Program D
September 12-15
Happy
by Marjorie Williamson of St. Louis, MO
Produced by summer Company
Brenda has decided to embrace happiness; it's a little more complicated than she'd imagined. In fact, she may have to re-think the whole concept.
Marjorie Williamson has been involved in St. Louis theater for many years as a scenic and graphic designer. Before her 70th birthday she had never written anything more creative than a grocery list, but in the last few years she has churned out a handful of plays that have won awards and been selected for production all over the country. She has a degree in English from the University of Missouri.
CAST/CREW
Heather Ruppert (she/her) (Director) is excited to be making her directorial debut with the PNWF! She was previously an assistant director for DDP’s Murder by Natural Causes. She is also an actress. She was recently seen in The Second City Chicago’s online national show The Bearable Weight of Our Massive Talents. Some of her other favorite acting roles include Tess Townley in Serenade (The Summer Company), Chardonnay Bordeaux in Wine, Cheese, & Murder (DDP), and Marie Helene in Neither Here Nor Elsewhere (Silver Theatre). Heather is on the Board of Directors for the PNWF. Much thanks to her talented cast and supportive husband, Tim!
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) is a recent graduate of Duquesne University with a degree in Theater Arts. This is her third season with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. For the past two seasons she was the sound designer for all program weeks. She was an active member of the Red Masquers and is happy to be working with them again. Emma has also worked with Prime Stage Theatre and The Summer Company as the Stage Manager for Theatre of Blood. During the day she works at Carnegie Science Center as an AV & Special events coordinator. She hopes you all enjoy this years season and continue to support local artists!
JR Graff (Jeffrey) is delighted to return to PNWF having last appeared in 2014’s Revolution! He has spent the past several years acting with Pgh Opera in numerous works including Don Pasquale, Aida, The Grapes of Wrath, Turandot, Marriage of Figaro, and others. He returns to them this fall with Tosca and Rusticana/Pagliacci. He has also performed with PMT, Stage 62, WCT and Throughline Theater. Faves include Oliver, Working, Jesus Christ Superstar, Once on This Island and Lyrical Xmas Carol. An avid cyclist, he has completed 2 NYC 5-Boro Tours and the Pgh-to-DC trek in 2023. BA, Theater, Point Park University. In memory of his dad - now that he is playing a dad.
Ellen Kalik (Brenda) is thrilled to be performing in the Pittsburgh New Works festival for the first time on the main stage. She did a staged reading many moons ago for the PNWF. After a 4 year hiatus from theater, Ellen returned to the stage this past May in Nightwatch at McKeesport Little Theater. She recently just finished portraying Olymphe in A Flea in her Ear at Pittsburgh Savoyards. Ellen also enjoys film work and appearing in commercials and UGC (user generated content) videos for various brands on social media. Visit her website at www.ellenkalik.com.
Tim Syciarz (Canyon) is happy to participate in his first appearance at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival collaborating with Summer Company. He has worked with Summer Company in the past, most recently as Peter Devlin in this summer's Theater of Blood and last year as Terence Wakefield in Serenade.
Riley Tate (Meadow/Ed) recently received her Master's Degree at Mary Baldwin University in conjunction with the American Shakespeare Center, where you could see her as Gower in Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Florinda in The Rover, and Wagner/Chorus in Dr. Faustus. Other notable roles include Beatrice/Claudio/Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Andrew/Sebastian in Twelfth Night or What You Will (NRTC), Mary in Jersey Boys (StageRight!), Nicola in Kinky Boots (ShenanArts), Kate in The Wild Party (CCAC South), and Portia in The Merchant of Venice (Poor Yorick's). As a director, Riley has served as Assistant Director to Stephanie Holladay Earl for The American Shakespeare Center’s production of A Christmas Carol. Riley would like to thank her family, friends, boyfriend, and cat for their unwavering support and love.
January
by Sarah Schreck of New Haven, CT
Produced by r-act theatre productions
Jennifer and her daughter Dee stand in line at an anime convention to meet Lina, Dee's favorite voice actor and hero, who is more connected to the duo than they think. In a slice-of-life narrative that spans time and generations, this tag team navigate what it means to have and lose a hero, the enduring bond between mother and daughter, and the role that art plays in helping us connect with others through time. Much has to come undone for Jennifer and Dee, as well as Jenny and Desiree, to come to terms with the danger and heartbreak of seeing others - and being seen themselves.
Sarah Schreck’s plays have been featured onstage at the University of Central Florida, the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando Florida, and most recently on high school stages from Florida to Idaho. Her primary theatre passion is to foster a love of theatre and theatre education for young artists, especially those interested in writing. She graduated with a Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University in 2020 and currently lives in New Haven, Connecticut. Love to Jack, Mom & Dad, Lexi, Leia, and Project Spotlight UCF for planting the seed.
CAST/CREW
Dave Joseph (Director) Making his Festival debut in 1998, Dave has been participating regularly these past 10 years. Usually performing on stage, this year marks his second time directing for the New Works. Outside of the festival, his other directorial efforts have all been through R-ACT and include: Writer’s Block, Fuddy Meers, and a Radio-style production of A Christmas Carol. Dave thanks his wife Amy, and their kids for their continued love and support. Special thanks to Giant Eagle Market District of Robinson for their support of the arts.
Amy Joseph (Producer) is excited to participate once again with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival! Amy performed last year in LOVE LETTERS (Melissa); favorite roles include THE BOOK OF LIZ (Liz) and FIVE TELLERS DANCING IN THE RAIN (Delores) all with R-ACT Theatre. She is currently serving as board President with Pittsburgh New Works Festival. Amy is a Banker by day at NexTier Bank and lives in Monaca with her family.
Tammy Van Evera (Stage Manager) looks forward to the festival every year..so much so that for the last 7 years she has been stage managing for R-ACT. In her spare time Tammy serves on R-ACT's board as president and walking for her buddy Lillian. What's a buddy, visit whoirun4.com for more information.
Mary-Cait Cox (Jennifer) is so blessed to be making her New Works debut with R-ACT Theatre Productions! She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Theatre Arts from The City College of New York. Recent credits include Fiddler on The Roof (Yente) and Radium Girls (Mrs. MacNeil/Mrs. Roeder) with The Heritage Players, and Pride and Prejudice (Jane Bennet) with The Pittsburgh Savoyards. She dedicates her performance to her beautiful late mother- “This one’s for you my sweet Mum!”
Kat Bowman (Dee) is delighted to be making her debut with R-ACT. Recent/Favorite credits include Mollie in Stage Warp's Animal Farm, Mrs. Dudley in Stage Warp's Haunting of Hill House, and Sammy Jo in Armstrong Community Theatre's Southern Fried Funeral. She also recently was nominated for Best Leading Actress at the 48 Hour Film Fest for Tina Gold in Yellow Bridge Production's Selah as well as won Best Choreography for said film. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Seton Hill University. She is dedicating this performance to her Late Cousin Sandy Kitchen, who was always her biggest supporter and the reason she was able to start acting.
Kaitlin Cliber (Desiree) is thrilled to be returning to the Pittsburgh New Works festival for the fourth time. Representing R-ACT Theater has been a true privilege for Kaitlin, as well as working alongside this talented cast and direction. Kaitlin received her BFA with a duel major in Theatre from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Most recently Kaitlin has performed in Once Upon A Mattress (Theatre Factory), Last Of The Boys (Greensburgh Civic), A League Of Their Own (Amazon Prime), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland), and is currently in production of horror film Locust (Atomic Fear Films). When Kaitlin isn't on stage she is the Dolce & Cupcake supervisor at Oakmont Bakery, marketing for The Oaks Theater, and performs with Mystery's Most Wanted traveling murder mystery group!
Maxine Coltin (Jenny) is a recent graduate from The Theatre School at DePaul University. While this is her first time at the New Works Festival, she has been in multiple productions. Some of her most recent credits include Natasha from Moscow x6 by Halley Feiffer, Mustardseed/Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and as Daughter in A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney by Lucas Hnath.
Ahimsa
by Matt Thekkethala of Austin, TX
produced by The Bobcat Players
A joke at a comedy club causes a fiery rift between two lovers.
Matt Thekkethala is a playwright and performer based in Austin, Texas. He writes absurdist comedies that are cheekily curious about our capacity to forgive one another. He has developed work with The NOLA Project and Goat in the Road Productions in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2020, he released Now More Than Ever, an episodic radio play / comedy album hybrid, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Matt holds a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University and is currently pursuing a M.F.A. in Theatre (Playwriting) from The University of Texas at Austin's Michener Center for Writers.
CAST/CREW
Hannah Eyler Dearborn (Co-Director) is thrilled to direct for the Bobcat Players after assistant directing their 2023 production of One Man, Two Guvnors. Other directing credits include Will (2024) and Southern Fried Funeral (2022) for Community Theatre Players of Ben Avon. Hannah earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Lycoming College and currently studies with Ensemble Actors Studio.
Johnny Gallagher (Co-Director) is ecstatic to be a part of this year’s New Works Festival. Past Previous directing credits include What I Did Last Summer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Violet, Dogfight, and Into the Woods. Acting credits include Cliff (Cabaret), Jamie (The Last Five Years), and Rosencrantz (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Johnny holds a BFA in musical theatre. He currently teaches theatre and serves as an arts integration specialist at Baden Academy Charter School and is helping to write a nationwide arts curriculum for online schools.
Patti Ross (Producer)
Calvin Brookins (Rakim) has been involved with acting since 2019, but really became involved in theatre for three years now. To name a few of the recent productions that Calvin was involved in are "Pride and Prejudice" for Pittsburgh Savoyards where he played Charles Bingley, "Dearly Beloved" for Pendeminer Productions where he played Justin Waverly, and "Miserable Creatures" for The Rage of The Stage Players where he played Byron. This is Calvin's first time preforming with New Works and first time working with Bobcat Players. Enjoy!
Jennifer Welch (Lydia) is thrilled and honored to be making her debut with New Works Festival. She most recently appeared in Fly me to the Moon a Stage Warp Production. A recent favorite role was playing Snowball and the Storyteller in Animal Farm a Stage Warp production. Jennifer is a graduate of UCLA. With both her mom and dad prominent Pittsburgh Broadcasters she developed a love of Acting at a very young age. She studied acting at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Oakland and appeared in numerous productions. She currently teaches Yoga and Group fitness A heartfelt thank you to my 3 Maine Coon cats Billie, Joseph and Charlie for patiently listening to me running my lines. And most important my husband Jeff and my 5 children.
Erin Berger (Roseanne) is delighted to be joining the Pittsburgh New Works 2024 festival as an actor for the second time. She has also previously directed two shows for PNW as a member of the Bobcat Players. Erin recently wrapped a production with Stage Warp for the debut play, "Friends Forever," by Andrew Lasswell. She has been acting regionally and abroad for the past 15 years and is a proud member of The Talent Group. She would like to thank the directors and cast of "Ahimsa" for the adventure this play has presented, as well as the Bobcat Players for their support.
Xander Boots
Arjun Kumar (Aryan) is excited to make his New Works debut with Bobcat Players! Arjun has performed with a variety of theatres in the Pittsburgh area, including, but not limited to, The Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, PICT, Quantum Theatre and Little Lake Theatre. Arjun is also a member of the SAG-AFTRA union, and most recently appeared in Amazon Freevee’s Season 2 of American Rust!
Andrew Lasswell (Dr. Nigel Woodward) is honored to be making his seventh appearance with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. He has worked with a number of theater companies in and around Pittsburgh since returning to theater in 2017. He can also be seen on other stages as a bandleader, comic, and sideshow marvel. When not on the stage, he prefers to be playing piano or pinball.