Program C

September 10-13

Holy Smoke

by brandy Victoria of Silver Spring, MD

Produced by Pittsburgh new works

"Holy Smoke" is a sharp, one-act play that ignites with the unexpected arrival of Maxine, a newly devout and fiercely opinionated mother, into the bohemian world of her daughter Jonquil, who is on the verge of a milestone birthday and a long-awaited vacation. What begins as a simple birthday visit quickly escalates into a battle of beliefs, as Maxine tries to steer Jonquil toward marriage and faith, only to be met with Jonquil’s unapologetic declaration of her asexuality and her refusal to conform to anyone’s expectations. Their verbal sparring is by turns hilarious, raw, and brutally honest, as they challenge each other’s worldviews and push every emotional button. But can their relationship survive these new versions of one another?

Brandy Victoria is a playwright and performance artist whose work has been produced by the Southern Repertory Theatre of Louisiana, Little Theatre of Alexandria, Obsidian Theatre Festival, Fade to Black Reading Series, Barter Theatre and Abingdon Theatre Company. In 2023, Brandy was named a Hurston/Wright Foundation Fellow and was a featured playwright in the literary publication, Obsidian Literature and Arts in the African Diaspora. Brandy was also selected as a featured artist by Torch Literary Arts based in Austin, Texas. She is a graduate of Temple University, earning degrees in Film and Media arts and African-American Studies.

CAST/CREW

Heather Ruppert (Director)

Elysse Dalzell (Stage Manager)

Kayla Williams (Maxine) is excited to make her Pittsburgh New Works Festival debut in Holy Smoke. Recent credits include Pom Pom Boom Boom with Throughline Theatre Company, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane with McKeesport Little Theater, and POTUS with South Park Theatre. She has also recently worked on several independent film and commercial projects throughout the Pittsburgh area. When she isn’t acting, Kayla works in banking and enjoys spending time with her family. She is grateful for every opportunity to continue growing, creating, and bringing new characters to life.

Montaja Simmons (Jonquil) is a Pittsburgh PA native and a professional wailer for funerals. 'Holy Smoke' marks her debut performance on the Pittsburgh New Works Festival stage. For other performance opportunities, you can catch Montaja flexing her improv comedian skills with her fellow teammates in Co- workers and Bipocalypse shows at the Arcade Comedy Theater in downtown Pittsburgh.

The Great Anderton Snowfall Debacle of 2025

by Lisa Feriend of Singapore

produced by Prime Stage Theatre

Tiffany and Jessica need to get an autograph and photo of former professional English soccer player, Darren Anderton, in order to save Tiffany’s marriage - but it snowed, and he might be dead?

Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend is an award-winning playwright, a member of the Dramatists Guild, and President of the Board of Arts For All, a NYC-based nonprofit bringing accessible artistic opportunities to children who face barriers to exploring the arts. She has a BFA in Film & TV from NYU and two kids who are disappointed that she doesn't write plays about dinosaurs.

CAST/CREW

Scott Calhoon (Director) is happy to return to the PNWF to have the chance to bring a new play to life.  He has directed or performed at least a half a dozen occasions with PNWF.  Scott has also directed with PrimeStage, Front Porch Theatricals, Gargaro Productions, Northern Lights Playhouse, Pinewood Dinner Theatre, CalMcIyre Productions, Belmont Theatre and others.  Break A Leg everyone.

Linda Haston (Assistant Director) also a Board Member has long participated in PNWF representing Prime Stage Theatre. She has directed and/or performed on the stages of local Pittsburgh theater companies which include Off the Wall Theater, City Theatre,, New Horizon, The Public Theatre, PICT, Arcade Comedy Theatre and Prime Stage Theatre.  She will be directing THE CLUB opening in November 2026 for Duquesne University.  Recently she is performed in the acclaimed FAT HAM at City Theatre which also went to TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  She has performed her acclaimed one woman show MOTHER LODE in Rep and in 2018 performed it in New York and in June of 2023 performed it in Reykjavik, Iceland.  

Wayne Brinda, Ed.D. (Producer) Co-founder/Producing Artistic Director of Prime Stage Theatre. He has produced several world and regional premieres, including THE MUSIC LESSON, THE WESTING GAME, WADE IN THE WATER, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, PERSEVERANCE, FREEDOM HOUSE: GIVING LIFE A SECOND CHANCE, and SPEAK.  Besides directing many of the plays for Prime Stage, he has directed locally at New Works Festival, Apple Hill Playhouse, Duquesne University Red Masquers, Little Lake Theatre, Red Barn Theatre in Allison Park, South Park Theatre, and currently at the Red Barn Players in Ellwood City.  Wayne retired as an assistant professor in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh Bradford and is an adjunct professor at Duquesne University with the Spiritan Group

Jason Kmetic (Stage Manager) has been working in theater for 20 years. That journey started with Prime Stage Theater in 2005. He has also worked for The Walt Disney Company and several other California production companies. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Jason naturally has working relationships with Carnegie Stage, Spotlight Costumes, ILLUME Lighting + Event Design as well as the Kelly Strayhorn Theater and CorningWorks. Some of his numerous credits include: Miracle Worker (Stage Manager), The Boxcar Children (Stage Manager), Jesse Factor’s The Marthaodyssey
(Stage Manager), Mr. Edgar A. Poe Presents: Tales of Mystery, Horror & Imagination (Lighting Designer), Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance (Lighting Designer), Jasmine Hearn, Memory Fleet: Stay in the Circle (Stage Manager), and First Mothers (Stage Manager)

Emma Moore (Stage Manager) is happy to be back with PNWF! She last worked as the Stage Manager for Little Lakes production of Pickleball, a Jeff Daniels original! Before that she worked as the Stage Manager for the Gemini Children’s Theater production of Journey to Oz. Beyond that she has worked with Little Lake as a stage manager & sound designer for Mrs. Cratchits Wild Christmas Binge and Reefer Madness (respectively). She has worked multiple seasons with Prime Stage Theater, The Summer Company and Pittsburgh New Works Festival. She graduated from Duquesne University with a degree in Theater Arts. During the day she works for a nonprofit child care center and uses her skills in theater to keep up with the kiddos! Saint Genesius pray for us!

Cynthia Dallas (Jessica) is a proud Pittsburgh native and graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. Local theater credits include performances with Primestage,The Pittsburgh Public, City Theatre, Real Time Arts, The Hiawatha Project, and PICT. An avid improviser, Cynthia is a member of several improv teams at Arcade Comedy Theater. Prior to moving back to Pittsburgh, she lived and worked in TV and film in Los Angeles. Recent credits include a recurring role on The Lincoln Lawyer, American Rust, and Lee Daniels' horror film, The Deliverance. Repped by Docherty Talent Agency, Cynthia currently works an adjunct professor at Point Park University teaching Introduction to Acting. This fall, she can be seen in the titular role of Demaskus Theater's production of Othello.

Kristina Malinak (Tiffany) is excited to be back on the Pittsburgh New Work Stage after a long break alongside Prime Stage as Tiffany in “The Great Anderton Snowfall Debacle of 2025”! A graduate from Slippery Rock University with a major in acting. In college, she had the privilege of being the first person to help bring to life, Nell, from December Things. She received multiple nominations for KCACTF with roles including, Caroline Cox from Luna Gale and Nearly Wild from Concord Floral. She’s excited to bring this piece to life and hopes you’ll get a laugh out of this hilarious production!

Bryan Karpinski (Gennaro Gattuso) is an actor and playwright from Pittsburgh. He is thrilled to be making his Pittsburgh New Works Festival debut! His favorite theatre credits include Something Rotten! (Nostradamus), Sweeney Todd (Pirelli), The White Rose (Robert Mohr), Clown Bar (Happy), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck), and Beowulf: The Musical: The Play (Narrator). He studies Technology Education at PennWest California University, and serves as president of University Players. Beware the Jabberwock!

Waiting to Film Waiting for Godot

by Mathew Green ofChampaign, IL

produced by Stray Cat Theatre

Two veteran actors wait on a set for filming to begin. They are eventually joined by a young woman, also waiting. As they wait, they converse about life, art, and the birds circling overhead.

Mathew Green is a Midwest director, actor, and playwright. His play Quiet Tonight was performed at the 2025 Pittsburgh New Works Fest. He lives in Champaign, Illinois with his stage manager wife and four kids, and he has been creating theatre in Central Illinois (and beyond) for more than 20 years.

CAST/CREW

Barbara Burgess-Lefebvre (Director)

Jack Lefebvre (Producer)

Steven Gallagher – Junius Blanchard

Todd Ballenger – Ronnie Platt 

Kiera Vinson-- Les

Lauren Sykes—Ellie Sanger

Frederick Coleman—Quince Morn