TwoJunes & No July |
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Robert Dumont |
Brian Dallas Fields |
Jordan Kaplan* |
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Director Michelle Concha |
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Cast
Creative Team
Susan Jennifer Polese
Michelle Concha
Laura Valenti
Sara Jay Halliday
Dan Scherner
Izzy Magliari
Nora Matz
Julia LaVerde
Kris Gaffney
Dana Castillo
Ed Herko
Olivia Herko
Amparo McDowell
Meet the Company
Edie Roth
graduated in May from CU Boulder with a BFA in acting, and has trained in Oxford with the British American Dramatic Academy. Some favorite credits include The Winter’s Tale, One Man Two Guvnors, The Comedy of Errors (Colorado Shakespeare Festival), The Play That Goes Wrong, Company (CU Boulder), Cymbeline, The 25th Annual Spelling Bee, Macbeth (Sandbox). When she’s not onstage, Edie works as a fight director, intimacy director, and social media manager. In her time at CU Boulder, she was also a founding member of two theatre companies (Sandbox and CU Fringe), and she is so honored to have spent her summer working on this new play! @edie.roth
Lina Sarrello
Cuban/Italian award-winning Actress, Writer, and Director.
Originally from Miami, Florida, she started out professionally on stage in such musicals
such as West Side Story as Anita and She Loves Me as Ilona Ritter. After moving to New
York, Lina worked in various theaters such as Repertorio Espanol, LaTea, SEA, NY and
The Puertorican Traveling Theater where she won the 2010 Latin Ace Award for Best
Actress in a Comedy. In 2010 she also performed in her abstract piece, Waiting for the D
at the Downtown Urban Theater Festival, and as Julia in the original play Cheat at the
Duo Theater as well as working on such TV series as 30 Rock, Bull, Inside Amy
Schumer, and Russian Doll. Most recently, Lina directed the feature film, All of My
Dreams, starring Andrea Navedo, Sol Miranda, and Nina West. Lina is happy to be
reprising her role as Cumare Luciette in Two Junes & No July and working with State of
Play Productions again.
Laura Shoop*
Broadway: Flying Over Sunset, She Loves Me, Bernarda Alba, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!. Additional New York theater: The Tempest, Into the Woods (The Public); Show Boat (New York Philharmonic); Jerry Springer: The Opera (Carnegie Hall). National Tour: Thoroughly Modern Millie. Regional includes: The Bridges of Madison County (Williamston Theatre Festival); The Rocky Horror Show (Old Globe); Cabaret, Run for Your Wife (Engeman Theater); Carousel (Paper Mill). Film: Triumph Of The Will (coming 2026), Project Pay Day, Viper Club, Equity. TV: “Law and Order”, “FBI”, “The Blacklist,” “Chicago Fire,” “Prodigal Son,” “Blindspot,” “Ray Donovan,” “Dietland,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Family,” “The Sound of Music: Live!”. Graduate of The Juilliard School.
* The Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Robert Dumont
Robert is honored to be a part of this great production. Over the past few months, he’s appeared in High Tor (Van Dorn) at Arts on the Lake, Twelfth Night (Sebastian) for Anywhere Theater Company, as well as Nuts (Levinsky) with Brewster Theater Company. In addition to theater, Robert acts in film, and works in Physical Therapy, where he pretends to be a fully functioning adult. Thank you to Michelle and Susan for this awesome opportunity!
Jordan Kaplan*
Jordan is excited to be working with State of Play Productions for the first time. He has acted with American Conservatory Theater, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Tennessee Shakespeare Company, Trinity Repertory Company, Shadowland Stages, Centenary Stage Company, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Valley Shakespeare Festival, Philipstown Depot Theatre, Prospect Theater Company, Astoria Performing Arts Center, Guerrilla Shakespeare Project, and Hunger & Thirst Theatre. Proud graduate of Stanford University and Brown University/Trinity Rep. He lives in Croton-on-Hudson with his wife Kim and their twin sons Max & Leo. He'd like to thank his family for their unyielding support. www.jordankaplan.net
* The Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Brian Dallas Fields
Brian Dallas has appeared in Film, Television and Professional Theater. He would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to his understudy, Buck the Service Dog- always willing to step in at the last minute. Deep thanks to the stage manager, costume designer, producer and crew, who work so hard and are so dedicated behind the scenes. Sincere gratitude to Artistic Director/Play Director Michelle Concha for her vision and extraordinary work on this production- and this opportunity. It is always wonderful to do a new work, creating and bringing a new character to life- thank you Susan J. Polese!
Susan Jennifer Polese
Susan Jennifer Polese, MS, LCMH, NCC is an award-winning filmmaker and playwright as well as crisis-care psychotherapist. Her plays have been seen at venues including La Mama Experimental Theatre Club and The Midtown International Theatre Festival. Trained in New York at The Wonderhorse Theatre, Herbert Berghof Studio, and Hunter College Susan taught playwriting through Purchase College, Axial Theatre Collaborative and in Key West, FL. She is published in the Alexander Street Contemporary World Drama Collection. An alum of La Mama’s International Playwright Retreat, Umbria, Italy, her work explores social justice and is often performed as fundraisers for non-profits. Susan is a published author & poet. Her first film, Under the One-Time Sky, based on her play was produced by You Might, Rabbit Productions. Susan is a member of The Dramatists Guild; New York Women in Film; Television. For more info: www.susanjenniferpolese.com
Michelle Concha
Michelle Concha (Director) is a graduate of the Juilliard School. Michelle is Artistic Director of State of Play Productions, an incubator and production company for new plays here in Westchester. In addition, Michelle is also an actor and acting coach. She has been on Blue Bloods, Law & Order:SVU, Dr. Death. Lifetime's movie Malicious Mind Games, and Amazon's Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Michelle has been the voice of Click the Camera in Go, Diego, Go! Video Games (Nickelodeon), various voices on Dora the Explorer Education Series, Burlington Coat Factory, Spokesperson for Carmax, Spanish voice overs for Radio and TV. Michelle was a guest host on QVC and even a cooking host on Ragu.com! You can find out more at www.michelleconcha.com www.stateofplayproductions.com
Laura Valenti
Laura Valenti is a NYC-based set designer, model maker, and scenic artist. Recent design credits include Monumental Theatre Co. (DC)'s American Psycho and Spring Awakening; Stella Adler Studio of Acting NYC’s A Doll’s House pt. 2, Hedda Gabler and The Violet Hour; Katonah Classic Stage’s Later Life, Betrayal, and The Dumb Waiter. Laura is an assistant and model maker to several other set designers including Emmy Award-winning set designer, Jason Ardizzone-West (Redwood) and international award winning designer Paul Tate DePoo III (The Great Gatsby, Take The Lead). Laura’s passion lies within working in educational theatre, designing for high schools in NYC, Pittsburgh, and DC. www.lauravalentidesigns.com
Sara Jay Halliday
This is Sarah's first official foray into theatrical costume design, and wants to thank Michelle Concha for having faith in her and her extensive costume closet. Sarah has always been in love with the theater but spent 15 years away from it, and she's making up for lost time. She most recently played Jeannie in Tango Diaries at Philipstown Depot Theater and hopes to pursue any and all avenues to the stage. She is also a photographer, with a focus on creative and fantasy portraits.
Dan Scherner
Dan has an extensive history in theatrical work. He was with Bedford Community Theatre since 2003, and their Technical Director from 2014 to 2019. At Whippoorwill Hall he has also worked with several other theater groups, civic groups and events; including Small Town Theatre Company, Pure Joy Performing Arts, New York All-Stars Performing Arts, Amadeus Conservatory of Music, numerous music schools, and The Armonk Players, where in 2019 he was nominated for “Best Sound Design in a Play” for The Foreigner.
Izzy Magliari
Queens based artist, is the Owner/Creative Director of her own graphic design company. She is a Director-level Presentation/Communications designer with 9+years of experience within the healthcare agency space who is currently contracted with Evoke and Spectrum Science. Also, a surrealist illustrator, specializing in creature design, she is a graduate of Parsons School of Design. She offers robust, dynamic, and highly detailed illustrations of the client's original characters, along with many exotic creatures and monsters of her own design. She’s worked in various design and management roles at the ad agency Heartbeat Communications in Manhattan. Izzy is also a singer performing regularly with Fork Soup, the band that takes stages throughout New York City. For more information: www.isabellemagliari.com
Nora Matz
is thrilled to be working with State of Play and this very talented cast of actors. Nora has been working in theater and film for over 30 years (yikes) and loves being a part of artistic creations with an important social message. She partners with Theatre Revolution founder Gaby Fox for the annual Glass Ceiling Breakers Festival (theatrerevolution.org) When Nora is not working on a production she is working on people, as a massage therapy and craniosacral therapy practitioner. She'd like to thank Susan Polese for her beautiful play and Michelle for beautifully bringing this play to life on stage. Thank you to the actors and the entire creative team for making this such a joyful experience. I love theater!! And my wife Amanda and stepson Henry.
Julia LaVerde
(she/her) has worked with various theater groups throughout Westchester County for the past 19 years as stage manager, director, and producer. Recent groups include Actors Conservatory Theatre (ACT), Theatre Revolution, GoJo Clan Productions, and Westchester Collaborative Theater. Julia also sits on the board of directors for Actors Conservatory Theatre in Bronxville. She lives in Irvington with her wife, Keira, and their gremlin cat, Smudge. Special thanks to Michelle and Nora for bringing me on board for this production
Kris Gaffney
Kris is honored to once again be the person everyone calls when something beeps, blinks, or makes a weird humming noise. Specializing in making the light board behave and convincing the sound system it does in fact have signal, Kris has survived large clunky set pieces, late-night load-ins, and at least three accidental fog machine incidents. Past credits include I Love You Because, That One Where the Lights Wouldn’t Fade [Suessical], and The Musical That Blew a Speaker Opening Night [Rent]. With a toolbelt in one hand and a QLab crash log in the other, Kris would like to thank coffee, DMX cables, and the mute button for getting them through tech week.
Dana Castillo
is an actor, painter, performer, and creative whose work moves fluidly across disciplines. Rooted in storytelling and transformation, her practice blends visual and performative expression to explore memory, vulnerability, and human connection. Whether on stage or on any creative field , Castillo creates work that lives between boundaries intimate, adaptable, and deeply personal.
Ed Herko
While certainly not new to set building, Ed’s skills at home renovation came well in play with the 156 linear feet of molding in this ornate set. It’s been a pleasure to support State of Play in this production. You can catch him playing his saxophone with the Westchester Symphonic Winds.
Olivia Herko
Olivia has been in plays and film. Her film The Team was selected for the Queens International Film Festival. She was also in the Glass Ceiling Breakers Film Festival with her film Papa George. Olivia has done print and commercials for BabiesRUs, Carters, Gerber, Synergis. She loves sailing, swim team and her happy place the Outbanks (Hatteras Island) North Carolina.
Amparo McDowell
When she’s not managing a theatre house, she’s hiking mountains, wandering the world, or spending time with her granddaughter, Olivia—her favorite person (but keep that between us and don't tell her daughter).
Producers
You Might, Rabbit Productions, founded by Michael Toscano and Susan Jennifer Polese, is focused on character driven, compelling storytelling and is dedicated to the exploration of queer, female and other underrepresented stories through film and theatre. Our debut short film, Under the One-Time Sky, wrapped in the summer of 2024 and is gaining accolades on the festival circuit. We are thrilled to co-produce the premiere of Two Junes & No July, which deals with abortion rights in the 1950s American South. We are movie and live show lovers who create the types of films andtheatre we love to watch. Surprising. Innovative. Genre bending. For us collaboration is everything! We work with talented people on projects that energize and heal. For more info visit: www.youmightrabbit.com
State of Play Productions is a hot little incubator hatching new work by theater artists. We embrace challenges and foster communication. We shake up the traditional order by encouraging actors to produce, working alongside writers and directors from the beginning to create art of unprecedented creativity and bold integrity. To reach the largest audience possible, we expand across media, presenting our work in radio, film and other audio/visual formats.
If we can inspire people, even for a moment, to live the life that their most courageous self would lead, to cast their fears aside and touch the hearts of others, then we have completed our mission. For More info visit: www.stateofplayproductions.com
Acknowledgements
Note from the Artistic Director of State of Play Productions
I was entrusted with this company by its founding members — people who, like me, had a passion for breaking traditional molds and bringing new voices into the world. It doesn’t just have to be a play. We’ve done radio shows, podcasts, music festivals, independent films… and this year, our first feature film!
This production combines the unique and varied talents of some incredible artistic creatives, staff, and community members. Working on this play for almost two years is what full-length play development is about. Artists aren’t machines. Creating takes time. And State of Play is where we want artists to feel supported through their process. The work is never “finished.” Tonight’s premiere is simply one version of what this play is right now.
And you, the audience, are part of that magic. We never underestimate the power of the collective in a theater — that moment when we all connect together.
Thank you for being here, and thank you for supporting us yesterday, today, and all the tomorrows to come.
With gratitude,
Michelle Concha
Note from the Director
A family member once told me I’ve been directing my whole life. I said, “It’s not bossy — it’s leadership skills!” (LOL).
This cast has been an absolute dream to work with. The level of commitment and collaboration they’ve brought to the table is just awesome. I can’t thank them enough for all they’ve given to this production of Two Junes & No July.
Susan and I go back many moons. Our collaborations have always met at the crossroads of timely, important topics. I’d love to say Two Junes & No July is a period piece from the 1950s… but the truth is, it still feels urgently relevant today. I love ya, lady!
I hope you find the strength, fortitude, love, and humor of this piece as entertaining as I’ve found it to breathe life into it. Off the page and onto the stage.
Enjoy the show!
– Michelle
Gratitudes
Thank you to the following people to make this happen
Joey & Anna Polese
Judy Brewster
Anne Marie Santoro & The Power of Story Group
Jessica Litwack
Catherine Fillloux
ArtsWestchester
Gryphon Strategies
Dodd's Liquor City, Millwood, NY
The North Castle Library
Virgina Garcia
Marie Louise Miller
State of Play's Incredible Talent
Elle Randall, Sweta Keswani, Tova Hopemark, Caturah Brown, Marisa Lowe,
Catherine Banks, Leslie Smithey, Chris Moore, Sean Weil, Johnny Kaplan,
Misti Tindinglia, Candice Cross, Jed Aicher, Sara Wolkowitz,
Molly Harrington Canu, Meredith Seigel, Erin Moughon, Julia Schonberg, Kat Gonzalez, Jessica Care Courtney, Stephanie Grande
Founding members of State of Play
and
Our Donor's
