PROGRAM 3

The Key by James Kenna

Velvet Determination by Cynthia Shaw

Gracie Fojtik (Director): Gracie Fojtik is San Francisco-based Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, and Teaching Artist. Gracie has performed at Williamstown Theatre Company (community works), participated in readings with Middle Voice at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre and Primary Stages, and studied with the Moscow Art Theatre. Gracie is currently beginning her third and final year as a M.F.A. acting student with A.C.T., working as a teaching artist in San Francisco, and is a co-creator of an in-house (no literally, in-house) production company with her roommates during the pandemic called gnut house productions. Gnut House wrote, produced, and acted in multiple shorts all to be released in 2021. Her most recent collaborative creations, The Garden Will Not Crumble, and Routine were shown at A.C.T. in 2021. Gracefojtik.com @graciefojtik

James Kenna (Writer/Actor): James is a New York City-based Writer, Actor, and Educator. Recent writing includes: Beowulf: Her Story" (The Subtext). The Garden Will Not Crumble (ACT Skyfest, short film). "Italian Rose: A Solo Show" (Ars Nova Research Grant). "The Key: A Solo Show" ( Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy, 2020). On stage, he has performed at Ithaca's Hangar Theatre, The Drama League, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York's Symphony Space, and in BroadwayWorld's hit new Web-series Rachel Unraveled. James is a current writer with Dreamweavers writer lab. James graduated from Fordham University in 2019 with a B.A. in Theatre: Performance and an award for distinguished achievement. James is represented by UIA Talent Agency.

BIOS:

Cynthia Shaw, pianist, singer and actor, lives in Brooklyn, NY. She was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado and moved to New York to attend the esteemed Manhattan School of Music. Since graduating, she has dedicated her life to music and acting. She has musical directed over 30 regional and off-Broadway shows and acted in New York City and regional theatres. MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS include: backup vocals for Paul McCartney (Carnegie Hall) and Björk (Riverside Church), singing with the New York Philharmonic when they won three Grammy Awards and playing piano for Garrison Keillor and The Prairie Home Companion at Town Hall and on NPR. ACTING HIGHLIGHTS: Mrs. Winemiller (Summer & Smoke, Terry Schreiber, director), Liz Fuller (Me and Jezebel, Kentucky Repertory Theatre), Arkadina and Ranevskaya (Mr. Chekov and Mr. Porter, Medicine Show Theatre) and many other Off-Broadway theatres in New York. Her film work has been presented at Cannes Festival Corner, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, The Soho International Film Festival and The Big Apple Film Festival, to name a few. Her one woman show, Velvet Determination, won 2018 “Best Festival Debut” at NYC’s United Solo Festival and many other awards in the festival circuit. www.velvetdetermination.com www.cynthiashaw.us

Peter Michael Marino is a New York City native who has worked extensively as a producer, director, developer, writer, teacher, and performer whose work has been seen on five continents. Pete is a member of The Dramatists Guild, AEA, SAG-AFTRA, The Indie Theater Fund, and a graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute. His production company PM2 Entertainment has presented festivals and original comedy works everywhere from NYC to Australia, Canada, and the UK. Pete is regarded as one of the first American artists to pioneer online, live, interactive performances during the pandemic. He’s streamed LIVE performances of his solo shows Desperately Seeking the Exit and Show Up, Kids! for nearly 11 months online. He is a subject of an early pandemic piece by Peter Marks in the Washington Post. Pete is also the author of a controversial piece for Medium on what theater is. It’s satire, people. https://www.petermmarino.com/