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The Lone Wolf Society

 
A modern tragedy in three acts
 
 
Written by 
Anthony J. Piccione
 
Directed by
Andrés Gallardo Bustillo
 
Starring
 
 
Robert Maisonett
Millie Gibbons
Gabriella Speilberg
Bruce Gomez
Chyna Jackson
Nikolas Elrifi
Praveen US
 
Leyla Hadi-Kassim
Adi Israel
Giogio-Josez Varipapa
 

Run Time & Program Order - Approximately 90 minutes

Prologue

Act I - Recruitment

Act II - Radicalization

Intermission

Act III - Reckoning

 
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Trigger Warning

The Lone Wolf Society contains references to gun violence, sexual assault, cyberbullying, stalking, and various other forms of extreme violence and bigotry.

Audience discretion is strongly advised.


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Who's Who


Cast

Bruce Gomez

Elijah
Robert Maisonett

The Colonel/Vincent
Chyna Jackson

Gabby
Leyla Hadi-Kassim

Principal Morris/Susan
Millie Gibbons

Ashley
Nikolas Elrifi

Dalton
Adi Israel

Vanessa/Ensemble
Gabriella Spielberg

Molly/Ensemble
Praveen US

Brian/Ensemble
Giorgio-Jozef Varipapa

Tommy/Ensemble

Creative Team

Anthony J. Piccione

Writer/Producer
Andrés Gallardo Bustillo

Director
Ella Rose

Stage Manager
Norah Gross

Assistant Director

Author's Note

Author's Note

On December 14th, 2012, a gunman murdered 26 innocent people - including 20 young children - at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

There are two reasons why I remember that date. The first reason is that had he chosen to go to another school right around the corner, up to three of my cousins - and I'm grateful that none of them were - could have easily been among the victims in that horrific tragedy.

The second reason is that it was later revealed that the perpetrator of the massacre was on the autism spectrum. It still haunts me to this day, as an adult neurodivergent man, that I could have easily lost members of my own family to another autistic man from my generation.

Yet as I got older, it also inspired me to think more about one of the most important yet uncomfortable questions that need answering, to understand and defeat today's rising tide of fascism: What drives young, alienated men to commit such terrible acts of violence, and exactly how do they end up going down the rabbit hole of extremism?

I'm not naive enough to believe that any of my plays will single-handedly solve the problems they reference. Whether it be gun control, ending the stigma of mental illness, or challenging the norms and expectations that come with gender identity, there are many ways - in terms of both policy and cultural answers - to fight the evils depicted here on stage, but these are complex long-term issues that can't only be looked at through one lens or the other.

Nonetheless, I do hope that this story - and the work of the tireless artists who are here to bring it to life - will inspire all of us to do what we can to avoid tragedies like what you will see, and to help show those who feel vulnerable and isolated that there is a better way forward than the path offered to Elijah Brooks.

Anthony J. Piccione

Meet the Company


Bruce Gomez (Elijah)
Bruce Gomez is a NYC based actor eager to bring his passion and energy to new projects. He graduated from Susquehanna University with a BA in theatre performance in May of 2022. Recent credits include Ferdinand (Tempest), Van Helsing (Dracula), and Hastings (She Stoops to Conquer). He sends his gratitude to everyone involved in this production.
Robert Maisonett (The Colonel/Vincent)
Bronx native Robert Maisonett was a 2017 BRIO Award recipient for Narrative Film & Video in Media Arts for his work in Latin Lives, a web series which he developed and created. In February 2020, Robert starred as Brian in Pulitzer Prize-winning play THE SHADOW BOX (Regeneration Theatre). Other theatre credits include: LOS NUTCRACKERS (BAAD!), AS IS (Regeneration Theatre), SONNETS FOR AN OLD CENTURY (Bank Street Theatre), YOUR FAITHFUL READER (Muriel Schulman Theater); SEX, LIES, ADAM & EVE (Nuyorican Poets Café); SMALL CRAFT WARNINGS (Regeneration Theatre); BED & BREAKFAST (Algonquin Theater); FRICTION (47th Theater); A DOCTOR’S CALL (Harold Clurman Theater); CLOUD 9 (Atrium Theater); SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW (Union Square Theater). Film and TV credits include: Alma Perdida; Miguel, Ma Belle; La Promesa; Collision; A Day at the Beach; Behind the Walls; Episode 50; Twin Primes; and “Taxi Brooklyn” (recurring). SAG-AFTRA
Chyna Jackson (Gabby)
Chyna Jackson is a graduate from LIU Brooklyn with a BFA in Theater, Film, and Television. She is a graduate from Stella Adler Studio of Acting and was a dancer at Mark Morris Dance Center and Dancewave. Her previous credits include Outside In, Mr.Burns Post-electric play, and Twelth Night.
Millie Gibbons (Ashley)
Millie Gibbons is a British Actress based in NYC. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her Theatre credits include Lisa in A Wonderful World Of Dissocia, Various in Love & Information and Olivia in Twelfth Night. Film credits include Justin Souriau Levine's Back to The Present, and Gabriele Altobelli’s Art of Diversion III.
Nikolas Elrifi (Dalton)
Nikolas Elrifi is incredibly excited to be a part of this reading. He is a recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied for 4 years, and has spent the time since working as an actor, writer, director, and stuntperson around New York. Recent credits include: River/Richard DuPont (The Arrival), Bernard Nightingale (Arcadia), and Titania (Midsummer Night’s Dream).
Adi Israel (Vanessa/Ensemble)
Adi Israel, born and raised in Israel, is an actress, photographer and dancer based in New York City. Graduated from The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute after intensive training of Method Acting. Has worked on a few short films a stage productions, and is excited to be a part of The Lone Wolf Society. She wants to thank the audience for coming to see the play and the cast and crew for making it happen.
Gabriella Spielberg (Molly/Ensemble)
Gabbie Spielberg is a recent graduate of Oberlin College with a major in theater and a minor in politics. This is her first production post grad and she is thrilled to be working with this wonderful group of theater makers and artists. She loves improv comedy and her dog, Califlower, and you can find her on Instagram @gabatha_christie
Praveen US (Brian/Ensemble)
A student of Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Inst. is proud to make his stage debut in NYC with The Tank. His most recent credits are a Recurring Guest Star role for a National TV Show (Vettai 5) back in Singapore. His credits also include multiple commercials for brands like Guinness, AirNZ and also worked as a model for Gucci, Apple and Volkswagen to name a few. Praveen originally majored in Banking & Finance before making the switch to full time acting which subsequently prompted his move to NYC to study at Lee Strasberg Inst. Hailing from Singapore, he has served the military for 2 years as a Heli-borne Trooper and also prides on the fact he can speak English, Hindi, Tamil and even Mandarin.
Giorgio-Jozef Varipapa (Tommy/Ensemble)
is an actor based in New York City. After appearing in international theater and finishing his studies at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute, Giorgio Varipapa appeared in several Film, as well as Theater productions here in New York. Which includes his recent off-off-Broadway appearance, in the lead role. He is also currently in the rehearsal process for another Theater production that will come up this December. In between you are still able to see Giorgio Varipapa in Improv and Sketch shows.
Anthony J. Piccione (Writer/Producer)
Anthony J. Piccione is an award-winning writer, producer & teaching artist whose debut full-length play A Therapy Session with Myself premiered in January 2019 at the Hudson Guild Theatre before transferring in May to the Kraine Theater for an extended year-long run, while his sophomore full-length play One Empire, Under God made its live premiere at The Tank in November 2021 after previously premiering via Zoom earlier that year, and will be published by Next Stage Press in February 2023. Additionally, Piccione's eclectic canon of one-acts has previously been presented in NYC at venues such as The Tank, the Hudson Guild Theatre, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, Midtown International Theatre Festival, and Manhattan Repertory Theatre. His short drama What I Left Behind was named the NYWinterfest’s Best Short Play of 2018, and his short film The Fire That Won’t Stop was named an official selection at the Venice Short Film Awards, the Paris International Short Festival, and the Hollywood International Golden Age Festival. He also works as a scriptwriter-for-hire whose clients range from Sesame Workshop to Speaks Volumes Productions among several others. Additionally, he is the founder & Artistic Director of the Talking It Out Virtual Arts Festival and has taught playwriting at EPIC Players and Broadway Weekends. Visit www.anthonyjpiccione.com to learn more.
Andrés Gallardo Bustillo (Director)
Andrés Gallardo Bustillo is a Colombian director, choreographer, performer, and educator who currently serves as the Founding Co-Artistic Director at Proscaenium Theatre Company. Prior to Proscaenium, he served as the Co-Artistic Director at The Phoenix Theatre (PA) where he developed Origins Theatre Festival a theatre festival dedicated to celebrating innovation and diversity in the theatre in different cultures. He has worked with theatre companies such as Out of the Box Theatrics, Misi Productions, Teatro SEA, Fuego Celta and Play Nice Theatre Company. He is the founder of Cumbres Musical in Colombia, a preprofessional theatre program. He is also part of the founders of C.R.E.A. Collaborate to Reimagine and Evolve the Arts in New York City. As a director, he has worked on numerous theatrical productions both Off-Broadway and Regionally — including theaters such as the Davenport Theatre, the Kraine Theater, and the American Theatre of Actors, among others. His work as a creator has extended to numerous mediums beyond the theatre, including choreography and film direction. Within his acting career, he has performed in various theatrical productions, film pieces, and dance works. Some career highlights include Indio in West Side Story, Peter Pan in Peter/Wendy, and How The Westons Won — he is also a resident company member at Teatro SEA and Proscaenium Theatre Company. Andrés graduated from Misi School of Musical Theatre and The New York Film Academy’s Musical Theater and Film Professional Conservatory.
Ella Rose (Stage Manager)
Ella Rose is a New York based actress, writer, and director. She started acting in improvisational theatre and went on to study Shakespeare with Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum performing as Dumain in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. Ella is the co-founder of Citizen Change Theatre which specializes in Commedia Dell'arte. With Citizen Change, she co-wrote and starred in Language of the Heart, and What the Frack Happened which premiered in Los Angeles’ Fringe festival. Ella wrote, filmed, and directed the short film Mama and When the Heart Hurts. She is currently working on her first feature length film.

After watching tonight's reading, be sure to leave us your feedback in our anonymous feedback form: https://forms.gle/3BWpVDmfpKn6zhnY9

 

Also, please consider making a tax-deductible donation between now and December 31st to help us bring a full theatrical run in NYC theatergoers in 2023 via Fractured Atlas by visiting www.fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/piccione-arts-production-fund/campaigns/4949

 

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Special THANK YOU to Meghan Finn and the rest of the staff at

for being so supportive and accommodating for us, and for keeping independent theatre alive and thriving here in NYC!


The Lone Wolf Society is a production of 

(C) 2022 Anthony J. Piccione

Dedication

This play is dedicated to the countless victims of gun violence, toxic masculinity, human trafficking & online propaganda in the United States and around the world.

May their memory inspire us all to be more compassionate toward each other, and to leave behind a better world for those who will still be here after we're gone...

Sign-Up for Updates on Our 2023 Production & Other Piccione Arts Productions