Program B

August 28 - 31

Lizard Brain

by jenna jane of clearwater, fl

Produced by Heritage Players

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)

Kwai Kennedy (Stage Mgr)

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 ()

A J Wittman ()

Weigh Beyond

by anthony morgan of Whalley Range, Greater Manchester, UK

Produced by Stray Cat Theatre Company

A recently deceased man is surprised to find that he has entered the Ancient Egyptian afterworld and is waiting to have his heart weighed by the Jackal headed God, Anubis. If it is as light as a feather, he will enter heaven but if not then his soul will be consumed in a lake of fire. Tormented by guilt over what he considers a life of failure, the protagonist attempts to find an alternative pathway through the afterworld. When an old friend also arrives he is faced with an ethical dilemma which gives him the opportunity to redeem himself.

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 ()

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 ()

Harold's Road

by Dana jaffe of great neck, ny

Produced by Bobcat Playersrs

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)

Shelly Cary (Producer)

Hannah Dearborn (Stage Manager)

Dan Capp (Adam)

Fred Coleman (Steve)

Lorrie Lykins (Danielle)

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)

Mark Yochum (Harold)