PROGRAM 17
PROGRAM #17 (3rd FLOOR)
catholic school girlz by Kali Clougherty
Tape Freak by Sebastian Hagelstein
Those Magic Changes by Sam Carpenter + Isa Mellody
catholic school girlz
By Kali Clougherty
Directed by Kayla Jordan Jacobs
Synopsis: Middle School. A time of self-discovery and dread. In this raunchy, nostalgic comedy, a group of Catholic choir girls navigate their religious beliefs, peer pressure, and friendships all while going through puberty. But when two best friends confess their feelings for each other, questions of sexuality, morality, and trust are at stake. Catholic School Girlz celebrates young queer love and girlhood.
KALI CLOUGHERTY (Kacey/Playwright) is a New York City-based actor/director/producer originally from South Florida. Her favorite credits include: Waitress (Dawn), The Prom (Emma), Into the Woods (Little Red), and Pinkalicious Off-Broadway. Catholic School Girlz debuted in NYC at the Tank and Paradise Factory Theatre last summer, and Kali is excited to continue developing this piece. BFA from Elon University. Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, Liam, family, and everyone who made this play happen! #ProtectQueerKids | www.kaliclougherty.com | IG: @kali.clougherty
RILEY ALEXIS HOLMES (Emma) is honored to be a part of this project, and hopes that Catholic School Girlz allows people to feel seen, heard, and loved! Her theatrical credits include: TheaterWorksUSA, Northwest Children’s Theater, Oregon Children’s Theatre. BYU BFA Musical Theater. All love and gratitude to close friends and family for their unwavering support.
MAGGIE WAGNER (Mrs. Levitz) is an award wing actress and lifetime member of The Actors Studio . She has appeared in dozens of feature films, including Principal roles in Working Girl, One Fine Day , and most recently in The Walk and The Panic.
VALENTINA RODRIGUEZ (Ava) is a bi-coastal performer and a very proud New Yorker. She is a recent graduate of the University at Buffalo Honors College where she pursued her BFA in Music Theatre and minor in Education. Thank you to my family and friends for being in my corner! www.valentinairodriguez.com.
JAMISHAY CAMMANN (Isa) is a musical theatre performer/writer based in NY. She graduated from Western Connecticut State University last May and has been with Catholic School Girlz since its initial reading! She is currently involved in a few developmental musicals such as If The Loraz Was A Musical, Miss Misunderstood, and Vodu. Her other credits include Harper in Angels in America, Abigail in The Crucible, and Therapist in Photosynthesis at the Goodspeed Theatre's Festival of New Musicals.
JOSSLYN SHAW (Marissa) is 100% a Midwest gal at heart, despite her lighting fast speed on a NYC sidewalk! Favorite recent credits include NEXT TO NORMAL (Natalie), SWEENEY TODD (Johanna), and SMILE (Connie Sue). Can be bribed with a chocolate milkshake. www.josslynshaw.com // @jossygirl11.
ANABELLE JUNE (Bella) is so pumped to be back in the choir as Bella! You might recognize them from catholic school girlz at The Tank or numerous performances at 54 Below and Green Room 42. You can stream their original music on all platforms under anabelle june!
PAULA FIGUEROA CAUNEDO (Chris) is a NYC-based actor originally from Puerto Rico and an AMDA NYC grad. She is overjoyed to be making her NYC debut alongside her friends in catholic school girlz. Credits include: Waitress (Jenna), In The Heights (Nina), Company (Marta), and Mamma Mia! (Sophie). When not performing she likes to read, bullet journal, and spend time with her friends and family. @paulafigueroacaunedo.
HEAVEN MURPHY (Nelly) Originally from the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, Heaven began their artistic journey at Monroe Community College. A recent graduate of AMDA, they have developed a strong foundation in stage performance. They are thrilled to be playing the role of Nelly and look forward to bringing this character to life.
KAYLA JORDAN JACOBS (Director) - Durham, NC native, Kayla Jacobs, is a New York City based performing artist with a passion for young arts education. She is a proud alumna of Elon University, where she received her BFA in Music Theatre and BA in Arts Administration. Kayla is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be making her directorial debut with Catholic School Girlz, and hopes you enjoy the show! @Kayla.jordan_
JASMINE LACEY YOUNG (Assistant Director/Producer) is so exciting for her Directing and Producing debut for Catholic School Girlz! She is a KY native and NYC local! She is an actor when she’s not behind the table and she’s a virgo!
KADEN POTAK (Stage Manager) (they/he) is SO thrilled to be back with Catholic School Girlz for the third time! Recent stage management and tech credits include Production Stage Manager/Sound Designer at the Professional Performing Arts School (Between the Lines Jr., You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and Puffs), PSM of ‘Snow Bird’ at Brooklyn Art Haus (Em Hausmann) and producing at venues such as 54 Below and The Green Room 42. As a performer, they were recently seen in ‘Elements’ as Mars (NuBox Theatre, GhostLight Theatre Company), ‘Catching Fireflies’ as Sparrow (The Player’s Theatre), swinging the new musical ‘Twelve Maids’ (Adam Gloc, Amanda Fischler), and in various performance venues in the city such as 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Stonewall Inn, and The Loft!
tape freak
By Sebastian Hagelstein
Directed by Jack Terrill
Synopsis: Tape Freak is interrogated by two TSA agents with a bag full of cassette tapes. They accuse her of distributing psychoactive music, which they reveal has just been declared illegal. They play a tape to determine if she’s carrying psychoactive music or not, and it makes the two TSA agents pass out. Tape Freak, who knew when to cover her ears, grabs her things and leaves.
Jack Terrill is a Brooklyn based director, producer, and musician. Their most recent work includes with their includes “Turnover” by Sebastian Hagelstein as part of IRT Theater’s 3B Development Series and “Thunderbodies” by Kate Tarker. He is also music director and co-founder of the transmasc creative ensemble, Fireside Theatre Collective.
Liv Lennon is an artist and actor based in Brooklyn. Most recently she appeared in the play Turnover at IRT theatre in the West Village. Lennon’s art and short stories have been published in a variety of places, some physical, some in the web of the internet, most recently Elated Magazine.
Luke Pearlberg is an actor and action performer based in Manhattan. His most recent credits include Turnover at IRT Theater and Ursa Minor, a new play workshop presented through Open Jar Studios. Upcoming: Macduff & fight choreography for Macbeth, The American Theater of Actors, fight direction for The Pillowman, Heights Players.
Sebastian Hagelstein is an actor and writer based in Brooklyn. Most recently he produced and performed in his play Turnover at IRT Theater and his short play “161 Maiden” in the Chain’s Winter One Act Festival. His plays have appeared in Waxing and Waning Magazine and Marcesent Zine.
those magic changes
By Isa Mellody and Sam Carpenter
Directed by Kate
Synopsis: Brandy and Paris are the producer and director of a college production of Grease, which they rewrote as a lesbian coming-of-age story. When the licensing company shuts down their show and takes them to court, they must defend their right to artistic license, even when it challenges their friendship.
Sam Carpenter (Composer/Lyricist) is a composer, lyricist, and pianist based in NYC. He recently graduated from Duke University, where he began writing musicals and immediately fell in love with the art form, winning the 2024 Harold Brody Musical Theater Award for his work. While there, he also met Isa, and is thrilled to present their first collaboration. As a creator of theater, Sam hopes to bring together jazz, rock, and theatrical music to make great storytelling. Outside of the theater, he works as a software engineer. IG: @samcarpenter.music
Isa Mellody (Bookwriter/Brandy) 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 the Michael Howard Studios. Recently, she has participated in several new works as a writer, actor, and director. She is so excited to be presenting this show with so many talented artists. Special thank you to Sam for being the best musical theatre writing partner ever. www.isamellody.com & @isam3ls
Kate (K8) (Director) is a multidimensional artist who loves experimenting within the connectivity of play, consciousness and light. She studied Theatre and Visual Arts and Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University and trained at Second City. She pairs light and optic tools to illuminate the design of the invisible. She sees theatre as an impactful way to offer the world a refreshing new mythology. @k8.kinetics
Ally Ebert (she/her) (Paris) is so excited to be a part of Those Magic Changes! You can find her touring across the country with Girls’ Night: The Musical (Carol), or in one of your friend of a friend’s cabarets somewhere in the city. Thanks to The Chain and to Isa and Sam for including her in your work! Syracuse MT grad. Meow. IG: @allyybert
Aaron Shapiro (he/they) (Mr. Melody) Just composed and finished a sold out run of their musical, "It's a Lifestyle." They frequently accompany improv shows around town, and frequently star as Dr. Frank-n-Furter in shadowcast screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Thanks to Sam for this opportunity! @barbal00tsuit