PROGRAM 10
By Your Side by Charly Wenzel
Roylin by Aaron Huey
Sealed Tight by Laura Browne & Lauren Dietzel
Start With I Do by Mary Lauren
SPONSORED BY
by your side
by Charly Wenzel
Synopsis: An old Chinese immigrant woman on the Lower East Side of New York City is immersed in an imaginary birthday party for her late husband. She is yanked back into reality by the frantic knock on her apartment door by a young Black man looking for a place to hide. She grants him refuge and despite their apparent differences they gradually form a bond through their shared feelings of not belonging, having both experienced loss and the inability to control their circumstances.
This play is inspired by the true love story between an African American soldier serving in the Navy and a young girl growing up in Singapore in the 1970s.
CHARLY WENZEL is a German actress, dancer, choreographer, writer, director and award winning filmmaker. She won multiple awards for her experimental films “Global Tides”, “Licht”, “Schein”, “PAUSE” and “Faces”, which were screened at film festivals worldwide. Charly was the Artistic Director of her own company Charly Wenzel & Dancers, she was the Associate Artistic Director of Naganuma Dance and she worked as the Rehearsal Director for Bodystories: Teresa Fellion Dance. She worked as the choreographer for several recording artists and she choreographed for a number of dance films and music videos. Charly was a member of the Bavarian State Opera Ballet in Germany and she performed with Silver Glass Productions, Shadowbox Theater, Naganuma Dance, Keila Cordova Dances, Bodystories, LolaLola Dance Theater, Morningside Opera, Soul Movement and others. She was a performer in the Bessie award winning production “Then She Fell” by Third Rail Projects. “BY YOUR SIDE” marks her playwriting and directorial debut in theatre and she couldn’t be more thankful for the wonderful cast and crew that have joined her for this special occasion! More information at www.charlywenzel.com.
NANCY YAO is thrilled to be a part of the cast. During the pandemic, Nancy was in Nina Ki’s digital production of Somethings Never Die. Previously, Nancy’s lead roles include Eling in David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child, Miss Julie in August Strindberg’s Miss Julie, and Betty in David Ives’ The Sure Thing. Nancy is committed to writing plays about the Asian American experience. She was an early member of the Here and Now Theater Company based in LA.
NYA YEANAFEHN is an actor, writer, and comedian based out of New York. He has performed all over New York City, Los Angeles, and London. He’s appeared in short films and web series such as Hotline and Uninspired. Nya was accepted and attended the LAByrinth theatre company’s 2021 Summer intensive ensemble, studying with Stephen Adly Guirgis, David Deblinger and others.
KEVIN HOBAICHAN For my brother.
FERNANDO ROCKENBACH is a Brazilian actor. Always showing an immense love for the performing arts, he has been in small plays ever since he was a kid. During his teenage years, he took a break from theater and eventually graduated college with a degree in Architecture and Urbanism. He kept studying theater after graduation and performed in some plays in Brazil, mostly in the "theater of the absurd" style. Eventually, he moved to NYC to really focus and ground his abilities as an actor, training full time at HB Studio.
ROY CHANG is an all-around technician. He studied Entertainment Technology at New York City College of Technology. He has worked in such places as Henry Street Settlement, 59E59 Theaters, Theater for the New City and the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre.
CHARLY ZASTRAU is a German pianist and arranger, based in the Netherlands and has worked professionally in the international music and theatre sector for almost two decades. Zastrau tours up to 48 weeks a year having become an established and in demand pianist and keyboarder, musical director, composer and arranger. This has seen him work in a wide range of musical genres ranging from modern/experimental music ensembles to jazz groups to pop acts including jazz saxophonists Tineke Postma, Francesco Bearzatti, Benjamin Herman, Trombonist Nils Wogram and classical singer Claron McFadden. He performed with a.o. New York Downtown Icons Joey Arias and Justin Vivian Bond, punk legend Nina Hagen, the Tiger Lillies and many more.
LESLIE MARYCRUZ GUTIERRE is originally from Atlanta ,Georgia where she started off in Theatre, then moved to New York City to attend Makeup Designory. She’s very excited to be apart of the show! As well as her assistant GABRIELLE ELISE who came from Puerto Rico originally, began a career in Biology, then found her passion in makeup and attends Makeup Designory, as well.
sealed tight
By Laura Bowne and Lauren Dietzel
Synopsis: Kim is a chipper tupperware saleswoman just trying to land her first sale. Little does she know, her potential customer Martha is trying to keep a lid on a dark secret.
CAST
Laura Clare Browne - writer and KIM
Lauren Dietzel - writer, director, and MARTHA
Seann Morgan - CLIVE
Laura Clare Browne (writer/Kim) is an actress, writer, and comedian hailing from Eastchester, New York. She is a frequent collaborator with the Chain and she’s so thrilled to be returning to live performances at a theater she loves so much! Past credits include: Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Squealer in Animal Farm, and Mabel in The Queer Witch Conspiracy (The Seeing Place). She thanks Jimbles and Suze for their endless love, patience, and encouragement.
Lauren Dietzel (writer/director/Martha) hails from Pasadena, CA and is so excited to be coming back to live theatre! Favorite roles include: Cinderella in Into the Woods, Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Hofstra Shakespeare Festival), and Clown in The 39 Steps (Strongbox Theatre). Lauren also has a BFA from Hofstra University. IG: @laurendeetz. Check out her website LaurenDietzel.com. Thanks to Mom for the love, support, and multitude of fairy dresses and John Cleese for saying, “He who laughs most learns best!”
Seann David Morgan (Clive) is a writer and performer who’s very happy to be acting alongside some truly great people! Bringing a character like Clive to life is a responsibility not taken lightly. Seann’s hobbies include bingeing old movies and playing video games (please challenge me in Smash Bros.!) He’s also had the great opportunity of working in TV, assisting productions like Sesame Street and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Seann would like to thank Lauren, Laura, and his friends/family for helping him get out of COVID-related funk and back onto the stage. Enjoy the show everyone!
start with i do
By Mary Lauren
Synopsis:
A woman sits at a bar and desperately needs some whisky. It just so happens to be her wedding day, and she'd rather be anywhere else. Secrets are revealed, the past comes roaring back and the pressure is suffocating. Will Audrey join the sea of mediocrity or be washed out with the tide?
BIOS
MARY LAUREN (WRITER/DIRECTOR)
Mary Lauren is a Multihyphenate artist who loves to tell stories. She is the artistic director of Heart String Theatrical, whose cabarets have raised money for artists and organizations including the NAACP and ACLU. Her work has been seen Off-Broadway and regionally as a Director, Writer, Performer, Producer and Choreographer. She is a proud member of AEA, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Written works include; My Shadow and Me (Cape May Stage) and Start With I Do (Act One One Act Festival). She choreographed and was the lead dancer in the film, Dream of Spring which has been featured in festivals all over the world. It premiered at The Chain. Recent acting credits include: Louise, Gypsy (The Secret) Donna, Believers (The Workshop Theatre) Sarah, Sarah Was Mine (Cherry Lane) Helena, Midsummer (Mysterium) and Gertrude, Hamlet (Compass Rose). Directing/choreography credits include; Fabulous The Musical (Times Square Arts Center), Hair (The Secret Theatre), Seussical (The Secret Theatre) Thoroughly Modern Millie (The Music Room), and My Shadow and Me (Cape May Stage). Find Mary on IG @ MaryLaurenw on marylaurenonline.com.
ROMAN ALEC TREVINO (JONATHAN)
Roman Alec Trevino is thrilled to be working with Heart String Theatrical and The Chain. Stage: The Tempest (Dysfunctional Theater), Parting Shots (Mississippi University Of Women), The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de la Rosas (Passage Theater). Film: Eyes Of God, Resentment, The Answer, Just Ten, Reasons To Love You, It’s Late. Audio: This American Wasteland, Somewhere In The Skies. Roman is a graduate of the Circle In The Square Theater School.
REBEKAH RAWHOUSER (AUDREY)
Rebekah Rawhouser (Audrey) is ecstatic to be in her first live theatre production since March of 2020! She has stayed busy in the meantime with such accomplishments as creating two children’s audiobooks for the Scout Books series, voice acting in several audio drama podcasts including Salem’s Ghosts: The Lynn Lady (for which she earned her first IMDb credit), and honing some mad sourdough baking skills. She also had the honor of taking part in several readings of new pilots, plays, and films created by her crazy talented friends. Favorite previous stage credits include Diana Goodman (Next to Normal), Mary Magdalene (Jesus Christ Superstar), and Gayle (Sunday On The Rocks). Special thanks to her amazingly supportive husband and kids, coach Tessa Faye, teacher Ted Wold, and writer/director extraordinaire Mary Lauren! Find Rebekah on IG @literallybekah ; www.rebekahrawhouser.com
MARY RUTH BAGGOT (CONNIE)
Select shows, Brokers [Web Series], Alana Stands Up, Alana [Short] Stupid F*cking Bird [LICA/Stripped Scripts], The Rubber Room [Artistic New Directions/WTco], Eat Dessert First; Sugar Plum; Lightning from Heaven [Workshop Theater Co], Psyche [Tongue in Cheek], Boy’s Life [The Seeing Place], and Reflections of a Heart [The Clurman Theater/Stepping Stone]. Circle in the Square, UCB. MaryRuthBaggott.com
RACHEL EMMANUELA FROST (JO)
Rachel is a graduate of the William Esper Studio conservatory and is thrilled to join the stellar cast of I Do as Jo. Post-pandemic she has performed in a short play at the Theater for the New City as part of the LES Festival of the Arts, and written, produced and acted in her own short film. Special thanks to David Newer & Rob McCaskill.
ROYLIN
by Aaron Huey
ROYLIN follows a young single mother as she picks up her prodigious son from soccer practice.
Cast and Crew/Names and Roles
ANITA: Zoleka Vundla
COACH CARR: David Wilson
BIOS:
PRODUCTION CONSULTANT: Leia Squillace is a theater director, producer, and artist activist whose work focuses on building and strengthening community and fostering radical humanization. She takes on projects that challenge her and her audience to find commonality and humanity where it is least expected or thought possible. She is Associate Director of Industry Initiatives for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition and the co-founder of Herd, a female-driven, environmentally sustainable theatre company. Go Blue! www.leiasquillace.com
AARON HUEY (writer/director) BIO: Aaron Huey is from Indianapolis and has played a range of roles including Ron in Insurrection: Holding History by Robert O'Hara, Platanov in Wild Honey, and Uncle Ivan in War by Swedish playwright Lars Norén. He likes playing dark characters and making them funny. Aaron wrote and directed two original, fulllength plays in school, and received an award for Distinction in Playwriting in 2018 for his play MEAT. Aaron also works as a creative director and manager in NYC. Other written works: COME GRACEFULLY INTO HIS LOVING ARMS (2019).
www.aaron-huey.com // @aaron.h.ue.y
ZOLEKA VUNDLA (ANITA): Zoleka Vundla is a voice actor from Johannesburg, South Africa. Her audiobook credits include Blossom's Queendom: Coming to Herself, The Onryō's Curse, Golden Dreg Army Book 1, and Golden Dreg Boy Book 4; all of which is on Audible. She recently worked with Penguin Random House to narrate I AM OPRAH WINFREY by Brad Meltzer. She would like to thank Aaron Huey, her family, and Chris for all the love and support! College: SUNY Purchase BFA Acting Instagram: @zovundla
DAVID WILSON (COACH CARR): David Wilson is from West Bloomfield, Michigan and a recent graduate from Fordham University's theatre program. Credits include: Airline Highway, Water by the Spoonful, Mr. Burns, Twelfth Night, We Are Proud to Present..., and more. In addition to acting, David is also an avid singer and violinist. David will begin training in NYU's grad acting program this fall. @david.wilson1399
TALENT CONSULTANT: Cole Fletcher