PROGRAM 6
Program #6* (4th Floor)
A Father's Day by John Corins
Hallucy by Alex Emanuel
Questions I Keep Asking Myself by Philip Cioffari
Recollection by Jeff Checkley
*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.
A Father’s day
Written By John Corins
Directed by John Sannuto
Synopsis: A two-hander about a deceased woman's husband and son are packing up her belongings to give to Goodwill - but everything comes to a standstill when the son finds a mysterious box stored in the attic.
JERRY FERRIS (Marty)* recently appeared as Charley in Mrs. Loman at Theatre Row. He also appeared in Memoryville by Philip Cioffari at The Chain Theatre’s 2024 Summer Festival. Other credits include Frankie in the award-winning Independent Feature Film Love in the Age of Dion and Patsy in the pilot episode of Blood & Gravy.
FRANK MINIO (Mel) is a member of Polaris North where he appeared in stage productions of The Gin Game and Kalamazoo. He recently appeared in The Backsliders Ball at The Chain Theatre Winter Festival.
JOHN CORINS (Playwright) studied playwrighting with the late, great Gene Frankel. He’s had plays produced in regional and repertory theatres all around the country; including his last play The Backsliders Ball at The Chain Theatre’s Winter Festival.
JOHN SANNUTO (Director) has worked as an actor, singer, dancer, director and choreographer in a variety of performance genres for the past fifty years. He directed John Corins’ play The Backslider’s Ball at The Chain Theatre’s 2025 Winter Festival. He continues to teach theatre as a Full Adjunct Prof. at LIU Brooklyn. jsannuto@gmail.com
NOVA GOMEZ (Stage Manager) is a theater artist from Chicago, IL and recent graduate of Oberlin College. While Nova is primarily a performer, they’ve found immense fulfillment through stage managing A Father’s Day. IG: @novanishing
*Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity
hallucy
Written by Alex Emanuel
Directed by Peter Rossi
Produced by Alex Emanuel, Lana Ayrapetyants and Starna Productions
Synopsis: HALLUCY is an absurdist -or my take on absurdist at least- one-act psychological memory play, based on actual events. It attempts to explore, comically, the dilemma one man faces from a traumatic past incident, one that included the use of psychedelics no less, something that has made him -and in the end perhaps the viewer as well- question what is real and what is not.
Mike Jankowitz trained with famed acting teacher Stella Adler. He has appeared in several dozen productions in New York and regionally, as well as occasional film and television appearances. He is also a playwright; his most recent play, "Only The Dead", dealing with war crimes committed against Canadian troops during World War Two, was presented last year in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Alex Emanuel is an actor, musician, writer, producer, filmmaker, voiceover and visual artist. He’s acted onstage in NYC and regionally, including premieres at Oregon Shakespeare, ZSpace in SF and Steppenwolf in CH. His TV credits include roles on Succession, 50 Central, Central, Public Morals, Blue Bloods and Law and Order, among other shows. He's acted in many features and short films, and produced, acted in and wrote original music for the award-winning indie feature comedy The Incoherents (Amazon Prime). As a writer, his full-length play "Come and Knock Down My Door" has enjoyed many successful readings, and he’s thrilled to put up “Hallucy” for the first time with this great cast and director. Presently, Alex is working on a book and documentary about his father, the late cartoonist Robert Grossman, finishing up a new album of music, and soon to embark on a short film starring his wife, Lana. Thanks Chain! alexemanuel.com @the_alexemanuel
Lana Ayrapetyants is a bilingual theater and film actress who lives and works in New York City. Born in Uzbekistan, Lana began studying dramatic arts at the age of 17; at the age of 20 she joined the Drama Club Theatre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where her theatre credits included: The Cherry Orchard; The Lady Peasant; and The Taming of the Shrew, among others. In 2014, Lana moved to the US and studied acting in several studios based in NYC. She holds an MBA degree from Northeastern University (Boston) with her professional acting training coming mostly from HB Studio (NYC). Her recent work includes acting in the films “Apple Pie Dreams” and “Fractals”, among others. Lana is thrilled to be making her US debut at the Chain Theatre Festival and thanks her mentors at HB Studio, her fellow classmates, and, cast of “Hallucy” for such an incredible experience! @lanaayrapetyants
Peter Rossi is a NY/LA playwright, screenwriter, director, actor, musician and composer. Plays he’s written and directed include Cody Angelino is Coming, In Tune n’ Jammin’, The Wait & The Celler and soon, El Fata Mirage, and The Gilded Miss L. Films he’s directed include The Heist, The Asphalt Quartet, The Cugines & Don Vito’s Equestrian Thunder. He's written numerous screenplays and created The Cugines, a 3D Animated/hybrid comedy based on the Godfather, for Television. Currently Peter is working on two documentaries; One World Play and Protopunk, The Forgotten NY Sound. @pthomasrossi
(*member Actors’ Equity)
questions i keep asking myself
Written and Directed by Philip Cioffari
Synopsis: A man on the run from the mob and in need of money goes to his former lover for help, and to make an effort to heal the heartbreak that neither of them have yet recovered from.
Philip Cioffari (writer/director) is the author of the novels: NIGHT AND ITS LONGINGS; IF ANYONE ASKS, SAY I DIED FROM THE HEARTBREAKING BLUES; THE BRONX KILL; DARK ROAD, DEAD END; JESUSVILLE; 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 short stories have been published widely in commercial and literary magazines and anthologies, including North American Review, Playboy, Michigan Quarterly Review, Northwest Review, Florida Fiction, and Southern Humanities Review. He is a playwright member of the Actors Studio. His plays have appeared Off and Off-Off Broadway. This is his fifth play in the Chain Festivals. 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 teaches fiction writing at the Gotham Writers Center in NYC. www.philipcioffari.com
Deirdre Hering (Reggie) is an actor from the Hudson Valley, New York. She's a longtime student of HB Studio. This is her first time on stage in New York City and she is very grateful to her friends, family and creative collaborators for their support.
Supreet Mahanti (Nick) is an actor and writer whose recent stage work includes Blithe Apparition (Polaris North, Lefcowitz), Memoryville (Chain Theater, Cioffari), and Only the Dead (France, Jankovitz). Originally from India, Supreet performed in school and college plays before pursuing a career in advertising and humanitarian communication. Now based in New York, he works in digital advocacy and writes about climate change while training at HB Studio, a place he hasn’t left since 2022. He thanks his directors, castmates, and anyone who’s ever trusted him with their writing.
recollection
By Jeff Checkley
Directed by Marie Eléna O’Brien
Synopsis: A wounded soldier recounts to his father the events leading to his being injured in a terror attack off base. He reveals the true gravitas of his experience and the short and long term effects it has had on his wellbeing.
WILLIAM OLIVER WATKINS* (Scott, Recollection). Recent Stage: NYC: Hamlet (Public), R+J, The Three Musketeers (TAC), Henry VI (Atlas Shakes);The Right One (New Ambassadors), Snakeskin Suit (EST); Merchant of Venice and Merry Wives of Windsor (HipToHip); Regional: The Lehman Trilogy and Sweat (Capital Rep). One Night in Miami, Jackie & Me, As You Like It, Ruined (Denver Center), Perseverance (Portland Stage), Othello, Twelfth Night (Cincinnati Shakespeare), Lombardi & Great Expectations (Cleveland Playhouse). Film/TV): 40-Year-Old Version (Sundance Award Winner); “End Game”; “Blindspot”; “The Blacklist: Redemption”; “Madam Secretary”; “Nurse Jackie”; “Law & Order; “Law & Order: SVU”; “Rescue Me”; “NY 22”; “Canterbury's Law”. Will is originally from Cincinnati, OH.
ROBERT MAISONETT (Mark, Recollection). Robert Maisonett graduated with a B.A. in theater. He has numerous stage and film credits. Robert is a 2017 BRIO Award recipient for Narrative Film & Video in Media Arts for his work in Latin Lives. A web series, based on the play, both which he developed and created. SAG-AFTRA
MARIE ELÉNA O'BRIEN* (Director, Recollection) Last seen onstage (Interlude, Winter 2025; A Rose By Any Other Name, Summer 2023), Marie Eléna is delighted to be back at the Chain's Short Play Festival and reuniting with playwright Jeff Checkley. Marie Eléna wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks to Balazs Tamoga, Avi Bonime and Brian Reilly. Other directing credits include The Designated Mourner, Irregulars (AD), Cassie Strickland Is Not Under The Bed (NATC) and In The Garden Of The Hesperides (Semi-Finalist; Secret Theatre). Marie Eléna is the Founder and Artistic Director of Jade Rabbit Theatre Company and the Conscious Creatives Circle. Learn more on IG @jade.rabbit.theatre.company
JEFF CHECKLEY (Playwright, Recollection)
Jeff Checkley is a contributor to New York’s Independent theatre scene. He has produced plays and festivals at such venues as West End, Kraine Theatre, Theatre Lab, Hudson Guild, TADA, Playroom Theatre and Producers Club. Checkley is a playwright, actor and model. A former physique competitor, Checkley is a founder and Executive Producer of New Ambassadors Theatre. He is thrilled to be back at the Chain Theatre with his production of Recollection.
*Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association.