PROGRAM 7
(3RD FLOOR)
Front & Back by Philip C. Hall
Lorca's Last Night by Charles Krezell
Ophelia Underwater by Madison Mayer
Unrepentant by Joseph Sexton
FRONt & BACK
Written and Directed by Philip C. Hall
Synopsis: Two incarcerated men, one "Dear John" letter, and what it means to turn the page. ”Front & Back" is a comical and bitter exploration of desperation. Set at Sing Sing, kitchen workers, Jay, 34, and Vernon, 28, examine their marriages, via a lengthy, perfume scented pink letter. Can the shape of the L in the word love signify hope? Does a letter’s scent and length hold the promise of commitment? “Front & Back” considers the usefulness of illusions in our lives.
DANTE JAYCE (Jay): Favorite NYC Theatre roles include the lead, titular character in The Minotaur (American Theatre of Actors/Sargent Theatre), Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. in Little Shop of Horrors (EPIC Players/Sheen Center), Burp in the NYC premiere of The Perfection of the Donut (The Tank), and Tybalt/fight choreographer in Romeo & Juliet (EPIC/ART NY). Dante is a pro wrestling champion on the independent circuit, lead singer of two rock bands, and has acted in films and TV shows such as Shattered, JonTron, and The Raging Elephant. He’s received over a dozen awards over the course of his acting career for various specialties such as voice-overs, improv, Off-Broadway performances, and teaching neurodiverse students. He thanks Melissa, Momma, his friends and everyone involved in creating Front and Back! Subscribe on YouTube and follow on social media (@DanteJayce).
CAMERON WALKER (Vernon): is a singer and actor from Chicago, IL. He has appeared in productions with the Redhouse Arts Center, including Beauty and the Beast (Maurice), Wizard of Oz (Uncle Henry) and Bring It On (Cameron), Thanasis Theatre Company in Fugitive Songs (Joshua), as well as EPIC Players in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive’s Dad), the original play Sprawl, written by Michael Ronca, and Broadway Bods in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Charlie). When not performing, Cameron is a mentor for EPIC Players, a nonprofit neuro-inclusive theatre company.
PHILIP C. HALL (writer, director): joined Rehabilitation Through the Arts in 1996, a program in New York State that utilizes the transformative powers of art to build critical life skills that support the growth of incarcerated individuals. His dramatic writings have been used to support the rehabilitative efforts of incarcerated persons in New York and other states.
lorca’s last night
Written by Charles Krezell
Directed by Riki Colon Music by Leonid Galaganov
Synopsis: 1936, Frederico Garcia Lorca, world famous playwright, is arrested by La Guardia de Civil in Franco's Fascist Spain. He shares a cell with three other men, teacher an dtwo matadors. They are waiting for the morning to come. Lorca devises a theater piece to lift their spirits.
LORCA’S LAST NIGHT
Written by Charles Krezell
Directed by Riki Colon Music by Leonid Galaganov
Performed by Leonid Galaganov, Rocco George, Jhonatan Zapata Garcia, David De Merineye and Jack Ludkey. Guitar by John King, Lighting Design by Xotchil Musser
1936, Lorca is arrested by La Guardia de Civil in fascist Spain. He is waiting for the morning to come.
Riki Colon (Director) is a Lower East Side icon, performer, writer and supporter for many artists. creative director and cofounder of Howl arts festival . Writer /director of Thats My Son Miguel Pinero , Dancing In The Streets and Cafe with Tata
Leonid Galaganov (Lorca, Music) is a NYC-based composer, improviser and multi-instrumentalist from Estonia. Shaped by an eclectic background in jazz, classical, world and spiritual music, his work feeds on a broad range of both traditional and experimental influences. Leonid has toured in Europe and the US, played on 20 record releases, and received commissions from the American Modern Ensemble, Cassatt String Quartet and Ensemble Mise-En. A frequent multi-disciplinary collaborator, his role has expanded into acting with Lorca’a last night.
David De Merineye (Francisco)
Born and raised in Queens where he still resides, with his head in the clouds and his eyes looking to what is beyond the stars- David is an NYC-based actor who yearns for new stories to tell. As what happens on stage or on screen has always been synonymous with ritual and magic, David has dedicated his love and life to knowing and learning every spell.
Rocco George (Dióscoro) is a unique character actor, puppet maker, and puppeteer who starred in numerous horror, comedy, and experimental films. Rocco is best known for playing “Coach Rocco” on THE ELLIE SPARKLES SHOW on YouTube. For more information visit www.roccogeorge.com
Jhonatan Zapata,(Joaquín) actor and dancer from Cali, Colombia. Taught by mentors like América barrera, Alfonso Ortiz, Bernardo García, Clark Middleton, Alejandro Aguilar, Catherine French or Juan Pablo Felix. He studied at “Más Latinos, the academy” in New York City. Among his most recent projects we can find “Esto se puso color hormiga”, directed by Jorge Pérez (2020), or the short film “Russian Rulette”, one of the winners of the Latino Film Market, directed by Catherine French and produced by Yennifer Cordoba and John Rengifo. In 2022, he took part in the improvising shows “Improshot” and “Latinos Night Live” under Fabián Valbuena’s guidance. He took part in “Diles que no me maten”, directed by Germán Jaramillo (2023), as well as the short film “Renacer”. He was recently awarded as Best New actor after his role on “Perdona bonita pero Lucas me quería a mí”, by Félix sabroso in New York City.
Jack Ludkey (Guard) is from Wisconsin
John King is a composer/guitarist who’s been working as a freelance experimental musician for many years. He’s worked with La Mama, CultureHub, Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Ballets de Monte Carlo, among others. He has written more than 130 string quartets in his series Free Palestine.
Xotchil Musser” Lighting Design (they/she) is a multi-skilled human who enjoys designing for theatre, dance, installations, architectural, and other forms of visual + interactive art. As a child, they lived on an island south of Miami; now they live in NYC where they examine the exploration of how lighting can be applied to community health and healing. They are curious as to how lighting can be used in mental health practices and how theatrical and architectural mediums can stimulate conversation and wellness in society.
Charles Krezell(Playwright) is the founder of LUNGS, (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) a grassroots organization of 50 community gardens on, the Lower East Side and the East Village. He is very happy to be able to work with this talented troop of artists. His theater work has been performed at the BACA Dowtown; and the Greenwich St Theater and LUNGS Theater Festival. He collaborated with William Mesnik on “Anais Nin, Songs of Sin” performed at Nadine’s and the West Bank Cafe. Krezell has made numerous documentaries, many focusing on the Presidential change of power in this country. Much of his work can be found on vimeo.com
Ophelia Underwater
Written by Madison Mayer
Directed by Tonya Goltsev
Synopsis: Hamlet’s life ends in visible tragedy. Ophelia’s ending is tucked between the pages, crudely referenced by the men who dig her grave. And yet… what if when Ophelia went into the river, she didn’t die, but in fact, was born again? And this time… As a mermaid? OPHELIA UNDERWATER follows O into a river of her own tears, where she meets with an almighty mermaid who promises to give O her tail and thus a new start, but it will come at a cost. When she’s confronted with her past, O panics and looks for a way out that still carries her to the happy ending she is determined to have. Can a character known for her despair find joy and thrive in fantasy? Can anyone really transform? Is there any better friend than a rock formed from the salt of your own tears? O is intent to find out, and to do so with a smile.
OPHELIA UNDERWATER BIOS
Lucas Castro (MERMAID/TAIL TEACHER): Lucas is a director, performer, and visual artist. He graduated from NYU in 2020. He is thrilled to be performing in this hilarious and exciting new play with his good friends.
Tonya Goltsev (DIRECTOR): Tonya Goltsev is a visual artist and theatre-maker from California. They studied at the Experimental Theatre Wing at NYU. They love teaching theatre and catching waves at the beach. Tonya has a tattoo of a mermaid on her calf so this piece is super relevant.
Nile Harris (DRAMATURG): Nile Harris is a New York Based Artist. Congratulations to the Ophelia underwater team!
Emory Kemph (ROCK): Emory Kemph (she/her) is an actor, writer, and improviser just living it up in this Big Bad Apple. Most recently, she has been teaching devised theater in Brooklyn, trying the Pomodoro technique, and performing with her indie improv team, Personality Hires. In September she will be in a horror movie, and then she will try to be in another one, as actors do. If you have leads on scream queen opportunities, she will be around after the show. She wants to thank Madison for writing silly freaky kooky characters that are fun to play and then going the extra mile and asking her to play one. emorykemph.com
Madison Mayer (O/PLAYWRIGHT): Madison (she/her) is a creator and collaborator based in New York City. Recently, she has performed with the Million Underscores in Brooklyn and toured the UK with M&M Productions. She also performs stand-up when she feels brave. Madison is truly madly deeply in love with her friends and is endlessly grateful to everyone in this show for playing mermaids with her.
UNrepentant
Written and Directed by Joseph Sexton
Synopsis: Oliver Socket is a real speed demon who fantasizes that he is a race car driver. He is currently serving a minimum of 20 years for a reckless driving incident that killed two children. Today is his first attempt at parole. He sits center stage in an ill-fitting shirt and tie that he got from the prison charity and tells his story. He grew up loving competition especially racing but as he got older he found it difficult to break into the field so he took his driving to the streets. Street racing has its own additional risks and he hits some children on bikes resulting in his current incarceration.
Craig Anderson - (Oliver Socket) - Craig is pleased to be in his third performance for the Chain with Joseph after previously appearing in his plays From the Williamsburg Bridge and The Day We Make Contact. Craig is an active member of Untitled Theater Company #61, with credits including The Shylock and the Shakespearians, Doctors Jane and Alexander, The Resistible Rise of J.R. Brinkley, and The Iron Heel. He has also recently played Stephano in Dysfunctional Theater’s onsite production of The Tempest on Governors Island and Judge Brack in Love Creek’s Hedda Gabler.
Joseph Sexton - (Playwright/Director) - Joseph grew up in Seattle and has been acting, directing and writing in the NYC area since 2011. His short plays, Super Man and Every Other Weekend were voted finalists in audience choice competitions. He studied at the University of Washington and then obtained an MFA from Long Island University. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and the Playwright’s Center. He currently resides in Tarrytown, NY. Keep up with his latest events on IG @ jsphsexton or check out his latest plays at the New Play Exchange!