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"A festival of short plays for the Broken" |
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DOT Theater at HERE Arts Center |
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Cast
Creative Team
Who's Who
Mia Y. Anderson is an actress, director born and raised in the Republic of Brooklyn . A 2014 directing fellow/New Perspectives Theater and a member of the 2015 Lincoln Center’s Director’s Lab. A 2016 BarnArts Hamilton Project writing resident. Her solo work “her, him, prince, michael, and marvin aka love is love is love” was a 2019 QuickSilver Theater POC Summit Finalist work. Her play “The Phone Call” was included in the Minnesota’s Little Red Theater Company 2020 Tiny Play Quarantine Festival.
Joe Antonetti is thrilled to be appearing in a New Ambassadors production for the first time. Most recently, Joe appeared in a series of low-budget productions while in college. Recent roles include Matt in One Hell of a Christmas, Richard Tall in Walter’s Will, and Charlie in Mary’s Wedding. By day, Joe is a software engineer at Facebook, where he works on the Nonprofits team.
Eric Berkeley is an NYC playwright, stage manager, and production assistant, as well as the founder of his own theatre and multi-entertainment production company, Unlimited Stages. Over the years, Eric has done various backstage crew work for places such as Theatre at St. Johns, The Tank, and The Public Theater. We are thrilled to have him on board as our stage manager for this year's festival.
Serena Berman is a writer, actress, and producer in NYC. Her work has been developed with Ars Nova, Westport Country Playhouse, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Corkscrew Festival, Less Than Rent, and more. Ars Nova Play Group (2019-2021), Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship semi-finalist (2020). She was Co-Director of Performance at LES gallery Chinatown Soup (2016-2020), where she produced theater and organized artist-led political activism. She’s a longtime improvisor (Second City Hollywood, UCB NY) and sometimes teaches comedy to children. Favorite acting credits include Set it Up (Netflix), Diaspora (NY Premiere), Murder at the Gates (Steven Sater), and Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales (Voice of Lucy – ABC). BFA NYU Tisch. www.serenaberman.com
Maile Binion is an actor, singer, and techie originally from New Orleans, LA. She is a proud company and board member of New Ambassadors Theatre Company. She is thrilled to also be the Festival Chair for this event-- NATC's first live performance since before the Pandemic! Her most recent credit was Ari in "Binders", a part of NATC's Blurring Boundaries 2021.
Jennifer Elizabeth Bradley hails from Chicago and is thrilled to be a part of the excitement surrounding New Ambassadors Theatre Company! Early Chicago credits include Fairy Tales (original cast recording) directed by Gary Griffin, performing alongside Jeff Richmond and Alexandra Billings in Richmond’s Hamlet: The Melancholy Musical (Ophelia) at ImprovOlympic, and working with Dale Wasserman in a remount of Beggars Holiday at Pegasus Players. Regional credits include Peninsula Player’s YCTIWY (Alice) with Joel Hatch and A Funny Thing...Way to the Forum with Howard Platt. She graduated BFA in Music Theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Carla Briscoe is a writer and performer. A co-founder of New Ambassadors Theatre Company, she has also worked with Ars Nova, The Barrow Group, Cherry Lane, HB Playwrights, IRT, the Kennedy Center, LAByrinth Theater Company, New Dramatists, New Georges, the NY International Fringe Festival, Sundance Institute, the Upright Citizen’s Brigade and others. She's grateful to all the extraordinary artists, volunteers and funders who made "Heartbroke" possible, and to the two big loves in her life : David and Mia. For more information, please visit www.carlabriscoe.com.
Sydney Burtner is a NYC-based writer/director/producer. She adapted the young adult novel THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE QUEST with producer James Hornbeak. She’s a contributor to the Playground Experiment and serves as a guest director for the The New Ambassadors Theatre. She produced Cannes-winning short film HAPPY NOW (First Place, Cinéfondation) and the AMPAS-winning short THE WORMHOLE (Narrative, First Place, Student Oscars). As a journalist, she garnered Virginia Press Association awards for both writing and photography. Previously she served as a VP in Finance. She holds a NYU Master’s degree in producing and screenwriting.
This is Mr. Butera's second time directing for the company's HEARTbroke series, the first was It's About Forgiveness. Past shows; Merry Wives of Windsor, The Merchant of Venice, Glass Menagerie, The Dutchman as well as many others. Recently he was seen as an actor playing Mistress Popo in, Inside and Out as well as Eddie in Faultlines, by David Adam Gill. Off Broadway on stage alongside Tony-Nominated Lou Liberatore in Gay. Porn. Mafia, the Audience Award Winner at the 2018 Downtown Urban Arts Festival. On television he can be seen on Alien Dawn as Dr. Luther, All My Children and other Prime Time shows.
Ben Dworken advocates for disability inclusion in the arts, and is proud to represent the autism community as a playwright for HEARTbroke. He is also the Outreach Ambassador for New Ambassadors. Throughout his six and a half years in NYC, he has acted in various productions including "Uncle Vanya" for Columbia University, "SHOTZ!" for Amios, and some productions for DreamStreet Theatre and EPIC Players. He has also appeared in films such as "Older Brothers" and "After You've Gone". Ben would like to thank David Adam Gill for the countless hours he devoted to help Ben improve his playwriting and to the New Ambassadors community for giving him a chance to spread his wings in the theater. Many thanks to all my friends in the NYC theatre community for their tremendous support!
Jennifer Downes (AEA/Sag-Aftra) is a producer, writer, actor, and the Associate Artistic Director of New Ambassador’s. She is thrilled for the company’s return to live theater, and incredibly grateful for all of the arts lovers who have supported us through this most extraordinary time. Resume and examples of Jennifer’s work can be found at www.jenniferdownes.com
EVAN EDWARDS is a polyonymous member of Actors Equity. As Steven Hamilton, he earned a BA in English/Theatre (Niagara University). His credits include the original cast of Miss Saigon (Stuttgart, Germany), I and Albert (supervised by Charles Strauss), On a Clear Day… (supervised by Burton Lane), Oklahoma (opposite Montego Glover), Once on this Island (with Norm Lewis), Dreamgirls (25th Anniversary), Joseph…, Evita, My One and Only, Bye Bye Birdie, and Anything Goes, to name a few. Evan's also an award-winning playwright, director and teacher. He’s thankful for all opportunities, past and present, and grateful for this one. EvanEdwardsAEA.org
Allison Fradkin creates satirically scintillating stories that (sur)pass the Bechdel Test and enlist their characters in a caricature of the idiocies and intricacies of insidious isms. In New York, her work has been presented by Clutch Productions, New Shokan Kitchen Island Project, The PlayGround Experiment, Undiscovered Countries, Paper Kraine Productions, Dramatic Question Theatre, and Brazen-Faced Varlets. Fradkin freelances for her hometown of Chicago as Literary Manager of Violet Surprise Theatre, curating new works by queer writers; and as Dramatist for Special Gifts Theatre, adapting scripts for actors of all abilities.
Plays: Providence (Transient Theater, Chicago; Roy Arias, NYC), F*cked –up Family Trilogy (Experimenting with Katz (TheaterLab), Irregulars & Unfinished), More Myself Than I Am – also directed (Secret Theatre & Manhattan Repertory - Best Play), A Most Egregious Way (HEARTbroke), Inside & Out, Fault Lines (Blurring Boundaries; Secret Theatre, Best American Short Plays 2018-2019), Wee Annie’s Hold (octoberFEARfest). (Director) Ghosts & Gaslighting (Broadway Bound), Guns & Ammunition, It's About Forgiveness (Blurring Boundaries), Time the Revelator & Requiem for a Third Wheel (Axial), #138 and The Devil You Know (octoberFEARfest). David is the co-Founder and Artistic Director of New Ambassadors.
 gillbird1 |
John is a writer and actor who studied at Yale University and William Esper Studio. John was a writer and founding member of the experimental comedy troupe ‘His Majesty, the Baby’, performing original theater pieces at Dixon Place, The Duplex, and the NYCFringe Festival. He has written several plays including AUTOBIOGRAPHY (Blurring Boundaries Festival), DEATHBED (Fearfestival), MOCKUMENTARIANISM (AMiOS). Most recently, John created, wrote, and produced the television pilot GOOD MOURNING and the full-length play TIGHT FIVE, and the audio play series THE GREAT ESCAPISM with collaborator and partner Jennifer Downes. He is a proud member of the New Ambassadors Theatre Company and regular contributor to Naked Angels.
Bryn Herdrich (she/her) creates storytelling events and directs theater and film. She has been the Associate Director of The Sound Inside by Adam Rapp at Studio 54, and recently directed BUST at Soho Rep. Other credits include: Is it Supposed To Last (PlayCo), My Life Has Been Extraordinary (Joe’s Pub), Variations on the Main (JACK), Are We There Yet (The Bitter End), and Interabang (Ars Nova ANT Fest). Member of Soho Rep’s Writer/Director Lab, MTC Directing Fellow 2018-2020, WTF Directors Corps, and the SDC Observership Class of 2018-2019.
Mark has performed regionally throughout the US in theatres such as: • • Pittsburgh Public – The Cocktail Hour (with Kim Hunter) • • Cleveland Playhouse – The Philadelphia Story (with Stephanie Zimbalist) • • Repertory Theater of St. Louis – Over the Tavern • • Fulton Opera House – The Little Foxes Mark had a long stint on the soap opera “Loving”; and leading roles in network television dramas such as “Law and Order, SVU”. Film roles include "Prince of the City" and "Daniel". He is thrilled to be a part of this talented and dynamic young company, New Ambassadors!
Elizabeth has worked extensively in theatre both here and in the UK. Most notably "Abigail's Party" at The New Group with Jennifer Jason Leigh & When Harry Met Sally with Luke Perry & Molly Ringwald (West End). She’s a founding member of New Ambassadors theatre company & co-produced & performed in “Blurring Boundaries” their inaugural short play festival. Film & TV includes: Fully Furnished, Creative Control & Christie Malry's Own Double Entry. She’s also recorded over 120 audio books & numerous voice overs & commercials.
ALY KANTOR Aly Kantor is a playwright, performer, and educator from Long Island, New York whose work has been produced across the country. Her original work tends to focus on women’s stories, with a touch of magic, science, history, and/or the uncanny. She is a recipient of a 2022 Long Island Arts Grant for Playwriting and is currently workshopping a new, queer adaptation of The Great Gatsby for Eastline Theatre. Recently, her full-length play Occupied was named the winner of the Dominion Stage Playwriting Competition, and was a finalist in the National Woman Theatre Festival’s Occupy the Stage 2022.
David Michael Kirby is a graduate of the Atlantic Theater Company conservatory program. He is a versatile actor, singer, director, and writer. His most recent play "Ephemory Lane" premiered at New Ambassadors' Blurring Boundaries Festival in 2021. Numerous NYC appearances include A Little Princess (US premiere-Signature); The Spoon River Project (NYC premiere-Greenwood Cemetery); Carnival Round the Central Figure (NYC premiere-IRT). Select film: Zero Issue; WARFIELD; The Lion’s Den. Web series: Mythos (ITVFest award-winner). David is a founding member of New Ambassadors Theatre Company, and was recently re-elected to its Board.
Starr Kirkland is an actor and spoken word artist. Recent credits include Zoetrope (Exquisite Corpse), Black Feminist Video Game (59E59), TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever (JACK). They have participated in readings and workshops at Joe’s Pub, New Georges, The Lark, MTC, Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, SPACE on Ryder Farm, La Mama, Plays and Players, Bushwick Starr, Ars Nova, and Seven Devils with a long list of wonderful collaborators. In a topsy-turvy world, you can often find them upside down: whether it be in a silk, walking on her hands, or generally being strange in a corner. www.starrkirkland.com
Arielle Beth Klein (she/her) is a Queer, Jewish writer and actor from NYC. Her most recent play My Shiksa Boyfriend was produced by Kervigo Ensemble Theater (2021) and New Yiddish Rep (2018). Arielle's recent screenplay The Red Shoes was a semifinalist in the Big Apple Film Festival's Screenwriting competition and Tired Mind is currently being submitted to festivals. You can read her essays/articles in Amendo and Jewish Women's Archive. As an actor, she’s worked off Broadway, regionally and on TV (“A Good Cop”; “Bull”).Thanks to everyone at New Ambassadors for the opportunity! www.ArielleBethKlein.com
Priyanka is even tinier in real life. She can be seen on Season 5 of Younger in a scene with Sutton Foster, and in the upcoming TV series Go Fetch Club. Priyanka made her off-Broadway debut originating the role of Brandi in the musical Contact High. Other fun credits: Bhangin' It (La Jolla Playhouse & Lincoln Center), Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest (Duplex), and Anika in RomComPods. Whilst Priyanka works on her new show Pri vs. the Patriarchy, she would like to thank George Carlin for existing. You will always be the man who got away. www.priyankakrishnan.com
Matthew Menendez, no relation to the Menendez brothers. Matthew is the solution to your casting problem. Funny, sassy, and with a flair for the dramatic there is no acting challenge to big or small that he doesn't enjoy tackling. Since taking the big apple by storm, he started out by living it up on the off, off...off broadway stage and has since then moved to off off broadway and can be seen in indie films, short films and in, the new media, world of web series.
Rook Mogavero graduated from Swarthmore College with a BA in theater in 2020, which, as you can imagine, was quite difficult. They are so excited to be making their first return to the stage since then! In the meantime, they've been dipping their toes into the waters of fiction podcasting, and are currently working as director and voice actor in the upcoming sci-fi audio drama ROGUEMAKER, which you can learn more about at www.roguemaker.space. Select credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Ensemble), The Suppliant Women (Son of Agyptos), and Fuckin' A (Hunters). Follow Rook on Twitter @CorvidCastle12.
Erin Moughon is a playwright, teacher, and proud member of the Dramatist Guild. Plays include Ghosts and Gaslighting (Lion Theatre), Snow White Padded Room (14th St Y), Survived By (3LD). Short plays include “Too Old”, “In Memory of Calvinball” and “Out of Body/On a Train.” Check her plays out on the New Play Exchange and follow @erinplaywright!
Mandy Murphy is a NYC based actress/playwright. She hails from the great state of Texas and holds a BFA in Acting from Texas State University. Favorite roles include: Lucy in Mister Marmalade, Red in Late: A Cowboy Song & Lil’ Bit How I Learned to Drive. She is a proud company member of New Ambassadors Theater Co. and The Playground Experiment. Big thank you to my entire New Ambassadors Family. So happy to be sharing air with y'all again. Keep up with Mandy and her latest shenanigans at www.mandymurphyplaywright.com.
Chase Naylor is excited at the opportunity to portray Heathcliff again. This will be his 3rd time in this role and his fourth show with New Ambassadors!
A Founding member, Marie Eléna has appeared in New Ambassadors' TO DATE (HeartBroke), BETTER ANGELS (OctoberFEARfest), EXPERIMENTING WITH KATZ (TheatreLab), EPHEMORY LANE, GUNS & AMMUNITION (Blurring Boundaries) and FAULT LINES for which she was awarded Best Actress (Secret Theatre). Other recent productions: Mandy Murphy's VALER (She NYC ARTS), MINOR DEVIATIONS (Estrogenius), FROZEN FOODS (Nylon Fusion), ROUND WENT THE WHEEL (Broadway Bound Theatre Festival) and an all-female identifying production of RICHARD III with Blunt Ensemble. Marie Eléna is a proud member of AEA, The PlayGround Experiment and NY Madness.
Lloyd Pace, "Ranch Country," is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has had several off-off-broadway productions, and a number of one acts produced at various festivals. As an actor, he appeared last summer in The Forest of Arden and Williamstown Theater Festival's production of "Alien/Nation."
CAT PLAZAS is a Colombian-American actor and voice-over artist who is so excited to have her first performances as a company member with The New Ambassadors Theatre Company be as part of 2022’s HEARTbroke festival! Some of her favorite credits include originating roles in A Good Day for Daverny at Dixon Place and SHE: A Choreoplay at NY Live Arts. Cat is a big believer that the best art is that which inspires social change – so when she’s not acting, you’ll find her working to develop arts education programs for young people. Her performance is dedicated to Ashleigh Maria Plazas.
Perryn is thrilled to be making his New Ambassadors debut as both an actor and director. Previous credits include: Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz, JM Barrie in The Lost Boys or an Awfully Big Adventure, and Bernie Tiede on Deadly Sins (Discovery ID). Most recently Perryn collaborated with NATC to produce a staged Zoom reading of his web series This Encounter May Now Begin, a zany look at the world of the Standardized Patient where actors play "patients" who student doctors can then "examine." Let the crazy ensue. Thank you to NATC and David Adam Gill for this opportunity to return to the stage and work with so many wonderful artists.
Ruthie Rado is a playwright, actor, and visual artist. First time onstage since...well, you know. Read her work on New Play Exchange.
Monica Rey studied acting at William Esper Studio and improv with the Magnet Theater. A company member of New Ambassadors Theater, she regularly gives voice to new characters for plays in development at NATC, as well as with The PlayGround Experiment and Lone Star Theatre Company. She is known for playing a sarcastic presidential aide, a justice-seeking renegade in the wild west, and a hard-nose teacher turned miss congeniality (as Evelyn in Purgatory in New Ambassador's Friday Night Footlights series). Monica lives to tell stories that break down barriers and celebrate transformation.
Jasmine Spiess (usually a part of the acting company) is excited to debut Standing Up as a playwright with NATC! Recent credits include the production of her short play, Tree Hugger, as part of Break a Leg Productions Hope Springs Eternal Festival. Through The Playground Experiment, Jasmine recently had a reading of her full-length play, On Any Given Day in America...and her monologue, The Hypothesis, was published and performed as part of the Faces of America Monologue Festival. Jasmine is a "Renaissance Woman" who wears a lot of diverse hats. For more information: www.jasminespiess.com.
Saadiq is excited to be performing in his second production with New Ambassador’s Theater Co. HEARTbroke is his first theatrical performance post covid and he couldn’t be more honored to be back on the stage. He would like to thank his partner Mekiel for supporting him and staying by his side through it all. Special thanks to David, Jennifer, Maile for their consistent efforts and dedication.
Multimedia
Chase Naylor & John Peña Griswold in "It's About Forgiveness" by Amanda Hanna
Marie Eléna O'Brien & Carolyn Seiff in "Ephemory Lane" by David Michael Kirby
Jennifer Downes & Carla Briscoe in "A Most Egregious Way" by David Adam Gill
Elizabeth Jasicki & Veronica Dang in "20/40" by Amanda Hanna
The Company of HEARTbroke 2020
Jeff Checkley & Jennifer Elizabeth Bradley in "The Shroud of Turin" by Linda Giuliano
Andrew Elvis Miller, Nic DiPierro & Jennifer Downes in "Autobiography" by John Peña Griswold
The HEARTbroke 2022 Company (photo by Bjorn Bolinder)
Donors
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Tom Wallace C.J. Gelfand Shelly Gauthreaux Michael Mesko Jennifer Downes Elizabeth Jasicki Eric Berkley Monica Val Hockenberger Gregg Lempp & Edouard Daunas |
Dana Gauthreax Binion Susan Egginton Kat Haan David Adam Gill Ben Dworken David Pleva Herb Briscoe Andy White Sandra & Fay Parris Paula Gill & Ray Lopez |
Thank you for joining us for HeartBROKE 2022!
On behalf of everyone at New Ambassadors Theatre Company, welcome to our production of HeartBROKE! We can’t think of a more exciting way to return to our live programming than with the incredible collection of writers, directors, and actors that have brought this festival to life. Anyone familiar with our work knows that we highly value the community that makes up NATC, and we are thrilled to feature so many of our members while bringing new artists into the fold.
Returning to the stage is no small feat - rather one more step in the work that New Ambassadors has continued to do over the course of the last two years to keep theater, and our vibrant community, thriving. Since our founding in 2018, we have been steadfast in our commitment to facilitating the development of new works from workshop to production. From our LAB reading series to our variety of fully-produced programming, we remain dedicated to our community, and have worked tirelessly to continue providing a creative home to the immense talent we are honored to witness in our company members.
This is our first staged production since March 2020, our first with a fully-formed Board, and our first partnership with the HERE Arts Center. We are absolutely over the moon to be sharing this work with a live audience!
Thank you for joining us for these stories, and for the many still to come.
David Adam Gill. Artistic Director
Jennifer Downes, Associate Artistic Director
Maile Binion, Festival Chair
We'd like to extend a special thank you to the following: Martin Patrick Evan Ltd., RemixMarket (@remixmarketnyc), The Brazen Tavern, Tony Dipaolo and Ernst & Young, Naken Angels, First Fridays at TBG, Pap Murf, Kervigo Ensemble, New Georges, Ars Nova, Max Reinhardsen, Bjorn Bolinder (www.findthelightphotography.
Please help support New Ambassadors Theatre Company by giving in the following ways:
Via aur Website:
DONATE (newambassadorstheatre.com)
Venmo: @New-Ambassadors
Or mail your donation to:
New Ambassadors Theatre Company
53 East 2nd Street #2
Brooklyn, NY 11218
New Ambassadors is a registered 501 (c)3 so any donation you make will be tax deductible.
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