Fearless Bear Productions Presents...Jean Jackets& Red Pandas |
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By Nicholas Kennedy |
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Trinity Theatre |
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| 422 West 57th Street | ||
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Cast
John Lichtwalt
Andre
Adaline Gomez
Lucy
Brian Mendoza
Wallace
Creative Team
Nicholas Kennedy
Playwright/Director
Michael Defilippis
Assistant Director/Producer
George Nicholas
Lighting Designer/Producer
Jesse Scholz
Assistant Director/Sound Design/Developer/Programer
Tim Cardona
Composer
Nino Amari
Lead Set Designer/Developer
Simone Schiefer
Scenic Designer
Cynthia Johnson
Costume Designer
Dayanna Price
Stage Manager
Devin Romero
Documentarian/Design Assistant
Lauren McAuliffe
Assistant Stage Manager
Brandon Handy
Assistant Sound Designer/Production Design Assistant
Megan Lennon
Intimacy/Daily Wellness Coordinator
Winona Kasey
Stage Hand
Caleb Schrock
Production Assistant
Adaline Gomez
Lucy
Adaline Gomez is an NYC based actor, theater maker, and sound designer. She grew up in Dallas, Texas and received her BFA from the New School for Drama. Recent theatre credits include Henry IV part 2 (Fallstaff's Page) with Stag and Lion Theatre Company, Taco Tuesday at the Tank, The Future at the Actors Circle Ensemble PicPlays Festival, and Exploration of the Everchanging in residency at FiveMyles Gallery.
Brian Mendoza
Wallace
Brian is thrilled to be a part of Jean Jackets and Red Pandas. He is a New Jersey based actor whose recent works include productions of Henry IV Part 1 and Henry IV Part 2 with Stag & Lion Theatre, as well as productions of original pieces For My Very Own and Full Circle at the Chain Theatre. He received his education at the University of Pennsylvania, where he played roles such as Brutus in Julius Caesar and Winston Smith in an original adaptation of 1984. He would also like to thank his family and loved ones for their continued support.
John Lichtwalt
Andre
John has an MFA in acting from the New School for Drama. He's a company member of the Stag & Lion Theatre Co. Search for him in a few co-star roles on TV and a new short film called Straw Rafts. A statement from the director of the show. "...While being a master of none in his tenure with Stag & Lion Theatre Co. John had continued to impress me as a fellow company member, Early on I looked up to his hard-working attitude, specifically him being able to excel in technical problem-solving. After working on four shows in the Trinity Theatre with John, I asked to assist and observe him raise and expand the stage. Several of those days at its core were just me standing around sweating, from doing light tasks while John accounted for every aspect of the stage's new design. I hid my inspiration as I vacuumed the sawdust that had engulfed us, Iknew this experience would open a door, that entry being this play..." Reflecting on his career John has spent a third of his life in New York collaborating with many storytellers, working load in's/outs for Broadway, and practicing his craft tirelessly.
Nicholas Kennedy
Playwright/Director
Nick feels so honored to be able to Direct his first original play in New York. With a Background in Fine Art's that spans much of his life. Nick has grown a career in the Theatre and in the Independent Film Scene in New York. Nick's theatre experience has mostly been in Performing/Assistant Directing various off/off-off productions since he was just a freshman in College. Nick received his B.A from Pace University's FSS program, he is now currently starting his MFA at Cuny's, City College Filmmaking Program. Nick is maintaining an equal balance of growing his network and expanding his creative abilities in both Theatre & Film.
Michael Defilippis
Assistant Director/Producer
Michael DeFilippis is an actor and theater maker based in Brooklyn, most recently appearing as Hal in the Stag and Lion production of Henry IV Parts 1 & 2. He is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
George Nicholas
Lighting Designer/Producer
George Nicholas is New York based award-winning filmmaker and director of photography. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to first-generation Greek immigrants, picked up his father's love for photography at age 7, and wrote and directed his first play at 11. He studied drama at the University of Texas, Arlington and was a founding cast member of the Dallas chapter of ComedySportz. He moved to NYC in 1998, worked as a sound technician for Off-Broadway Theater and as a roadie, working with bands like the Rolling Stones, before moving a bit north to attend the Conservatory of Film at the State University of New York at Purchase, where he graduated with a BFA in Film Production. He has been the Director of Photography for over 70 projects, from feature films to music videos and commercials. His works have played at hundreds of festivals around the world including Raindance, Cinequest, Newport Beach International Film Festivals, and have aired on MTV, PBS, GAC, VH-1. In addition to his directing and producing work, George is a in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University.
This is a return to his original love, the stage, having just designed the lighting and sound for “Onassis,” which ran at the American Theatre of Actors in March.
Jesse Scholz
Assistant Director/Sound Design/Developer/Programer
Jesse Scholz is a filmmaker based out of Austin, Texas. As a director, Jesse’s short films have played at South by Southwest and the Dallas International Film Festival. With a broad career in film and television ranging from Terrence Malick films to Netflix’ Queer Eye, this is Jesse’s first theatrical production.
Tim Cardona
Composer
Tim Cardona is a professional musician/composer in NYC who has spent the last 12 years singing and playing with his father Pepe Cardona, lead singer of Alive'n'Kickin and gold record recipient for the 1970 hit song "Tighter.Tighter". Tim resides in Brooklyn and is currently pursuing jazz and film scoring.
Nino Amari
Lead Set Designer/Developer
Nino Amari is a NYC based Production and Scenic designer. He works to reach a broad spectrum of artistic mediums ranging from theatre, film, events and installations. As a recent graduate of Mason Gross School of The Arts, getting a BFA in Scenic Design, he is excited to share his passion and experience with fellow artists and entertainers. Nino’s recent credits include the world premier of ‘I’m Still Here’ and ‘Fistful of Cake, Pocketful of Miracles’.
Simone Schiefer
Scenic Designer
Simone Schiefer is an experience designer currently based in New York City. She has designed props and sets for short films, live performances, still images internationally and uses set design as an immersive world building tool in her personal practice. Simone recently finished her Master of Fine Art’s from the Royal College of Art in London after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in 2016.
Cynthia Johnson
Costume Designer
This is Cynthia’s theatrical costume design debut! Cynthia has her BA in Theater from California State University Northridge after which she made the move to New York to pursue an acting career. She has had the pleasure of performing with Stag and Lion Theater Co. for 3 years and has finally made the jump into design. She is extremely grateful for this opportunity to work alongside Nick Kennedy in his passionate and beautiful work of art.
Dayanna Price
Stage Manager
Dayanna Price is excited to be a part of the Jean Jackets and Red Pandas production team as their Stage Manager. Growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she always had a heart to perform as well as learning the ins and outs of the theatre world. After graduating in 2020 from the American Musical & Dramatic Academy with a BFA in Performing Arts, she went off to do a multitude of projects within the vast field. Some include being a contestant on Let's Make a Deal, playing Envy in Infernal the Musical, being Shony in Penny's Kids, and many background opportunities with TV networks such as Apple TV, Starz, and Showtime. During her time at AMDA, Dayanna learned and worked as an ASM and decided it was time again to step behind the table. She would like to thank Nick and Michael for this opportunity and their uplifting support. "To be a good actor, you must know what to do on and off stage."
Devin Romero
Documentarian/Design Assistant
Devin Romero is an artist currently based in New York City, originally from Edinburg, TX. He studied acting at UTRGV (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) before moving to NY to pursue further opportunities. He is now a recent graduate of Circle in the Square Theatre School (Class of 2020). He not only loves acting, but enjoys work behind the scenes and has lots of experience in cinematography and photography. He looks forward to the future of his artistic career, both on stage, in front of the camera, and behind the scenes.
Lauren McAuliffe
Assistant Stage Manager
Her recent experience includes roles such as Technical Director for DribbleUp Live, Scenic Carpenter for the Gateway Playhouse, and Stagehand at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She has spent the last year as a freelance scenic carpenter, electrician, and camera operator, putting up theatrical and corporate events throughout the five boroughs. Lauren holds a B.S. in TV-Video Production and a B.A. in Music from SUNY Plattsburgh, where she served as the Executive Producer of the campus television station.
Brandon Handy
Assistant Sound Designer/Production Design Assistant
Self taught, Brandon has been building and improving on his list of artistic exploits since he was but a child. Poetry, philosophy, music are his mainstays, though he continues to explore, this being his first foray into theatrical production. Experience being the greatest teacher, he hopes one day to learn enough to truly shake the world with his artistic vision, however it may manifest itself.
Megan Lennon
Intimacy/Daily Wellness Coordinator
Megan Lennon is a graduate of Muhlenberg College, where she Majored in Theater (concentrations in Acting and Directing) and minored in Philosophy. After graduating, she worked with the Independent Shakespeare Company and A Noise Within before founding the Lead Players Theatre Co. in Pasadena, CA. Shortly after she moved to New York in January of 2020. Meg is thrilled to be a part of Nick's unique vision and is excited to watch all his hard work come to life.
Winona Kasey
Stage Hand
Winona Kasey is thrilled to be a part of the tech team at Jean Jackets and Red Pandas. They are a recent graduate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She is primarily an actor with a love for work on all sides of the stage. Recent credits include Deb in Ordinary Days (Pacific University Theatre), Puck in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hawaii Performing Arts Festival), and Lucy in 13: the Musical (Kahilu Youth Troupe).
Caleb Schrock
Production Assistant
Caleb Schrock is from Maine, having recently moved to NYC. He works part time at Trader Joe’s and is an amateur multi-instrumentalist. This is the first production he has participated in in NYC and it won’t be the last
Working Hard to Bring The Set to Life
JEAN JACKETS AND RED PANDAS Begins Performances This Week at Trinity Theatre
Previewing this Wednesday, the newest absurd dark comedy in New York City.
A dinner party for the ages, Jean Jackets and Red Pandas is a new play written and directed by Nicholas Kennedy.
The show stars fresh faces that will all soon be industry regulars, John Lichtwalt, Brian Mendoza & Addie Gomez.
The technical design team led by George Nicholas, Nino Amari, Simone Schiefer and Cynthia Johnson have brought new life to the show creating a vivid dream stage for audiences to get easily lost in.
The small yet strong stage crew has been managed by Dayanna Price-SM, keeping the fast moving production process a smooth sustained ride. Other assistant designers/directors/mangers include Michael Defilippis-AD, Jesse Scholz-AD/ALD/SD, Lauren McAuliffe and Brandon Handy.
TICKETS: www.JeanJacketsandRedPandas.com
VIDEO: JEAN JACKETS AND RED PANDAS Writer/Director Begs for an Audience
Writer, Director Nicholas Kennedy answers some questions about his first orginal play debuting in Midtown Manhattan. The new play "Jean Jackets and Red Pandas" is an absurd dark comedy made to challenge the way we perceive life and death.
His biggest feat during the production process was constructing a sixteen foot tree made of denim with a built in coffin. Unlike most young directors Nick isn't too focused on the future of his career, instead he implores critics and theatre goers to come and see the strangest play of the summer.
Jean Jackets and Red Pandas is playing at the Trinity Theatre (located in Midtown) June 8th-12th 16th-19th with 7PM show times and Sunday Matinees at 3PM. The preview on June 8th is 5$ on Eventbrite.
Address: 422 West 57th Street (downstairs)
Tickets: www.JeanJacketsandRedPandas.com