Summer 25 Program 23

 

PROGRAM 23

PROGRAM #23 (3RD FLOOR)

Another Bronx Love Story by Jociel Tambone

Huff Puff Muffin by Elizabeth Bays

O'erwatch by Patrick Troy-Brandt, Gray Thurstone, and Harrison Tipping

Uptown Express by Kevin Cheng

 
 
 
 

another bronx love story

By Jociel Tambone

Directed by Jewels Galindo

Synopsis: "Another Bronx Love Story" is an original play that follows Benny as he struggles to move on from his ex-girlfriend Samantha. His friend Danny takes him clubbing, trying to set him up with new girls. However, when Danny finally succeeds, he sets him up with Samantha, Benny’s ex.

Jewels Galindo (Director) - Jewels Galindo is an actor/director/creator who has worked on various projects. He recently completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre at The City College of New York. To know more about his journey, add him on Instagram. @jewelstheguylindo

Jociel Tambone is a Bronx-born actor/playwright. Jociel has been writing theater ever since he was fifteen years old, and he started writing musicals as his introduction to dramatic writing. Jociel’s most recent work was presented at Chain Theater in their Winter One Act Festival, “Doors Are A Hammer’s Best-Friend”. Jociel would like to thank the City College Theater Department and Open Hydrant for allowing him to cultivate and experiment as a creative. @jt_2004music

Josennie Guante (Samantha) - Josennie is a 20-year-old Afro-Latina actress whose passion for performance began in elementary school. As an emerging actress, she is deeply dedicated to the art of storytelling and bringing emotional truth to every role. Committed to honing her craft, Josennie strives to become one of the most compelling actresses of her generation. She is drawn to roles that reflect authentic human experiences—stories that audiences can truly connect with and relate to. Her driving force is the desire to inspire, uplift, and move others through powerful, meaningful performances.

Stiles Ramirez (Benny) - Stiles loves performing. He has been performing for eleven years. He feels at home when I'm performing and can 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. 

Joel Rosario (Danny) - Joel Rosario, born and raised in the Dominican Republic, is a promising performer. He landed his first role in 2022, marking the beginning of a growing career. Since then, his list of credits has expanded rapidly, with his most recent full-length role being Theo in Pippin. In addition to performing, Joel is passionate about spreading enthusiasm and positivity to those around him. He is dedicated to creating a positive environment both on and off the stage.

Daniel Sanchez (Kaleb) - Daniel Sanchez started watching movies as a kid and was inspired by the cool things actors did on screen. That’s what made him want to become an actor. He has performed in plays, including the stage version of We Cry Together, where he played Lamar. Daniel hopes to keep improving and take on more acting roles in the future. 

Christian S. Torres (Dee-Jay Valentie) - Christian S. Torres is a Colombian Queens-born performer. Trained by LaGuardia Community College (Spring Awakening; Moritz) and CCNY (PIPPIN; Pippin), he continues to grow his singing, acting, and dancing as he yearns to share his soul with the audience to enjoy. His biggest goal is to do the public a service with his performing, so they can enjoy themselves while also reflecting on the world from what they saw on stage, hoping he made their views on the world an overall better place to be stuck on. 

Talia Johnson (Bar-Tender) - ​​Talia is a sophomore at The City College, majoring in Theatre. Passionate about storytelling and performance, she is excited to be part of this year's One Act Festival. With aspirations to pursue a career in acting, she is continually honing her craft and is grateful for every opportunity to grow on stage.


huff puff muffin

By: Elizabeth Bays

Directed by: David Zayas Jr.

Synopsis - A grieving widow returns home from her husband’s memorial, only to be visited by a strange young woman bearing an outrageous claim! 

Elizabeth Bays (PLAYWRIGHT & DAISY) - is a New York–based actor, burlesque artist, and producer—and now playwright! Acting credits include Simpatico (Off-Broadway), Angelina Ballerina the Musical (Off-Broadway/National Tour), John Patrick Shanley’s Banshee (NY Premiere), and The Tower (HERE Arts Center). Her award-winning short film Surprise! received Best New Filmmaker at the 2021 Scared for Your LIIFE Film Festival.

She performs with Hotsy Totsy Burlesque (BroadwayWorld’s Best Burlesque in NYC) at The Slipper Room and recently opened the 2025 Reykjavik Fringe Festival with ForbHIDDEN People: An Elven Burlesque. IG: @ebays_

David Zayas Jr. (DIRECTOR) -  is a Bronx native, theater and film director, actor, and photographer. David made his  Off-Broadway directorial debut with Simpatico, at the Chain Theatre.  Prior to that he directed the Jesus Hopped the A Train staged reading starring Common, John Ortiz, and David Zayas. David also directed LABs 30th Anniversary and the Barn Series, which included three New Works in progress by Stephen Adly Gurgis. He has directed with Planet Connections, Actors Theatre of NY, NY Theater Festival, Samuel French OOB Festival, and more along with award winning films in over 20 festivals. David is a member of The Actors Studio’s Playwright/Directors Unit and LAByrinth Theater Company.  

Sachi Parker (MONA) - is an accomplished film, television, and stage actress. Her screen credits include Back to the Future, Peggy Sue Got Married, Scrooged, Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Faerie Tale Theatre. Her theater work spans from Chekhov classics (The Seagull, The Cherry Orchard) to performances at the Edinburgh Festival. At the  Chain Theatre, she appeared in Matthew McLachlan’s This Goddamn House and the NY premiere of David Rabe’s By the Look of Her. She received the Kurosawa Award for bridging U.S.–Japan cultural understanding and won Best Actress for The Witch of the West is Dead. Sachi currently stars in the award-winning web series The So So You Don’t Know.

Diego Aguirre (BENEDICT) - Diego Aguirre is a NYC based actor and Marine Corps veteran. He grew up in Ecuador, where his family is from. Selected Theatre credits include: (O)n The 5:31 (Dir. David Zayas Jr.), Online Dates Are Hard To Handle (Chain Theatre, Dir. Leeanna Zayas), Occupied Territories (59e59, Dir. Mollye Maxner). Selected Film credits include: The Ballad of a Hustler (Heitor Dahlia), The Upside (Neil Burger), Sometime Other Than Now (Dylan McCormick), New Year’s Eve @ Sunny’s (Bob Giraldi), Wooly Bully (Kristen Buckels)  Selected TV: Dexter: Resurrection, FBI, Monsterland, The Punisher, It’s Bruno. 

Diego is also a frequent storyteller for The Moth and Actors Theater of NYC (ATNYC)

Matt Giroveanu (DRAMATURG) - Dramaturgical Services provided by Matt Giroveanu / Girocast, Inc. Girocast, created in 2018, started as an independent casting company has now turned into a bespoke production company, servicing clients in theatre, voiceover, television and film. The Girocast team also specializes in script analysis, consultations and dramaturgy - facilitating imagination where writers can realize the best versions of their works. www.Girocast.com


o’erwatch

By  Patrick Troy-Brandt, Gray Thurstone, and Harrison Tipping

Directed by Patrick Troy-Brandt, Gray Thurstone, and Harrison Tipping

Synopsis: An ambiguous military outfit secures a checkpoint only to discover things are not quite as they seem in this absurd dramedy.

Patrick Troy-Brandt 

Patrick sincerely thanks you for attending the debut work of his production company, RutFakd Ops, whose mission is to explore the condition of human conflict through a lens fitting the absurdity of war. As we intend to further develop 'O'erwatch' for future productions, we would love to hear any thoughts/feedback you would be inclined to share. Please email RutFakdOps@gmail.com. 

Gray Thurstone

Gray Thurstone is an actor and writer based in New York City. His stage credits include “Actor 2” in A Play Directed by Keanu Reeves pt. 2 (Written by Jeremy McClelland), which premiered at the Chain Theatre Winter One-Act Festival in 2025; “Doctor” and understudy for “Soldier” in A Fortnight at Tripler, which played at the Marjorie S. Dean 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.

Harrison Tipping 

Harrison Tipping is a 25 year old Welsh boy hailing from Wrexham. His film credits include Protocol 7 streaming on Apple TV and Prime, Stand To his own award winning short film and a recent proof of concept shot back in Wrexham. His theatre credits include The Virgin Queen at Palm Beach Dramaworks, Romeo in NYC and Sebastian in Twelfth Night at the court square theatre. He’s honoured to be working in this production along with his two great friends and hopes the audience enjoys this new and exciting take on modern war. 


uptown express

By Kevin Cheng

Directed by Ciera Miller

Synopsis: The MTA subway train is late again. As Noah waits impatiently on the platform, an unexpected old acquaintance arrives.

Ciera Miller (Director) is a NYC based director who loves new works. Past directing credits include: Funeral for a Dog (Edinburgh Fringe, C Arts); The Dark (Miller & Harlow), CafeBlitz (In Confidence), Stuck (Curious Theatre Works); Love is a Blue Tick Hound (Curious Theatre Works), Evermore (Curious Theatre Works), Hootenanny Tonight (Off the Lane), and The Elevator (New York Theatre Festival). Assistant Directing credits include Hadestown Second National Tour, Primero Sueño (METLiveArts), and the world premiere of Stompin' at the Savoy (DTC). She is half of the theater duo Miller & Harlow, the pair were 2023 Jonathan Larson Grant Honorable Mentions and have their new folk musical, Colorado Silver in concert 9/6 at 54 Below! cieramiller.com 

Kevin Cheng (Playwright / Noah) is a Taiwanese actor and writer based in New York City. He received his training at the Neighborhood Playhouse and HB Studio. Notable theater credits include: The Seagull (HB Playwrights), It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Fiction Brooklyn), A Midsummer Night's Dream (A.R.T./New York), Dear Diary (Chain), and Sunset Diner (East Village Basement). Most recently, he starred in the feature film A Journey of Jack and Tom directed by Chin-En Gau. 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.

Maria Jose Payares (Zoe) is a New York-based actor and producer. From a young age, she's had a great passion for theater and the arts. She graduated from New York Film Academy with a BFA in acting for film and has taken multiple classes at HB Studio. She is so excited to be working on this project and very grateful to Kevin for this opportunity. She wants to thank her friends and family for all the support. Credits: Still Waiting for Lefty by Luke Bond, Reflections of Impertinent Judgements by Diego Ruiz de Velasco.

Emma Harlow (u/s, Zoe) is a writer/performer from Northern California proudly a part of musical theatre writing duo Miller & Harlow. Using work and music from their developing shows, Funeral for a Dog, and Colorado Silver, they have proudly received Honorable Mentions for the 2023 Jonathan Larsen Grant. See her at 54 Below this September 6th in the new musical Colorado Silver! Past credits include: Funeral for a Dog by Miller & Harlow;  Cafe Blitz by Miller & Harlow (In Confidence);  The Elevator (New York Theatre Festival) @emma__harlow