PROGRAM 2

(3RD FLOOR)

Closed Opening by Robert Cantillon

Memoryville by Philip Cioffari

Power 1996 by Rishi Chowdhary

The Heat by Andrew Donnelly-Yunga

The New Year by Max Rosenblum

Aidan Hall Moore (Carter)

Recent Theatre Credits: The Seagull (Konstantin) w/ Foul Fiend Theatre Troupe; King Lear (Lear) at RADA; The Violet Hour (Denis McCleary) at Stella Adler. With Robert Cantillon:  Farewell to Blammerton at The Chain, Midnight at the West Haven Train Station and Gracious Host at The Secret Theatre. Training: B.F.A in Drama from NYU Tisch (Stella Adler Studio, Stonestreet Studios); Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. aidanhmoore.wixsite.com/actor | IG: @aidanmo48

Atiana Skokan (Susan)

Atiana Skokan is an actress and fine artist based in Brooklyn/NYC by way of San Francisco. She is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she completed her training at the Meisner Studio and the Stonestreet Film Residency. Some of her favorite credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet) @ The African American Shakespeare Company (2015), That Big Voice Inside My Head (SJ) @ the New York Theatre Festival and Farewell to Blammerton (Valerie) @ The Chain One Act Festival. Atiana is very excited to be returning to The Chain and would like to thank her friends and her family for their loving support. 💜|  IG: @atianasko  

Dorothea Miller (Customer) 

Dorothea is a writer and actor based in NYC. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she double majored in Drama and Dramatic Writing. Dorothea studied acting at the Meisner Studio and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.  Her favorite production she has worked on is “Lisa” by Dylan Guerra, directed by Laura Dupper. Her comedic television pilot, "Peak’d" was also selected as a semi-finalist for WeScreenPlay 2024 Screenwriting Lab and a quarterfinalist for The Script Lab’s 2024 Screenplay Contest. She recently finished production on her original play–which she produced, directed, and acted in– “That Big Voice Inside My Head,” premiering at the New York Theater Festival in June 2024.  dorotheamiller.com | IG: @dorothea_miller

Robert Cantillon (Playwright, Director)
Robert Cantillon is a playwright, theatremaker and musician from Southington, CT, living and working in New York. Selected past productions of his work include: Raw Sewage (Secret Theatre), Last Long Night In Hell (Teatro Latea), Gracious Host (Broke People Play Festival), and Midnight at the West Haven Train Station (SooP Theatre), and he is thrilled to return to The Chain, where he has previously staged Farewell to Blammerton and Push-Ups. His band, The Pocket 10s, performs his original songs, as well as rock covers, at venues around the city, with two singles released to date. Education: NYU Tisch School of the Arts (BFA, 2023). robertcantillon.com | IG: @robert_cantillon

Playwright/Director--MEMORYVILLE

Philip Cioffari is the author of the novels: NIGHT AND ITS LONGINGS; IF ANYONE ASKS, SAY I DIED FROM THE HEARTBREAKING BLUES; THE BRONX KILL; JESUSVILLE; DARK ROAD, DEAD END; and CATHOLIC BOYS; and the short story collection, A HISTORY OF THINGS LOST OR BROKEN, which won the Tartt Fiction Prize, and the D. H. Lawrence award for fiction. His Indie feature film, which he wrote and directed, LOVE IN THE AGE OF DION, has won numerous awards, including Best Feature Film at the Long Island Int’l Film Expo, and Best Director at the NY Independent Film & Video Festival. He is a playwright member of the Actors Studio. He teaches fiction writing at the Gotham Writers Center in NYC.  www.philipcioffari.com

Actor (John Keller)

Supreet Mahanti is an actor based in New York. After performing frequently in school and college dramas, he pursued a career in advertising and has been active in filmmaking throughout his career. He reignited his passion for acting at HB Studio, New York, where he has been working since 2021. His acting credits include Our Day Will Come, an NYU student film and Only The Dead, a play based on D-Day. He hails from India.

Actor (Carl Berger)

Jerry Ferris - Recently appeared as Charley in “Mrs. Loman” at the Tank, Jason in “Second Hand Smoke” at the Black Box Theater Festival. Other credits include Frankie in the award winning Indie Film “Love in the Age of Dion” and NYC Police Officer in “America’s Most Wanted”.

Diana Buitrago (She/Her) (Cristina) is an actress from Miami, Florida. After her recent move to New York, she is so grateful to Tyler, Rishi, and the rest of the team for giving her the first opportunity to act in this beautiful city. She is excited to reprise her role as Cristina, and to show New York a little piece of back home. She would like to give gratitude to her ancestors for paving the way. And she would like to thank her friends, family, and partner for helping her continue on that path. @godblessbutts

John Lara (He/Him) (Armando), a Bronx native, began acting in 2021 with Open Hydrant Theater Company. He has starred in several musicals and one-act productions with the company, refining his skills along the way. John has appeared on national TV networks like NBC and CBS, featuring in shows such as “Law & Order: SVU” and “East New York.” He's thrilled to make his debut at The Chain Theater and collaborate with Tyler, Rashi, and the entire cast on “Power: 1996.” John credits Dominic Colon for directing him to Director Tyler Riley. Outside acting, he's a talented barber—reach out for a fresh cut! Find him on Instagram: @laracuts.

Nancy Katheryn Gomez (She/Her) (Mrs. Perez) is a Colombian-American Actress/Arts Educator based in Queens, New York. She aims to create art for systemic change and seeks to generate narratives to represent marginalized groups through storytelling. Her film credits include 'Closure', 'Alfonze' and 'More Than A Woman'. Nancy has co-directed the show titled Women/Mujer celebrating stories by Black and Latinx women. She has trained in theater at Talent Unlimited, Baruch College, the Meisner Technique at the Neighborhood Playhouse and is a Unit 52 member of INTAR Theatre. She is an Arts Educator at The Park Avenue Armory, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Theatre Development Fund.

Tyler Riley (He/Him) (Director) is a proud Jersey boy. He also serves as the artistic director of NYC-based Company of Fools, a not-for-profit theatre company. Past directing credits include Kingfish (NY Fringe, Award-winner), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Company of Fools), A Prophet’s Gamble (Noir Theatre), Blithe Spirit (Bridge Players Theatre Company). Tyler thanks Rishi, Diana, John, and Nancy for their time, talent, and trust. Find me on IG at @itstylerriley and CoF at @foolsco. 

Rishi Chowdhary (He/Him) (playwright) was born in Kenya, grew up in Miami, worked in New York and currently lives in North Carolina.  While in New York, he wrote his first short play Color Me Desi which was part of Despina’s Seven.11 productions in 2005 and 2009.  He enjoys weaving comedy, nostalgia and personal experiences into his writing.  Recently produced works include Eight One Eight Two, Gimme The Light and MAS-SCOTT.  Rishi is excited to be partnering once again with the Chain Theatre and thanks Tyler, Diana, John and Nancy for making this happen!

Martin: Ethan Horbury 

Dante: Sam Sinnott

Andrew Donnelly-Yunga (Playwright): Andrew Donnnelly-Yunga is a playwright and dramaturg based in New York City. His short play The Heat won the top prize at the Ithaca College New Play Incubator in October 2023. He is honored to make his New York debut with Chain Theatre Company.

Giovanna DiSanto (Director): Giovanna DiSanto is thrilled to be returning to The Heat, after directing the piece at Ithaca College’s New Play Incubator 2023. Giovanna’s prior credits include: For A Barbarian Woman (Director, Hangar Theatre), The Wolves (Director, Brook Arts Center) and Black Beauty: The Classic Reimagined (Script Consultant, United We Dance International). She is a recent graduate of Ithaca College, receiving a dual degree in Theatre Studies and Integrated Marketing Communications. Giovanna is also an Associate Member of the SDC. Much love to Mom and Dad. 

Ethan AlexanderHorbury (Martin): Ethan is a local actor and singer who is thrilled to be bringing this piece to life! He was last seen as Tony in the Hangar Theatre’s production of “Billy Elliot” as well as The Rev Theatre Company’s “Evita”. Of course he wouldn’t be here without the constant support of his close family and friends to whom he is forever thankful for. 

Sam Sinnott (Dante): Sam Sinnott is an actor/dancer based in New York. He is an alum of James Madison University after which he trained with Slam Dancing Dance Studio in Barcelona. Sam is ecstatic to be a part of the Chain Theatre’s One Act Play Festival this year!! @samxsinnott // samsinnott.com

Max Rosenblum - Playwright/Director

Max Rosenblum is a writer/director from the Bay Area, now based in NYC. Recently graduated from the Dramatic Writing dept. in NYUs Tisch School of the Arts, he has had work produced by WNYU radio and NYU's Broke People Play Festival, and read at London's Bush Theatre. In July, he directed a production of The Seagull with Foul Fiend Theatre Troupe. 

Thanks to Ari and Tori for bringing themselves to these characters, to Brandon Kiziloz for giving me a massive head start, and to all the other friends and collaborators who contributed to this piece -- including the ones I never met. 

Ari Richardson - May

Ari Richardson (she/her) is an emerging educator and stage manager hailing from Michigan. She’s working towards her Master’s in Educational Theatre at NYU, and is actually “sort of Jewish”.

Tori Oatway - Matt Smith

Tori Oatway is a full-time theatre artist and part-time barista hailing from North Florida and is so excited to be back as this character! They recently graduated and NYU Tisch majoring in drama and minoring in dance and business of technology. Recently they were in Max’s theatrical directorial debut The Seagull as Medvendenko, they choreographed Beauty and the Beast Jr with Children’s Musical Theatre, and stage managed/tech design for The Wolves with Ghostlight Theatre. Tori wants to thank Max, Ari, and Brandon for making a great team and for trusting her as an artist!