Program A
August 27-30
It's About Time
by Kathryn Ryan of Bronx, NY
Produced by The Haunted Theatre Company
Late to a children’s party gig, two struggling actors - Jess (“Princess Kooky”) and Matt (“Prince Clueless”) - find themselves stranded on the roadside, out of gas literally and figuratively. As they wait for help, youthful optimism collides with adult reality, and old frustrations give way to something surprising: renewed hope for what’s next.
Kathryn Ryan is a playwright whose work has been produced Off-Broadway and at U.S. theaters and festivals from New York to Alaska. Her full-length plays "Wallowich @ Home, Alone" and "Lilli Marlene" premiered Off-Broadway, while "Hilary Kole In: A Good Man Is Hard To Find" toured cabaret venues along the East Coast. Sixteen of her other full-length, one-act, and short plays have been staged in more than a dozen states, virtually, and in Seoul South Korea, reaching audiences worldwide.
A published playwright, her work will be included in Smith & Kraus' upcoming Best 10-Minute Plays 2026 anthology. Her play "Hannah and Greyson" was published by Drama Notebook and is available to teachers across the US. A winner of the Oxford 10-Minute Playwriting Competition, she has been invited to the William Inge Festival and the Valdez Theatre Conference. She is a proud Dramatists Guild member and has been part of PlayGround-NY’s Writers Pool since 2022.
CAST/CREW
Michael McGovern (Director/Producer) is intrigued to be involved with PNWF, and looking forward to the experience. He received his BFA in Theatre from Point Park College and his MFA in Playwriting from Carnegie-Mellon University. His vampire play CARMILLA’S KISS was performed Off-Off Broadway at the 13th Street Theater and in the Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. His plays have been performed in New York at the Nat Horne Theatre and The Workshop Theater; in Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, Bricolage, Prime Stage, The Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, Rage of the Stage, Stage Warp; and The Orpheus Theatre in Lancaster. He is currently artistic director of The Haunted Theatre Company. Find us on Facebook. If you dare
Gretchen Beck (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be part of the debut of the Haunted Theater Company at New Works. She has previous held this position for the Haunted Theater Company's premier of Wine and Spirits, and for the Pittsburgh Savoyards for Woman in White, It's a Wonderful Life, and Sherlock Holmes and the Web of Deceit. In everyday life, she is a computer Systems Administrator at Carnegie Mellon University.
Mary-Cait Cox (Jess/Princess Kooky) graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the City College of New York. Most recent roles include Charlotte in Charlotte's Web with The Heritage Players and Myra Arundel in Noel Coward's Hay Fever with the Ben Avon Community Players. She wants to extend her gratitude to her family and friends for their love and support, The Haunted Theater Company, as well as to every patron for supporting local theatre!
Mike McCarthy (Matt) is happy to be making his debut with The Haunted Theatre Company. This is his 5th time appearing in the new works festival and is happy to be back. Mike has been acting in the pittsburgh area for over 15 years. During the day Mike works with the homeless population of Allegheny county.
The Art of Leaving
by Richard Gotti of Delmar, NY
Produced by South Hills Players
Five months after moving into Oakhill, an elegant, active-adult retirement community in the Hudson Valley, plucky retired civil rights lawyer Louise stuns her new companion —and budding romantic partner –- Martin—with a bold announcement: she’s moving out. No more security, no more safety, no more predictability. Their ensuing tug of war and clash over love, loss, and society’s prescriptions for aging, expose fears that haunt late-life reinvention and, more deeply, reveal what it means to be truly cherished.
Richard Gotti’s plays have been performed in New York’s Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes, including The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, The Tivoli Players, Round the Bend Theatre, Encore Players, The Albany Civic Theater’s Playwright’s Showcase and on Hudson radio WGXC. He was a semi-finalist in Little Fish Theatre’s Pick of the Vine 2023, Los Angeles. His short fiction has appeared in Chautauqua and other literary journals and he co-authored the nonfiction book, Overcoming Regret (Bantam). He’s a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.
CAST/CREW
Jennifer Luta (Director) is thrilled to be back with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival and directing for the South Hills Players. Most recent PNWF shows include The Fourth Quarter, Past Tense, All Our Tomorrows, Across a Crowded Room, Two Lines, and Devotional Blackmail. As an actor, she has also performed with the Festival multiple times. She is currently serving as the President of the South Hills Players. A graduate of Point Park University where she majored in Musical Theatre, Jennifer also recently completed the Executive Program in Arts and Culture Strategy from the National Arts Strategies and the University of Pennsylvania.
Brian Kadlecik (Stage Manager) has been involved in all facets of theater for over 10 years. Recent directed plays incluce Epitome of Grace, & Now And Then, with Iron Horse Theater. Recent acting credits include Heir Zeller, in The Sound of Music, & Mr Witherspoon, in Arsenic & Old Lace, both with Old Schoolhouse Players; Fredrick Rapp, in The Golden Rose, with Iron Horse Theater; Andre's Mother, & Dearly Departed, with Pendemer Productions; December Things, with Old Schoolhouse Players; & A View From The Bridge, with Throughline Theater.
David Grande (Producer) is glad to be back with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival after a 7-year absence while living out of state. This is the sixth time he's served as the Producer for the South Hills Players. Grande lists his favorite roles as Falstaff in MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR for the HERITAGE PLAYERS and Norman Thayer in ON GOLDEN POND for the PARKERSBURG (W,VA,) ACTORS GUILD. Grande has appeared in more than 40 plays and directed 35, his favorites being MISERY for the PARKERSBURG ACTORS GUILD, CRIMES OF THE HEART for the SOUTH HILLS PLAYERS and STEEL MAGNOLIAS for the HERITAGE PLAYERS. He thanks his wife, Lisa, and son, Liam, for all their support in his theatrical endeavors.
Susan Allardice (Louise) This is Susan’s first time with PNWF and she is very grateful for this opportunity. She is a Veteran actor having appeared with numerous companies throughout the area. Favorite roles include Marjorie ( Marjorie Prime), Charlotte ( Moon Over Buffalo), Abby ( Riocord), Nurse Ratched ( Cuckoo’s Nest). Susan serves on the Board of the Butler County Symphony Orchestra and on The Council of Bradford Woods Community Church. Susan is a member of SAGAFTRA, and has appeared in national and local commercials. Happy Angels!
Scott Hudson (Martin) (he/him) is an American actor, writer, and comedian who lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
Scott hones his craft at Ensemble Actors Studio where he performs and trains. Last year, he was the husband in Tammy Ryan’s “The Cookie Table" for the All Things Pittsburgh Play Festival.
Early in his career, Scott performed with short and long-form improv teams, and he wrote and acted in film shorts “The Empty Nesters” and “The CEO.”
For comedy, he writes sketches with Arcade Theater's Sketch Comedy Lab, and he performs stand-up comedy. With the comedy team “Henry & Hudson,” Scott was featured at the New York City Sketch Festival, and performed weekly COVID-Zoom shows.
Scott also created Spice Rack for sketches focused on community issues and action.
The Harrowing of Hell
by Jeff DeSantis of Baden PA
Produced by McKeesport Little Theater
Seconds after His crucifixion, Jesus arrives in Hell, intent on the redemption of humankind after the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. He is warmly greeted by Lucifer who helps Him acclimate to the unusual setting, and joined by Dismas, who was crucified beside him. He is challenged by their different perspectives on the Great Plan for humankind, especially after a conversation with the person who committed the Original Sin: Eve.
Jeff DeSantis's plays have been performed by R-ACT Theatre Productions, Stoops Ferry Productions, and the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. He wrote many, many sketches for The Cellar Dwellers back in the halcyon days of Comarama, some of which even worked. He is a resident of Baden Pennsylvania and credits his upbringing as an only child surrounded by an assortment of imaginary friends as his introduction to storytelling. He is a musician and songwriter and performs all over the area by himself and with his band, Troubled Saints.
CAST/CREW
Sean David Butler (Director) is thrilled to return to the director's chair, having last directed McKeesport Little Theater's inclusion in PNWF 2022's "Ricco the Racoon." He was seen on the Genesius Stage in 2024, in the Pittsburgh Savoyards production of "Storm of the Century." Sean has been performed in and around the Pittsburgh area for the last 20 years. The majority of his theater career has been with MLT, where he currently sits on the Board of Directors. As always, Sean sends his love to his family (Kate, Fiona, and Nolan) for their support, love, and patience.
Rose-Lorene Miller (Stage Manager) is delighted to return to the wonderful world of stage management after a lengthy hiatus. She became a stage manager by accident, simply because her son was in a Junior's play at MLT. Rose stepped in to help with costumes and props, offered to help in any other way and started to stage manage the MLT Juniors program. She was the stage manager for many main stage productions at MLT and other local theater groups. It has been a true privilege to work with Sean and this amazing cast and to be involved in this new work.
JR Graff (Jesus) is thrilled to be back at PNWF (‘Happy’, 2024 & Revolution! 2014) PGH Opera: Don Giovanni, Carmen, Turandot, Aida, LaBoheme, others. He has also enjoyed performing in Oliver, JCS, On Golden Pond, Once on This Island and Working. Other venues include PGH Playhouse, Throughline Theater, PGH Playwrights Co. and various murder mystery dinner theaters . BA, Theater, Point Park. Offstage, he works in healthcare and is an avid cyclist. Many thanks to Sean Butler for this opportunity and much love to the Graff’s for their support throughout the years.
Audrey Wells (Lucifer) is thrilled to return to the New Works stage as the Lucifer in McKeesport Little Theater's production of The Harrowing of Hell. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2021, they have fallen in love with Pittsburgh's local theater scene. Some of their favorite roles include Katherine Wiley in Radium Girls, Shelby Eatenton in Steel Magnolias, and Mr. Wickham in Pride & Prejudice. When not on stage, Audrey serves as the Publicity Director with the Heritage Players, works in communications for the Allegheny County Treasurer, and can often be found running or biking around town. They would like to extend their love and gratitude to their steadfast support system for always being there for them through thick and thin.
Sebastian O’Leary (Dismas) is excited to be be acting in his first professional theatrical project ever with McKeesport Little Theatre this year. Before this he was in No Exit at Slippery Rock University and Lyrics & Laughter from Shanghai, also at SRU, where he is a BA Acting Theatre major. On top of this he has also had years of experience working with Gemini Children's Theatre, and high-school productions. He'd like to thank his friends, family, teachers, cast mates and everyone else who helped make thid possible.
Carly Chotiner (Eve) is happy to take part in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival once again! She was last seen on this stage as Mackenzie Mott’s in “Kindergrad” with The Heritage Players. Other recent credits include Lydia in Kate Hamill's “Pride and Prejudice” and Irene Rudolph in “Radium Girls” (both with The Heritage Players), Sorel Bliss in Community Theatre Players’ “Hay Fever”, both Loudspeaker and Parsons (U/S) in Playbox Production's “1984”, and both Sadie and Heather in “It’ll Always Be Star Lake to Me” as part of Throughline’s Living News Festival. Carly was recently awarded Broadway World Pittsburgh's "Best Performer in a Play" (2025) for her portrayal of Marian Halcombe in the Pittsburgh Savoyard's Woman in White. Catch Carly next in Vigilance Theater Group’s Campfire Stories 3!