Wallace) is an AMDA alumni and is making his Chain Theatre debut! He would like to thank everyone for coming to see the show, and most importantly the people who got him to where he is today.

Megan Geiger (Stage Manager) is so excited to be managing the stage of The Aliens Came. She has been seen most recently as a Swing in Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares. Their recent stage management credits include PYTC’s High School Musical and 35MM: A Musical Exhibition. They hope you enjoy the show!

Hunter Fenstermaker (Director) is excited to be making her directorial debut at The Chain Theatre! She is a graduate of AMDA and is excited to be working with other alumni on this production. This is her first time as the role of director, and she couldn’t be more pleased with the experience! Hunter would like to thank the cast, Jordan and Caitlin, for their amazing work, as well as Megan for all of her help during the process. And finally, Matthew Daley for writing a wonderful story and for the opportunity! 

Matthew Daley (Writer) still isn’t sure if he believes in aliens or not, but given the size of the universe, it seems possible; if they do exist, he hopes they have a sense of humor. He is also the playwright of The Grand Experiment (Chain Theatre), DMV not the Musical (The PIT), and Pen Pals (New York Theater Festival). 

The Escape

Written by Sean O’Leary

Directed by Mario Corry

Synopsis: The Escape centers on two men on the run, in a time of political unrest and uncertainty, who take shelter in a warehouse after killing a political figure.  They are waiting for their contact from a revolutionary group to get them money and fake passports when a mysterious woman shows up and offers to help them get away, but can they trust her?

Ocean M Harris (Michael) was born in Westminster but spent his formative years in his native Sierra Leone until civil war would necessitate a return to England. Raised in South London and schooled in Kent at Beth's Grammar School for Boys; Harris would go on to study at the University of Nottingham. He began acting in 2019 and has had main cast roles in season 2 of The Capture (2022, BBC/NBC), Christmas Indie rom-com Feather Christmas (2024), and short films including World Fiction (2024) and Immaculate Deception (2023).  In 2023 he studied Stanislavsky under Brigid Panet at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Harris moved to New York in 2024 and has since performed at the Theater for the New City working with Lyle Kessler and also read at the Actors studio.

Ron Barba (Jake) is an actor and producer from Greenwich, CT. His recent films, Bobby Mortal and Gods Will are on Amazon. He starred in the independent film in 2022, Third Week and has appeared in national commercials and off-Broadway plays. He is a stand-up comedian who has produced 4 of his own television pilots.

Tara Westwood (Rachael) Some of Tara’s film and television credits include Plane, The Grudge, Law & Order, and Fleishman Is in Trouble. Her theater credits include Reprise at Paradise Factory and Branched at HERE. She made her directorial debut with the short film Triggered, which was featured at Tribeca, Woodstock, and the Chicago International Film Festival, and was nominated for a Hollywood Critics Association Award in 2023.

George Zach (Solider) George was born in Greece, raised in Australia. He has worked in tv, film, and theatre. He is thrilled to be part of The Escape with such a brilliant cast and crew.

Chelsea LeSage (Understudy - Rachael) Favorite Off-Broadway/New York theatre: Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice) at Stag & Lion, Girls Who Walked On Glass (Katrina) at Alchemical, Macbeth (Lady Macbeth) at Stag & Lion. Regional/International favorites: Into The Woods (Witch) at Barrington Stage Company, Hamlet (title role) at Minvera Arts Center, Henry V (title role) at Rotations Theatre (Germany). Film/TV: 21st Century Demon Hunter, The Following, The Virginia B*tches, Bishop’s Cove, Macbeth: A Cursed Film. www.chelsealesage.com

Mario Corry (Director) award winning director with Sean O’Leary’s Reservations for Dinner and The Sample. Director of best play Something Like Penguins written by Levi Wilson. As a character actor, Bridge of Spies directed by Steven Spielberg, The Irishman and Wolf of Wall Street directed by Martin Scorsese. The Parents directed by Darren Aronofsky, Tulsa King with Sylvester Stallone, plus multiple cable and network TV roles.

Sean O’Leary (Playwright) is excited to be returning to Chain Theatre after a successful premier of The Wedding Story in the 2024 festival. He was the 2022 Week Three winner of the Short Play Festival’s 11th Annual Boo Festival with the play Boo.  His play Reservations for Dinner appeared in the Strawberry Festival at Symphony Space in 2020 in New York City. Prior to that, three of his plays (The Empty Space, The Sample, and Reservations for Dinner) appeared in the Green Lit Showcase at Teatro Circulo.  Other plays have been performed at the New York Theater’s Summerfest, Riant Theater’s Strawberry Festival, where Reservations for Dinner was nominated for best play, and at the Secret Theater’s One Act Festival.

Jennifer O’Leary (Producer) has been producing operas and plays in NYC for over fifteen years. She has directed Le Nozze Di Figaro, The Magic Flute (Mozart), Christopher Columbus (Offenbach), and The Sorcerer (Gilbert and Sullivan), and the premier of Sean O’Leary’s The Return at the Secret Theater. As a vocalist, she has performed the roles of Monica (The Medium), Laetitia (Old Maid and the Thief), and Rose Maybud (Ruddigore) along with several cabarets and recitals throughout New York. 

Sara Gierc (Stage Manager) Sara is a writer and aspiring director. She studies creative writing and dramatic literature at NYU and is currently studying with Lyle Kessler’s Master Class. Previous credits include Barry Primus’s Soup in the Second Act (TNC) and Crystal Field’s Street Theatre production Socialization of a Social Worker; Or, Justice in a Time of Need (TNC).

Program #11 (3rd Floor)

A Hollywood Ending

Written by Emerson Riter

Directed by Annabelle Rosenbluth

Synopsis: Los Angeles, California, 1973. When an eager young detective insists that there’s something suspicious about the sudden death of Hollywood executive Desmond Fraser, he reopens the investigation, despite the protests of his superior officer. Meanwhile, five of Desmond’s closest friends and family (who are also the prime suspects in his murder) take it upon themselves to solve the case, revealing complicated relationships and scandals in the process.

Emerson Riter (playwright) is ecstatic to make her NYC playwriting debut with A Hollywood Ending. She adores classical theatre, most recently performing as Benvolio (Romeo & Juliet) and Creon (Antigone). She was a member of the National High School Institute’s Playwriting Intensive this past summer where she completed her play Rom Com From Hell and has had two of her short plays produced at her high school. She enjoys writing fantasy, drama, and of course, comedy, and is working on her debut novel. She looks forward to the continued pursuit of theater and writing throughout her life. Special thanks to Masters Mainstage Theatre, Jason Summers and the Westchester Sandbox Theatre, and her friends and family.

Annabelle Rosenbluth (director) is delighted to be making her NYC directing debut at the Chain Theatre. Hooked on theatre from a young age, she began learning to direct in middle school and has directed two short plays at her high school. In addition to theatre, she has also directed multiple short films, including Dear Old Friend (2022) which was selected as a featured drama in the All-American High School Film Festival. Annabelle looks forward to continuing studying theatre at college next year and hopes you all enjoy the show! Special thanks to Masters Mainstage Theatre, her friends and family, and Gabrielle Giocomo.

David Moseder most recently appeared as Drunk Santa in Miracle on 34th Street with The Heights Players, where he previously performed in Prelude to a Kiss (Rita’s Dad); The Crucible (Judge Hathorne); Fool for Love (Old Man); 42nd Street (Abner Dillon); Harvey (Dr. Chumley); The Real Inspector Hound (Moon); Arsenic and Old Lace (Lt. Rooney); Detective Story (Pritchett); and All the King's Men (Gummy Larsen). Other credits include Agamemnon (Chorus) with Gallery Players; The Man Who Came to Dinner (Dr. Bradley) with St. Jean's Players; and three original plays at 13th Street Repertory. He also dances occasionally with The Pacemakers.

Jordan Hurley is a Brooklyn-based, Boston-born actor.  She loves working on new plays and has done so with the likes of Clubbed Thumb, Isle Theater Company, Ghost Light Theatre Company, and Foul Fiend Theatre Troupe.  Jordan can be seen performing around New York at places including The Brick, The Tank, Playwrights Downtown, Caveat, and The Center at West Park. Her hobbies include hosting dinner parties, singing along with the CDs in her minivan, and running the occasional marathon with her dad.  Jordan would like to see how many audible gasps she can cram into this awesome whodunnit. NYU BFA Drama.

Andy Fullard is a British-American actor, originally from England, with acting credits in the UK, Hong Kong, and the US. He has a Master's Degree in Theatre Studies from Leeds University, UK, and is an active guitarist and songwriter along with his love of the stage. His roles have included Wayne Hudson (Pop Corn), Riff (West Side Story), Lysander (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Riff Raff (Rocky Horror Picture Show), Charles Guiteau (Assassins), and Sigmund Freud (Freud's Last Session). He has been in New York for nine years and teaches Performing Arts at Uncommon Schools.

Ted Birke – Age 8 “Bitten by theatre bug”. “Itched” to participate in school plays. College days created character roles which were the most fun. Then Summer Stock beckoned. In the Big Apple studied acting and did some off-Broadway work. But a detour brought me to the Field of Social Work. Now retired and back on the boards. Yay! Performances dedicated to the memory of my Dad.

Molly Kriskey is so excited to be working with all these wonderful people at The Chain. Molly is a sophomore at Tisch Drama where she studies at Stella Adler. Since moving to the city she has acted in new plays and student films as well as working as a stage manager, director, and singer. Enjoy the show and thank you to this awesome team, her friends and family, and The Chain! 

Jean-Marie Stodolski hails from the exotic land of Hudson County, New Jersey. She was last seen in Pat Philipps' comedy, Vino Veritas at The Theatre for The New City, originating the role of Theresa.  She has also been seen in Ethan Fox's Invasive (Vickie Jones), and in The Gallery Players' one-act production of Secondhand Smoke (Kitty). Other credits include: Princesses of the Bar Table (Snow White) & OZ: A Twisted Musical (Off-B'way. Ensemble/Dance Captain).  Represented by Glitter Talent Agency. Former core dancer of Hexentanz Burlesque Company and member of Ikeda Youth Dance Ensemble. Muhlenberg College alum. Proud member of Local 6. NMRK. 

Josie Leff is thrilled to be making her NYC acting debut here at the Chain Theater. As a current high school senior, she's devoted her previous years of school to growing her skills as an actor and will continue her theater education for the next four years at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

How to Feel Without Touching

Written by Bradly Valenzuela

Directed by Emily Kluger

Synopsis: In the basement of an old church we meet Death, Eros, and The Light in a group founded to help beings connect with the world when they can’t touch. Through this meeting we see the struggles of relating to others when they don’t always belong, and how they can be understood when they feel so alone. 

Bradly Valenzuela (Playwright) is a director, playwright and producer based in New York City. He received his B.A. in Directing at California State University, Fullerton, where he received his degree in Theatre with an Emphasis in Directing. He has produced and directed multiple original productions in the years throughout the city while also exploring his recent desire to be a playwright, with Pieces of People: A Two-Sided Eulogy being his playwright debut at the New York Theater Festival. He is thrilled to have How to Feel Without Touching debut at the Chain Theatre, and wants to thank all who remind him how to feel.

Emily Kluger (Director) couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with one of Bradly’s beautiful pieces once again. Her greatest passions lie with the creation of new works, and she is so honored to be collaborating with such a great group of artists! Past credits include: Pieces of People: A Two Sided Eulogy - NYTF 2024.

Daniel Gomez (Eros) is a Colombian-American artist from Queens, New York, committed to showcasing the Latiné experience. An alumnus of LaGuardia and the Meisner Technique program at the Neighborhood Playhouse, he made his Off-Broadway debut in 2023 at Intar Theatre. He is a versatile comedian, singer, dancer, and writer, with theatre credits including Coyote Oughta Eat That Salesman!, A Boy Called Lobo, & Sonnets For An Old Century. He also teaches with Park Avenue Armory, Theatre Development Fund, and The MET. He is excited to take on the role of Eros in How to Feel Without Touching

Christian Pins Coen (Death) is an actor and activist known for their award-winning performances in theater and film. Credits include The Guinep Tree, performed for the ambassador of Barbados, Bonus Life, a sold-out run, and In2U a horror short directed by Adrienne Acevedo Lovette. A Best Ensemble winner at SheNYC (The Station), they bring bold storytelling and depth to every role. Follow them irresponsibly @beigebabyjesus.

Danielle Johnson (Light) trained at Atlantic Acting School and some of her passions include site specific work, puppeteering, devising, and works in development. A few past credits include Seven Gasoline Stations (Brooklyn College @ Playwright’s Horizons), SPARK (site- specific, Who What Where Productions), The Finalist (Emerging Artist’s New Work Series), The October Diaries (web series). She is honored to be a part of a new work’s world premiere. Get to know her better at daniellejohnsonactor.com. 

Of You

Written and directed by JT Tsou

Synopsis: Of You is a three hander set in a tidy suburban home. The play explores the complexities of three generations of women navigating their relationships, secrets, and personal struggles. The story opens with Gran, a meticulous matriarch, fussing over her daughter’s plants and offering unsolicited opinions. Her daughter, Mom, arrives home unexpectedly from a work retreat, only to find her own daughter, Daughter, sneaking home from law school with a secret in tow—a pregnancy test. The revelation of the test spirals into a series of witty, tension-filled exchanges as the three women confront their clashing values, unresolved grievances, and generational differences. Gran, ever the traditionalist, dramatizes the situation with hyperbolic flair, lamenting the family’s impending social doom. Mom, caught between her domineering mother and headstrong daughter, juggles wine-fueled exasperation and attempts at damage control. Meanwhile, Daughter asserts her independence, pushing back against outdated notions of womanhood and family expectations. As the play unfolds, buried resentments and unspoken fears bubble to the surface. Gran’s critique of Mom’s parenting sparks revelations about her own failures, while Mom’s frustration with Gran mirrors her struggles to connect with Daughter. Amid the chaos, the characters reveal their vulnerabilities, reflecting on love, responsibility, and the cyclical nature of family dynamics. With a balance of humor and heartache, the play delves into themes of intergenerational conflict, societal pressures, and the evolving roles of women in the modern world. Ultimately, it is a celebration of resilience and the messy, complicated love that binds families together, even when they seem worlds apart.

Amy Losi (Gran) has appeared in ninety plays, playing everything from Maria in Lend Me a Tenor to Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor. She is also a director, playwright, and Dramatists Guild member. Amy’s plays have been accepted into fifteen festivals, winning awards including “Spirit of the Hartford Fringe Festival.” Her full-length plays premiered at Theater for the New City and American Theatre of Actors. Other credits: Broadway Comedy Club, commercials, film, and TV. https://www.amylosi.net/ (IG: @amy.losi)

Victoria Centonze (Mother/Mom) is a Bronx native and graduate of Brooklyn College with an MFA in Acting. She has performed in Dance Nation and El Huracán, among other works, bringing a focus on authenticity and diversity to her roles. As an actor and educator, she is passionate about making the arts accessible to all. (IG: @victoriacentonze)

Caelinn Aisling Ní Bhroin (Daughter) is an Irish actor and devisor based in New York. She has a bachelor’s degree in Drama and Sociology from Trinity College Dublin and a recent graduate of Bow Street Academy in Dublin. Caelinn has over five years’ experience in both theatre and film, her most recent theatre credit being This Too Shall Pass which was part of the Dublin Fringe Festival in September. (IG: @caelinn__)

Katie North (Producer) As a writer, director, actor and producer of film, TV, and theater, Katie North enjoys a rich artistic career in New York. Most recently, she wrote, directed, and starred in comedy pilot Events at Hemlock Manor, edited by Emmy-nominated SNL editor Ryan Spears; starred in features Face the Music and Ghost Punchers; co-wrote and starred in dramedy pilot Nightfish. She is currently co-producing the Broadway comedy musical Operation Mincemeat alongside longtime friend and collaborator, JT Tsou. (IG: @kt.north)

JT Tsou (Playwright/Director) is the Co-Founder of Left No Ring Productions (LNR) with her producing partner and dear friend, Raye Levine. A proud member of the Roundabout Theater Company’s Ambassador Council, JT is a creative committed to increasing access for and amplifying the stories of women, immigrants, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+. In addition to theater, JT is an award-winning TV/Film writer, director, and producer with credits spanning across Netflix, PBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Peacock, and Disney. LNR/JT is currently co-producing the Broadway comedy musical, Operation Mincemeat, alongside longtime friend and collaborator, Katie North. She wishes to thank the many hands and hearts that helped bring “Of You” to life. (IG: @jalexandra_t)

PROGRAM #12 (3RD FLOOR)

Delicacies

Written and directed by Joie Mitchell

Synopsis: A delicacy is the intricacy of Jayme and Nell’s relationship as they struggle to cultivate intimacy during an ill-fated reunion, find an authentic Thai restaurant in a college town to relay big news, process the universality of disability and illness, and find empathy for fragile emotions.

Ebony Davis (she/they) is a College of Charleston (2014) and Stella Adler Studio of Acting Evening Conservatory (2022) graduate. Delicacies is an exciting follow-up to her first Off-Broadway show (Shimmer and Herringbone, 2024). Contact info: ebonydavisacting@gmail.com

Raven M. Smith (she/her) is excited to make her Off-Off-Broadway debut in Delicacies! Recent credits include: Dancing Queen (Swan Dive Theatre Collective), Tea Time (EllaMaeFlossie's Governors Island series), and Quarter Life Crisis (her critically-acclaimed web series pilot). She has a BFA from Montclair State University and has trained at HB Studio and Paper Mill Playhouse.

Joie Mitchell (they/them) is an actor, writer, artist, and farmer who trained at NYU: Tisch, Stella Adler and Stonestreet Studios. They are excited to direct the world premiere of their play Delicacies as part of the Chain Theatre’s One-Act Festival. Recent credits include acting in A Third Space: The Trans Conversation Project at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, and a staged reading of their full-length play Solarpunks with Pothos Arts and Theatre House. 

Mokeb

Written by Hana Dehadrunwala

Directed by Darine Hotait

Synopsis: Ayan, a formerly-religious freelancer from NYC grappling with a big decision, decides to embark on Arbaeen: an 86km pilgrimage/walk in Iraq, from the city of Najaf to Karbala. The Mokeb (guesthouse) that they stop at along the route, serves as a place of rest and reflection. Or so it should.

Darine Hotait (Director) - Named on Disney’s list of directors on the Rise, Darine Hotait is a writer and director based in NYC. Her films can be seen on Sundance Channel, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, BBC, and at international film festivals. Darine is the recipient of the New York Council on the Arts Prize, the NYFA Immigrant Artist Fellowship, and the North Manhattan Arts Alliance Prize. 

Hana Dehradunwala (Playwright / Ayan) - Hana is a Pakistani-American writer, actor and recent startup industry runaway, based in NYC via Karachi and Riyadh. She is a graduate of the William Esper Studio conservatory. Hana’s credits include productions at Playwrights Horizons downtown, the New York Theater Festival, and the Science in Theater Festival among others.

Jess Kreisler (Stage Manager) - Jess Kreisler is a Stage Manager, Playwright, Advocate, and Educator based in Queens, NY. She has stage managed at: The Public - Joe’s Pub; 24-Hour Festival; New York Theatre Workshop; Musical Theatre Initiative; abroad in Hydra, Greece. Jess' plays have been produced/recognized at KCACTF, Lime Arts Productions, Adelphi Alumni Playwrights Group (AAPG), Brave New Plays, among others. Jess is excited to be on the journey of Mokeb within the Chain Theatre’s Festival.

Leila Keshani-Sabet (Zahra) - Leila Kashani-Sabet (لیلا کاشانی ثابت) is an Iranian actor, facilitator, and activist. She acts in and creates devised work centering QTBIPOC liberation. Currently, she facilitates social justice theater classes with young artists across NYC. Learn more about her work at leilakashani-sabet.com. #nmrk

Katherine Harrington (Sana) - Katherine Harrington is an Actor and Writer based in NYC. Tv/ film credits include What Would You Do (ABC), The Prop Drop (Netflix), Last Breath on Earth, Lady+ Macbeth, An Astute Woman, Apple MacBook Air, Google Chrome pixel, Cosmo the Braid up, Farm Rio x Nordstrom, Audible dreamers, and her own short Litany. Theater credits include Citizen Arts, War dreamer at the Actors studio, and The Readout NY. Harrington is repped by Rebel Creative Group and is a proud alum of BADA MÍO and the Esper Studio. Enjoy the show! 

Shubhra Prakash (Romana) - Shubhra has been touring her solo play FONTWALA about the arrival of Indian scripts on the English computer keyboard in New York, SF and India. She is focused on creating and participating in new work, in translation of plays into her mother tongue Hindi and wants to sing as much as she can on the stage. Shubhra would like to thank all her teachers, guides, mentors and fellow artists who have added to her confidence on stage and made theater a transformative experience time and again. More info http://shubhra.site/ 

Aria Jamila (Farrah) - Aria Jamila is a Trinbagonian, Sufi, creative, and humanitarian. Her truest passions exist at the intersection of art and activism. She views the arts and culture as profoundly powerful tools for community building and socio-spiritual revolution. She is currently studying the Meisner acting technique at the William Esper Studio. She aspires to be the type of storyteller whose legacy is one of joyful celebration and meaningful social impact.

The Tragedy of Prohibition Brought to You by Beamers Beer

Written by Nick Martorelli and Justin Muschong

Directed by Miriam Grill

Synopsis: In the Greek style, a Chorus tells the story of Boyd Woodrow Baker, the man behind the rise and fall of Prohibition. Drink Beamers Beer.

Timothy Carmello (Boyd Woodrow Baker) is an American actor, writer and director. His professional performance career began at the age of sixteen, and he quickly learned how lucrative and sweaty show business can be at Sesame Place Amusement Park. Thanks to Nick Martorelli, Justin Muschong, Miriam Grill, the cast and crew and all the powers that be for the opportunity to work with fun words and good people. All his love is for his mother, father, siblings, extended family, Chuck the Cat and Kathryn. As for the rest of you? You're alright. Keep up the good work. xoxo @timothycarmello and @chuckduhcat

Hannah Hagler (Chorus/Politician) moved from Fargo, North Dakota to the city in 2023 to pursue her painting and performance career. She graduated with a BFA in Art from North Dakota State University and has been training throughout the city at locations such as The Barrow Group and Second City Improv. In her free time, she enjoys learning guitar, making art, and modeling her vintage clothing collection.

Liann Herder (Chorus/Secretary) is an actor, singer, writer, and Texas native. She's been performing in NYC for over a decade and is a company member of A Drinking Game NYC. In 2021, she graduated from Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism, and by day she writes about education and culture.

Gail Shalan (Chorus/Prohibition) (she/her) is a NYC-based storyteller on screen, stage, behind the mic, and with puppets. She has performed at various theater spaces across the US and UK (The Bristol Old Vic, Cherry Lane Theatre, St. Ann’s Warehouse, Wickham Theatre). Her work as an actor, puppeteer, and puppet designer/builder features in the award-winning short film Coyote Girl (BostonIFF Best Short), and she is a 2024 two-time Audie Award winning narrator of over 200 audiobooks. A proud MFA grad of The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (UK). @grshalan  

Nick Martorelli and Justin Muschong (co-writers) met at a short film festival and began collaborating on radio scripts almost immediately. Their play Make Gold of That was performed as part of the Red Bull Theatre Short New Play Festival in 2022, and the Spokane Falls Community Center produced the world premiere of their one-page play Bigfoot’s First Noel in 2024. Separately, Justin has earned recognition from the Eclipse Awards, the Snowtown Film Festival, and Project Twenty1, while Nick’s work has been performed at the Delaware Fringe Festival, and as part of one-act festivals in Philadelphia. Love to Kate and Faith, respectively.

Miriam Grill (director) is a Brooklyn-based theatre maker with many hats. She is currently the Community and Educational Coordinator at La Mama and the Operations Manager for Dances for a Variable Population (a multi-generational NYC dance company). Recent directing credits include Whores & Weeping Women (Arts on Site, NYC), Heirloom (short film), Medea (Lenfest Center for the Arts), War with the Newts (New York Puppetry Festival). She has a commercial background assisting on Broadway (Motown, Annie, Bring It On, etc.) and worked as a movement consultant for Cirque du Soleil in Macau (House of Dancing Waters). She was the founder and director of a university theatre department in Guangzhou China specializing in educating the next generation of female directors, produced and directed a bilingual female theatre company in Taiwan, and led youth and arts therapy programs in refugee camps on the Myanmar border. She holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from Columbia University.

Josh Stackhouse (Original music) is a composer and performer whose original songs have been showcased at 54 Below, Don’t Tell Mama, and Birdland. Most notably, he produces an annual comedy cabaret, Canada Day with Josh Stackhouse & Friends at Chelsea Table + Stage featuring his own work. In addition to composing theme music for podcasts including The Exploress, Mention the Invention, and Hi, From Canada, Josh also created string arrangements for The Eighty Six Seas. Josh is a member of the BMI Lehman Engle Musical Theatre Workshop (Advanced), and his favorite beer is Granville Island Honey Lager (within moderation, of course)

Tinners' Rabbits

Written by Haley Rice

Directed by Kayli Jamison

Synopsis: A Defendant goes before a Judge in the pursuit of challenging The State on an ethical issue, facing a charismatic Prosecutor with more than the law on their side.

Haley Rice (Playwright) writes, directs, and produces film and theatre in NYC. She is a co-founder of Messy Stars Productions and Creative Producer at Theatre 4the People. Haley has a body of work that spans full-length plays, pilots, and screenplays– accolades include: Austin FF Second Rounder, Nominee at Austin Revolution FF, Honorable Mention at Genre Blast FF, Semi-Finalist in Sedona International FF, Top 30 at Sam French OOB Short Play Festival. Haley curates the New Works Series which develops new pieces by connecting them with directors, actors, and audiences in the NYC theatre community. @the_tales_of_hales

Kayli Jamison (Director): This is Kayli's directorial debut! Her recent credits include: Jellylorum on the North American Tour (Broadway Revival production) of CATS, Kate Monster in Avenue Q (MTKCPro) Jen in Sunday on the Rocks (Ted Wold Theater Co in NYC). Kayli owns and currently teaches at Actors Homeroom, her Meisner based acting studio in NYC. 

J.D. Brookshire (The Judge) is thrilled to be a part of this incredibly talented cast. Previous theater credits:  Mark from A Chorus Line, Androcles from Androcles and the Lion, Frank from All My Sons. Films: Barry from the Reunion, Dan from Howard, and most recently Peter from This is Love?!  J.D. is honored to be a co-founding partner of Messy Stars Productions where our most recent project is hitting the film festival circuit this month. 

Carol Hardern (The Defendant) is thrilled to be a part of Tinners Rabbit written by Haley Rice and directed by Kayli Jamison in the One Act Festival! She is excited to be a part of this talented cast! Carol is a singer, actor, and writer. Her recent projects she has been a part of are: Ramon Guzman's plays in the New Works Series directed by Issac Byrne, and The IV League Episode 3, written and directed by Brianna Cala. 

Adam Belvo (The Prosecutor) is delighted to join this production of Tinners’ Rabbits as THE PROSECUTOR. Though not a NY native, he has produced and acted extensively in the downtown NYC scene for the past 20 years. He is currently also appearing in ANONYMOUS by Nick Thomas, produced by his theater company, spit&vigor. All the love to his lovely wife Shelby, and their lovely Rainey Marie (chiweenie.)

Program #13 (3rd Floor)

Doors are a Hammers Bestfriend

Written by Jociel Tambone

Directed by Nicole Ulloa

Synopsis: Doors are a Hammer’s Best Friend is a story about a brother and sister, learning to heal together, by fixing a door. Donna and Miguel are two siblings living in New York City, trying to find their way through life while living in New York City, without their Dad, Fred, to guide them along the way.

Daisy Duarte (Donna) - Daisy is a Queens based actress and directress. She has been acting for  the last 7 years, on the stage and recently on the screen. She has recently graduated with a theatre  degree from CCNY, and is now beginning her acting journey away from the world of  academic’s. She is ecstatic to be working with the cast and crew of Doors are a Hammers Best  Friend. 

Kevin Guaman (Miguel) - Kevin began his acting journey through an improv program in high  school. After graduating from CUNY City College of New York as a theater major, he has  worked mostly on various short films. This is his first theater role as a graduate and is grateful for the opportunity to perform in Chain Theater. 

Stiles Ramirez (Fred) - He loves performing. He has been performing for roughly 10 years on  and off. He feels at home when I'm performing and being able to connect with a multitude of  people on the stage. He prays that he can positively impact at least one person's life by using a gift God blessed him with. 

Nicole Ulloa (Director) - Nicole Ulloa is a graduate of City College. She developed a love for  directing during her time as a theatre student in college and has dabbled in acting back in high  school. She enjoys listening to music in her free time and relaxing at home. 

Jociel Tambone (Playwright) - Jociel Tambone is a 20-year-old Afro-Latino playwright, and this  is the premiere of his one-act play Doors Are a Hammers Bestfriend. He began playwriting in high school and has written musical theater. He is currently working with Freya Gonzalez on a new musical Allora's Light as the Book Writer and Composer. He is super thankful to Chain  Theatre for giving Jociel the opportunity to premiere his work, as well as Open Hydrant Theater  Company and City College for giving him a platform to discover his artistry. 

FREE SEX!!

Written by Hassan Sharif
Directed by France Jones

Synopsis: FREE SEX!! is a one act play detailing a fictionalized account of the Young Thug trial, exploring what could have happened if Young Thug shared a jail cell with his lawyer, Brian Steel, every weekend during the summer the trial was halted.

Hassan Sharif (WRITER) is a Brooklyn-born writer finishing his Senior year at NYU Tisch with a BFA in Dramatic Writing. His work has been selected for play festivals in and out of NYU, such as the New York Theatre Festival and the Knife Dog Play Festival. He has worked in the entertainment industry bicoastally as an intern at both The Daily Show, and Blumhouse Productions, along with being selected for NYU London’s Advanced Screenwriting Program. His favorite writers include Kurt Vonnegut, Spike Lee, and Kendrick Lamar. His favorite genre to write is a fusion of supernatural horror and historical drama, and his goal is to write for television out of college.

France Jones (DIRECTOR) is a Texas-raised, New York-based creative specializing in writing and theatre production. She is excited to once again work with Hassan in this timely, hilarious piece of satire. Directing FREE SEX!! has been an enriching process for Jones and she is excited to share her vision with the world during this festival.

Carson Thomas (JEFFREY WILLIAMS) is a Black creative who spreads joy by imbuing characters with aspects that he has learned from getting to know and love people. Carson is a senior at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and has trained in the Meisner Studio under teachers such as Karen Chamberlain and Gigi Buffington. He is currently studying in the Lee Strasberg Studio and has/is working with instructors like Robert Ellerman and Kelsey Pietrapalo. Carson has played Pops in What Happens Under The Tree, a student written/directed piece by Kamiah Vickers, as well as Cousin/Mind in Everybody, directed by Kathleen Capdesuner and written by Branden Jacob-Jenkins. He is so excited about where the world and his career will take him after graduation. Carson thanks you a lot for coming and if he smiles at you during the show it was definitely planned. Enjoy !

Daniel Baesler (BRIAN STEEL) (he/him) is an NYC-based actor and composer. He is a student at NYU and has trained Practical Aesthetics with the Atlantic Acting School. He recently performed as Butch Honeywell in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot with the Frayed Knot Collective as well as Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night in the Atlantic Theatre Company’s Off-Broadway Stage 2 Theater. In addition to performing, Daniel is a self-taught composer and recently created music and sound design for Viscera Theater Company’s production of Lost Girl by Kimberly Bellflower, as well as some short films. He is deeply grateful to Hassan, France and Mia for the opportunity to perform this amazing work!

Xavier Jefferson (TODD MOSCOWITZ)  is an NYC-based actor and a recent NYU Tisch graduate. Following his recent projects in Film, he is hugely excited to return to the Theater, where he began his love for acting. 

Jameal Bailey (GHOST) is an actor from Brooklyn, NY. Jameal recently graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied acting. Jameal is excited to be telling this remarkable story. He wants to continue to use his voice to tell untold stories of characters who have lost their voice in the world therein. Jameal has played in many productions such as Summertime by Charles L Mee, in the role of Edmund, A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller, understudying Eddie, and Failure to Communicate by Allie Smith, the role of Walter at Atlantic Stage 2. He was also in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Robin Starveling and Julius: Harlem’s Caesar as Lorne, produced by Tier5TheatreCompany— Jameal hopes to further his career and expose the world to the voices of Black queer artists. 

Mia Fritz (Producer & COLLETTE STEEL) is a NYC based actor, dancer, and creative who has fostered her love for the arts since the age of ten. She is now a senior at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and will receive a BFA in Theatre this coming May. Most recently, she appeared in Epic Fog’s production of Macbeth as Witch and Angus. During her time at NYU, Fritz has performed in numerous student films and theatrical productions including Everybody (God); The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Cunningham); and The Seven Deadly Sins (George Walbeck). Aside from performance, Fritz spent a semester in Los Angeles working for Intuition Productions to expand her knowledge in the business of film. She is looking forward to her final semester at NYU, as she is making her producing debut while working with her incredibly talented friends and artists in Sharif’s production of Free Sex!! 

Adelia Castillo (MARIAH) (she/her) was born and raised in NYC. Surrounded by the arts, Adelia discovered her love for performing in high school. She completed her primary training at the Atlantic Acting School. In the summer of 2023, she attended the International Theatre Workshop in Amsterdam. That fall, she completed a transfer track at the Experimental Theatre Wing.

Adelia recently made her off-Broadway debut at the Atlantic Theatre Company in Avery Deutsch's The Winter Guard Play, portraying the character Jess. Prior to this, she showcased her talent in the Tisch Mainstage production of Aphra Behn's The Rover, embodying the role of Pedro. Her most recent work includes The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, where she played Mother Teresa and St. Monica. 

Adelia is excited to be part of the production of FREE SEX alongside some of her friends, where she will play the role of Mariah the Scientist.

Maximiliano Fermin: (STAGE MANAGER) is a drama student at NYU Tisch. Max loves being a part of the theater, having worked many roles backstage and as an actor in many shows in New York, the California Bay Area, and abroad for a summer in Italy. 

Hair Salon and Sam

Written by Linda Herskovic

Directed by Dave Bobb

It is the summer of 1977, one of the hottest on record. In the Bronx, New York, there is a predator lurking the city, stalking and shooting couples, usually in parked cars, seemingly arbitrarily but all the women so far have one common attribute: long dark hair. Angela and Theresa are in their local hair salon, with Angela struggling with whether to cut her locks and make herself less of a target. As the day wears on and fear surmounts, one of these women will feel compelled but resistant to reveal a secret. Based on true events surrounding the killer known as the Son of Sam, the play is a microcosm of the desperation that haunted many women in the city, with a personal, dramatic twist.

Lily Potarf (Angela) A graduate of Pace University’s BFA in Acting for Film, Television, Voice-overs, and Commercials, Lily has acted in various short films and most recently wrapped her first feature film! Her recent stage work includes Wasted at The Tank, and Acknowledging the Elephant of my Unborn Child for the New York Theatre Festival. See more of her work at www.LilyPotarf.com

MC Crosby (she/they) (Theresa) is a performer and playwright with work produced in New York, Scotland, Japan, China, Indonesia, Singapore, and Madagascar. They were a finalist for the McKnight National Residency and won the Kaufman Playwriting Award for their immersive yoga play "Um…Om." They have been published in Smith and Kraus and other works. With a fusion of dance and poetry, MC’s social justice wellness plays tackle gender and Queer identity, mental health, and body image.

Lauren Snyder (Gigi) is a Queens-based actress, mom, and Mets fan. Recent stage roles include Candida in GBS’s CANDIDA, Becca in RABBIT HOLE and Mistress Page in THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Repped by DDO Artists (on-camera commercial) and Dream Maker Talent Management (commercial, film, TV). Proud graduate of Pennsylvania State University. IG: @laurensgotmoxie

Dave Bobb (director) is a NYC based artist who, alongside directing and casting on-camera film, has helped actors as a coach book over 40 tv shows, films & commercials when he isn’t booking them himself. He is excited to be transitioning that knowledge to the stage to bring this wonderful play to life. You can check him out at www.davebobb.com

Linda Herskovic is a playwright and former standup comic. Her full-length play, All About Evie, was awarded a New Voices Fellowship from Ensemble Studio Theater. Her many short plays have been in festivals and produced all over. She is currently working on her memoir. She is thrilled to be part of this festival and thanks her co-producer Daniel Shapiro, Helene Galek, Dave Bobb and Marc Castle for casting and all the wonderful creative people who helped bring Hair Salon back to life.

One Night

Written and directed by A. Dean Bell

Synopsis: Two college students come together for one night that will have lasting repercussions.

A. DEAN BELL(playwright/director) is an award-winning writer and director.  His second feature film, What Alice Found, garnered a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival and numerous other festival awards.  A New York Times Critics Pick, the film is available on most VOD platforms.  Other notable works - Step Dude for Fox Broadcasting, the PBS documentary Sweet Tornado and as writer/director/showrunner on the long-running ESPN series SportsFigures, winner of a regional Emmy and many other awards.  An Honors graduate of the Purchase College BFA Film program where he is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Playwriting and Screenwriting BA.  He's happy to work with such a wonderful group at The Chain and excited to see so many students from his program at Purchase who have works in the festival.

SASHA CREWS (Olivia) is thrilled to make her debut at The Chain Theatre as Olivia. A NYU Tisch alum, Sasha recently wrapped as the lead in a TV pilot and has appeared in numerous shorts, feature films, and modeling campaigns. Recent stage credits include By the Way, Meet Vera Stark and Small Mouth Sounds at Atlantic Theatre Co. and Playwrights Horizons. While continuing her work in film and modeling, she is excited to return to the stage, where she truly feels at home. Deepest gratitude to her family & friends for always being in her corner!

KRYSTAL EJESIEME (Beca) is a Nigerian-American actress and proud graduate of the William Esper Studio in NYC, where she trained in the Meisner technique. Over the past couple of years, she has taken on lead roles in several acclaimed short films, including Adieu (2023), which was selected to premiere at the 2024 Chelsea Film Festival. When she’s not performing, Krystal channels her creativity through her work in the music industry, crafting impactful stories for creators and artists. Offstage, she loves traveling, discovering new music, and sharing laughs with friends over dinner. Krystal hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams and embrace their unique potential, just as she continues to chase her own.

SCOTT BAUSEMER is a writer and actor currently living in New York. He is drawn to storytelling which best represents the perils and passions of being human in an insensible world and finds inspiration across artistic mediums, be it music, novels, or photographs. He has been studying the last three years for both screen and stage work at the T Schreiber Studio. His favorite writer is David Foster Wallace.

SAMUEL KERAN (Josh) Born and raised in Minnesota, Sam graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2021 with a BFA in Acting and a BFA in Technical Design and Production. Currently daylights as the Technical Director at Lee Strasberg Institute, while pursuing his further goal of full time actor. Most recently, he appeared as Wilhelm Fliess in Crazy About You at the Producers Club.

PROGRAM #14 (3RD FLOOR)

Blizzard: A Love Story

Written and Directed by Melissa Skirboll

Synopsis: In this serio-comic look at love and letting go, an epic snowstorm shuts the city down. With no way to get home, Ian shows up at his ex-girlfriend’s door looking for a place to crash and a chance to revive their relationship. With the weather forcing them together, Ian and Lacey rehash the past. And though it’s clear they love each other; they are unable to find any shelter in each other – for them the storm outside reflects their love; beautiful and oh so destructive.

Melissa Skirboll (Writer/Director) an award-winning director, writer, actor and producer – for both screen and stage. She's thrilled to be returning to stage work with this new production of Blizzard: A Love Story after spending the majority of the 202's behind the camera making short films. Both Blood Is Thicker which she produced, directed, wrote and edited and Her Turn which she directed/edited are currently on the festival circuit. She teaches acting for film, acting for directors, screenwriting and more at the New York Film Academy and is available for private coaching and audition prep. melissaskirboll.com THANK YOU JEANINE and JOHN!

Jeanine Bartel (Lacey) is an actor, writer, audiobook narrator, mental health advocate, soon to be director, and Mom. Select TV and film credits: Blue Bloods, FBI, Blindspot, Chicago PD, The Blacklist, Bull, Law & Order, SVU, Criminal Intent, East, Nurse Jackie, Ramsey. Fave short films, include Overdue, Blood is Thicker &amp; My Dinner with Schwartzey (all with writer/director Melissa Skirboll) On stage: The Wolves, Hurlyburly, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Macbeth, The Problem of Verisimilitude, Oh, My Goodness, Unmentionables, Muffin, Thank You For Letting Me Have Sex With You, to name a few. Jeanine coaches privately for on-camera and audition technique, self-tape & on-set prep www.jeaninebartel.com

John Adams (Ian) is an NYC actor, SAG member, and Wynn Handman student. Couldn't be happier getting to work with Melissa and Jeanine in a snowy love story. Next on stage in the fall of 2025 in Tim Tuttle's 44 Lights. Striving to open an American theater company in Torino and Vienna.  Big love to his favoritist acupuncturist.

Sunday At Eleven

Written by Al Monaco

Directed by DJSJ

Synopsis: Sunday at Eleven is a one-act play about whirlwind love through the eyes of a free-spirited young woman, Cece, trying to find a home for herself. The play takes place over seven scenes as we watch Cece be swept away for what she hopes is the last time. As she witnesses from her Mother and Sister what she does not want, she throws herself into the arms of what she thinks she does. The play explores the selfish nature of dating in the 21st Century and hopefully embodies the tried and true lesson of “Home is where the heart is.”

Al Monaco (Playwright) Al is an emerging director and playwright from Buffalo based in New York City. Al’s work has been showcased at Dixon Place, The Makers Ensemble, The Playground Experiment, and various festivals throughout New York. Al is overwhelmingly grateful to the Sunday at Eleven family. Al is an avid knitter. @al_monaco

DJSJ (Director) is a Black & LatinX, queer, proud Gemini. A multi-hyphenated actor and content creator, DJ also engages in playwriting, poetry, directing, and podcasting. Outside the arts, DJ manages operations for the Ali Forney Center. Currently, DJ is crafting the play To The Queer Black Boys Who Won’t Be Found. @djsj614

Hassan Akua (Isaac) is a versatile multidisciplinary artist based in New York, known for his work across various performance mediums. Recently, he portrayed the character "Joseph" in Hosanna in the Highest, directed by John Brown. Additionally, Hassan directed and acted in the short film Show’s Over. Currently, he is an active member of the Westchester Collaborative Theater, where he continues to hone his craft and collaborate on creative projects. @this_ishassan

Luisa Lyons (Barb) is an Australian actor, writer, and musician. She holds an MA in Music Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Luisa is an active member of NYC’s MasterVoices chorus, and is the creator of Filmed Live Musicals, a site dedicated to cataloging musicals that have been filmed live on stage. @luisalyons

Erin Jillian Clarke (Dara) has acted in plays by Chekhov, Lorca, Brecht and Shakespeare as well as contemporary plays, developmental work & short films in New York and London. She received her MFA from East 15 Acting School, London. @erinjillianclarke

Paeton Chavis (CeCe) is an actor/singer/director/playwright based in Brooklyn, New York. Her self-produced original plays have graced Brooklyn and Manhattan stages for the past four years. Her most recent piece, Outcall, which she is directing and starring in, premiers at Brooklyn Art Haus in January 2025. Paeton's work consistently features the themes of vulnerability, fearless self-expression, empathy, and love. She is thrilled and grateful to be a part of Sunday at Eleven, a piece so aligned with her artistic mission. @paetonchavis

The Likes

Written and directed by John Paul Skocik

Synopsis: The Likes is a short one act play where the main characters, two Generation Xers, discuss what should be appropriate etiquette while navigating the mores of social media.  It is a comedic look at dealing with events beyond our control, and how we have allowed social media to trigger feelings of acceptance, achievement, and abandonment.

Gregory Konow (Terrence) is a veteran New York based actor. Theatre credits include: Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Clockwork Orange, Deliverance. Film credits include: Columbia Pictures’ Spider-man: No Way Home, and Netflix’s Back In Action. TV credits include: CBS’s FBI, Netflix’s Stranger Things and Outer Banks, and Showtime’s Billions.

 Michael Marc Friedman (Eddie) is proud to be a member of The Actor’s Gym and The Actor’s Studio. He is a recurring guest star on SWAT and has guest starred on Blue Bloods, NCIS and Modern Family to name a few. He is a writer and filmmaker and his pilot Kensington recently won for Best Pilot at the Soho International Film Festival. 

John Paul Skocik (Playwright / Director) is an actor and musician, with songwriting being a precursor to playwriting.  Other plays include Where To Buy Caviar and Because of Everything.  He studied theatre at West Virginia University, Carnegie Mellon University, and The Moscow Arts Theatre School.  He is absolutely thrilled to have his play featured in the festival this year and sends many thanks to his family and friends who have been so incredibly supportive, particularly his wife Jessica.  

PROGRAM #15 (4TH FLOOR)

A White Girl's Understudy

Written by Isabel Tongson

Directed by Skylar Hudson

Synopsis: Lyn Talaga has achieved her childhood dream. She is an off-stage understudy in the new Broadway play Speakeasy Love and covers the principal female role. However, her greatest love is the show's leading man and dating the leading woman. During a performance of Speakeasy Love, Lyn is forced to confront the reality of her job, recalling memories of how she attained what she thought was success in an industry that does not cater to her, and, along with other artists who have been forced out of the spotlight, reflects on how her work has changed her identity. Lyn imagines herself in scenarios onstage playing opposite of the play's star, but as the drama of Speakeasy Love bleeds into her reality and Lyn attains more than she bartered for, she must ask herself if her greatest desires are truly authentic to the artist she is.

Skylar Hudson (Director) is an actor at Columbia University, graduating with an architecture degree. She feels so privileged and excited to direct her first production, especially one with a cast and crew so talented! Previous film directing credits include her personal projects Love, again and Live for Me. Select acting credits include Next to Normal (CMTS), Fun Home (Barnard Theater), and How to Get to 305 (Columbia MFA).

Nalyah Deloatche (Stage Manager) is a technician at heart but she is currently on a Stage Manager streak! You may have seen their work as Assistant Stage Manager for Columbia University Player’s Equus, Stage Manager for Kings Crown Shakespeare Troupe’s Richard III, and Lighting Designer for Anastasia and Next to Normal with Columbia Musical Theatre Society! Her next up and coming project with CMTS involves being Technical Director and finally going back to her tech roots for Ride The Cyclone!

Jasmine Richards (Technical Director and Sound Designer) is a performer and creative working in theatre, film, and television. They are passionate about bringing funny, sensitive, and strange stories to life and are proud to have done so most recently as a production assistant and performer in The Builder’s Association’s ATLAS DRUGGED: Tools for Tomorrow and as the director’s assistant on the Hulu television series Only Murders in the Building (Season 4). For more see jasminekrichards.com.

Miranda Paiz (Producer) is a Latina theatre artist whose work as a director and producer focuses on marginalized voices and examining social justice stories through an intimate lens. Favorite previous credits of hers include directing Next to Normal, Legally Blonde and 24-hour Matilda with the Columbia Musical Theatre Society. As president of the Columbia University Players, Miranda oversaw and produced seven full length productions and the organization’s first theatre festival. She is proud to have worked as a producing intern at Soto Productions (All Nighter, Gypsy, Romeo + Juliet, Suffs, Stereophonic) and to currently serve as the Production Assistant Coordinator in the Glicker-Milstein Theatre at Barnard College. Find her @mirandagpaiz on Instagram.

Isabel Tongson (Playwright) is a Filipina-American playwright, actor, and director based in New York City. Select writing accolades: two-time winner of the Blank Theatre Young Playwrights Festival,  two-time Gold Key winner for Dramatic Script from the Scholastic Art and Writing Association, winner of Best in Show at the Central Florida Theatre Festival for Dramatic Script, winner of the Valencia College BIPOC Playwrights Festival, Semi-Finalist for the Gary Garrison National Ten-Minute Play Award by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and finalist for the #ENOUGH Plays Project. Her original plays have been produced by colleges and production companies across the country, notably The Blank Theater of LA, Valencia College, and the MD Virtual Ensemble. Her play Droplets Pellets Bullets is published in an anthology and is available for licensing by Concord Theatricals. isabeltongson.com.

Melody Chen (Lyn) is a Chinese-American actor, singer, and choreographer. She believes every swing and understudy on Broadway should get $7 million base salary, every tax write off, and the ground they walk on to be worshipped. She is currently a second-year at NYU Tisch Drama’s New Studio on Broadway. Recent credits include Amelia/Swing in Feminista! (NYU NSB Mainstage), Lucullus/Others in Timon Of Athens (The Elif Collective), Featured Dancer/Swing in Footloose (Broad Street Players), and Assoc. Choreo/Swing/Dance Cap in RENT (NYU Tisch Drama Mainstage). She makes a www.melodyluojiachen.com

Cyrus Carrillo (Ben): Off-Broadway: A Midsummer Night’ s Dream (Atlantic Acting School); Middletown (Atlantic Acting School); Lost Girl (Atlantic Acting School); $$$ Pig (The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals). Other New York Credits: The Threepenny Opera (Tisch DramaStage); The School for Scandal (Hudson Classical Theater Company); The Boyscout in theBurning Hall (New York Theater Festival); Progressive Family Play (The Tank). Regional Credits: Macbeth (The Curtain) Training: NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Atlantic Acting School, Stonestreet Studios. Website: www.cyruscarrillo.com

Jason Maina (Andrew) is so excited to be working on A White Girl’s Understudy. A recent graduate from Fordham University with a BA in Performance Studies, Jason has been working professionally in NYC for 2 years having gone to Powerhouse Theater Festival the past two years with playwright Gloria Majule. You may have recently seen him as Timon in the Elif Collective’s production of Timon of Athens, Erhart in Burn1’s production of John Gabriel Borkman—alongside Tony winner Austin Pendleton, and PAUL at Fordham University. He is so excited to be working with such a talented group of young artists!

Aly Hernandez (Taylor): Off-Broadway: Women of Trachis (Atlantic Acting School); Fefu and her Friends (Atlantic Acting Studio). Training: NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Atlantic Acting School, Stonestreet Studios. Website: www.alyhernandez.com

Jaeden Riley Juarez (Sienna) currently studies Computer Science at Columbia University in the City of New York. In addition to her studies, she vocally trains with Harolyn Blackwell and actively pursues her passion for photography. Regional credits: West Side Story (Rosalia, Maria u/s, Anita u/s), Merrily We Roll Along (Meg Kincaid), and Footloose (Ariel Moore). Educational credits: The 129th Annual Varsity Show (Rachel). On screen, she has appeared in Teenage Girl: First Wheels and Teenage Vampire. Follow her journey on Instagram: @jaedenrileyjuarez @jrjcreativemedia

Cameron Herring (Bo) is a Los Angeles native thrilled to be playing Bo in this remarkable original piece. Recent credits include Antigone (Creon), Columbia Senior Thesis Festival, Trouble in Mind (Wiletta) Barnard College Theater Department, Next to Normal (Diana) and In the Heights (Vanessa) with the Columbia University Musical Theater Society, and Jackie (Jackie Kennedy) with the Barnard College Theater Department. Cameron is eternally grateful to have collaborated with such talented artists on this production. Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy!

Instagram: @cameronmarieherring

Pulse

Written by Edu Díaz

Directed by Chris Goffredo

Synopsis: What do you do with 15 extra minutes of life? Jose, a struggling playwright, finds out on his fatal Off-Off-Broadway debut. Stuck between the living and the dead, he rewrites his life in this love letter to broken dreams and drama.

Edu Díaz (Playwright, Producer, and Actor: Jose) is a multi-awarded Fulbright Alumni from The Canary Islands based in New York City. Defined as a crafty theatermaker, he created the multi-awarded solo show A Drag Is Born. With PULSE, he honors the short life of three dear friends as he reflects on broken dreams and the transcendental power of love. Follow Edu on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/edudiazactor/ 

Elisabetta D’Avenia (Actress: Chiara) is an Italian-born actor and writer based in New York. In 2024, she played the lead role of Lina in the staged reading of Froci, by Frank J Avella at The Tank. On-screen, some of her credits include lead performances in the films Wrong Move and Baby, both presented and awarded at several film festivals. Follow Elisabetta on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/elisabettadavenia/ 

Jonathan Glass (Actor: Adrian) is an actor and classically trained musician with diverse stage and film credits. He has honed his craft in classical and contemporary techniques and brings a unique sensitivity to his roles across theater and screen. His credits include  Darkness of Light: Confessions of a Russian Traveler (The Chain) or Twin Towers (The Players Theatre.) Follow Jonathan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonathanbglass/ 

Kayla Gomes (Voiceover: Kayla Gomes) is an LA-based actress born on a cattle ranch. As a kid, when she wasn't competing as a barrel racer at rodeos, she performed in dance, recitals, musical theater, and her choir was invited to perform in Carnegie Hall. Kayla holds a BA in Communication Studies from the University of San Diego and got her first TV credits as a newscaster on iTV Channel 16. Follow Kayla on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kaymariegomes/ 

Chris Goffredo (Director)  has directed shows in several NYC cabarets (including for Lillias White, Karen Mason, Judy Kaye, Tovah Feldshuh, Priscilla Lopez, Jim Caruso, and Billy Stritch). He directed The Pajama Game and Once On This Island at the Barn Theatre in Montville, NJ.  He was also Vocal Director for The Wiz with Penn State Thespians and The Bacchae at The Looking Glass Theatre NYC.  Chris worked on Edu Díaz’s Off-Broadway premiere Fantastic Mr S for the United Solo Theatre Festival.

PROGRAM #16 (4TH FLOOR)

Dogs

Written by Alexander Gisondi

Directed by Shawn Guerra

Synopsis: In a Brooklyn dog park, the tangled lives of five people from different backgrounds collide as friendship, betrayal, and unspoken desires surface; forcing them to confront the fragile bonds that hold them together and the choices that can tear them apart.

Alexander Gisondi (Playwright) is an emerging playwright and actor based in New York City. His work explores the complexities of human relationships and the ever-shifting sense of self in the modern world. He enjoys reading during his commutes and rooting for the New York Mets. He is excited to share his work at The Chain Theatre Festival and thanks his family and friends for their continued support. 

Shawn Guerra (Director) is a visual artist excited to be making his theatre directorial debut at The Chain! His other work includes directing scenes at HB Studio, short films, music videos, fashion editorials, and working as a photographer specializing in analog portraiture. He has also been featured as an actor/performer for the Heights Players as George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play), Gustav (Dinner at Eight), and Lobster Man (Cowboy Mouth). A huge thank you to Alex, Karina, the cast and the Chain for making this show a reality. 

Isaac Hayman (Carl) born and raised in Indiana, is an artist and award-winning actor currently residing in New York City. Growing up, literature and cinema greatly shaped his adolescent life. Writers such as Albert Camus and Jack Kerouac had a great impact upon his understanding of the written word; and actors such as James Dean, Philip Seymour Hoffman, River Phoenix, and Marlon Brando illustrated that the thoughts and feelings behind the written word didn't need to live solely upon the page.

Alice Jamal (Fatima) born in London to a French-British mother and Middle Eastern father, discovered her love for performing at a young age, starring as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at age 8. She honed her craft with three years of training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, followed by two more at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City. Alongside acting, Alice is a classically trained singer and model. She enjoys spending time with her dog, Cosmo, and her cat, Safa, who bring joyful chaos into her life. 

Scott McPherson (Gavin) a native of South Florida, discovered his passion for acting in school— then after a decade in print media and marketing as a creative director in Los Angeles, he moved to New York City and began his professional acting career in 2020. Since then, Scott has appeared in several TV series and short films, including on an episode of Max’s And Just Like That and CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted.  Theater credits include The Hot Mikado, Sonder, & Shayaya: Apocalypse.

Shaina Briguglio (Connie) is a Meisner actor from New Jersey. She splits her time between the stage in A Few Good Men as Lt. Cmder. Joanne Galloway and film as a goth nanny in an original horror film Motherface. 

Annie McCarthy (Winnie) is an actor from New York. She is a graduate of the William Esper Studio’s conservatory program. Since graduation she has done a number of short films as well as a handful of staged readings at The Actor’s Studio. Currently she continues her training at MN Acting Studio for on camera and audition technique. She takes great pride in her AMC Stubs A-list membership. 

Amaury Lopez-Diaz (Busker) Amaury, a half-Texan, half-Mexican artist, loves Beto Quintanilla, tennis, playing bass (although primarily a drummer), making indie rock music, and adding güiro to it.

Karina Verna (Stage Manager) is a theatre artist based in New York City who loves delving her hands into every part of theatre making. She is thrilled to have had a chance to sit behind the table and be a part of the inner workings of bringing DOGS to the stage. She would like to thank Alex and Shawn for the opportunity to be a part of this process and this incredibly talented cast for being so wonderful to work with. 

Eaters

Written and directed by Reese Carmen Villella

Synopsis: A nomadic, one-eyed city girl and a bubbly farmer’s daughter are hunkered down together in a zombie apocalypse. The two argue when they disagree about the ethics of the post-apocalyptic world.

Reese Carmen Villella  (Writer & Director) (she/her) is a senior at NYU, filmmaker, and writer for screen and stage from Washington, DC. Her stage work has been presented at The Tank, The Chain Theatre Summer One Acts Festival, NY Winterfest, and NYU’s Broke People Play Festival. As a filmmaker, she has directed the short films Glutton and Boy Mom as well as the music video Under My Skin for indie artist Jules Wade. As an artist, Reese is passionate about queer and female-centric narratives, body horror, and knowing how to have fun. While not working on creative projects, she enjoys curating Pinterest boards, logging horror movies on Letterboxd, and listening to Lana Del Rey. @reesevillella

Carter Williams (Stage Manager) (he/him) is so excited to team up with the powerhouse that is Reese Villella once again. This time behind the stage! He would like to thank everyone for coming out to support the arts tonight. 

Nani Lin  (Max) (she/her) Originally from the Bay Area, Nani is a queer Chinese-American musician, actress, and screenwriter based in NYC. Graduated with a BFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch, Nani’s writing commonly explores themes of identity, family, and love. As an actress, she plays both on stage and screen and wants you to cast her! As a musician, she recently released an EP, “Speaking Things,” available on all streaming services. She’s honored to be part of this show and hopes you enjoy it! Insta: @Naniliin

Sasha Ray Simon (Junie) (she/her) is a senior entering her last semester at NYU. Sasha is invested in and excited by the world of horror and loves to make art dedicated to the genre. 

Drew Schoenhofer (Amber) (she/her) is a New York City-based actor currently studying at the Experimental Theatre Wing at NYU. Prior to transferring to NYU, she studied Drama at Southern Methodist University for two years. There, she played roles such as Belly in We Are Not These Hands and Dora in The Swan. She is so excited to be studying in the city and collaborating with such inspiring artists, and she is thrilled to be working with Reese again in Eaters! 

Pit Stop

Written and directed by Shaena Gibson

Synopsis: Estranged siblings meet once again after years of being separated at a bus terminal in purgatory America, where they are brought back together through a meddling sunflower looking for directions on how to get to heaven.

Shaena Gibson (Playwright/Director) is a Brooklyn native theatre maker trained at The City College of New York. As of last year, she began writing plays, Pit Stop being the first of many. Pit Stop originally debuted at the One Act Festival directed by Gyandro Marselia. She cannot be more proud of the work her cast and crew has done to put it on its feet and she thanks Chain Theatre for recognizing and pouring into her work. 

Gyandro Marselia (Asst. Director/Stage Manager) also known as Gyo, is a Creative Fool from the beautiful Caribbean Island of Curaçao. He is very grateful and excited to be a part of the creative team for Pit Stop, this round as a stage manager. Gyandro is also a talented actor, poet and visionary, who directed the first rendition of Pit Stop at the CCNY Theater Department’s One Act Festival in Spring 2024. The best is yet to come. 

Daquan Johnakin (Yusuf) Go Birds. Hello, I’m DaQuan Johnakin, an actor fresh out of Brooklyn. I love my art , making people smile, entertaining the audience and I love my Eagles. 

Talia Johnson (Kiara) is a Freshman at the City College of New York who’s majoring in theatre. She has been acting since she was 8 years old, and hopes to make it to Broadway someday. This is her first performance outside of college and she’s so excited to perform! 

Briana Goding (Their Creator) loves the art of storytelling as an actress and director. She is a recent graduate from City College. Her performance credits include Night Vision (BMCC), The Wolves (Aaron Davis Hall), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Aaron Davis Hall), and Something Machine (The City College of New York). Recent directorial credits include her first off-broadway debut as Assistant Director for Antiquated F*ckery (59E59 Theatre), Bat-Shady (The City College of New York), My Boyfriend’s Wife (The City College of New York), Beyond Therapy (The City College of New York), and Assistant Director for Pipeline (Aaron Davis Hall). Briana hopes to continue giving through her art. 

Micheal Gordon (Kiara, Understudy) is an aspiring actor with a knack for stories. He has hobbies in dancing and photography which he also uses to make art. He loves music, movies, and reading. His first role was in A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Chan Harris as Fairy. And then he was a casted as Scotty Glazer in Megan McCafferty’s Sloppy Firsts, directed by Daisy Bernabe-Duarte. Now, taking on the role of Sound Designer in I Wanna F*ck Like Romeo & Juliet. He has many interests in the performing arts industry, and is excited to learn all he can about it. 

Thoughts & Prayers

Written by Lisa Beth Kovetz

Directed by Lauren Komer

Synopsis: Mixing dark humor and existential themes, Elena and Nathaniel Joke about creating a new religion. A good joke goes sour as Elena suggests using their traumatic experience to create a new belief system.

The characters' motivations—a desire for protection, fame, and financial gain—lead them toward increasingly radical ideas, questioning what happens when trauma is monetized or used as a foundation for a new faith.

Amy Ollove (Elena) (she/her) is an actor and production/stage manager based here in NYC. Amy thanks this team for their creativity and thoughtfulness! Recent credits include; Nurse of Birth in Body Mutilations, Scylla in Lauren Komer’s Audio Play Lamia, Helen Cooper in Night of the Living Dead, Mom in The Man of My Dreams Lives in West Hollywood at The Tank and 4th grade bully, Shelby, in The 4th Grade Christmas Dance Play in the NY Theater Festival; Her age range is vast. Some of Amy’s favorite roles include Narrator (Every Brilliant Thing), Grandma (American Dream), and various fool characters in her award-winning thesis Foolish Sanity, including Fleabag and King Lear’s Fool. Amy has also stage managed numerous musicals and plays throughout the east coast, soon including Something Rotten opening at Gallery Players in March, and has worked as a production manager, most notably at her alma mater’s theater, Brandeis University. Amy studied theater in London and in a comedy conservatory at The Second City, Chicago- now regularly performing with her improv team, @NoDudsImprov. (Love to Mum, Dad + L+G!) [IG; @Amy_Ollove, Youtube; https://www.youtube.com/@amyollove]

Patrick Ganley (Nathaniel) (he/him) is a film and stage New York-based actor and model. Ganley studied at Skidmore College and has continued studying acting at The Stella Adler Acting Studio in New York. His recent credits include roles on film and stage as Eric in the play Body Mutilations, as Caleb in the NYU Short Film, Just a Fantasy, James in the feature film, Face the Music, Greyson Grey, and Achelius in the audio play Lamia. He is excited to be involved with the production of Thoughts and Prayers at the Chain Winter Festival.

Lauren Komer (Director) (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based director and theater artist. A majority of Komer’s work explores the convergence of theater, film, and interactive media. Komer is obsessed with deviancy, disgust, and the dark urges that lay in wait within the psyche. She rejects linear, naturalistic storytelling and embraces highly visual, fragmented, and referential narratives. Her work is steeped in pop culture, eroticism, mysticism, and postmodernism. Her work has appeared in NYC, Boston, and internationally in Europe and the U.K. She is a Theater Arts Fellow of Brandeis University (B.A. Theater Arts with Highest Honors). Komer also studied playwriting, theater theory, and screenwriting at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University. Follow her work @postmodernlady_

Lisa Beth Kovetz (Playwright) is an award winning writer and producer, best known for her ten seasons as showrunner on Science Goes to the Movies. Her novel, The Tuesday Erotica Club was published by Sourcebooks, Inc. With Flying South Productions, Ms. Kovetz created the Jazz Baby series presenting classic nursery rhymes set to jazz.

Niveka Hobaichan (Playwright) (shey/they) Niveka is a writer and actor from Queens, New York. She dedicates this performance to her brother and her grandmother. 

PROGRAM #17 (4TH FLOOR)

Reflections of a Broken Mirror

Written and directed by Phoebe Eileen Grech

Synopsis: In her first semester at college, Lori, a trans woman, finds out the hard way how the same social norms don’t affect her the same way they do her peers. After facing a traumatic event, her friends do what they can to help her through her emotions and discover herself.

Phoebe Eileen Grech (Playwright/Director) (She/Her) is ecstatic to have had the opportunity to direct and write the wonderful show Reflections of a Broken Mirror. This is her second time directing a play of hers in New York City, and she looks forward to telling more stories in the future. Phoebe would like to thank her wonderful actors, her family for supporting her artistic journey, and the Chain Theater for allowing her to tell this important and personal story.

Airen Guevara (Lori) (she/her) is a Queer Trans Mexicana actress who graduated from the Atlantic Acting Conservatory program. She is thrilled to be working on a project that highlights trans lives and issues they experience. She thanks all her friends and found family who are so supportive and wouldn’t be able to do it without them.

Sonny Chodak (Liam) hails from Philadelphia, excited to be doing his first play in New York! Sonny is a 22-year-old acting student who has attended Playhouse West Philadelphia for 2 and a half years. He is also interested in playwriting and screenwriting, but overall focused on anything that showcases stories of the human condition and characters that don’t often have a voice off the stage.

Gianna Nicoletta (Megan) is a senior Theatre and Mathematics major at Adelphi University from Queens, New York. She is very happy and thankful to be a part of such an amazing production with even more amazing people. As always she thanks her friends and family for all they do for her. 

Toby Luque (Zoey) is so honored to be a part of this production of reflections of a broken mirror, playing the role of Zoe! They have been in another one of Phoebe's productions in the past: Fading Embers, and also recently the Coheed and Cambria music video for "someone who can"! Toby wants to thank Phoebe for the opportunity to tell an important story with their fellow actors, break a leg!

Danny Campbell (Jonah) is an actor, composer, singer and music director who is studying Studio Music Composition at SUNY Purchase College. This stage production is the first play in a handful of years that he has been a part of. Danny, along with playing Jonah, composed the overture and music that plays between scenes for this production. He is delighted to be back on the stage and will continue to pursue performing arts in many ways throughout his career.

The Best of Constance & Florence

Written by Lou Stone Borenstein

Directed by Mike Veasey

Synopsis: This British comedy - written, directed, and performed mostly by Americans - is The Odd Couple meets AbFab, as the apprehensive and introverted Constance meets the worldly and extroverted Florence to discuss a range of subjects from death to New Years over a series of tea times.

Lou Stone Borenstein (playwright) is a writer whose credits include the stage shows A History of CENSORED in America and The Best of Constance & Florence, the web series Is This Thing On? and Constance & Florence, the DreamWorksTV show Human Bowling Showdown, and the short film Jewish for Lunch. He was a staff writer on Top Story! Weekly, one of the longest-running live sketch shows in Hollywood. He also performed stand-up comedy in New York and LA for ten years. His newest project, the noir parody murder mystery audio play Crackin’ Foxy is available HERE and wherever you get your podcasts.

Mike Veasey (director) is an actor/writer who has had plays produced for such venues as Sundog Theatre, Chain Theatre Summer Festival, Manhattan Repertory, and The People’s Improv Theater. Mike also performs stand-up comedy and has a periodic talk program “Mike’s Alternate Reality Show”, which can be seen on YouTube. He is very grateful to his wife Teri and this terrific cast for getting The Best of Constance & Florence to the stage. (mike.veasey1701@gmail.com) 

Becky Snyder (Florence) is back on the stage after about a 10 year hiatus. In the last 10 years she has had many real world adventures in office management, bar host of trivia/music bingo/karaoke, and her most recent endeavor of opening up online secondhand clothing shops. Many thanks to her family, friends, and rescue kitty Silverpaw!

Amie Margoles (Constance) Originally from Los Angeles, Amie studied Meisner technique (Ted Bardy Studio), improv and sketch (People’s Improv Theatre), and took two degrees in music performance (University of Northern Colorado and University of Miami). Embracing her roles with grace, moxie, and mischief, she has blown away audiences with her whirlwind of talent on stage and on camera in the last decade. Her most recent roles are as Dana, currently in the new film, Sleeping With Gus (screening at festivals 2025) and on stage as Inez in Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit at Philadelphia’s Fringe festival, Maribel in George S. Kaufman’s Helen of Troy, NY, Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, and Eleutheria in Ubu in Chains. Amie spent several years in her youth in Edinburgh, Scotland and throughout England, so she is excited to transfer her British experiences and scatterbrained-ness into her role of Constance!

Two Gays Contemplate a Straight

Written and directed by Duncan Pflaster

Synopsis: Two gay men meet at the birthday party of a young straight man they both have a crush on, at a bar. They soon come to realize that though the straightie is charming, he's also sort of a naive idiot.

Trey Radu-Blackburn (Bruce): Trey is an actor and writer. He received his MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama. Theatre credits include: King Lear (Royal Shakespeare Company, Brooklyn Academy of Music); The Christians (Playwrights’ Horizons); Peter and the Starcatcher (Theatre for Humanity); Invasion (Estrogenius Festival, Best Actor Award); As You Like It (Brimstone Creek Productions, Sharon Springs, NY); Janey Miller’s World Tour (Speranza Theatre Company). Screen: Going Both Ways (webseries); Meet: The Webseries (webseries). Trey is a panelist on The Great Pop Culture Debate. He is a co-founder of Asterism Theatre Company. When he’s not using his brain to think, he’s using his hands to create needlepoint art. www.treyradublackburn.com @tkrbthree & @bearleftembroidery on most social platforms.

Juan Calix (Cliff): Juan is excited to be working on this piece! He was recently seen in Cumberland Theatre’s production of Nevermore (Jock Allan). He had the pleasure of playing Pablo (Curtis u/s) in the International Asian Tour of Sister Act. He also appeared as Curtis in Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s production of Sister Act. Other regional credits: Sunday In The Park With George (Soldier/Alex), Fun Home (Bruce), The Little Mermaid (Sebastian), With Bells On! (Natasha), and Shooting Star (Butch O’Neal/Martin Lords). On film Juan was recently seen in Vanishing Shore, Street Behavior, and Rabets. He’s a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. www.thejuancalix.com | IG @thejuancalix

Nolan Atterbury (Greg): Nolan Atterbury (he/him)- Nolan grew up in the Bay Area, CA, before moving to NYC for college. He graduated from Pace University’s Acting/ Devised Theater program, has been seen as an extra in Elle, Pause with Sam Jay, and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Outside of acting, Nolan loves watching anime, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time with his soon to be husband, Noah.

Emily Edwards (Intimacy Director): Emily has been doing intimacy work for the past 7 years throughout NY and NJ. Selected production credits include Feejee Mermaid (The Flea), Rent (Bergen County Players), ReNaming Shaim (Broadway Bound Festival), Hellish Delights (Reign or Shine Productions), Stupid Fucking Bird (Art of Warr),  A & Bea (The Public Theatre), The Douchegirl Play (Better Name Pending) (UNFringed Festival), and It’s Getting Tired Mildred (Six of Six Productions). She has also worked extensively in the academic world. Emily has worked on productions, and/or taught intimacy workshops and courses at Brooklyn College, NJIT, Rutgers-Newark, Columbia University, NYU, and NTI. She has a lengthy movement background and an MFA in Directing from Brooklyn College. Currently, Emily is a theatre faculty member at NJIT and an Associate Member of SDC. Thanks to Duncan and this amazing group of actors for bringing me on for this show!

Duncan Pflaster (Playwright/Director): Duncan is a multi-award-winning New York indie playwright, who was recently a finalist for the inaugural Everett Quinton Award with the New York Innovative Theatre Awards. He is best known for his Beckettian romp The Underpants Godot, which has had regional productions with Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco and Nearly Naked Theatre in Arizona, as well as the New York off-off-Broadway productions.  His plays A Touch of Cinema, Harmony Hall, and Fourteen Hundred and Sixty Sketches of Your Left Hand are published by Next Stage Press. He has written around 40 full-length plays and a plethora of one-acts, which have been produced all over. His plays vary widely in genre and style, from science fiction to Shakespearean verse drama. Scorpio Film Releasing produced his two films Strapped for Danger and its sequel Undercover Vice: Strapped for Danger II (available on Amazon, Tubi and GayBingeTV), as well as bringing him on to co-write Code Name: Dynastud and an episode of their series Pansy Vision (available now on YouTube). www.duncanpflaster.com or look him up on New Play Exchange for more.

PROGRAM #18 (4TH FLOOR)

A Study about the Ecologic Arts is Needed!

Written by Yekta Khaghani

Directed by Dalia Ashurina

Synopsis: This poetic play explores love, disconnection, and the profound impact of war.

Yekta Khaghani (Playwright) is an Iranian-American playwright, actor, and theater educator based in New York. Her plays often explore themes of displacement, diaspora, and the complexities of identity, blending metatheatrical elements with deeply personal narratives. In 2022, Yekta cocurated Whispers of the Flesh, an anthology celebrating the resilience of Iranian women playwrights. This anthology has been showcased both in the U.S. and Europe. In 2023, she received the New York City Women’s Fund for her play, In the Stillness of Night, which was showcased at The Tank Theater in February 2024. Yekta has been a dynamic voice in independent theater, creating work that bridges cultural boundaries and challenges conventional storytelling. www.yektakhaghani.com

Dalia Ashurina (Director) is an Assyrian-American theater director who loves explosive theatricality and subverting existing narratives. Broadway: Associate Director Sweeney Todd, Resident Director Phantom of the Opera. Regional: Three Tall Persian Women at Shakespeare and Co. She is a Forbes Under 30 Lister, SDCF Denham Fellow, and UC Irvine Alum.

Upcoming: Iraq, But Funny at Lookingglass Theater  www.daliaashurina.com

Leyla Beydoun (Woman) is a Middle-Eastern American Actress from New York's best borough, Queens. She received her BFA in Acting from the University of Michigan. Some of her recent credits include: The Ballet Of Keith King (Dee), In The Stillness Of Night (Banafsheh), Twelfth Night (Olivia), Passage (Q), Banned (Amal), and As You Like It (Celia). Some fun facts about her: She has been dancing since she was five, She is trained in flying trapeze, and traveling is her all-time favorite hobby.

Sina Pooresmaeil (Man) Theater: Three Tall Persian Women (Shakespeare and Company), When the Rain Stops Falling (Lenfest Center for the Arts). TV credits: High Maintenance. Developed work at NYTW, Irish Rep, Clubbed Thumb, Arena Stage, and Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. Wrote and acted in short films, Auto Plus and Inkshop.  Represented by Framework Entertainment. MFA Acting Columbia University.

Nami Nazar (Sound Designer/Composer) is an Iranian composer and multi-instrumentalist, currently pursuing Violin performance at the Juilliard School under the guidance of Naoko Tanaka. As a composer, Nami is dedicated to creating music that bridges innovation and tradition. With a strong passion for film scoring, he is focused on pursuing this field and making it the centerpiece of his artistic journey.  www.naminazar.com

Anya Pathania (Singer) (she/her) is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Washington Heights, NYC. Anya is a classically trained violinist and self-taught vocalist, guitarist and bassist who pulls inspiration from alternative R&B, neo-soul, and alternative rock, and her Indian/Iranian heritage to create a unique sound. She is in a band, Noorani, with her brother, Shane.

Hoda Rami (Graphic Designer) is an animation director, artist, and adjunct professor of Communication Design at CUNY City Tech. Her work is highly experimental, exploring themes of womanhood, memory, dreams, and trauma through 2D animation and motion graphics. Her films and projects have been featured in cultural events, nonprofit campaigns, and exhibitions worldwide. In addition to teaching and filmmaking, she curates cultural events and develops courses focusing on non-narrative and emotionally resonant storytelling. She is based in New York City, where she continues to create impactful work and mentor emerging artists.

The Authority

Written and directed by Nadel Henville

Synopsis: In a world not far from ours, The Authority governs all the citizens with an iron fist, watching silently. Ruth and Joel are a married couple who have followed all the rules, until one of them is caught smuggling items that can wreck everything they've built.

Sammy Pignalosa (Joel) (he/him) is an NYC based actor. Most recently seen in Fiddler on the Roof as Motel (Axelrod Performing Arts Center), as well as You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Sharon Playhouse), The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals 2024, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (George Street Playhouse). TV and film: “Law and Order” (season 22 episode 5), “Like Sunday Like Rain,” “The Great Gilly Hopkins,” “Separate Checks,” and “Lottie Baby.” Sammy is a graduate of the Institute for American Musical Theater and a pebble in the river of experience. Gratitude to my family for their love and support.

Jaylen Taylor (Ruth) is so excited to help bring The Authority to life and to the stage. She currently attends the Circle in the Square Theatre School acting program (Class of ‘25) and received her BA from New York university (Class of ‘22). She received a degree in dramatic literature and romance languages: two disciplines that she employs to enrich her acting and writing pursuits. You can learn more at her website JaylenTaylor.com (JaylenTaylor.com). She wants to shout out to her friends and family who are so consistently gracious and supportive of her in her artistic journey. 

Michael K. Greene (The Authority) is a New York and Boston based actor and voice over artist. He graduated from Hofstra University with a BFA in Theatre Performance in 2023, and has been pursuing acting ever since. Some of his favorite roles he's done have been Posthumous in Cymbeline 2023, Chiksika/Tecumseh in Tecumseh Outdoor Drama 2022, and Glen Cooper in Rumors 2021. Michael is extremely excited to be part of this production, and would like to thank his friends and parents for their support.

Nadel Henville (Playwright/Director) (she/they) is a multi-hyphenate actor, playwright and producer that resides in New York City. As a first-generation immigrant from St. Lucia, they’ve found a place for themselves and who they can be within the Arts. They found their  path as an actor through National Theater Institute's Theatermakers program in 2021, where they became a Miranda Family Fellow and now alum. As an administrator, they’ve gone through the ASPIRE Arts Leadership program in the Kennedy Center, where they’ve been mentored by incredible leaders in the field from across the country. As an artist in New York, it has been an incredible journey to learn how to create grassroot productions, and work with emerging artists in our field, and to see their dreams come alive. 

Damayanti Wallace (Assistant Director) is a Chicago-born director and stage manager based in New York. She visually narrates love and tenderness for the intersectionalities that she represents. Most recently, Damayanti’s work includes being a stage manager for 24-hour Plays: Nationals and on Broadway, The Atlantic Acting School’s production of ENRON, and directing independent projects at NYU Meisner Studios and New Beginnings Garden in the Bronx. 

Miranda Hall Jiménez (Producer) (she/they) is a Afro-Latine actor, musician, and movement artist based in Brooklyn, New York. They graduated from The University of Maryland, College Park in 2020 with a B.A. in Theatre Performance and was a KCACTF Irene Ryan Finalist. She has performed across the DMV with The Kennedy Center, The National Portrait Gallery, and We Happy Few. Since relocating to New York City, Miranda has performed and collaborated with Roundabout Theatre Company, New Georges, National Black Theatre, The Drama League and People’s Theatre Project. When not performing, catch Miranda dancing Brazilian Zouk and Salsa in the East Village.

The Land We Share

Written and directed by Taiwo Aloba

Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of a prestigious British museum, "The Land We Share" unfolds during a historic exhibition dedicated to African cultural artifacts. As visitors from diverse backgrounds converge to witness the beauty and history of these artworks, the stage becomes a dynamic confluence of dialogue, conflict, and connection.

Aurora O’hara is thrilled to be performing in The African Theater's production of The Land We Share. Aurora is a New York City based singer and actor. While Aurora is a Radford University theater alumni, she has also studied Shakespeare performance at the Stella Adler Studio Of Acting as well as film and television at the Art Of Acting Studio. 

Autumn Maynard is a NYC native actress who studied at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, BFA in Drama, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, AOS in Drama. Recent roles include: #11 from The Wolves, Cheryl from Stick Fly, Telephone Girl from Machinal, and many more! Insta:@_autumnmaynard 

Maximilian Patel grew up in Hong Kong and came to NYC to pursue his dream of becoming a professional singer/songwriter. Studying music in the jazz performance program at Columbia University, he spends his nights performing music around the city, heralding his lost family name ‘Jayani’ with his artist project. 

Angelfaith Nalitolela is an accomplished actor and dancer from Tanzania, currently based in New York. A graduate of the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Angelfaith's notable credits include Antigonick at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the ensemble dance piece Identity by Charly Wenzel, performed at the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. 

Taiwo Aloba (Playwright & Director) A native of Ilesha, Osun, Taiwo Aloba is a New-York based playwright, director, and culturally committed artist. She is an alumna of Lagos State University, New York Film Academy, Southern New Hampshire University, and Liberty University. Aloba is a member of the Dramatist Guild and National Writers Union.

The Socialist Utopia Chore Chart Monologues

Written by Delaney Kelly

Directed by Abigail Bowman

Synopsis: The Revolution happened and my roommate still won’t do the fucking dishes.

Claire Abramovitz is an emerging playwright living, working, and eating a lot of cheese in New York City. Her play To Rot in His Bones was a semifinalist in the 2021 Jewish Plays Project Annual Jewish Playwriting Contest and in Bay Street Theater’s Title Wave, New Works Festival 2024. Most recently, her short play Island Full of Monsters was in the Best of PlayGround series for the 2023/2024 season. In her spare time she writes poetry, song parodies, keeps a list of fake band names, and makes soup for at least thirty. Her dream is to open a soup restaurant/comedy club.

Abigail Bowman (Director) is a New York native and 4th grade teacher in the Bronx. Abigail grew up around theater and has been directing for 9 years. She is thrilled to be a part of this project and to be working with Delaney and Claire.

Delaney Kelly (Playwright) is a writer and playwright from Cleveland, Ohio, now based in Brooklyn. Her short fiction has been featured in After Dinner Conversation, Connectic*nt, and Glass Mountain, among others, and her plays have been produced at Oberlin College, The Kraine Theater, Yale Cabaret, and Red Bull Theater. She is a 2024 Eugene O'Neill NPC Semi-Finalist and a 2020 Runner-Up for the KCACTF National Undergraduate Playwriting Award. Next, Delaney’s writing will appear in Season 2 of The Episodic Theatre Project. leftyscissors.net

PROGRAM #19 (4TH FLOOR)

Latin Lover

Written by Ed Jr Cardenas

Directed by Randy Arbujo

Synopsis: Latin Lover follows the melody and rhythm of a Salsa Song. Raul, an orphan immigrant with the title of "Latin Lover" goes on through life spreading his history and culture to anyone with ears, with his pana, his Yunta, his bff, Cesar. The two are on a journey to find love in NUEVA YORKK. When Raul discovers his unknown illness, he leans on God and asks for a second chance at life. Mirasol, the women we believe God created for him, get's tired of the life of PUTA, her father figure, Father Roman, guides them to "old style love" which Raul and Cesar happen to be "LATIN LOVER EXPERTS" at. As their love story plays out, we see Death following Raul close behind. Once Raul meet's death, he finds out that his prayers have been heard, by meeting his first child in an unexpected way and accomplishing the best way to spread knowledge, which is leaving a legacy.

Randy Arbujo (Director) He/Him/His Off-Broadway: A Man Among Ye,  Anonymous (The Players Theatre), Sober Play, Crayon Sun (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre) Brooklyn College credits include; Derecho, by Noelle Viñas and The Tuesday Club murders, an original play by Lauren Zeftal. Recently, he started a new original project @whosscript where he shows his process of self-tapes and collaboration work with other fellow actors. This is Randy’s debut as a director. You can find him on Instagram @arbujo__who

Una Bharat (Producer) is an aspiring entrepreneur, NYer, and former ballerina! She’s produced films for SUNY Purchase, plays at 24 Hour Plays, and was a Production Intern at Last Week Tonight at John Oliver. She founded a production company in college, Unheard Voices Production. Currently, she is on the Development team at The Public Theater. She is so honored to be part of this team. @una.dos.tres 

Ed Jr Cardenas (Raul/Playwright) is an Ecuadorian multidisciplinary artist, making his Off Broadway DEBUT as a writer with his play Latin Lover. Amore Mio, Hermanito y Mamá! I hope you brought me flowers, THE RED KIND! Y gracias por todo. @edjrcardenas

Bambo Coulibaly (Stage Manager) is a versatile actor and stage manager with a passion for both performance and production. With experience on stage and behind the scenes, he has worked on a variety of projects, from Angels in America, Big Love, Macbeth etc... Currently, Bambo is excited to contribute to Latin Lover as a Stage Manager.

Skyler G. Wiltshire (Cesar/Assistant Stage Manager) Is more than excited to make his smashing Off-broadway debut as Stage Manager with Latin Lover. Skyler is a multiple trick pony actor being in multiple productions such as Pippin, Electricidad, etc… and a stage managing background on Electricidad. He thanks all the lovely cast and crew involved that worked very hard to put on an amazing production.

Deanna Cruz (Juliet/Choreographer) is an aspiring professional dancer who is currently receiving training at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. She has received training with renowned companies such as Ballet Hispánico, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, NYU Tisch, Kate Thomas’s Ballet Neo, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Steps on Broadway.  Deanna had the opportunity to perform in the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Ballet Hispánico and has also performed and choreographed for the New York Philharmonic Young People’s Concert in 2021. Deanna is excited to bring Latin Lover to life!

Analia Heredia (Mirasol) is a multidisciplinary artist who heavily believes in the power of uplifting our future generation of leaders through the arts. Born and raised in the Lower East Side of NYC, she began her artistic journey at the age of 8 and has since performed in a variety of spaces ranging from High School Auditoriums to Broadway Theaters. She is also a proud graduate of Rosie’s Theater Kids where she spent 7 years learning the power of love, giving back, and the strength of her voice.

Xiomara Lynn Huerta (Rebecca) is a colombian/puerto rican multi-hyphenate artist. She is currently a theater student at Laguardia Community College and is delighted to be performing in her third production Latin Lovers.

Christopher Vega (Father Roman) is a proud graduate from Salem State University where he received his BFA in theater performance in ‘21. Christopher moved to NYC three years ago and is excited to be a part of Latin Lover with this amazing cast and crew and proud to call this show his NYC theater debut. 

Izzy Aragon (Chismoso #1) is a 24 year old Latino artist from the Bronx. He has been performing and training in both acting and singing for 7 years and is currently a BFA Theatre major at Brooklyn College. He has played multiple roles in shows like Big Love (Piero), Little Shop of Horrors (Mushnik), Grease( Roger), and Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye). He performed in the Lunigiana International Music Festival in Tuscany, Italy and alongside Hugh Jackman at HVA Benefit Concerts.

Christian Offer (Chismoso #2) is a New York City-based actor, producer and writer. He is passionately pursuing his craft while completing his BFA in Theater at Brooklyn College. Christian brings creativity and authenticity to every project with recent credits including the award-winning short film Inconvenience. Christian’s work reflects his dedication to storytelling and his belief in the transformative power of the arts.

Owen Gonzales is an aspiring performer and happy to be playing Raul Jr. He’s performed with the Young People’s Chorus (YPC) and is part of Rosie’s Theater Kids.

Victoria Conde is an aspiring actress and happy to be playing Ruth. She’s part of Rosie’s Theater Kids. 

Deter Feliz is the guitarist for the Latin Lover band. He is a musician/songwriter currently attending LaGuardia Community College for music performance. He is also in a rock band planning to be performing soon and working on a solo project. He is grateful for the opportunity to support and be a part of the Latin Lovers team.

Colin Bharat is a saxophonist from Queens, NY. Colin’s current projects include multiple groups that he leads and co leads with his friends. The first major group being Chronic Delta, a New York based indie rock group that focuses on a collaborative effort of all of its members to write songs. The group has played multiple venues like The Delancey and the Queens Rockfest and plans to record an album by the end of 2025, with multiple singles being out and more to come. Colin’s second major group is the Colin Bharat Quartet. His style is very much rooted in the bebop and straight ahead canon, so the group goes on to take influence from musicians like Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, and Bud Powell to create a cohesive jazz sound while also performing new and modern tunes.

Chris Urriola is an indie rock artist who is set to release his first full-length LP. A bassist by trade, Chris Urriola fine-tuned his guitar-playing and allowed his songwriting to develop with the creation of his two critically-acclaimed EP's, Illustrator & Elemental.  It all began with a chance opportunity arriving at South First Sound in Brooklyn with his band Hollis Brown.Overall, 30 or so demos have been created and the feeling of choosing the tune that works next, Chris says; “is a luxury, a garden of creative energy.”

Ronan McKinnon is a Brooklyn based bass player who is known for his genre spanning capabilities. He believes that music is more than one genre and thus can be seen playing anywhere from local jazz clubs, rock n roll bars, concert halls and theaters around the world.

Jose Velazquez is a classically trained opera singer and seasoned performer. With nearly two decades of experience, a degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and a background in music education, Jose’s artistry bridges music and theater, making him a compelling presence on stage.

David Gould is a Brooklyn-based pianist, producer, vocalist and graduate of The New School. He performs with various acts throughout the 5 boroughs, including Muo Duo (featured on "Wonderama"), Rxagxn, and The Third Rails. He also performs solo piano and teaches young musicians at The Bay Ridge School of Music. Through performance and education, he is passionate about connecting with audiences and fostering the love of music which permeates New York City.

Special thank you to Woody, Claude Semple, Lee Monahan, AVID, and The Urban Group, Ltd 

Perfect Night

Written by Meny Beriro

Directed By Jasmine Rush

Synopsis: Using memory and imagination – an unhoused couple remembers and recreates their most perfect evening.

Jasmine Rush (Director) is an award-winning Brooklyn based African American actress/director/screenwriter born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. Classically trained, she has worked nationally on stage, film, and television. She holds a BA from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and earned her MFA in Classical Acting from Shakespeare Theatre Company's Academy of Classical Acting at George Washington University. She is the Founder of Sweet Milk Studios: a multi-disciplinary production house; and the Founder/Executive Director of ‘Black Arts Run It’: a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to support small Black theaters in the New York City area and across the nation. She is a proud member of both SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity Association. She is also a core member of both Quick Silver Theatre Company (NY) and The Grove Theatre NYC.

Meny Beriro (Playwright) was born in Gibraltar. A bilingual Social Studies high school teacher in Queens for over 25 years, Meny quickly learned from his students that if you don’t keep the story moving, a hand goes up and asks for the bathroom pass. His productions include: Love Poems (Abingdon Theatre Company), Gilgamesh YOLO (Philadelphia Artists’ Collective New Ventures Play Festival,) Sonam’s Gift (New York Theater Summerfest), Designated Killer (The Player’s Theatre Short Play Boo Festival – Winner Week 1, Cricket and the Pope (Queens Short play Festival Finalist). His musings while walking all around Queens can be found at wildsofqueens.blogspot.com

Robert Aloi (Edwin) A born and bred New Yorker, Robert grew up in the borough of Brooklyn way before it was considered “hip” to be a Brooklynite. Since then he’s performed on various stages all throughout NYC and has been fortunate enough to appear in productions from a wide range of genres which include ancient Greek tragedy/comedy, Shakespeare, absurdist period, commedia dell'arte, and contemporary drama. Some of his most favorite previous roles are Lord Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Touchstone in As You Like it, Martini in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Officer O’Hara in Arsenic and Old Lace, and Owen Musser in The Foreigner. Yes, the brows are real!

Carole Real (Lillian) has appeared in plays and immersive theater in New York City, including Anthony Laura’s Shadows at A.R.T./New York and Timothy Haskell’s Nightmare: Gothic at Teatro SEA. She has acted in film and TV and on podcasts, portraying a bossy nun, a controlling mom, a death row inmate and voicing an excited Jill Biden. Part of New York’s improv scene, Carole is a founding member of the duo Two Hands Clapping. Carole’s plays have been published and produced worldwide, adapted, translated, and anthologized. She is a member of the WGA, the Dramatists Guild and Ensemble Studio Theater.

PROGRAM #20 (4TH FLOOR)

Backslider's Ball

Written by John Corins

Directed by John Sannuto

KATHRYN FISHER (Sharon) has appeared on stages in Pittsburgh and NYC. She has studied with Robert Lewis, Michael Shurtleff and Bill Roudebush.  Kathryn has done some film work as well. She is a member of Polaris North.   SAG-AFTRA. 

FRANK MINIO (Michael) is a veteran of regional theater in Philadelphia and a member of Polaris North for over ten years. He was recently seen in Kalamazoo on the Polaris stage. He is grateful to be a participant in this festival and grateful for The Backslider’s Ball. “For my daughter Leah Rose.”

JOHN CORINS (Playwright) studied acting at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and appeared in over fifty productions in regional and repertory theatres until a degenerative eye disease put an end to John’s acting career. At which point John turned all attention to playwriting, studying with the late, great Gene Frankel. John has had five full length plays produced at the following: the Performing Arts Center Theatre, The Gene Frankel Theatre Workshop, The Actors Institute, Creative Artists Lab, and Santa Clara Arena Theatre. He has had one-act plays produced at PACT, Love Creek and Equity Library Theatre.

JOHN SANNUTO (Director) has worked as an actor, singer and dancer, director, and choreographer in a variety of performance genres for the past fifty years and spent many of those early years with Ryan Repertory Company. He is a proud member and Board Member of Polaris North. John is a former Professor of Theatre and Speech and former Chair of the Performing Arts Department/Director of the BFA Program in Acting for Theatre, Film and Television at LIU Brooklyn and continues to teach as an Associate Adjunct Professor. jsannuto@gmail.com

Paradise Breakup

Written by Risa Lewak

Directed by Jacklyn Collier

Synopsis: Eve is ready for the wedding of her dreams, but Adam has other ideas—like breaking up. When his excuses start to sound weirder than the breakup itself, Eve decides to turn the tables. What starts as heartbreak turns into a hilarious and mysterious game of who’s really in control.

Brinley Degwert (Adam) He/Him. Training: Neighborhood Playhouse, Wynn Handman Studios, HB Studios, Actors Gym. Theatre credits include: World Premiere of Ready, Steady, Yeti, Go!, Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (StageWorks); Fun Home (American Stage); Red Velvet, Pure Imagination (Rita Morgenthau Theater). Particular thanks to Robin Clarke. Instagram: @bdegwert.

Sydney Law (Eve) She/Her. Represented by WILHELMINA Models and part of Face to Face Productions Ensemble. Credits include: Prose Hair Care International Commercial, Duality Off-Broadway Premiere, I Need Love and Slip (Nicotine Dolls music videos), The Happening’s Nolita Nexus. Instagram: @syd.law.

Risa Lewak (Playwright) is a former television writer and the author of the book DON’T STALK THE ADMISSIONS OFFICER (Random House). Her plays have been produced in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, and the United Kingdom. Awards and recognitions include: Winner of "Best Play" for Something Funny Happened on the Way to Inner Growth (Phoenix, AZ, 2024); finalist in Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festival (Sarasota, FL, May 2023), the Players Theatre Short Play Festival (NYC, June and October 2023), and Theatre Oxford’s Ten-Minute Play Festival (Oxford, MS, 2024). Her work has also been featured in the Northport One-Act Play Festival (Oct 2023), Parish Players Ten-Minute Play Festival (Vermont, Feb 2024), Shawnee Theatre’s Ten-Minute Play Festival (Shawnee, PA, Aug 2023), and the Gi60 International One-Minute Play Festival (NYC). Risa’s plays have been selected for the Anaconda Ensemble Theatre reading series (Anaconda, MT) and included in international anthologies such as Fresh Words and Literature Today.

Jacklyn Collier (Director) loves being in the rehearsal room and is grateful to The Chain and Risa for giving her the opportunity to work with two of her favorite actors. She has an MFA in Acting, is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA, and enjoys doing escape rooms. Instagram: @jacklyncollier.

Synonyms for Goodbye

Written and directed by Chloe Selavka

Synopsis: Allie, Grace, and Lou sit in a hospital waiting room in Connecticut, waiting for their Mom to die. Allie hasn't been home in years, Grace has made staggering sacrifices, and Lou cannot figure out what she wants to major in for the life of her. Oh, and John Wick is playing on the TV.

Content Warnings: Themes of grief, loss of a parent, sounds of gunfire. 

Chloe Selavka (Playwright/Director)  (she/they) is a writer, director, and artist originally from Worcester, MA, now based in NYC. She enjoys creating work about and for women and hopeless romantics who like holding grudges. You can see more about her on her Instagram @chloverrs! She dedicates this show to her late grandmother B. Carol Lunn, without whom none of this would exist.

Natalie Weinberg (Assistant Director) (she/her) is a director, designer, and playwright originally from Massachusetts. She is currently pursuing a B.A. in Theatre Arts/Directing from Marymount Manhattan College. Recent projects include Take Ten (The Summer School for the Performing Arts) and when Claudia sees god (Marymount Manhattan College)

E.P. Slattery (Stage Manager) (they/them) is a Thai/American student and artist based in NYC. Their favourite aspect of doing theatre in New York is being able to work on projects which tell stories at the intersection of their queer and Asian identity. E.P. is ecstatic to be working with Playwright Chloe Selavka for a second time! Past projects include: Peonies (Don’t Leave) by Chloe Selavka (SM), Elements; a genre bending war play featuring famous faces and Gwyneth Paltrow by Spencer Senzon (As Sam), The Variety Show By Boubakar Djombana (Producer) with additional writing credits in connection with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.

Mike Vigilante (Musical Director) (he/him) is a Music Director, Actor, and Composer who is currently seeking his BFA in Musical Theatre at Marymount Manhattan College. His past music directing credits include the original productions of Synonyms for Goodbyes, Scenic Route, and An Average British Evening at MMC. He will also be music directing a new musical, Cooking with Butter, at The Players Theatre this spring. Mike thanks you for being here and hopes you enjoy the show!

Emma Rey Dias (Producer/Sound Designer) (she/they) is a playwright, producer, and sound designer who recently graduated from Marymount Manhattan College (MMC). Her past sound design credits include Tick, Tick… Boom! at Hartwick College and Dry Land at MMC. She self-produced her own plays The Swan and when Claudia sees god in 2024 at MMC and the Rough Draft Play Festival. As always, Emma is excited to be collaborating with Chloe, her friend and partner-in-crime. IG: @emmareydias

Natalie Myrick (Allie) (she/they) is an actor/musician/writer who is passionate about new works in development, especially those with folk-inspired scores. In addition to performing regionally and Off-Off Broadway, she has studied musical improv, toured theatre for young audiences in South Korea, composed pieces sung at 54 Below and Joe’s Pub, written a monthly indie pop music newsletter on Substack, and played in a classic rock cover band on an Alaskan cruise ship. Select credits: Open Stay (Off The Lane), Bridges of Madison County (Bucks County), Rent (Milton), SWAY (Fled Collective). www.nataliemyrick.com // @noots.mcgoots

Sophia Estes (Grace) (she/they) is grateful and excited to be a part of this festival, especially with such a special piece. An actor, director, dance captain, and teacher based in NYC, Sophia was recently seen as Sheila in A Chorus Line at MMC, Barbara Bush in First Daughter Suite at the Theater at St. Jean's, and Mara in Come As You Are at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center. In 2024, she graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with dual degrees in Musical Theatre and Directing. She finds great joy in teaching passionate young artists and has spent the last four summers as a Teaching Artist and Associate Director/Choreographer for the Ogunquit Playhouse Arts Academy, and currently teaches at Applause NY. Big hugs and thanks to my Mom, friends, and to Chloe, Mike, and the Synonyms team for this experience. @sophia_estes_

Natalie Lacy (Lou) (she/her) is so excited to be making her NYC debut with The Chain! Some recent credits include Metamorphoses (Marymount Manhattan College), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Marymount Manhattan College), Footloose (Hingham Civic Music Theater), and Sweeney Todd (Mass Arts Center). She’d like to thank her parents, Chris and Laurie, and her sister Sarah for their love and support. 

PROGRAM #21 (4TH FLOOR)

An Exaltation of Larks

Written and directed by Donald Yonker

Synopsis: Loosely based on a true story, An Exaltation Of Larks is the story of DOUGLAS WYCHERLY, a young violinist who returns to his Pennsylvania home when his mother dies. His religiously fanatical family exact a horrendous revenge on him for "getting above himself."

Donald Yonker (Playwright/Director) was a VARIETY staffer.  He worked for Eddie Murphy’s TV Production Company as Sue Wolf’s Production Assistant. He has done public relations for Cushman Wakefield.  His short story “Everything I Know I learned from Musical Comedy” won a prize from the Bruce/Brown Foundation.  His short play A Medieval Romance, based on Mark Twain’s story of the same name, won an LCT Award.  He currently writes the scripts for INSIDE BROADWAY”S annual fundraising concerts.

Donovan Counts (Actor/Douglas Wycherly) Off-Off-Broadway: The Boy Who Listened to Paintings (Matthew); GREEN ROOM 42: From the Street to the Stage.  Training: Lisa Campbell Albert, Sanford Meisner with Matthew Corozine Studio, AMDA grad.

We would like to give shout outs to Shenequa Evans, our Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday girl; Natalie Counts for her splendid artwork; and Sue Wolf for her lantern and the loan of her chair.

Fractured Mirror

Written by Kaila Tacazon

Directed by Keegan Vernon-Clay

Synopsis: While sorting through scraps of memories, Kaila creates the facade of a human in order to be loved. But when their Reflection turns to haunt them, the true Kaila is revealed. Weaving together movement and music, Fractured Mirror is a solo choreopoem about the role authenticity plays in love.

Kaila Tacazon (Playwright/Actor) (he/they) is a multihyphenate theatre maker based in Brooklyn. His last project was a commissioned play by Celebration Theatre Company, called Native Healing, about the Hawaiian legend of the Kapaemahu. They are currently working on an original romantic comedy through Dyke Theatre Company’s Chick Incubator. They would like to give a special thanks to M Cantu for producing and Dori Schoner for choreographing combat. IG: @justsimplehonestjuice.

Keegan Vernon-Clay (Director) (they/he/she) is a Brooklyn-based actor, director, and general theater artist. They specialize in classical and experimental theater, with a particular passion for highlighting queer experiences and physical storytelling. They received their BA in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz in 2020, and attended the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in 2019. Keegan and Kaila are also founding members of Theater of the Bacchant, you can follow their work at @theatrebacchant on Instagram. If you'd like to see more of Keegan’s personal artistic exploits, follow them on Instagram @keeganvernonclay.

Fucking Keto

Written by Brynn Owen

Directed by Karmen Paley

Synopsis: Kristine and her daughter Reagan come to a crossroads in their relationship in a doctor's office waiting room as they await an appointment with Kristine’s M.S. specialist. The pair confront their relationship with body and disordered eating as they try to navigate how to be there for each other.

Karmen Paley (Director) (they/them) is a theatre maker and matchmaker who likes to examine, challenge, and expand our understanding of what love looks like. By day, they help singles find partners. By night, they enjoy theatre, nature, dogs, and diy projects. They’re Board President of Theatre Advocacy Project, a company striving to create Safe and Equitable working conditions for all theatre artists. @theatreadvocacyproject  @karmenpaley

Jennifer Gegan (Kristine) is an award-winning actress from the Midwest. She has played everything from quirky comedic characters to strong, complicated women with deep rooted vulnerabilities.  Her favorite theater roles include Polina in The Seagull, Virginia in Roulette and Mickey, the Brooklyn wisecracking cop in Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple ( female version). Jennifer has been seen in many films over the years, and her latest film, award-winning Hero, is currently going through the film festival circuit.  A huge thank you to the amazing Fucking Keto team, Brynn and Karmen.  And to HER Heroes; Martha Hanson, Jason Stuart, Jeni Bentson, and her Aunt Margaret, thank you so much for your continual and unwavering support.

Represented by Dream Team Talent Agency ( NY)  www.jennifergegan.com

Brynn Owen (Playwright, Reagan) is an actor, director, and playwright based in Brooklyn, NY. She graduated from Rider University with a BFA in Musical Theater. Fucking Keto is her first staged work as a playwright. She is excited to share this story with you all! @brynn_owen 

Kaila Tacazon (The Nurse) (he/they) is a performer, writer, director, and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts and is currently the managing director/associate artistic director of Theatre of the Bacchant (IG: @theatrebacchant). 

Toofs

Written and directed by Aladen Gulmohamad

Synopsis: This is a simple show about friendship... And torture. When a maniac calling himself Satan captures Jeremy and AJ they both have one final conversation about the failings in their friendship.

Aladen Gulmohamad (Writer/Director): Aladen is a New York based playwright and a graduate of SUNY Purchase. His credits include: Act One One Act Festival (Toofs/ Writer and Director), Chain Theater’s One Act Festival (As the World Caves In/ Writer and Director), Act One One Act Festival (As the World Caves In/Writer and Director), Act One One Act Festival (Goodnight I Love You/Writer and Director), New York Theater Festival (Attack/Writer and Director), Make It Plays (The Walker Kings/Writer and Actor), and Westchester Collaborative Theater’s New Voices (Goodnight I Love You/Writer)

Lenore Mardas (Assistant Director): Lenore is a writer/artist who attended Suny Purchase. Her credits include Waverly Productions Candy at the Bus Stop (Script Supervisor), Astoria Film Festival (Man with a Hand for a Head music video/ Script Supervisor), Purchase College (Buklum Buklum, Key Production Assistant/Writer), New Plays Now (The 7 or 8 sisters of Leopold Binghime/Writer), and POV FEST ( Only goats say baa/writer).

Jake Adam Rodgers (Jeremy): Jake is thrilled to be reprising his role of Jeremy in this hilarious and heartfelt play! He is an actor in the immersive murder mystery Speakeasy Die Softly in Times Square, as well as a barista part time. He would like to thank his professors from Rockford University, his parents, and all of the friends and loved ones who have supported him along the way. He couldn’t have gotten here without you all! Instagram: @jakeadamsrogers Tik Tok: @jake.adams.rogers

Jaylon Jamal Mobley (Aj): THEATER. New York Shakespeare Festival: Hamlet (Guildenstern). Yale School of Drama Carlotta Festival: littleboy/littleman (Bassist). The Fire This Time Festival at Kraine Theater. Purchase Repertory Theater: Sweat (Chris). FILM. April 14, 1982 (Lead). Animosity (Lead). Jaylon obtained his BFA from SUNY Purchase in ‘22 and officially moved to NYC. Huge thanks to Aladen, his agent at Swain-Thomas, BICOASTAL MGMT, and his parents for the continued support. @thejaylonjamal

Jayden Key (Satan): Jayden is a New York City Based Actor, Catastrophic Theatre Emeritus Core Artist, and Maggie Flanigan Studio Graduate. 

PROGRAM #22 (3RD FLOOR)

Company?

Written by Ojan Assadollahi

Directed by Liza Gross

Synopsis: Victoria is at home. She’s been through some sh*t. There’s a knock at the door. Is it the company she needs, or just a fried chicken sandwich? 

Lily Rosenberg (VICTORIA) is thrilled to make her debut at The Chain Theatre. Recent credits include FBI: MOST WANTED (Co-Star), and Eleanore in the short film, Eleanore’s Christmas Abortion Spectacular. Lily graduated in 2023 from the University of Michigan (BFA Musical Theatre). Huge thank you to Ojan and Liza for being the best collaborators in the land. All the love to friends and family, and a special shout out to The Oomses for your love and support. Hold onto your hats and enjoy the show!

Ojan Assadollahi (Playwright/Actor - ROBIN) Originally from California, and originally a Chef. Ojan Asadollahi is, hate to say it but, an original. He’s a New York-based actor who’s trained at the William Esper Studio (Meisner) and also over at Chekhov Studio NYC (Michael) 

As a playwright, Company? is Ojan’s second play. His first one also ended with a question mark.  

Liza Gross (Director) is a NYC-born director and writer. After 8 years performing comedy, she shifted her focus to writing and directing. In 2021, she won Best Student Female Director at the Independent Short Awards for her comedy special Crickets. Company? is her theatrical directorial debut.

Little Lina

Written by Taina Carrion-Perez

Directed by Gaia Cooper

Synopsis: Ever since Lina cut ties with her mother, Eleanor, the childhood version of herself, “Little Lina” has come to visit her on the anniversary of Eleanor's sobriety. Lina struggles to forgive Eleanor for her tumultuous childhood growing up in a cult, but Little Lina is determined to have the adult version of herself see the gray area in holding resentment and compassion for the same person.

Katie Parkinson is a recent graduate of the BFA Acting program at SUNY Purchase. Recent credits include: Isabella in Measure for Measure with the MFA Directing program at Columbia University and Adam in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)(revised)(again) with Methexis Productions. Katie also hosts the Small World Jam at the People’s Improv Theatre. She hopes you enjoy the show! 

Lucia Rogerson is an actor born and raised in New York City who recently received her BFA from SUNY Purchase’s Acting Conservatory. Her work at Purchase Repertory Theatre included Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Emily), and Titus Andronicus (Little Lucia). She would like to thank her family and dedicate this performance to them. 

Taina Carrion-Perez is a Nuyorican playwright and video editor from East Harlem. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Playwriting & Screenwriting from SUNY Purchase College. Her plays have been produced at The Chain Theatre, Westchester Collaborative Theater, New Day Art Collective, and SUNY Purchase College. Her film credits include: Satisfied (Tribeca Film Festival), I’m Your Venus (Tribeca Film Festival), Hip Hop World (Amazon Prime Video), and Born In Synanon (Paramount+). Taina would like to thank her support system of friends, family, and teachers who she would be nowhere without.

Gaia Cooper is a writer from New Jersey. They have worked as an art director and assistant director for Forty Three Seconds (Jean Ings), and have film credits in Checkmate (Jean Ings), Misophonia (Janelle Misitich), Twilight Zone Hangover (Lydia Mardas), Overall Suspicious Persons (Jamie Simiele), and Goose Hunt (Jean Ings). They are thrilled to make their directorial debut with Little Lina, and are so thankful to be trusted by such talented creative people. They would like to thank their friends, their family, and Alan Alda. 

Sawdust

Written and directed by Grace “Juice” O’Rourke

Synopsis: Douglas is sanding a block of wood down into nothing. Cherry thinks it's pointless. An existentialist exploration of mortality and the ways in which we distract ourselves.

 Grace “Juice” O’Rourke (Playwright/Director) (they/them) is a playwright often, and a director/screenwriter/actor occasionally. Their plays have been performed with the Tank, the Chain Theatre, the Makers’ Ensemble, the Lighthouse Ladies Collective, and Fresh Binder Productions. They are the recipient of the 2023 Denis Johnston Playwriting Award, a Semifinalist for the 2024 SheNYC Festival, and a current member of First Kiss Theatre’s FebLab cohort. Their work tends to be containers for: tragicomedy, small oddities, large magic, bickering, poetic violence, precious and specific objects, and the unexplained. For more of their work, see their one-act Thy Neighbor at The Secret Theatre February 13th, 19th, and 23rd, and find them on instagram @graceoddity.

Tanner Pieper is a classically trained actor originating from Texas. He is a recent graduate of the BFA Acting program at SMU, where credits include The Cake (Tim), The Winter’s Tale (Dion), and The Effect (Toby). While attending SMU, Tanner also performed in a variety of student productions, including A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Torvald) and Mud (Lloyd). Most recently, Tanner performed in a production of Julius Caesar (Cicero/Lucius/Cobbler) at Shakespeare Dallas over the summer. @tannerpieper

Gabriel Ethridge (they/them) is originally from Dallas, TX, and uses that Southwest magic to brew up welcoming heartfelt art that is accessible, truthful, and aims to heal and grow our humanity, curiosity, and community. Recent productions: Pillow Talk (The Tank), Echoes; Improv for All (The Rev), The Woodlands (NYTF), Antony & Cleo; All’s Well (Hamlet Isn’t Dead). Grad of Circle in the Square, RAC Member of Hamlet Isn’t Dead. See them as the Boatswain in the devised one act When My Cue Comes at New York Fringe April 3-14. Film and new music: @gabrielcethridge.

Tough Love

Written by Megan Kemple

Directed by Chelsi Kern

Synopsis: A lost "city girl" tries desperately to both reconnect and break away from her Appalachian bloodline by confronting the ghost of her Uncle who killed himself years ago. A study in both patterns and agency, this play asks, can you actually break generational curses? Are you brave enough to try?

Megan Kemple (Haley/Playwright): Megan Kemple is a multidisciplinary performance and teaching artist. Her plays The Algorithm & The Rules were selected for The Player’s Theatre’s SPF(2023).  She has a BFA in Theatre from Niagara University and an MA in Drama Therapy from NYU Steinhardt. Her full-length, Accidental Intimacies won the 2022 Fresh Fruit Spirit Award for “Fostering Pride, Survival, History, and Progress”.

William Burns (Jack): William Burns performs, sings, and goofs around New York and beyond. He is super excited to help bring "life" to these characters, as well as return to The Chain. He will be performing an original musical with his Comedia troupe, Soft Brain Theatre Company, in March! (@softbraintheatrecompany) socials: ig @william_john_burns, tiktok @wjburns, youtube @willaspiringactor

Chelsi Kern (Director): Chelsi Kern (they/she) is a queer, non-binary, neurodivergent, and  fearlessly silly creative artist with a Master’s degree in Drama Therapy and a passion for developmental theatre. As a director, casting director, producer, and VO artist, they have worked on Off-Broadway and regional productions, short & feature films found on various streaming platforms (Hulu, AppleTV+) and in the festival circuit, top charting Apple podcasts, and countless industry readings and workshops. Connect with them on Instagram! @chelsikerrn

Minelli Manoukian (Rehearsal/Stage Manager): Minelli Manoukian (she/her) is an attorney, aerialist and overall collector of creative hobbies. Previous stage management experience includes projects with the Lee Strasberg Film & Theatre Institute, Omnipresent Magic, and the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, among others. She is excited to be working with Chelsi and Megan again, and to be a part of this project as a whole. 

Two Sisters

Written by Erin Germaine Mahoney

Directed By Katina Medina Mora

Synopsis: They've been carrying their family's secret faithfully for almost 30 years. Now, on their father's birthday, everything is about to change. 

Katina Medina Mora (Director) is an award-winning Mexican/American TV, film and theater director based in New York City. In Mexico City, she directed two runs of Blackbird by David Harrower in 2019 and 2022 (winning “Best Play” Metro Awards, “Best Actress” Press Theatre Prizes and “Best Play” Cartelera de Teatro). In New York, Katina directed Poison by Lot Vekemans, and the off-broadway staged reading of The Second Coming by Erin Germaine Mahoney at Theatre 555. Later this year, she is set to direct Appropriate by J. Jenkins at Teatro Insurgentes in Mexico City. As a film director her three feature films have screened at festivals and streamed on Netflix and Amazon; in television she’s directed episodes of Emily in Paris, Firefly Lane, The Summer I Turned Pretty, XO Kitty and is set to direct her first TV pilot for NBC.

Yvonna Pearson (Maddie) was born and raised in Washington DC where she first honed her acting skills in elementary school plays. After graduating from NYU with a BS in Environmental Studies, she came back to her senses and her greatest passion: acting. Yvonna can most recently be seen in the FX limited series CLIPPED, with Ed O’Neill, Laurence Fishburne, and Cleopatra Coleman. Some of her previous credits include Peacock’s hit limited series THE BEST MAN: THE FINAL, DYNASTY, PAUSE WITH SAM JAY, THE FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS, and BULL. In 2021, Yvonna earned a highly coveted spot in the prestigious ABC / Disney Discovers Showcase. She is also a proud member of The Actors Gym with Bobby Moresco. 

Erin Germaine Mahoney (Playwright / Cassandra) is an actress, screenwriter and internationally produced playwright. Her most recent play The Second Coming had an off-broadway staged reading at Theater555 in November 2023. Her full-length plays have been produced in Canada and the US; her one-act play Rich & Laci was produced as part of the Daisy Chain Collective at Cherry Lane Theater. In New York, she has developed work with LAByrinth Theater, LaMaMa, and Bobby Moresco’s Actors Gym, where she is an acting and writing member. Erin is developing a pilot for a TV series about the sex lives of Evangelical Christians. You can catch her as Detective Carol Mackey in season 6 of the CBS series FBI Most Wanted.

Tyler Isaiah Bey (Stage Manager / Kyle) Tyler Bey is an actor from Atlanta and recent graduate of Fordham University Lincoln Center and recipient of the Denzel Washington Theatre Scholarship. He recently starred in the feature indie film Outed which debuted this year at the Chelsea International Film Festival. Stage credits include: New York: The Survival with National Queer Theatre performed at Lincoln Center; Camp Mannupia (reading) with NQT. Regional: Alliance Theatre's Collision Project. Fordham Theatre: Everybody, The Drag, Fucking A, White Rabbit Red Rabbit, Tartuffe, Is God Is, and A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Ryan Quinn. 

Dylan Blue (Kyle), a Southampton native, is an accomplished actor, filmmaker, and performer with nearly 20 years in the entertainment industry. A SAG-AFTRA member since age 10, he has excelled in film, TV, music, and theater. Trained with The Barrow Group and a member of The Actor’s Gym, Dylan’s career began in 2006 with Deck the Halls, starring alongside Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick. He also starred in Comedy Central’s Big Lake. The show was produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Dylan played a pivotal role in Showtime’s Happyish, directed by John Cameron Mitchell, where he worked with legends like Philip Seymour Hoffman, showcasing his range from heartfelt drama to sharp comedy.

PROGRAM #23 (3RD FLOOR)

Concupiscence

Written and directed by Dan Blick

Synopsis: Concupiscence is a one-act play by playwright Dan Blick, whose previous works include Telos and Lake George. Featuring Mitchell Pope as Adam and April Qi as Ava, a couple who have been together for the past five years, Concupiscence takes place late into the night before their move to a new apartment in the morning. Ava realizes that if she doesn’t leave Adam now, she may never find the strength to do so. Concupiscence explores elements of psychological and emotional abuse and manipulation within romantic relationships, and how this manifests itself into cyclical behaviors.

Dan Blick (Director / Writer) is a British actor and playwright who moved to New York to train under Suzanne Esper, graduating from the William Esper Studio Two Year Program. Dan has a BA from Cambridge University in Theology and Religious Studies, specializing in Islamic Studies, and is a published writer. Most recent theater and television credits include Matthew Gasda's Dimes Square and George: Rise of a Revolutionary. He co-founded Telos Ensemble in 2023 alongside Mitchell Pope, and his plays Telos and Lake George have been performed Off-Broadway.

April Qi (Actor) is a NYC-based actor, alumni of the William Esper studio, and a founding member of Onion Cellar Productions. Her recent stage credits include Stop Kiss and The Great Nebula in Orion and she recently starred in short films Buzzkiller and Personal Best.

Mitchell Pope (Actor) recently graduated from the William Esper Studio Two Year Meisner Training Program where he trained under Suzanne Esper. Before moving to NYC, he studied performing arts at Savannah College Of Art & Design under Craig Anton and Joan McMurtrey. Mitchell was also a member of the 2020 SCAD Performing Arts Showcase. He co-founded Telos Ensemble in 2023 alongside Dan Blick.

Death Perception

Written by Zachary Harris

Directed by Caitlin Mayernik

Synopsis: Two brothers, Howard and David, have to face an old promise they made to their father: to aid him in assisted suicide should he ever get severe dementia. The time has come to follow through with their promise, but David is having second thoughts and unresolved grief over a pet turtle.

Andrei Dolezal (Howard) (he/him) is an actor, producer, and casting director based out of NYC. He’s been seen on Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” CBS’ “NCIS: LA,” and Discovery Channel’s “Evil Lives Here.” He is very excited to have his debut performance at The Chain! @andreidolezal

Sam Labovitz (David) (he/him) was born and raised in New York City, graduating from LaGuardia High School in 2019, and the University of Michigan in 2023. Recent credits include a run with Vim Vigor Dance Company at the Gibney Dance Theater, appearing as a swing actor for Radiant Vermin at the American Theater for Actors, and a CookUnity commercial that floats around social media. Currently a resident actor with the American Immersion Theater, and the Murder Mystery Company. In 2023, Sam and his peers founded Running Arts, a company focused on producing live art events across Manhattan. He’s also an aspiring oil painter, and a bit of a yogi. His dedication to his craft and passion for the arts drives him to contribute to the vibrant community in New York City. @samm.lab

Caitlin Mayernik (Director) (she/her) is a New York-based and Detroit-raised theater and film director, writer, and arts producer. NYC theater directing credits seen at: The Green Room 42, The Tank NYC, The Brick's !?: New Works Festival, The Makers Ensemble, Paradise Factory, The Producer's Club, and The Secret Theatre's Queens Short Play Festival (awarded for Best Play). Film directing credits: Shrews Webseries (Director), Buyers Remorse: Couch with Personality (Director). Caitlin has managed arts production with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Sesame Street Workshop, PlayPenn Theatre, The LA Writers Center, First Kiss Theatre, and Directors Lab West at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her script Flower Power has been developed at The Tank NYC, Marymount Manhattan College, Davidson College, and The Pittsburgh Playhouse. Caitlin holds a BFA in Theatre from Point Park University. More at caitlinmayernik.com. @caitlinmayernik

Zachary Harris (Playwright) (he/him) was born and raised in New York City. He writes screenplays, original pilots, and plays. He trained at Magnet Theater, T. Schreiber Studio, The Barrow Group, The New School, and Gotham Writers Workshop. He received his BA in Writing from Emerson College. He’s currently a member of Cahill Writers Lab where he studies playwriting with Laura Cahill. @wxyzach

Enough...?

Written by David Taylor Little

Directed by Anthony Hayes

Synopsis: Derrick and Nathan, a loving, married, gay couple in which one feels the need to be MORE gay in order to be accepted by their impending guests. It leads to a conversation about what our actions project. And how those actions affect and influence the people around us.

Kaleb Sells (NATHAN)

Devin Butera (DERRICK) 

David Taylor Little (Playwright) has written many works for the stage and radio. His play Shades of Gay had a developmental reading at Ball State University in April of 2023. He has had short plays performed in The Short Play Festival with The Players Theatre, Blurring Boundaries with The New Ambassador’s Theatre, and The Winter Fest with The Chain Theatre all in New York City. His new books for the Victor Herbert operetta Naughty Marietta and Sigmund Romberg’s The Desert Song, both premiered with Winter Opera St. Louis. Indiana Public Radio commissioned and performed his plays All Out for Christmas, and Christmas Gifts. His play Podunk will be published by Smith and Krause in October as part of the “Best 10-Minute Plays of 2024” anthology. He is a member of the Dramatist’s Guild and on the directing faculty in The Department of Theatre and Dance at Ball State University.

Anthony Hayes (Director) is a nonbinary director, writer, and puppeteer. They graduated in ‘23 from Ball State University with a degree in directing and stage management. New to New York, they assistant directed/ stage managed Goddess of the Hunt at the Fresh Fruit Festival in April 2024, and directed Back Against the Sun at the NY Summerfest in May 2024. They are extremely grateful to work with David again, and to work with these talented performers. 

Get With the Program

Written and directed by Vincent Marano

Synopsis: A cautionary tale about technology, identity and loneliness. Get With The Program asks the question,“What do you do when an AI program becomes self-aware and wants nothing more than to please their mother?” Just because you’re binary, doesn’t mean you can’t feel.

Vincent Marano (Playwright/Director) a Bronx-based playwright, director & dramaturg. He has won the BRIO Award for Playwriting twice, been nominated for multiple NYIT Awards, and is an active member of Estrogenius, The Workshop Theater, the Actor's Studio PDU and The Episcopal Actors Guild. An aspiring novelist and born-again poet, he has contributed to the Bronx Memoir Project and Sensations Magazine.

www.vincentmarano.com, Insta: vincentmarano2 bluesky @vinniemarano.bsky.social

Olivia Kinter (Dr. Rebecca Tallit) New Jersey born and raised, you can see Olivia in the HBO Max series, Search Party. Other roles include Violet Robinson in Man And Superman at the Symphony Space (Gingold Theatrical Group) and Harper in an upcoming production of Angels In America. Olivia is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, & has also written & directed original works. 

Stephen Anthony (ESAU/JACOB) is a New York-based actor who has worked throughout the Tri-state area. He has a deep passion for illustrating literature and touching people’s lives through his work on stage and screen. He is thankful for every opportunity to create something new.  

Helen's Funeral

Written and directed by Nicky Triviño

Synopsis: When Andy meets Jeff at the funeral of their mutual friend Helen, sparks fly. But not everything is as it seems...

Nicky Triviño (Playwright, Director, Actor) is a theater artist from the Philippines who now lives in New York City as a Permanent Resident (aka Green Card Holder). Already a seasoned veteran of the stage in her home country, she received further theater training in NYC from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and has performed in a wide variety of musicals and plays in Singapore, China, and all over the Philippines. She has directed numerous shows for the stage, and is the only Filipino member of the prestigious Lincoln Center Theater’s Directors Lab in NYC. Although she has collaborated on the development of numerous shows, “Helen’s Funeral” is her first script as a solo writer.

Alfredo Reyes (Actor) Notable productions: Waitress, In the Heights, The Bridges of Madison County, The Band’s Visit, Spamalot, Aladdin. Asian tours: Saturday Night Fever, Avenue Q. Alfredo most recently featured in a lead role for the runaway hit original Filipino musical, Ang Huling El Bimbo. He is currently in New York City.

PROGRAM #24 (4TH FLOOR)

Caitlin Clark Murdered My Grandmother

Written and directed by Robert Cantillon

Synopsis: After her plot for revenge is thwarted, Kat is stuck at a nearly deserted police station in the middle of the night, desperately trying to convince skeptical Detective Miller of the truth – that WNBA star Caitlin Clark is actually the immortal murderess who has been haunting her family for generations – before it is too late.

Talia Godfrey (Kat/Helen) is a New York-based actor and director. She recently graduated with a B.F.A in Drama from Tisch School of the Arts where she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Playwrights Horizons Downtown, The Meisner Studio, and Stonestreet Studios for Film/TV. She recently starred in and produced the short Dear Nora which won 1st place in the Russo Brothers’ AGBO No Sleep ‘Til Film Festival. She's thrilled to be a part of this festival!

Francoise Traxler (Detective Miller/Alison) is honored to be bringing such an important and completely true story to light. Francoise recently moved to NYC from Nebraska, where she saw firsthand the unrestrained power of Caitlin Clark. Recent credits include various roles in A Sketch of New York (A Sketch of New York Productions Inc.), and Annie in The Play That Goes Wrong (Lincoln Playhouse). Thanks to her mom, dad, and cat for their constant support!

Addison Hinojosa (Caitlin Clark) (she/her) is a singer and actor based in New York City, originally from Phoenix, Arizona. She was trained in Musical Theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in both LA and NYC. Some of her past theater credits include Trina in The Great American Scream Machine (SOOP to NUTS Festival), Raya in The Banned (Playground NYC), and Marc Antony in Sound and Fury and Shakespeare (The Parkside Players NY). If you want to find out more about her, you can check out: addisonhinojosa.com (website), or addyhinojosaa (IG)

Robert Cantillon (Playwright and Director) is a playwright and musician from Southington, CT, living and working in New York City. Past productions of his work include Closed Opening (Chain Theatre), Raw Sewage (Secret Theatre), Last Long Night in Hell (New York TheatreFest), Midnight at the West Haven Train Station (SooP Theatre) and Gracious Host (Broke People Play Festival). His band, The Pocket 10s, performs around the city. He holds a BFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. robertcantillon.com

Just For Fun

Written and directed by Lydia De Souza

Synopsis: After 15 years of radio silence, two old friends (one a successful actor, one a not-so-successful actor) meet up in Bryant Park and push the boundaries between fun, safe, and truth.

LYDIA DE SOUZA (Playwright/Director) is a Brazilian/American actor/director/writer. A graduate of Circle in the Square and Wheaton College, she is a co-founder of the award-winning theater company Cross Bronx Studio based in Dubai and now New York City. Her writing has been published nationally and internationally, she has directed and adapted Shakespeare for international audiences incorporating modern music to support the text in such shows as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, and her adaptation of Romeo + Juliet with the music of Queen is opening in Dubai this February. She has performed on stages around the world including off-Broadway, LA, Seattle, Amsterdam, Brussels, Brazil, and Dubai. This one is for you, Alan.

VERONIKA DOMINCZYK (Imogen) is a graduate of UNCSA, where she starred in such productions as The Seagull (Nina), Trojan Women (Cassandra) and Bus Stop(Cherie.) Film and TV credits include Let’s Kill Ward’s Wife, Law & Order SVU, Nurse Jackie, and Lights Out. A proud mom of three, she is thrilled to be making her New York City stage debut.

SAM DEMURIA (Victor) Thrilled to be here, thanks to Johnny, Lydia, and Veronika for involving me in the process!

Switcheroo

Written by John Spellos

Directed by Laura Chartrand

Synopsis: Kenny escorts his new girlfriend Lucy to a weekend getaway in the country at the invitation of one of her former, wealthy schoolmates, Alice. Upon arrival, Kenny is taken off guard by Alice’s husband, Victor’s prying questions, and ultimate proposition, all while Alice shows Lucy the grounds and shares the real reason they were invited.

Laura Chartrand (Director) is excited and thankful to be apart of this wonderful show! Laura graduated with a BA in Theater Arts from UW-Parkside and has her masters in nursing from Marquette University. Recently Laura directed at the Heights Players Directors Workshop, Wanda’s Visit. Laura also performs and recent credits include: Rita in Prelude to a Kiss; Mary Warren in The Crucible; or Evie in Coney Island Christmas (Heights Players). Laura would like to thank John Spellos for this opportunity and amazing script. Also thank you to the wonderful cast, crew, friends and family, and, of course, Catherine Brophy.

Noah Chartrand is a Brooklyn based actor and this is his first time at the Chain Theatre. He has been working in musicals and plays such as Into The Woods, Legally Blonde, Carrie, and Guys and Dolls. Plays such as And then there were none, A Murder is announced, and Much Ado About Nothing. Noah is excited and honored to be a part of this wonderful show. 

Lori Elkerdawy (Lucy) is thrilled to be performing in Switcheroo at the Chain Theatre’s One-Act Play Festival! Lori is an actor, educator, and holistic fitness coach determined to help others glow and grow from the inside out. Recent credits include Footloose (Ariel) and Urinetown (Little Sally). Lori thanks Laura and the entire team for making this such a rewarding experience. Keep up with her @lori.hanan

Greg Henry (Victor) is excited to be making his Chain Theater debut. Recent NYC credits include Kinky Boots (Mr. Price), The Full Monty (Harold Nichols), and Cinderella (Ensemble/King Maximillian swing). Greg would like to thank Laura for trusting him with this character and for the guidance and leadership. He wants to express thanks to the insanely gifted Dorea, Noah, and Lori. Also, thank you to Monica for keeping the team aligned. @gregshenry

Dorea Slagle (Alice) is a Brooklyn based actor and director. She is thrilled to perform at the Chain Theater Festival for the first time! Dorea has worked with over a dozen theaters across New York. Some of her favorite roles include: Claire (Proof), Lady Eugenia D'YSquith (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Juliet (Romeo & Juliet), The White Witch (The Lion, The Witch, & the Wardrobe), Heather McNamara (Heathers), and Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing). She was also in the original cast of A Pound in Your Pocket, by Charles Strouse, at the West 4th Street Theater. She would like to thank Laura for giving her the opportunity to be a part of this fantastic team, and the rest of the cast for all of the fun. For resume and reel visit: doreaslagle.com 

John Spellos (Playwright) was a Nicholl Fellowship and the Sundance Lab finalist. His first stage play, Feet of Clay was produced in NYC by The Barrow Group as a workshop production. His new stage play, Rosie is Red And Everybody is Blue, won the 2023 Next Act Summit and will have its World Premiere in April 2025 at Capital Rep Theater in Albany, NY. He currently has three new plays being workshopped and is writing a new stage play.

Monica Ramirez (SM) has been stage managing professionally since 2016 after pursuing a BA in Theatre & Drama at Grand Canyon University. She relocated to NYC from Phoenix, Arizona in 2019 and continued her education by studying Intimacy Coordination with the IDC Consent Forward Artist program. Previous stage management credits include Miracle on 34th Street (Heights Players), S#!tfaced Shakespeare (The Phoenix Theater Company), and Mary Poppins Jr. (VOSJCC). Monica is so grateful to be working alongside this talented team to premier Switcheroo by John Spellos. @monicabelle

Teenage Dreaming

Written by Lisah Graziano

Directed by Ravin Patterson

Synopsis: Trapped in a boat on a lake, Linda is taken off guard when her teenage dream boy, Sam, finally likes her back.

Lisah Graziano (Writer/ Actor- Linda) is a writer, actress and accidental school founder based in NYC. She grew up in a house on Long Island surrounded by mathematicians and musicians before heading off to New Jersey where she received her BFA in Dance from Montclair State University. She started her career teaching with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico and Mark Morris before starting her own school, LHG Creative, in 2018. Lisah now focuses her career on writing and acting, working on original TV pilots, shorts, feature films and plays. Lisah’s TV Pilot Missing is currently a Final Draft Big Break Quarter Finalist and has been featured on Blacklist’s Top List . She has a Best Actress Award from Jersey Devil Film Festival for her role of Athena in Conversion of the Atheist. Lisah is a member of Cahill Writers Lab directed by Laura Cahill. LisahGraziano.com IG: @LisahGraziano 

Ravin Patterson (Director) is an actor, playwright and producer. She has directed in various festivals with Chelsea Rep Lab and produced the original series SPACE AVAILABLE on Amazon Prime. Ravin also teaches at The Acting Studio - New York. More on Ravin’s acting, playwriting and directing can be found on her website: www.ravinpatterson.com and IG: @ravinpatterson. 

Ned Hodson (Actor - Samuel) is a versatile actor and former professional rugby player, currently honing his craft at the Actors Studio in New York City. With a robust athletic background and a passion for storytelling, Ned brings a unique perspective to his performances, infusing them with intensity and authenticity. Transitioning from the rugby field to the stage, he draws on his experiences to portray a wide range of characters, showcasing his dedication and talent in the performing arts. He currently teaches middle school history in the city. Email- nedhodson@gmail.com  Instagram - @ned_hodson.

PROGRAM #25 (4TH FLOOR)

Ava and Ty

Written and directed by Megan Medley

Synopsis: Ava And Ty is a one-act rom-com play about a budding romance between an affluent non-binary person named Ty (he/they) and working-class Ava (she/her) – a cis woman who up until this point in her life has identified as "straight." Amidst their witty and flirtatious rapport, their rich and immediate chemistry is complicated by Ava’s preconceived idea of her own sexual orientation, as well as a stark class difference between the two. Within a week of meeting each other, the pair pulls each other in even as their connection sparks difficult questions of power, identity, and privilege for each.

Amy BG Bruhns (Ty) (they/them) is a Bay Area-born actor, playwright, director, and avid nerd. BG graduated from the BFA Acting program at Pace University and was recently a part of The Interstitial’s production of You Must Wear a Hat at Theaterlab. They are also an arts educator and are currently a dance teacher with kindergarteners in Brooklyn. You might also find them buying house plants, repairing their bike, or playing video games for 10 hours straight. Website: www.amybgbruhns.com

Gabriella O’Fallon (Ava) (she/her) is an actor and director recently relocated to NYC from Seattle. In the city she has assistant directed for Tectonic Theater Project and The Rally Cat, and worked with Taproot Creatives on three previous, delightful, productions. Favorite credits from further west include Romeo + Juliet (ACT Theatre), The Nether (Washington Ensemble Theater), Doubt (Beck Center for the Arts), and As You Like It (Seattle Shakespeare Company). Gabriellaofallon.com

Megan Medley (Playwright, Director) (she/her) is a playwright and theater-maker whose plays include She Said, She Said, As Eden Burns, Without God As My Lover, and Ava and Ty. Megan is a co-founder of Taproot Creatives and her work has been produced and developed with this collective throughout NYC and beyond. Awards include: Semi-Finalist National Young Playwrights in Residence 2021, Semi-Finalist SheNYC 2021, Semi-Finalist Maxim Mazumdar New Play Award 2023, Second Rounder Austin Film Festival 2024, Finalist STN Short Play Festival 2024. Member: AEA, Dramatist Guild. Megan earned her MFA from the CWRU/CPH Acting Program. megan-medley.com @meg_the_med @taproot_official

Anita Castillo-Halvorssen (Director) (she/her) is a Venezuelan-Norwegian actor, singer, and educator originally from Colorado. She is a co-founder of Taproot Creatives, for which she has produced, directed, and/or acted in six projects since its first in 2021. She is an ensemble member of and artistic advisor for Notch Theatre Company and a proud member of the Ring of Keys coalition of queer women, trans, and nonbinary artists in musical theatre. Television: FBI (CBS), Harlem (Amazon Prime), Law & Order (NBC), The Good Fight (CBS). New York Theater: Red Bull Theater, New Georges, Clubbed Thumb, New Dramatists, New Ohio Theatre, Irondale, The Chain, The Tank, Theater for the New City, and Theatre Row. Training: Brown/Trinity MFA Acting, British American Drama Academy, Swarthmore College BA Film & Theater. anitacastillohalvorssen.com @anita_c7h @taproot_official

Carin Jennie Estey (Intimacy Director) (she/they) is a Theatre Artist based out of Southeastern Connecticut. In addition to working as an intimacy director/consent forward arts educator, Carin also works as a director, stage manager, playwright, producer, performer, and teaching artist. Carin was the intimacy director for Taproot’s 2024 productions of Without God as My Lover. Other recent productions include the CT workshop and subsequent New York premiere of gerstl took the easy way out at the New Ohio (Intimacy Director, Production Manager, Associate Producer), the original residency for Artreach, Inc.’s The Waiting Room (Production Stage Manager, intimacy consultant) and the subsequent 2023 workshop at The Eugene O’Neill, and Stir Crazy: Comedy from the Pandemic (Co-writer/co-director) which she presented on for the 2021 National Organization of Arts in Health Conference. Carin is the Event Coordinator for Artreach, Inc. | carin-jennie-estey.com

Taproot Creatives is a theater and film collective, championing works by and stories of women and other marginalized genders. Taproot is a recipient of the 2025 NYSCA-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund grant. Its ensemble members are based across the United States and conduct a weekly writers’ workshop, through which AVA AND TY was developed. Taproot’s work has been showcased by the Tank, Theater for the New City, Yellow Bicycle Theater, Bluebird Theatre Company, STN New Play Festival, Chain NYC Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, Yonkers Film Festival, and Golden Short Film Festival. Learn more: https://linktr.ee/taproot_official Follow our work on Instagram: @taproot_official

The Chemistry Test

Written by Emily Bradshaw

Directed by Tom White

Synopsis: ‘He’ and Rebecca meet up with the intention of building mutual trust before portraying romantic counterparts in an upcoming film. 

Emily Bradshaw (Playwright/”Rebecca”) is delighted to be making her playwriting debut at The Chain One Act Fest. NYC Theater credits include The Importance of Being Earnestly LGBTQ+ (Off-Broadway), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Hudson Classical Theater Co.) and Matt & Ben (The Alpha NYC). TV credits include The Mega-Brands That Built America (History Channel) and Mysteries at the Museum (Travel Channel). Emily is originally from Long Island and a graduate of NYU. Visit www.EmilyMBradshaw.com . 

Tom White (Director) is a creative artist and performance coach who has worked in theater, television, and film for over two decades. As a director, Tom helmed the premiere of And They Danced 'Till Dawn, which was selected to open the acclaimed Ingenuity Festival in Cleveland, Ohio. A longtime performer at the UCB Theater, his comedic work has been featured in The New York Times, The New York Post, and The Today Show. Most recently, Tom can be seen in the box-office hit Terrifier 3—although he recommends you close your eyes.  

Daniel Yaiullo (“He”) is an actor, writer, and director based in New York City. He is happy to return to the Chain’s Winter One Act Festival after his short play Wronged premiered here last year, in which he acted opposite his current co-star, Emily Bradshaw. He stars in the series “Events at Hemlock Manor” and co-wrote/stars in “Nightfish,” a comedy pilot about two overnight aquarium employees. A feature film in which he appears, “Gothic Slayers,” received its premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles earlier this month. Other notable credits include the off-Broadway premiere of Eric Bogosian’s 1+1 at SoHo Playhouse, Kenneth Branagh’s Macbeth at the Park Avenue Armory, and Dress of Fire with Austin Pendleton.

Why We Write

Written and directed by Grace “Juice” O’Rourke

Synopsis: DWritten and directed by Eryn Harris

Synopsis: A short play about a group of passionate writers who once filled pages together. When they are tragically reunited, see how they brainstorm, analyze, and create. You are invited to the writers room.

Eryn Harris (she/her) (playwright & director) is a Queens, N.Y. based writer, director and actor with a dual bachelor’s degree in Theatre & Performance and Playwriting & Screenwriting, from SUNY Purchase College. Purchase rep credits include: Wayne (J.J.), Just A Little Anxious (Justine), Making New Plays “St Jay” (Esther), What To Send Up When It Goes Down (Three), directing Thank You Mrs.Pike and The Beauty of Risk. Other credits include, As The World Caves In (Pierce) in the Chain and Secret Theater Festival 2024, directing Thank You Ms.Pike in the New York Theatre Festival 2023, Writing and Directing A Black Play? at Suny Purchase College. She would like to thank God, her talented cast and all the family & friends who have supported the production of this play. 

Kaira Rivera (she/her) (Assistant Director) is a 24-year-old actor, writer, and emerging assistant director from Manhattan, NY. Her artistic journey has crossed stages such as A Walrus in the Body of a Crocodile and Mac Beth at SUNY Purchase, as well as a short film Justice with Sankofa Medias. Holding dual bachelor’s degrees in Playwriting/Screenwriting and Theater Performance from SUNY Purchase, she is honored to contribute to the curation of this beautiful piece. She feels gratitude to get back into her creative roots and to be surrounded by such talented artists.

Arielle Yasmine Moore (She/her) (Role: Passion) is a multi-disciplinary artist from Harlem, NY. Her favorite theatre credits are: Feste in SUNY Purchase’s 2023 production of Twelfth Night, Jacinta Condor in SUNY Purchase’s 2022 production of Serious Money, and Black Lillie Ann in SUNY Purchase’s 2022 production of Barbecue. All of these shows were done while she was an acting student in SUNY Purchase’s BFA Acting Program, which she graduated from in 2023. She is so grateful to be working alongside other Purchase alums and some new talented faces.

Angela Gonzalez (She/Her) (Role: Expression) is an NYC-Based Performer originally from PA. She began her training with AMDA and then completed her BFA in Musical Theatre at The New School just last year. This spring she is continuing her studies with Stella Adler because there is always more to learn and artistry to discover. Favorite credits include Marta in Company and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors. When not in shows, Angela can be found photographing them :) Let's connect! | IG: @angelaofyork | www.angelaofyork.com | ❤️

Ayeraye Akosua (H.) (@ayeraslay) (Role: Legacy) is a storyteller and artist across many realms, dedicated to healing through creation. As a '22 Purchase Grad of Theater and Performance, she combines her film, screenwriting and Global Black Studies minors with her skills and love for makeup, visual arts, and dance towards Sankofa Medias: a production company founded with the mission of displaying and centering Queer Black Joy, Beauty, and Victories. As of January 1st 2025, Ayeraye's feature length debut Love Thyselves is available for public viewing. With heavy sentiment in this story, Ayeraye is cast as seven leading roles, and credited as Writer, Director, Producer and MUA. Other acting credits include Lotus and the Unlikely Crew (2022), and For Colored Women (2021). Writer/ Director credits include Justice (2022) and Ancestral Plane (2021), and other credits include Forever Evolving (2023) as CoDirector; Pink Drink Music Video by Khmeii (2023) and Sanctified Music Video by FkaProphet (2022) as Creative Director. She aspires to create beautiful and inspirational works of arts that enliven, empower and enlighten those within her community.

James McCallum (he/him) (Role: Revelation) is a writer, director and actor with a dual bachelor's degree in Literature and Playwriting & Screenwriting from SUNY Purchase College. Purchase rep credits include: The Walker-Kings as J.P Walker-King, Life After Cali as Isaac, and No Clean Clothes as Johnny Longhorn. He has performed at RCC in Dangerous Liaisons as the Butler, and in the RCC Shakespeare Company as Ferdinand in The Tempest. He recently made his directorial debut at Purchase College with his original play titled WAYNE. James is grateful for the opportunity to work with his dear friend and collaborator Eryn Harris, on her production of Why We Write and is excited to take to the stage.

Juli Harkins (Role: Teacher) a Harlem based performer, started acting again in 2022, after retiring from a 30 year career as a healthcare professional. She is thrilled to be a part of the Why We Write cast! Juli thanks her husband Derrick, daughters Lauren and Shannon, and toy poodle, Goldie for all their support.

David (Role: Boss) is excited to be part of this wonderful new play by Eryn Harris. He recently appeared onstage in a NYC production of Seminar by Teresa Rebeck at the Nubox Theater and in a new play, Happenstance, at the Kraine Theater. David can also be seen in an upcoming sitcom pilot, Loopers, currently screening at film festivals in NYC. David studies with Peter Jensen at T. Schreiber Studios and with Howard Meyer.

Instrumental Track from the “Token” scene was composed and mixed by Myles Joseph. 

Poster by Bryon Morris (Billy)