PROGRAM 6

(3RD FLOOR)

Imaginary Friends by Anna Marie Tobin

The Secret Life of Lizards by Fernando Buzhar Segall

The Sidekick Support Group by Joseph Mann

Anna Marie Tobin (Director/Playwright) is a Directing and Film student at Pace University, specializing in devised theatre. Last month, their ensemble devised piece The Book, or Dear Reader made its U.S. debut at the New York Theatre Festival, earning the awards “Best Production,” “Most Creative Production,” “Best Choreography,” and “Best Director”. At Pace they Assistant Directed the mainstage production Small Mouth Sounds and devised another ensemble piece The Love Pill Trials. AMT has been writing and revising Imaginary Friends for over a year and half and they are so grateful to Chain Theatre for giving them the space and resources to put it up! Instagram: @official.amt

Jayden Acosta-Heller they/he (Barry) is a recent graduate from Marymount Manhattan College and is ecstatic to get back onto the stage. Represented by Firestarter Entertainment. Previous credits include JD (Heathers), Jeff (title of show), Hapgood (Anyone Can Whistle), Nathan (Guys and Dolls), and Sky (Mamma Mia). IG: @jaydenheller01

Zoe Gillikin she/her (Ada) is thrilled to be in this inaugural production of Imaginary Friends. Her previous credits include The Last Five Years (Cathy), Ordinary Days (Deb), Dogfight (Rose), A New Brain (Rhoda), and Cabaret (Fritzie). She would like to thank AMT and Jayden for their hard work and dedication as well as her wife—Rowan, their dog—Pongo, her friends, and family for their continual support. IG: @zgillikin!

Fernando Buzhar Segall (playwright) Fernando is a Brazilian writer based in NYC. As a screenwriter he has two features in development including “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” with renowned Brazilian director/showrunner Pedro Morelli attached to direct. He has also developed TV projects for HBO Latin Amer ica and Netflix Brazil in the past. Full length plays include: Saudades (American Stages, LPAC, NYC City Artist Corps, BricLab, Brooklyn Arts Fund, Waterworks, world premiere at JACK summer of 2023), The Devil and The Candlemaker (VTC, semifinalist Terrance McNally Play incubator, finalist at “Playwright’s First 2023”). Short plays have been performed at over a dozen theatres across NY, Illinois, Texas, Florida and Kansas. Fernando is also the official translator of Lynn Nottage and Itamar Moses’ works to Portuguese. BFA NYU, MFA Columbia.

Ares Harper (director) (They/Them) is a Director/Theatre-Maker from Columbus, OH. Their work explores the process of “meaning-making” in both artistic and cultural ecosystems, as they believe theatre to be their classroom, playground, and laboratory. Ares is a founding member of Imperium Theatre Company: “a collective of trouble-makers exploring the depths of artistic merit through our dedication to cultural education, civic engagement, and social change.”

Sam Grocock (Stage Manager) Sam is a Manhattan based stage manager and 2nd year MFA candidate at Columbia University. Originally from Granger, IN, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Film, Television, and Theatre and a minor in Korean in 2023. Since moving to New York City, she has furthered her passion for stage management and storytelling. She is grateful for the opportunity to work on this production with creative and inspiring collaborators.

Isabela Tilli (Clown 1) Isabela Tilli is a Brazilian actress, based in New York, currently attending the last semester of Atlantic Acting School. She has dedicated her artistic life to studying and researching the aesthetics of Pop Theater and ViewPoints alongside her theater company BenvindaCia, where she has starred in numerous plays in its 8 years of existence. Graduated from Superior School of Arts Celia Helena, she was an active part of the Brazilian theater scene with plays throughout the State of Sao Paulo, short films and advertising campaigns. She has social theater as her basis and principles, so she’s participated in many projects taking plays and theater workshops to underdeveloped places. Isabela’s also a very passionate teacher who has been teaching theater for kids and teenagers in several schools throughout her career. 

Jack Russel (Clown 2) Jack Russell is a New York based actor from Montgomery, Texas! His selected regional credits include, The Play That Goes Wrong as Johnathan/Charles Haversham (Northern Stage), Spring Awakening as Otto (Northern Stage), and Monty Python’s Spamalot as Sir Bedevere and others (Northern Stage). His selected New York credits include, When The Rain Stops Falling as Joe Ryan (Lenfest Center of the Arts) God’s Favorite as Joseph and others (New York Theatre Festival), and Safe Hands: An Original Musical as Roy/Dr.Koch (SheNYC Festival). Jack is a  graduate of the University of Evansville where he received his BFA in Performance. Yes, like the dog.

David Liskow (Doug) David Najam Liskow (Baptise) is from Ypsilanti, Michigan. He has recently graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Arts Cum Laude from Eastern Michigan University and is a current student at the Atlantic Acting School Full-time Conservatory. David’s stage roles include Cameron in Just Normal (AAS C2 One Act Festival), Jim Fingal in Lifespan of a Fact (OpenBook Theatre), Cliff Bradshaw in Cabaret (EMU Theatre), Mr. Connel in Northstar (EMU Theatre), The Messenger in Silent Cinderella (Black and Brown Theatre). David’s filmed/streamed productions include Sir Willam Catsby in Richard the Third (EMU Theatre),Flock of Seagulls in Detroit the Musical the Movie (Planet Ant), and Drew in Graven Images (Theatre NOVA). David also wrote THE STICKER COLLECTION for EMU’s 2021 Virtual One Act Festival and Assistant Directed EMU’s filmed musical cabaret IN MY SHOES(unreleased).

Lolita Joy (Actor) is a Brooklyn based multi-disciplinary performance artist. IG: @itslolitajoy

Joseph Mann (Writer, Director, Actor) is a New York based artist and graduate of The Stella Adler Conservatory. He moved to New York when he was 18 to pursue a career in the performing arts after Tom Holland stole the role of Spider-Man from him. Even after Joseph sent Marvel a strongly worded letter they still didn’t listen. He debuted in his first feature film as the lead, Charlie, in the Lifetime movie In Bed With A Killer. IG: @josephklinemann

Jordan Shykind (she/her/hers) is excited to make her Chain Theatre debut! She has most recently been seen in Heroes of the Fourth Turning and Everybody. She is a recent graduate with a BFA from The University of Oklahoma. IG: @jordanshykind

Theodosia Arcidiacono is delighted to be joining such a wonderful cast in Chain Theater debut! A New York based actor and producer, she graduated from NYU with a BFA in Drama through the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Select credits include: Joanne in Company (Nex Gen), Frannie in Taboo (New York Theater Festival), Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (Nex Gen), Hailey in Daylight (Best Intentions), Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret (Nex Gen), Jaqueline Cochran in Censored on Final Approach (Stella Adler), and Capulet in Romeo and Juliet (Stella Adler). IG: @teddyxx97