Program C

September 4-7

The Bowl

Michael Buzzelli of carnegie, pa

Produced by Riverfront Theatre Company

Kayla wants to tell her parents she's engaged to Josh, but, to steady her nerves, she takes a marijuana-laced gummy bear. Thinking they gummies are for the guests, her fiancé sets a bowl out filled with the drugged sweets.

Michael Buzzelli (he/him) is a stand-up comedian and sit-down author. As a comedian, he has performed all around the country, most notably The Ice House, The Comedy Store, and The Improv in Los Angeles. He has performed as a stand-up in Pittsburgh for several local charity events such as Cabaret for a Cause, The GLSEN Awards, and Brewing Up A Cure. As a writer, Michael has been published in a variety of websites, magazines, and newspapers. He is a theater and arts critic for 'Burgh Vivant, Pittsburgh's online cultural talk magazine. Buzzelli is also a Moth Grand Slam storyteller and actor. His books, "Below Average Genius”, “All I Want for Christmas", and "Study Buddy" in "Winter Break" can all be found on Amazon.

CAST/CREW

Hannah Brizzi (she/her) (Director) is excited to be making her directorial debut with The Bowl! She has appeared in numerous productions in the Pittsburgh area over the last 18 years, including many shows with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. She has previously worked with Poor Yorick’s Players, Throughline Theatre Company, Riverfront Theater Company, Prime Stage Theatre, and more. Thank you to Michael Buzzelli, the incredible cast and crew, Riverfront Theater Company, Caitlin Dobronz, and James McDonald. Thank you, Nate, for your love and support.

Liam Gannon (he/him) (Josh) was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA. He first took to the stage with Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 in musical productions of West Side Story and Anything Goes as Moonface Martin. His more recent roles include Noises Off (Lloyd Dallas), Clown Bar (Dusty), and Melancholy Play (Lorenzo the Unfeeling) with MICA Thespian Club. He has since performed in Uncumber Theatrics shadow play Wee Beasties and studied at the Donna Belajac Actors Studio with Jill and Don Wadsworth. This summer he is excited to be appearing on the New Works Stage in this delightful comedy as Josh.

Richard Garbee (Phil) is making his Pittsburgh debut on stage after 30+ years of raising a family and working. He is delighted to be a part of the Pittsburgh New Works Festival working with a great director and cast while showing off Michael's talent as a playwright. Special, special thanks to my wife for allowing me the latitude to chase dreams and to Daina Griffith for being an outstanding guiding light! Let's go!!

Tonilyn Jackson (Marilyn) is a Pittsburgh native. Favorite roles include The Prom (Angie) with Stage 62, 9 to 5 (Violet) with Little Lake Theater, and Urinetown (Pennywise) at Villanova for which she received a Barrymore nomination. Outside of theater, you can find Tonilyn in the English classroom, the studio, or working alongside Ginny the Therapy Dog. Next up: Rock of Ages at The Strand and Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge at Little Lake Theater. Thanks to Hannah and the New Works group for this opportunity! Love to my wife, Eve!

Wendy Parkulo (Kayla) is excited to be returning to the Pittsburgh New Works Festival! She last appeared in the Audience Favorite Reply All, produced by the Duquesne Red Masquers in 2023. She has also performed with The Pittsburgh Savoyards as Beatrice in The Servant of Two Masters and with StageWarp Productions in the Parallel Realms one-act festival. Wendy studied Theatre at Florida State University and Arts Management at Carnegie Mellon University. She currently works in group sales and community engagement for Pittsburgh Opera. She would like to thank her supportive friends and family, and hopes you all enjoy the incredible shows in this year's festival!

Forty-three Flights 'till Truth

by Joël Doty of Ann Arbor MI

Produced by Summer Company

Two sisters, trapped in an elevator, confess secrets from childhood as the elevator plunges down forty-three flights. Will they end up dead or renewed?

Joël Doty is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Joëlʼs plays have been produced around the country. Her short play Action and Reaction has been published and seen in many places including LA, Boston, New York, St. Louis and Sydney, Australia. Her children’s play Furry Tales has also been published and produced by many children’s groups. Most recently, Shattered Pieces was included in Theatre Nova’s Playwriting Festival, 2024. She attended the Sewanee Writer’s conference as a Tennessee Williams scholar, and was selected for the Kennedy Center Playwriting Workshop and the Southampton Playwriting Conference.

CAST/CREW

Erin Fulton (Director) is excited to return to the PNWF for another great festival season. She has most recently directed The Skin of Our Teeth with The Red Masquers. Past PNWF directing credits include Reply All (2023), which received the “Audience Choice” award, in addition to The High Ground (2021), receiving the “LabWorks Producers Choice” award. She has most recently appeared in the 2023 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Festival in 101 Ways to Kill Your Husband, receiving the nomination of “Best Supporting Actress.” Other favorite theater acting credits include roles in American Idiot, Heathers The Musical, and Dames at Sea. When not directing or acting, she works as a Social Media Manager.

John E. Lane, Jr. (Producer) is an Associate Professor and the Director of Theater Arts program for Duquesne University. He has directed over 125 productions for various companies around the Pittsburgh area including Pittsburgh Public Theater, Carlow University, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Wilkinsburg Arts Theater, Medieval and Renaissance Players, Pittsburgh New Works Festival, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Company, Thank You, Felix Productions, and Future Tenants. He is a board member of the Gemini Children’s Theater and the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Since joining Duquesne he has directed 12 world premiere productions including a new adaptation of The Beggar’s Opera and The Mother of Us All: An Evening with Gertrude Stein, Serenede, The Consorts, and Shuffle Ball Change … and Die!

Emma Moore (Stage Manager)

Allie Burns

Sarah Shoemaker

Violet & Harris

by Sam Heyman of nashville, tn

produced by Play on Words

Violet and Harris used to share a room, but now they are separated. Violet yearns to understand why things have changed, but Harris, burdened with self-awareness, must maintain the boundary that separates them at all costs. When Violet starts a game of catch, it is not long before Harris cannot avoid answering her questions. Can he keep himself together without tearing what's left of their bond apart?

Sam Heyman is a queer, Jewish playwright based in Nashville, TN. His plays have been produced by The Exit Theatre (What You Did Say), Third Coast Comedy Club (Story Time), Masque and Triangle (The Next Time Portnoy Sneezed) and the Denison Independent Theatre Association. Sam's short play Sexiled was featured in the 2024 Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, and Sam's full length play, Three Damned Letters, was a semi-finalist for Bay Street Theater's 2024 Title Wave New Works Festival. Their plays can be found on New Play Exchange

CAST/CREW

Soren DeNiz (Director/Producer) is ecstatic to be directing again with Play On Words in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Recent credits include The Tempest (Sebastian) with the Youth Shakespeare Society of Pittsburgh, Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Baby Bear) with Little Lake Theater, and stage managing Little Lake's upcoming production of Reefer Madness. Soren founded Play On Words Podcast in 2020 with the help of many talented peers as a way to create theatre remotely during the pandemic. It is now part of Glass Fox Productions, Soren's audio storytelling company. Learn more at glassfoxproductions.com. Outside of theatre, Soren is a piano teacher and a graphic designer. Find their portfolio at sorendeniz.design.

Morgan Hunter (Production Stage Manager) is a playwright, designer, and technician with bachelors degrees in English and Theatre & Dance from The College of Wooster. Hailing from Pittsburgh and recently serving as the Assistant Costume Designer for College Light Opera Company, they are beyond delighted to make their PNWF debut. In technical theatre, Hunter has previously stage managed with the Youth Shakespeare Society of Pittsburgh and has been awarded KCACTF Region 2’s 1st Place Costume Design Award. Coming from a liberal arts background, Hunter is most excited to explore the interconnectedness of all theatre roles, both professionally as well as in pursuit of dramatic writing and sceneography at the graduate level. On social media, Hunter can be found at @morganlikessoup.

Ella Mizera (she/they) (Rehearsal Stage Manager) is excited to be back for PNWF ‘25! She has worked with Play On Words since 2020's No Exit (Inez), and most recently in The Proposal (stage manager). Though she had to take an unexpected break from this show, she will return to the stage in 2026 for Food for Groundlings’ Richard II. Ella is a fight and intimacy director (most recently for Steel City Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors and Youth Shakespeare Society’s The Tempest) and is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors. By day, she is a researcher at Pitt.

Samir Tanay (Harris) is thrilled to be making his debut with Play on Words. He recently starred in the short film Lucky Charms produced by Purple Goat Productions and prior theatrical credits include Saag Paneer, Rumors, and Up the Down Staircase. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Theatre Arts and is now currently a fourth-year medical student at Pitt.

Penelope Zamborsky (Violet) is so excited to be working with Play On Words and the PNWF for the first time! She was recently in the musical Cats with Main Street Theatre Company in Uniontown and choreographed the musical Tarzan for the Geyer PAC in Scottdale. She just graduated this May from Seton Hill University with a B.A. in Musical Theatre. During the day she is a children’s dance instructor for Premier Dance Company. In addition to theatre and dance, she loves playing the saxophone and rollerskating!

Date with the Devil

by Nathan Wagner of pittsburgh, pa

produced by Prime Stage Theatre

Making a deal with the devil never goes well, even for the most clever of characters. But, if you're maybe not all that clever, you might get a better deal than others. "A Date With The Devil" is an irreverent, sacrilegious romantic comedy that really pushes the boundaries of the theory of Opposites Attract.

Nathan Wagner is a graduate of Youngstown State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and an emerging playwright in Pittsburgh, PA. He has over a decade of experience as a theatre artist and a lifetime of experience as a theatre lover. Though his degree is performance-based as an actor, he also has significant experience as a director, dramaturg, designer, and playwright. As an artist he seeks to promote empathy and encourage audiences to seek out unique voices and perspectives. As an educator he has a profound interest in cultivating the passions of fellow artists and igniting the interests of burgeoning students of theatre. He is a collaborator by practice and by philosophy, and he strives to create a theatrical and educational space where all can be welcomed and comfortable.

CAST/CREW

Linda Haston (Director)

Wayne Brinda, Ed. D. (Producer) Prime Stage is pleased to participate in this year's Festival as we get ready to open our 29th season of three world premieres by local playwrights. Larry C. Connolly's Mr. Edgar A. Poe Presents: Tales of Mystery, Horror & Imagination opens the season in November, L.E. McCullough's Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance opens in February, and Tammy Ryan's adaptation of Speak opens in May. More information is on our website www.primestage.com. We look forward to keeping new works alive in 2025-2026.

Jason Kmetic (Stage Mgr) has been working in theater for 20 years. He started with Prime Stage Theatre in 2005, and has worked with them on and off for the last 19 years. He has also worked for Disney and other production companies in California. Jason also works with Carnegie Stage, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, CorningWorks, Spotlight Costumes, and many others in Pittsburgh. Some of Jason’s credits include: The Long Road Today/ El Largo Camino Del Hoy (Lighting Technician/First Assistant Stage Manager), Apsis Requiem (Lighting Designer/Stage Manager), Gypsy (Stage Manager), Fifth Feeling: A Performance Ritual (Lighting Designer/Stage Manager), Miracle Worker (Stage Manager), The Boxcar Children (Stage Manager), Jesse Factor’s The Marthaodyssey (Stage Manager), Almost 40 and Single (Stage Manager), The High School Drama Awards (Production Stage Manager).

Kaitlin Cliber (Lilith) is honored to represent Prime Stage Theater in the PNWF. Favorite stage credits include First Mothers (Prime Stage), It's A Wonderful Life (Theatre Factory), Girl Gone (4D Performing Arts Collective) Richard III (Steel City Shakespeare), and more. Most recently Kaitlin was an extra on Amazon Prime/MGM's How To Rob A Bank, was the catcher for the Blue Sox on the Amazon Prime series A League of Their Own, and will be headlining in indie horror film Locust this year with Atomic Fear Films. Kaitlin received her BFA from Slippery Rock University and is the Cupcake Department Supervisor at Oakmont Bakery. She also serves freelance as a scenic painter and in social media design.

Marston Leff