PROGRAM 8

Program #8 (3RD Floor)

Aquarium by Katie Parkinson

Divine Feminine or the Male Validation Play by Kiley Gaddis

Last Birthday by Youlim Nam

On the Radio by Edward Gibbons-Brown

Spirit of 76 by Mark Melton

Katie Parkinson (Playwright/Nat, she/her) is a Seattle-born actor, playwright, and improviser based in NYC. She’s a graduate of the BFA Acting program at SUNY Purchase. Film credits include The History of Sound and Somebody/Anybody, an upcoming short she co-wrote and produced. Stage credits include Measure for Measure (Columbia University), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (Methexis Productions), and Twelfth Night (Purchase Rep). Katie is currently developing her next play with the One Year Lease Theatre company. 

Jimmy Guest (Director, he/him) is an NYC based director and actor. Recent work includes They are Quits at Dixon Place Theater and the Secret Theater. He's excited to be a part of this year's festival at the Chain!

Jeff Parkinson  (Neptune, he/him) is an actor and improviser originally from the Seattle area. Recent theatre credits include They Are Quits (938collective), The Munchies (The Tank), The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket (Columbia University SOA), Singing Lessons (Columbia University SOA) and The Bog Queen (Columbia University SOA). Jeff is in his third year of Columbia University’s MFA Acting program and holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville. Instagram: @jeffcparkinson

Pauline Lara (Olive, she/her) is a third year MFA Acting student at Columbia University. She is extremely grateful to collaborate with wonderful creatives on this fin-tastic story. Past credits include Selkie Woman (CU SOA), The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket (CU SOA), The Munchies (The Tank), All My Sons (Tampa Rep), Talking With… (Stageworks), and Dracula (Jobsite). She would like to thank her family and friends for their uplifting support.

Elena Cramer (Shelby) is an actor, director, and musician originally from Wisconsin. She received her  BFA in Acting from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. She is passionate about developing new  work as well as bringing fresh perspective to classic pieces. Her previous NYC acting credits include  Sonya in Uncle Vanya (SIST), ‘92 in wounded by Sophie McIntosh (The Chain), and Mrs. Galloway/Mr.  McGully in A Perfect Map of Everything by Connor Geary (The Tank). You can learn more about her at  her website: www.elenacramer.com 

Sami DeVries (Renée) 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! 

Joy Jaensubhakij (Caroline) is an alumnus of the University of Southern California's School of  Dramatic Arts and is so excited to be part of this amazing project! She thanks everyone for coming and  hopes you enjoy. 

Augustus Saint Glick (Jake) is stoked to reprise his role in Divine Feminine! He is an actor, writer, and  producer coming out of a little town in a little state. His favorite theatrical credits include Kallan Dana’s  new play Lobster, Antigone, Volpone, The Pillowman, and Macbeth (don’t read aloud). He is a recent  graduate of Northwestern University, and shouts out other experiences at BADA, Atlantic Theater  Company, Vassar’s Powerhouse, and Simsbury High. Big thanks to the cast, crew, his family, and  incredible sideline! 

Gavin Petersen (Director) is a Brooklyn-based queer director, They earned a BFA in directing from  Hofstra University. Recent directing projects include Not Leaving by Julianna Kantor (a finalist in the  Queens Short Play Festival), Regicide! by Jude Cramer (SoHo Playhouse Lighthouse Series) and This is  Government by Nina Kissinger (Whale Watch Reading Series). They are currently working as New Work  and Development Chair at PurpleLight Productions and are a co-founder of The Cult, a new Queer theater  collective! You can follow them @gav.peters on Instagram. 

Kiley Gaddis (Playwright) is a Brooklyn-based playwright originally from Austin, TX where she earned  a BA in Theatre Arts and Writing from St. Edward’s University. She’s a Powerhouse Theatre Training  Program at Vassar College Alumni (Playwriting) and is currently a playwright in Purple Light  Production’s Artist Palette Cohort 2024/25. Recent Credits: My Best Friend’s Fish (Epheverie Theatre  Co., The Tank), Left Behind (Masquerade Theatre), Progressive Family Play (The Tank), Hourglass,  Take Care (Secret Theatre). Upcoming: The Daily Grind at The Tank’s Lime Fest!

Youlim Nam (Playwright/Director/Sound Design)

Youlim Nam is a New York City-based actor, playwright, director, and producer from Seoul, Korea. Her work has been presented at Theatre Row, Chain Theatre, Gene Frankel Theatre, and more. Most recently, her work was featured in the NuWorks 2025 Festival by Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. She’s collaborated with renowned artists, including three-time Emmy® winner Cady McClain, on various creative projects. Her honors include awards from City Artist Corps, Ma-Yi Theatre, and Best Actress at the International Independent Short Awards. Youlim is a proud member of AEA, the Dramatists Guild, and Axial Theatre. youlimnam.com

Jun Kim (James)

Jun Kim is a veteran actor who has appeared in Law and Order, and many mainstream Korean movies.

Han Na Shin (Yumi)

Han Na Shin is a Korean-born actor and model from Michigan, now based in New York City. She has appeared in Vogue and Blanc magazines and has worked on commercial campaigns for brands such as Maybelline, Flamingo, and On Running. Han Na made her acting debut in the short film Gonggi, a Nicholl Fellowship Quarterfinalist, followed by Just a Yellow Cab in New York City at Theatre Row with Pan Asian Rep, written by Youlim Nam. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and studied acting at The Barrow Group.

Julius Barkley (Creative Illustrator) Julius Barkley is a New York City-based visual artist from Cleveland, Oh. His work brings deeply researched concepts to tell compelling stories about people, places, and ideas. He is inspired by folklore, afrofuturism, media, history and current events. www.juliusbarkley.com

Original Music (randolphe, assidence) by Tim Brock

NICOLE PONCE (Helion) Nicole Ponce (she/her) is a Peruvian-American actress raised in Florida now based in New York City. She received a B.A in Theatre Arts (Performance) and a B.S in Computer Science from Rollins College. Favorite credits include: A Halloween Carol (Marley Jacobs), Dos Familias: A Bilingual Adaptation (Julieta Capuleto), John Proctor is the Villain (Ivy), Private Lies: An Improvised Film Noir (Billy), Antlers (Amar), Unsung Morning (Maria), and Three Sisters (Irena), The Thousand and One Nights (Hakawati). Stay up to date on her Instagram: @nicooleponce

KENDRA FOSTER MCBRIDE (Jory) Kendra Foster McBride is a singer, actor, musician, dancer, composer, and lyricist, originally from London, and a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Recent performance credits include 'Broadway's The Next Generation,' (The Green Room 42), multiple performances in the recurring show, 'Broadway's Greatest Hits,' (54 Below), 'Broadway By The Season,' (Merkin Hall), Koda in The Chain Theatre Festival’s production of ‘Listen to Me,’ by Edward Gibbons Brown, U/S Kate/Swing in ‘The Wild Party,’ (Cosmo Theatre, LA), and Maureen Johnson in ‘Rent,’ (The Dovehouse Theatre, Birmingham, UK). Kendra is very happy to be returning to The Chain Theatre, and thanks Edward for the opportunity!

JACQUELINE DIMARE (Ren) is a French-born British-raised Swedish-American actress, writer, director and composer. She was extensively trained in musical theatre in London and coached by the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in LA and NY. Her film credits include the award-winning mobile short “I Let You Go”, “The Perilous Tale of Pirouetta”, “The Sunset Of Your Memory”, DiMare’s soul-provoking short “Amber Rain”, as well as her composer debut which has been reviewed “hauntingly beautiful”, DiMare’s recently praised mockumentary “The Acting Studio” and “143”, winner of the Audience Choice Award at the Norwalk Film Festival. Jacqueline made her recent Off Off Broadway debut as the leading mystical Persian fortune teller Farrah in “Constellation of Omar Khayyam” at the Jersey City Theater Center, which audiences hailed her performance “mesmerizing” and “bewitching”. Beyond acting, she is in the current production of composing a music score and a book series. Jacqueline is honored to bring Ren to life of vulnerability and strength, and grateful to perform at the Chain Theatre. 

BRAD HAYES, JR. (Merrit) is an actor who is training with The Barrow Group, an acting school in Manhattan, NY. Some of his recent and unreleased film credits include “Sentient”, “Aim To Serve”, “The Big Blind” among others which were all filmed in NYC and should be releasing in the near future. Brad is dedicated to diversifying himself as an actor to be able to connect and relate to different individuals and audiences whether on screen or on stage to leave people with memorable experiences. Brad is very thankful to be able to bring Merrit to life on stage through authenticity, depth, and presence. Brad can be found on Backstage, Actors Access, and Cast It Talent.

PAUL LUTVAK (Vennor) is an actor/voice actor and photographer based in NYC. Stage credits include “Romeo & Juliet”, “Arrivals”, “The Seagull” and the musical “A Brand New World”. TV/Film credits include “Beyond The Silent Night”,  “Plunder Quest” and “A Good Cop”. He can be heard from behind the mic in commercials, video games and podcasts and has trained at The Barrow Group, The Atlantic Acting School and with Paul Liberti and Debbie Irwin. He has been an anesthesiologist for over 20 years! Thrilled to be back on stage at The Chain!

EDWARD GIBBONS-BROWN (Writer, Director) is a passionate and dedicated multi-hyphenate creative artist with a broad variety of experience over many years. His monthly variety show FRIGID Nightcap can be seen the last Friday of every month at Under St. Marks – follow @frigidnightcap for updates. Recent and upcoming productions include: “The Neighborhood Laundromat,” NYTF, “The Interview,” SPF Boo! Fest, NYC, “Listen to Me,” “Walk It Off,” and “Over My Dead Body,” Chain Theatre One-Act Festival, NYC, "Coriolanus," Worlds Elsewhere Theatre Company, NYC/Seattle, "Miracle on 34th Street," The Henegar, Melbourne, FL., “The Three Little Pigs,” part of “Once Upon a Time in NYC,” an evening of staged readings of one-act plays setting fairy tales in modern-day New York. Edward lives in Harlem and can be reached via his website at edwardgibbonsbrown.wixsite.com/director or follow him on Instagram at @edwardgibbonsbrown. He is available and willing to travel for exciting creative work…so hire him for stuff!

Kori Andrea (Actor “Em”) is a narrative and documentary filmmaker and actress who seeks to bring audiences into a number of worlds. With a BFA Film degree from Purchase College, she has credits in acting, directing, editing and cinematography for various works. She is eager and collaborative with a dream of creating spaces for filmmakers of color both on and off screen. Kori is currently a Production Assistant for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Zoe Williams (Actor “Hayley”), branching off from a more conventional route, took a drop-in improv class at The Second City a year ago and hasn’t looked back. She is one sixth of the improv team Little Darlings, and enjoys performing in many forms, whether musical, scripted, or improvised. This is her first play since High School, and she’s thrilled to be part of it!

Raja (Actor “Jordan”) is a Bronx-based New York actor. He is a recent graduate of the Hofstra University Drama BFA Performance program. He hopes you all enjoy the performances and is very thankful for the opportunity to perform! A special thanks to his family, friends, and as always the Man upstairs!

Matt Card (Actor “Linus”) first did theater when his mother secretly signed him up for a summer theater program when he was 10. He, at first, was not a fan, but quickly loved it and continued to do it for the next 5 years. Since then, he’s done any form of acting he could get his hands on, including hosting the HEAT Network’s Director’s Cut and performing in the comedy puppet special Larry Land.

Jordan McLaughlin (Casting Director) ) recently graduated from Hofstra University with a degree BFA in Drama Performance, and she is now based in New York pursuing casting. She would like to thank Mark for giving her awesome opportunities like this!

Mark Melton (Playwright/Director) is a writer, director, and performer who trains and performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade, The Second City, and the Peoples Improv Theater. He has also worked as a Production Assistant for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and can be seen performing in Hope/less  by Spencer Giles here at the Chain One Act Festival! Upcoming, he’ll be writing, performing in, and producing That’s Our Show, a sketch comedy spectacular at the Peoples Improv Theater on August 15th at 7pm. @swugmark