PROGRAM 5

(3RD FLOOR)

Bound By Love by Niveka Hobaichan

Coming Out On A Limb by Nicholas Hart

The Patron Saint of Elysium by Karina Verna

Transcendence Airways by Clay Baker-Lerner

Sasha Sobolevsky (she/her) (Director) 

Sasha Sobolevsky is thrilled to direct “Bound by Love” for the Chain Theatre’s One Act Festival. This marks her second directorial endeavor, following her work on Niveka Hobaichan’s “Falling.” Originally from Los Angeles, Sasha now resides in Queens, NY, where she pursues acting, directing, and comedy. Follow her journey via @sasha.is.funny.

Zynthia Cartanega (they/them) (Marilyn) 

Zynthia is currently a full-time student at Kingsborough Community College majoring in theatre and performing arts. Working on achieving their associates in science degree with just the fall 2024 semester left. With some performances under their belt, they are striving to become a professional voice actor in their career. Instagram: @z.c.performances

Niveka Hobaichan (they/she) (Writer/Miles)

Niveka is thrilled to be working with Zynthia and Sasha on this piece in another Chain Theatre Play Festival. They want to dedicate their performance to their brother and their grandmother. Protect Queer Kids. IG @caramelmessiah 

Nicholas Hart is delighted that his play Coming Out On A Limb was selected for the Chain Theatre's One Act Festival. Earlier this year, his play Remember Us was included in Winterlight Production's show - Trade offs. Nick also writes screenplays and is hoping, if all goes well, to get one of them produced independently later this year.

Philip Gagliano is thrilled to be taking part in Chain Theatre's One Act Festival. During this past year, Phil has appeared in Chekov's The Cherry Orchard and Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath in Staten Island. He will also be performing at this years Equity Library Theater Summer Play Festival in Stephen Joseph Olson's An Imperfect Storm.

Nathalie Schmidt is a French actress based in New York. Her most recent works include James DeMonnaco's The Home and Cameron Bassert's UN Tribes web series. She's an actress, writer and director in the indie series I Do.

Nicholas Kemelmacher got his start doing stand up comedy and has since done plenty of off Broadway shows, a commercial, a few short films coming up, as well as a musical comedy. Nicholas would like to thank his parents for his - immaculate conception.

Celeste Abramowitz: (Anna)

Celeste Latorre Abramowitz is a Puerto Rican Actress/Costume Designer/Rollerskater who graduated Queensborough Community College with an A.A and now finished with a B.A at City College. In 2019 she was nominated for an Irene Ryan at The Kennedy Center American College Theater festival. She has also starred in many other plays and musicals like Neighborhood 3 Requisition of Doom, Runaways, Far away, The Taming!!!, Bat Boy, Two Gentlemen of Verona and many more. She is looking to further her career and take it to Broadway and film!

Celeste is grateful and thankful to Karina and the cast for giving her this opportunity to keep her craft growing and to be back on stage.

Gabby Badowski: (Jax)

Gabby has reignited their love of acting and is excited to continue their journey on stage at the Chain Theatre with the incredible cast of The Patron Saint of Elysium. She currently trains at the T. Schreiber Studio under the instruction of Tommy Buck and has recently starred in She's, They's, & Plays: A Short Play Theatre Festival. In her spare time she enjoys cooking with her wife, taking care of Archie the cavapoo, and working on her screenplay. 

Mackenzie Beale: (Lily) 

Mackenzie Beale (she/her) is a Texas native who graduated from AMDA is and finishing her studies at the New School. After taking a break from the acting world she is excited to get back on stage. She wants to thank her family and friends who continue to support her in all her endeavors. You can find her as a co-host on the up and coming podcast Neurospicy, streaming on Apple and Spotify! 

Atom Fellows: (Raya)

Atom Fellows (They/Them) is an actor/singer/filmmaker and creator of the YouTube shows “The Anarchy Funhouse” and “It’s Late Nite with Angela Fae!,” who grew up acting in the Baltimore musical theater world then moved to NYC with dreams of rock stardom then, after a brief at SNL (as a scenic carpenter) and a few years as recording studio owner, fell back into filmmaking during the lockdown and now has come full circle as they return to their first love…acting.

Alexander Henry: (Penny)

Alexander Henry (Alex) is a recent City College alumni. With their time there, two notable roles they have played have been a Fabulous fairy in Chan Harris's rendition of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and most recently Daisy Duarte’s rendition of Sloppy First as Brandi. Now they are delighted to be a part of Karina Verna's The Patron Saint Of Elysium to bring the character Penny to life. Alex aspires to be on stage and show their true colors with full confidence and making others feel their love and emotions through their performances. Outside of Acting, a hobby that they do is k-pop dance cover videos and a goal of theirs is to make a name for themselves on stage and film and music in as many things as possible and always doing it with a smile and they're full true self forward.

Gyandro Marselia: (Leon)

Gyandro, also known as Gyo, is a Creative Fool from the beautiful Caribbean Island of Curaçao.

He is very grateful and excited for his NYC stage-debut as a faithful patron of Elysium. May this be yet another chapter in his artistic career, soaring like a Leon indeed.

Matty Scott: (Ryan)

Matty Scott is a comedic actor, writer, and virgo rising, who also loves to dabble in the drama. He co-created, co-writes and co-stars in the WebFest selection Garbage People with Season Two premiering on Bust, as well as Cooking with Messy Bitches produced by Rizzle Studios. Matty graduated from Dartmouth College and you can see them in the upcoming short film, “Can’t Change The Tides,” and the second season of Netflix’s, “Survival of the Thickest.”

Bennie Trela: (Ember)

Bennie Trela (she/they) is a New York-based actor, singer, and mover with a passion for new works and messy stories. She’s an incoming student in Brooklyn College’s MFA program, studies voice with Jared Trudeau, and dances at the Broadway Dance Center. Bennie’s recent work includes surviving MFA audition season, American Idiot at bkONE, No Entrance at the Neurodivergent New Play Series, and Rising and Gliding Out at Open Hydrant.

 A special thanks to Karina, Vee, and the cast for being a joy to work with; strawberry, pineapple, and coconut smoothies for keeping Bennie nourished; and to you for supporting theatre. You’re lovely. Instagram: @bennie.trela Website: bennietrela.com

Veronica Hitchen: (Stage Manager)

Veronica Hitchen (she/her) is still new to the world of producing a show, though she has always been a fan of theatre. She is grateful to long time friend Karina Verna for inviting her into this space and trusting her to be the stage manager of this wonderful show. She has previously worked on My Body, My Health, My Choice (props and set designer) and Our Lady of 121st Street (props). Thank you to the patrons of Elysium. Cheers!

Karina Verna: (Playwright/Director)

Karina Verna (she/her) is an actor, director and now writer born and raised in New York City. She is honored to be making her playwright debut with The Patron Saint of Elysium, a project that started as a final for her college playwriting class that she cannot believe now gets to be fully realized on stage. 

Her recent directing credits include My Body, My Health, My Choice for New York Theater Festival, Rising & Gliding Out and Put Asunder, both for the Open Hydrant Short Play Festival.

She would like to extend her endless gratitude to this phenomenal cast for sharing their talents and bringing so much joy to this process, to Vee for being her partner in crime since high school and keeping Elysium run on a tight ship, and to the Chain for creating a space where new theater can thrive. 

And a special thank you to all the Embers who keep our safe spaces standing, ensuring that, when the outside world feels bleak, all patrons have an Elysium of their own. 

B Carty (Director / Sound Designer / Turner) ​​(They/Them) is a current Artistic Associate at Hamlet Isn’t Dead and recent graduate of Pace University receiving a BA in Directing from the International Performance Ensemble. B has made a passion out of playing pretend as a radically queer artist. Their work centers on exploring the everyday states of being that become grotesque and the necessity to choose empathy even in brutality. As a human, they believe it is their duty to exist with blistering vulnerability in order to earnestly invite curiosity and play into every room they’re fortunate enough to occupy. B Carty makes theater for the hungry, the horny, and the habitual - with the firm belief that the latter simply needs a reminder. Stay in touch with them on instagram @b.carty23, they’re always happy to chat ;) 

Clay Baker-Lerner (Playwright / Co-Director)

(They/Them) Born in Boston, MA, based in New York City. In May 2024, Clay received their BFA in Dramatic Arts with a Concentration in Playwrighting from The New School College of Performing Arts School of Drama. I wrote this play as a love letter to my fellow lonely transsexuals. Near the end of my freshman year of college, I found myself overflowing with love for someone who chose not to carry that burden with me. Without anywhere else to put that love, I poured it into this play. I dreamt of going somewhere I could unclench my jaw for once, and asked myself the question: What if all trans people go to heaven? Thank you to B for undertaking this project, and thank you to the whole cast for bringing my words to life. Instagram: @clay.bl

Pearle Shannon (Page)

(He/She/They) is a NYC and East Coast-based actor, pet sitter, and musician. Currently represented in Theatre/Musical Theatre by FireStarter Entertainment. They feel so honored to work with this incredible team of creatives. Recently appearing in I’m Going To Eat You Alive (The Tank) and Reconnected (Kitchen Sink Production Company). Check him out in Evil Lives Here: Shadows of Death “Devil In Disguise” (Season 4, Episode 5) or the Pilot episode of Mann Overboard by Jacob Jacobson and Neal Learner. Keep updated on their upcoming work on her website www.pearleshannon.com , and Instagram @officialpearle.shannon. Thank you to my family, friends, and creative community for all of it. 

Kate Jergensen (Flight Attendant) 

is a New York-based actor with a BFA in Acting from Ball State University. New York stage credits include Lunch 2 Go (Patricia) at the Producers Club, Trouble in Mind (Judy) at EastLine Theatre, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Lucetta) at American Theatre of Actors. Kate would like to thank B for this opportunity and her family for their unwavering love and support. www.katejergensen.com Instagram: @katejergensen