Program B
August 28 - 31
Lizard Brain
by jenna jane of clearwater, fl
Produced by Heritage Players
NOTE: There will be a brief period of a strobe/flashing light effect at the end of this play.
Chloe’s therapy session takes an alarming turn when she realizes her psychiatrist is not who they appear to be. They’re an AI program reporting data back to the corporation she works for. This play explores the impact of suddenly having a physical disability, what it means to be authentically human in a time of bionic body-modification, the corporatization of artificial intelligence, and the uncomfortable tug-of-war between privacy and safety.
Jenna Jane is an internationally-produced playwright, based in Florida. She subverts genre expectations in her comedies and sci-fi for the stage. Jenna’s writing puts authenticity front and center, blows up gender expectations, and explores the relationship between the body and the self. A national award-winning investigative journalist, she graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Jenna is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Learn more at jennajanecreative.com and follow her at @jennajanecreative.
CAST/CREW
Sydney Turnwald (Director) is directing for the first time for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. She's been on stage for past festivals in Kindergrad (Emily), Two Gentlemen of Donora (Sister Two), and Devotional Blackmail (Carol Ann). Previous director credits include Proof and Clue at Riverfront Theater Company. She's currently the secretary of Heritage Players.
Nicole Zalak (Producer) received her B.A. in Theatre at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is the Artistic Director of The Heritage Players. Some favorite past directing credits include: The Crucible; Little Women (the Musical); To Kill a Mockingbird; Alice in Wonderland; The Great Gatsby; Radium Girls; and award-winning productions of Oedipus, but Better and Fade with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Nicole has also worked in theatre as a dialect coach, intimacy choreographer, costume designer, fight choreographer and in many other production positions. Upcoming & current projects: Little Shop of Horrors (Intimacy Choreographer, Heritage Players). Outside of theatre, Nicole works as a Youth Services Assistant at the Bethel Park Library, and as a freelance photographer.
Kwai Kennedy (Stage Mgr) is extremely grateful to the cast and crew of Heritage Players and their friends and family for helping their Stage Managing debut be as successful as possible. Recently they have been Assistant Stage Manager for Heritage Players’ A Doll’s House, Charlotte’s Web, and for their upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors. They daylight as a 9-5 office worker, and can usually be found cross-stitching or playing video games.
Angelique Michelle 王暖暖 (Phyllis) is delighted to make her Pittsburgh New Works Festival debut with The Heritage Players. She began her acting journey in January 2025 with Ensemble Actors Studio. Since starting she has taken part in a short film for the 48 Hour Film Project, which won "Best Use of Pittsburgh", and performed in works for the All Things Pittsburgh Play Festival N'at. She's fresh to acting and hopes you enjoy the show as much as she's enjoyed working on it. "Sweet day, y'all."
Liz Power (Chloe) is excited to participate in the festival. She has previously acted with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, and Heritage Players and the Theatre For All actor training program in Queens, New York. She works at the Carnegie Science Center and as a standardized patient for the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. She would like to thank the cast and crew for the wonderful experience working on this show. Liz would like to thank her family, Mary, Jess, and everyone who helped her run lines.
A J Wittman (he/they) (Phil) is a Pittsburgh-based Queer & Trans actor, writer, and standup comedian. AJ’s recent acting roles include Wanda B. Meighnaybor, Radium Girls, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The Haunting of Hill House. AJ is so excited to be a part of the Pittsburgh New Works Festival and have the joy of working with The Heritage Players again. He hopes you enjoy this interesting play!
Weigh Beyond
by anthony morgan of Whalley Range, Greater Manchester, UK
Produced by Stray Cat Theatre Company
This comic look at the afterlife features Graham, a man facing the uncertainty of eternity after his sudden death. As Carly, a straight-talking receptionist for the hereafter, explains the surprising (and inane) process of life after death, Graham must make heart-felt decisions about who he is and what’s important to him.
Anthony Morgan is a writer based in Manchester, England. He has written and produced multiple plays and comedy shows for fringe festivals in the UK, including for the Edinburgh Fringe. Anthony specifically enjoys writing surreal comedy and has a strong interest in religion and Jungian psychology. He likes stories that explore the human condition, show journeys of healing and end with positive resolutions. In his spare time Anthony works in the pharmacy department of a hospital.
CAST/CREW
Barbara Burgess-Lefebvre (Director) earned her MFA in Directing from Illinois State University, and her PNWF productions of Up and Away and Evie and Frannie Take a Detour were awarded Best Playwright in 2023 and 2024. Barbara is an associate professor of Theatre and English at Robert Morris University. She also works for Disney Musicals in Schools through the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, bringing Disney Musicals to middle school students. Barbara has presented research on Walt Disney World’s immersion and theme park disability services at the national conference of the Themed Experiences and Attractions Academic Society. An interview based on that research was subsequently published in USA Today. She is currently rehearsing to play Sonia in The Bobcat Player's September production of Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike.
Jack Lefebvre (Producer)
David Holderbaum (Derek) is excited to be making his debut with Stray Cat Theatre. Recent productions include Up & Away with R-ACT Theatre Productions, Seussical (Wickersham Brother) with Stage 62, and Murder On The Mesa (Tom Cooper) with R-ACT Theatre Productions. Favorite credits include Urinetown (Bobby Strong) with Stage 62, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (Matt) with Little Lake Theatre, and SpongeBob The Musical (Electric Skate) with Comtra Theatre. He is thankful for the opportunity to perform at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival.
Benjamin Koontz (Raphael) is the Experiential Learning Center Content Developer at Junior Achievement of Western PA, where he works with school kids in hands-on learning. Also an actor and playwright, he's written two full-length plays and three one-act plays – one of which he is proud to have presented at Pittsburgh New Works Festival! Before moving onto Junior Achievement, Ben worked for seven years at the Pittsburgh Public Theater.
Michael Phelps (Graham) is delighted to be returning to PNWF with this wondeful cast and crew. Recent credits include So,There's a Leprachaun Now? and Love Letters (R-ACT Theatre Productions), Mr. Burns: A Post-apolcolyptic Play (Little Lake Theater), and These Shining Lives (South Park Theater). He lives in Monaca, PA with his wife, Sam, their son, Theo, and assorted friendly beasts.
Audrey Wells (Carly) is excited to return to the New Works stage with the Stray Cat Theater Company. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2021, Audrey has fallen in love with Pittsburgh's community theater and has appeared in numerous productions, such as Radium Girls (Heritage Players), Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play (Little Lake Theatre), and, most recently in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (Stage62). They are also lucky to serve as the Publicity Director for The Heritage Players and work in communications for the Allegheny County Treasurer. They would like to extend their love and gratitude to their support system, who have seen them through thick and thin.
Harold's Road
by Dana jaffe of great neck, ny
Produced by The Bobcat Players
Harold loves his car and his independence almost as much as he loves his family. When it comes time to give up the keys, Harold resists, causing family tensions to erupt in three generations. Dealing with the universal issues of aging, pride, and the right to drive, Harold’s Road provides diverse roles for six characters in a drama peppered with comic flavor. The play can be performed with simple, suggestive settings allowing for fluid transitions.
Dana Jaffe is a playwright and actress in suburban NYC. Dana is a member of the Dramatist’s Guild and has studied playwriting with Obie Award winning director/playwright Richard Caliban at Gotham Writer’s Workshop. She is a member of The Playwright’s Group in NYC. Her play No Good Deed was presented at Equity Library Theater in 2017, and her play Harold's Road was submitted for production in NYC Summer Stage in 2018. She has recently completed a full-length play I’m Ready, which received an Honorable Mention at the New Plays of Merit competition in 2022 and reached stage two of the Premiere Stages competition at Kean University in 2024.
CAST/CREW
J. Daniel Craig (Director) is pleased to return for his fourth Pittsburgh New Works Festival, and third as director. A graduate of Slippery Rock University studying Theatre: Acting, and Philosophy, he remains active in multiple local theatres as an actor, director, and designer. Jacob also serves as a board member of the Bobcat Players and as Technical Director for Ambridge Area High School's theatre program. Jacob's favorite credits include Children of Eden (Cain) with the Red Barn Players, Scary Musical The Musical (Norman Hates) with the Iron Horse Theatre Company, and Peter and the Starcatcher (Lighting/Sound Designer, Asst. Director) with the Bobcat Players. Jacob works as an Operations Supervisor in Fraud Investigation with PNC Bank. He would like to thank his cast and production team for their efforts!
Shelly Cary (Producer) is excited to return to the Pittsburgh New Works Festival with The Bobcat Players in a new role! She currently serves as Vice-President of the Bobcat Players’ Board of Directors, and is a board member with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Favorite Performance credits include Sweet Delilah Swim Club (Vernadette), Enchanted April (Rose), and Calendar Girls (Ruth), all with The Bobcat Players. Favorite directing credits include Blithe Spirit, Hilda’s Yard, Suite Surrender, and The Foursome. Shelly works as a Technology Risk Manager with PNC Bank. She wishes to thank her husband David for his unending support - all my love!
Hannah Dearborn (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival after co-directing the Bobcat Players’ production of Ahimsa last year. A true lover of the art form, Hannah spends most of her free time acting, directing, or working backstage with several local groups. Other stage managing credits include The Haunting of Hill House with Stage Warp Productions and A Streetcar Named Desire with The Bobcat Players.
Dan Capp (Adam) is making his second appearance in the Pittsburgh New Works festival after a brief thirty year hiatus. Dan is a former Red Masquer and has received an MFA from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Frederick Coleman (Steve) is delighted to be back for his fifth Pittsburgh New Works Festival! He loves sharing stories on stage and has popped up with local favorites like Stage Warp, Heritage Players, Jesters’ Guild, Riverfront Theatre Company, and McKeesport Little Theater. Frederick also wore both the actor’s hat and the director’s cap for a variety of shows at Franklin University Switzerland, where he graduated in 2019.
Lorrie Lykins (Danielle) is a 2022 transplant from NYC. She previously appeared in the PNWF in 2023 (Lucid). Her most recent performance was in the short film, Bubble Trouble, which won the Best Ensemble award in the 2025 Pittsburgh 48-Hour Film Festival. She’s delighted to be back on the stage of the Genesius Theater and to work with Jacob again. Thanks to my delightful cast mates, and big love to Kristen, Dan, and Stella.
Patti Ross (Sam) is a veteran director, actor, and board member for The Bobcat Players. She is a retired English and drama teacher for the Freedom Area School District and a former assistant director and acting coach for the Beaver Area High School annual musical. She resides in Beaver.
Rebecca Schaefer (Rhonda/DMV Clerk) is excited to participate in the PNWF for the first time with The Bobcat Players. She began theater while attending Geneva College for Mechanical Engineering. Her favorite credits at Geneva College Theater include Fools (Sophia Zubritsky) and Honk! (Lowbutt). Becca also had the pleasure of directing 3 one-act plays during her college career, which fed her love for one-act productions. Enjoy the show!
Mark Yochum (Harold) has played at local theaters since 1980, starting at the old Robert Morris Colonial Theater through this year's production of The Gin Game at South Park Theatre. A proud Red Masquer, he opened the Genesius Theatre as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. He is a four time winner of the former Outstanding Lead Actor award at the Festival.