PROGRAM 6

Parking Lot Fairies by Franny Weed

Glow Worms by Emmy Weissman

Mantis by Belle Del Sesto

Rocket by Mark Melton

Parking Lot Fairies Bios

Director: Nadiya Atkinson

Bio: Nadiya is a director and illustrator from a houseplant and immigrant household. Her work focuses on tactile, brightly-patterned, and site-specific pieces, centering geography and community. Selected directing credits:  SCENES WITH GIRLS (Cap&Bells), BURYA: THE TEMPEST (Williams), SAVING WONDERLAND (Braving the Bard), and NOISES OFF (Cap&Bells). She’s the Humanities Manager at Theatre for a New Audience. Nadiya graduated from NTI’s Advanced Directing Program and holds a B.A. in Theatre with Honors from Williams College. Nadiyaatkinson.com

Writer and “Delaney”: Franny Weed

Bio: Franny is a playwright, actor and filmmaker living in Brooklyn. Selected projects: ADAPTATION (2020, director), JEAN (2021, writer & actor), and the short film BENJY (2023, writer & director). She co-runs a screen/playwriting workshop in Brooklyn called By the Fire. Right now, her work is about aging, compromise, and fools.

“Sara”: Jessica Speight

Bio: Jessica Speight is a Caribbean-American actor & writer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is a Lin-Manuel Miranda fellow who has worked on shows such as Sweat by Lynne Nottage & Perseverance by Callie Kimball. Currently, she works as a production assistant with Grits Entertainment and her poem “GRLZ MAKE GRLZ MAKE GRLZ” has been published in the latest edition of Flurry Mag (a New York based zine created by & for BIPOC women).

“Fairy 1”: Rose Badiru

Bio: Rose Badiru is very excited to be involved with the ‘Fairies’ production. She is currently studying at Long Island University in Brooklyn, where she will receive a BFA. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Rose now proudly calls New York City home.

“Fairy 2”: Claire Marieb

Bio: Claire is a NYC based theatre artist. Her play “Physical Touch is NOT my Love Language and ASMR is Inherently Sexual” was produced by Our Digital Stories in June of 2021. Most recently she assistant directed under Jenna Worsham (The Pool Plays) and Ricardo Vazquez (LIU). She is currently working on a new play about climate change in collaboration with director Lulu Guzman titled “Planting Day”. Clairedmarieb.com

Production Designer: Sarisha Kurup

Bio: Sarisha Kurup is a designer and multi-disciplinary artist based in Brooklyn. With a degree in history and a background in joinery and custom furniture, she produces sets, interiors, art, and objects that embrace the influence of the past and prioritize the artistry of hand-craftsmanship. Working as Floren design studio alongside her partner Nathan Ashany, she works  on a range of projects in interiors, film, theater, and event design. Florendesign.com

Production Designer: Nathan Ashany

Bio: Nathan Ashany is an artist and designer based in Brooklyn. Whether he is working on a film, theatrical set, or a room, Nathan loves creating spaces that envelop completely. He works alongside his partner Sarisha Kurup as one half of Floren, their multidisciplinary design studio. Selected credits: Production Designer, When We Were Old; Scenic & Lighting Designer, Wine-O-Rama / Them Airs; Co-Lighting Designer, Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. florendesign.com

Jaye Ayres-Brown (Sheri) is an actor based in New York City.

Laura Herskov (Sasha) is an actor, writer, and musical artist from Southern California and Escazú, Costa Rica. Most recently on stage, Mikvah Girls (Art House Productions), Let Me Cook For You (TheaterLab), Motherf**king Girl Scouts (Wild Project). On screen, you can see her as Betty in Father (directed by Felipe Boertz) and Gracie in Gracie Green Is Getting Resurrected (directed by Karma Masselli). Her goal as an artist is to have a fun and funky fresh time. Thank you to Emmy and Karma for always making that happen. BFA: NYU Tisch school of the Arts. @lauramilagra

Michelle Kariuki (Counselor Jean), the child of a Kenyan immigrant, attended NYU for Drama. While in undergrad she performed in a variety of school productions such as Failure: A Love Story, Death of a Salesman and Barbecue. In 2017, Michelle made her off-off Broadway debut in Black Girl Magic Show! at JACK. She continued to perform in productions at NYU such as the world premiere of An American Feast, a collaboration with The Civilians. After graduating in 2019, Michelle was cast as Morph in The Heresy Machine. After a short run at HERE theater, she performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for international audiences. In July 2020, she was cast in her first on screen role as Marfay in the short film 1805. Her most recent film credits are Alia in USER and Deja Greene in Chapter Up. She recently closed a short run of Happy Birthday, Curiosity Rover! at Super Secret Arts Center’s Cosmic Cherry Festival. 

Lauren Nicola (Abby) is a writer, director, and actor originally from Tennessee, now based in New York City. She has a BFA in Film & Television from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Lauren teaches part-time at an after school program for children in addition to doing freelance production and art assistant work in film and events. This is Lauren’s third collaboration with writer Emmy Weissman and director Karma Masselli, following Motherf**king Girlscouts, in which she performed the role of Rosie in the show’s 2022 run at The Fresh Fruit Festival, and the short film Gracie Green Is Getting Resurrected, in which she played the role of Lisa. Lauren will always be grateful to Emmy and Karma for allowing her to bring their magical worlds to life, and she regards every opportunity to work with this incomparable team a privilege, a pleasure, and a party.

Lena Iacobucci (Danielle) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. She is a graduate of NYU Tisch Drama and the Experimental Theater Wing, where she received training in both the Grotowski and Meisner techniques. After graduating, Lena remained intent on finding delight in creation and collaboration, leading to many experiences with thrilling new works and brilliant artists. Recent stage credits include "Branching Out" (Alchemical Studios) and "Giving Up The Ghost" (The Brick). She is brimming with joy to have the opportunity to work with so many talented individuals on Glow Worms.

Emmy Weissman (Playwright) (she/her) is a writer based in NYC. Her plays include Sugar (The Maker's Ensemble Short Play Fest) and Motherf**king Girl Scouts (All Out Arts's Fresh Fruit Festival at The Wild Project, and Mikvah Girls (Art House Productions). Her work can be seen in Smith & Kraus and Querencia Press anthologies. She is a playwright-in-residence with Art House Productions’ INKubator New Play Program ‘22-‘23 and a Tennessee Williams scholar for the 2023 Sewanee Writers' Conference. BFA in Drama- NYU Tisch. emmyweissman.com. 

Jennifer Allen (Dramaturgy) is a writer, director, and devisor originally from Richmond, Virginia. After graduating NYU in 2019, she’s concentrated on new ways of creating theater focusing on bold, honest stories and intersectional feminist work. Jenn is thrilled to join the Glow Worms team- it’s truly a gift to support the creation of community and impactful work! 

Hannah Bird (Costume Design) (she/they) is a designer, crafts artisan, and director based in Brooklyn. She has worked on productions at Playwrights Horizons, WP Theatre, The Public Theater, The New School for Drama, PlayCo/Clubbed Thumb, Moliere in the Park, and A24. Fav design credits include the  upcoming THE WAKE OF UR PROBLEMATIC FAV PRTY GRL at the Tank and Edinburgh Fringe, Happy Birthday Curiosity Rover at Cosmic Cherry Festival, and Motherf**king Girl Scouts at Fresh Fruit Festival. Hannah becomes something of a glowworm herself whenever there's disco music playing.

Nile Assata Harris (Choreography) is a New York Based Artist. Originally from Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Nile graduated with a BFA in theatre from New York University. Recent works include The Harriet Holland Social Club's 84th Annual Cotillion (A.R.T. NY) Fettuccine (Fresh Fruit Festival) TOM (Columbia University) The Singularity Play (Columbia University); Miss Lily (Clubbed Thumb Winter fest ); Children’s Crusade  (Children’s Crusade Company).

Karma Masselli (Direction) is a theater and film maker based in Brooklyn, NY. Her recent theater directing projects include Mikvah Girls (Art House Productions/New Jersey), Motherf**king Girl Scouts (Wild Project/All Out Art’s Fresh Fruit Festival), Happy Birthday, Curiosity Rover (Super Secret Arts/Cosmic Cherry Arts Festival). Her recent film directing projects include Gracie Green Is Getting Resurrected (Neighborhood Film Festival) and Burt's Electronics (HUDSY). She is a co-founder of the Neighborhood Film Festival and was awarded a Community Content grant by HUDSY TV. She is pursuing certification in intimacy coordination from IDC and holds a BFA in theater directing from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, Playwrights Horizons Theater School. 

Rosalie Neal (Sound Design) is a theater-maker, performer and sound artist. She has performed and sound designed in venues like Mabou Mines, Performance Space, The Brick, H0l0, Dixon Place, and Allouche Gallery. Her recent sound design credits include M3LTD0WN at the Brick, Take It Away, Cheryl at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and her own solo show MOTHER MARY MILK BAR at Cloud City in May 2022. She is very excited to see and hear this beautiful production come to fruition. 

Cara Griffin (Prop Design) is a filmmaker and visual artist in Brooklyn, NY. Her latest short film, My Savior, was awarded the 2023 NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music, and Theater on behalf of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the New York Foundation for the Arts. She is a graduate of New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

Diana Schlossberg (Dramaturgy) is a diarist, director, designer, and performer. Her solo performance work, On Diary, was presented at Bowery Poetry Club in collaboration with CH-V. In 1950, after 15 years and over two-dozen films with the studio, MGM released her amid a series of personal struggles that prevented her from fulfilling the terms of her contract. She lives in Bushwick.

Kobi Masselli (Lighting Design) is a designer and director based in New York City.

Lucas Castro-Cruz (Graphics) (he/him) born and raised in Salt Lake City, my parents bought me my first sketchbook when I was 10 because I wanted to be like Jack from the Titanic, my favorite movie at the time.  I fell in love with theatre, and the act of making it.  I started performing in 7th grade, and learned I had a passion for directing, which is what I studied when I attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts for undergrad.  In addition to my theatre curriculum, I took studio art courses at Steinhardt, focusing primarily on color theory.  During lockdown in 2020, I missed storytelling.  I began drawing my own graphic novel “A Guide to Subsea Living” which I later turned into a short film.  Over the past few years, as theatres and studios have been opening up in the city, my craft has become more multi-faceted than ever.  My art is my own personal and inexhaustible method towards desire and discovery.  I’m currently based in the Lower East Side, Manhattan. 

Jacqueline Brockel (Scenic Design) (@jbroc.jbroc.jbroc) is Thingly with objects and paints transmotions. jbroc fabricates and sources matter for short films and theater. She has been an associate set designer on several immersive productions including Remarkable’s Scarlet Night on the Virgin Voyages Cruise with Carolyn Mraz, and Field and Forest on Isabella Rossellini’s farm with Deb O.

Katrina Mattson (Carson) is a bi-coastal actor, writer, and bartender. She has made a “really good caipirinha" as reviewed by people who've already had 3 drinks, and in between drink making has managed to spend a little bit of time on stage and screen. She loves any chance to get bloody and weird with her work, and is thrilled to be a part of this production! 

Victor Colasurdo (Danny) is a New York-based actor and is so excited to be a part of this show. He is a recent graduate of Pace University’s BFA Acting Program and recently made his television debut on an episode of CBS’ The Equalizer. To view more about him and what he’s up to visit VictorColasurdo.com.

Belle Del Sesto (Writer/Director) is a recent graduate from NYU’s Department of Dramatic Writing. Outside of playwriting she also writes for film, tv, and narrative games, and script supervises on the occasional film set. Directing being her first love, Belle is exhilarated to be back, and is so thankful to her cast and crew for bringing MANTIS to life, and to the Chain Theatre for giving her something to believe in during her post-grad crisis.

Katie Heaton (Production Designer) is a queer multimedia production designer and content creator born and residing in Brooklyn, New York. Coming from a music, arts, and performance background, Katie finds joy in developing rich visual worlds across all artistic mediums. Thanks to Belle for always letting her make crazy things happen on stage.

Natalie Collat (Assistant Director/Casting) is a rising Senior at NYU studying Film & Television Production with an emphasis on writing and directing for television and comedy. She has worked on several advanced thesis films from NYU and is set to direct an advanced pilot in the fall. This past spring she interned for Brookside Artist Management and is proud to continue her casting journey with Mantis.

Aaron Gutterman (Koy) is incredibly excited to be working on Rocket! Originally from West Caldwell, New Jersey, Aaron currently attends Hofstra University pursuing a BFA in Drama Performance. Some of his past credits include Harry/Mr. Heppenstahl in State Fair (Hofstra University), Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (NiCori Studios), and Robert in The Drowsy Chaperone (Golda Och Academy). He thanks his friends, family, professors, and the amazing Rocket team! 

Annie Holstein (Teek) is just ecstatic to be a part of this show! Originally from Oswego, Illinois, she currently attends Hofstra University pursuing a BFA in Drama Performance minoring in Musical Theatre. Some past credits include The Wolves (# 13), The Yellow Boat (Benjamin), and Little Women (Laurie). Many thanks and love to her family, friends, Mark, and the entire Rocket team!

Rachel Morris (Putt) is a college student pursuing a BFA in Drama Performance at Hofstra University, originally from Nashua, New Hampshire. Recent credits include Marion in Hofstra University’s production of “Dike,” and Lady Macduff in Hofstra’s production of “Macbeth.” She would like to thank Mark and folks at The Chain for offering her this wonderful opportunity, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Weston Scheck (Ange), originally from Fort Collins, CO, is a performer and student pursuing Drama, Labor Studies, and Economics at Hofstra University. Previous Hofstra performance credits include JJ Peachum in “The Threepenny Opera” and Leonato/Margaret in “Much Ado About Nothing.” Weston is very excited to get to work with such a wonderful team, and they would like to thank The Chain for cultivating such an important creative outlet. Blast off!

Jessica Wimmenauer (Cora) is a rising Hofstra University senior from Harleysville Pennsylvania, pursuing a BFA in Drama Performance and a minor in Musical Theater. Previous credits at Hofstra include Horse Girls (Tiffany), The Wolves (#46), and The Yellow Boat (Mother). She is incredibly grateful for her friends, family, and the epic Rocket team and is so excited for this opportunity!

Tobey Archibald (Costume Design) is a recent graduate of the Fashion Design AAS program at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Tobey is experienced in garment construction and the fundamentals of creative design, specializing in special occasion and costume. Thank you to Mark and the team!

Jordan McLaughlin (Casting Director) is originally from Natick, Massachusetts, but she is now based in New York and is pursuing a BFA in Drama Performance at Hofstra University. She would like to thank Mark for giving her awesome opportunities like this!

Mark Melton (Writer, Director) comes from Oswego, Illinois and studies Screenwriting and Drama at Hofstra University. He produced and directed Story Time: Live! (Limelight Theatre Company), hosts and writes for the late night show Up All Night (HEAT Network), and this year wrote and produced a sketch comedy special, Take Me Out (To The Ball Game, Of Course). He is extremely grateful to the Chain for this amazing festival, and wants to thank Big Red and the JR Donuts team for making this play possible!

Ryan Sendef (Sound Design) is a Chicago-based actor and sound designer. He is currently a student at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois studying Theatrical Design and Acting. Previous credits include NEXT TO NORMAL (North Central College, sound designer) and RENASCENCE (North Central College, assistant sound designer).