Audience choice #5
Stuck Book and Lyrics by Danielle Koenig; Music by Julio Vaquero
Daughters of Miriam by Molly Levine
stuck
Book and Lyrics by Danielle Koenig; Music by Julio Vaquero
Synopsis: Every day for Paul Small is the same: wake up, go to work, pull a lever, go home, wake up, go to work, pull a lever, go home, wake up, go to work, pull a lever, go home. Until - in a flash of light - two alternate reality versions of Paul appear, urging Paul to change the course of their life. This musical absurdist comedy asks the question: if you had to save the world or save yourself, which would you choose?
Cast/Creative Team List:
Paul - Sara James
Mad Max Paul - Madison Wechsler
Unlucky Paul - Jamie Shapiro
Director - Irvin Mason
Music Director/Composer - Julio Vaquero
Librettist - Danielle Koenig
Choreographer - Haleyann Hart
Stage Manager - Agnes Scotti
Producer - Mary Alex Daniels
Scenic Designer - Miranda Holliday
Props Designer - Abbie Goldberg
Bios:
Sara James (Paul) (they/she) is thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of such a killer cast and crew and a wildly fun story. A 2019 graduate of UCLA, some favorite past credits include Fiona (Shrek the Musical), Elle Woods (Legally Blonde), Dawn (Waitress), and Maxi in the soon-to-be-released Spotify/Apple Music podcast Lone Stranger. Sara would like to give the biggest of thanks to Dani, Julio, Irvin, Agnes, and Haleyann for creating and holding this crazy ride together, and you for coming to see it! If you want to say hi online, you can find them on Instagram and TikTok (@sara_jamss/@sarajamss, respectively), although as an Unlucky Paul once said, "Technology is hard."
Madison Wechsler (Mad Max Paul) (she/they) is supremely pumped to be a part of this project. She's currently finishing her BFA in Musical Theatre at Pace University and is extremely excited and simultaneously terrified to graduate! Madison's favorite roles and projects include Cherry Valance (The Outsiders), pre-pro of Evita at NYCC (Eva u/s), and Martha Dunnstock (Heathers). She wants to thank her family, the cast and team, and her therapist for their love and support! ( IG: @madisonwechsler)
Jamie Shapiro (Unlucky Paul) (she/they) is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of Drama. She has originated roles in many new works, notably in The Undertow written by Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir, directed by Andrew Neisler, as well as in Michael Mahler's new musical Painted Alice. She fancies herself an actress, writer, director and producer (as well as professional Couch PotatoTM). Most recently, she Associate Produced National Lampoon’s “Radio Hour Podcast” and founded the production group Executive Witches. Jamie is also mesmerized by manatees.
Danielle Koenig (Librettist/Producer) is a writer, actor, and comedian based in NYC and Los Angeles. She is a soon-to-be-graduate of NYU Tisch’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program and an alumnus of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. Her first original musical,Camp Song, debuted in Fall of 2019 on UCLA Theater’s Mainstage and was selected as a finalist for the New York Musical Festival. Her work has been featured at 54 Below in a series of shows dedicated to up & coming musical theater writers (and many other 54 Below one-offs) and, after winning Playdate Theatre Company’s Holiday Special, her song My Half Brother, The Saintwas professionally recorded by TikTok star JJ Niemann for Spotify release and performed at the famous Duplex Theatre. In January of 2020, she was hired at Saturday Night Live as a Writer’s intern. She has since completed Upright Citizen’s Brigade training in both sketch and improv. Her sketch comedy videos have been viewed over 1.5 million times on Youtube. For more information check out daniellekoenig.com.
Haleyann Hart (Choreographer) is a performer, choreographer, and teacher focused on making accessible and inclusive artistic opportunities for all. In 2020 she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Theater from UCLA where she choreographed Little Shop of Horrorsand Camp Song (written by Danielle Koenig), both directed by Irvin Mason Jr. She's so thrilled to be working with them again as well as everyone else involved in Stuck and at The Chain!
Julio Vaquero (Composer/Music Director) is an award-winning Spanish composer currently living in New York. Despite having a classical education, Julio has developed his career as a writer for the stage. His musicals have been performed in the major theaters of Madrid and three of his musicals, The Sleeping Beauty (2016), Peter Pan (2018) and Dumbo (2019) have been nominated for the Broadway World Spain Awards, with Dumbo (2019) winning for best family musical. Peter Pan and Dumbo were also nominated for the best score and musical for the Spanish National Musical Theatre Awards.He studied music composition in the Royal Music School of Madrid (Spain) and in the Chopin University in Warsaw (Poland), furthering his studies in Great Britain with Malcolm Singer and in Italy with Salvatore Sciarrino. He is presently working towards an MFA at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Mary Alex Daniels (Producer) recently graduated cum laude from UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film, and Television with a degree in theater and entrepreneurship. She has worked for many theaters across Los Angeles including Center Theatre Group, Antaeus Theatre Company, and A Noise Within. Since moving to New York City, she has interned with Jujamcyn Theaters in their Theater Ops Department, signed on to produce 2 new shows Off-Off Broadway, and is preparing to start a Press Internship with Boneau/Bryan-Brown this spring. Increasing accessibility to the arts is at the heart of all of Mary Alex’s work, and she aspires to become a leading creative producer in the theater industry. When she isn't at the theater, Mary Alex runs her own website design agency, MAD Web Design, where her mission is to help artists and creatives develop an authentic digital presence. She also loves reading at home with her cat Patsy (yes, after Patsy Cline).
Irvin Mason Jr. (Director) is a director, actor, and spoken word artist born and raised in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Some of his recent/favorite directing credits include: Ain’t Misbehavin with Gallery Players Theatre, Once on this Island and Little Shop of Horrors with the Color Box Production Company, and Camp Song, a new musical developed for UCLA’s main stage season. He received his degree in theater with an emphasis in directing from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television.The best role Irvin has played is being a current middle school science teacher at Neighborhood Charter School in Harlem.
Agnes Scotti (Stage Manager) graduated from Ithaca College in May of 2021 with two Bachelors of Arts in Theatre Studies and Politics. Past credits include, Stage Manager of Buried, a new work at the 2019 New York Musical Festival, and a production assistant on Between the Sea and Sky the 2018 pick for Best Musical at the New York Musical Festival. In 2021 she directed a production of Proof for the Ithaca College Theatre Arts Festival. She wants to thank Danielle and the rest of the Stuck production team, as well as her family and friends.
daughters of miriam
by Molly Levine
Synopsis: High up in the Uinta Mountains just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, a last hoorah of a camping trip slowly turns into an exploration of identity, Judaism, and growing up. Annie, Sam, and Jessa are spirited and outspoken best friends who are days away from leaving each other for college. Cradled by the mountains and nature that raised them, they reckon with what their Jewish sisterhood means to them. Maybe it’s all a coincidence… Or maybe they are products of tradition.
Cast
Molly Levine Jessa
Chloe Friedman Sam
Julia Thau Annie
Creative Team
Molly Levine: Playwright
Haley Self: Director
Karina Singh: Assistant Director
Cait Gagnon: Production Manager/Artist
Mary Barbaria: Stage Manager
Cast/Creative Team Bios
Molly Levine (Jessa/Playwright):
Molly Levine (she/her) is a comedian, actor, writer, and performance artist who will graduate with a BFA in Acting & Playwriting from Marymount Manhattan College this spring. Molly frequently writes for herself and her friends, primarily sketches for her sketch team and one-woman shows for her school. She was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she grew up under a culture that caused her to be fundamentally anti, which obviously informs much of her work. Molly has dreams and goals of changing American theater, particularly fueled by a rejection of the classics and a yearning to push real and new voices to the front, with the help of Haley Self, Molly’s “artistic wife” and collaborator. Molly could not be happier with or more grateful for this experience of working on Daughters of Miriam, as the entire cast and crew are some of her best friends in the entire world, which is her entire ethos as an artist – making art with/by/& for her friends. Molly would like to thank everyone for their love and support, with a special shout out to Kenny Finkle. Molly dedicates this show to her best friend and muse, her mother, who’s Hebrew name is Miriam (which she only found out after the fact of writing the play). To her sweet father, who was raised by strong Jewish women and went on to raise his own. To the real “Jew Crew” of SLC along with its goyim followers who surely make up a lot of this as well. And a special thanks to her other half, Sam Walker. And finally, this play is truly dedicated to the long tradition of misbehaved, spirited Jewish women – may we all continue to dance the whole night long. Find out what it's all about at themollylevine.com
Haley Self (Director):
Haley Self (she/her) is a multi-media creative interested in telling stories with her friends. Haley and Molly are amidst a life long collaboration to make theatre cool again. Together they have co directed The Vagina Monologues at Marymount Manhattan College and Molly’s one woman show Love, Loss, and Who I Swore At. As a graduating senior, she is excited to work on projects that reflect, interrogate, and create the culture of today. She is deeply grateful for the cast and creative team for inspiring her every move, and gives extra love to Ethan, Brady, Cassie, and Bryan for helping her spread her wings.
Cait Gagnon (Production Manager/Artist): Cait Gagnon (they/them) is an illustrator and theater artist graduating from Marymount Manhattan College in the spring. This is their second project collaborating with Molly & Haley and certainly not their last. Cait is thrilled to be a part of this production and loves this show very dearly. Special thanks to their friends, family, & partner.
Karina Singh (Assistant Director):
Karina Singh (she/her) is a current Junior, BFA Acting major at Marymount Manhattan College. She is so ecstatic to have such a brilliant and joyful show be her first AD experience! Big love to everyone involved!
Mary Barbaria (Stage Manager):
Mary Barbaria (she/her) is a NY based stage manager and director. She is currently a sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College in the BFA Stage Management and BA Directing programs. Some of Mary’s most recent credits include Marymount Manhattan’s productions of She Kills Monsters (Assistant Director), Turncoat (ProductionStage Manager), and Daughters of Miriam (Production Stage Manager), as well as Girl Power Sex Positive Joy Ride (Production Stage Manager) at SheNYC arts, and Ivories (Production Stage Manager) at the Tank NYC. Mary is thrilled to be working with the Daughters of Miriam team again, and hopes you enjoy the show!
Julia Thau (Annie):
Julia Thau (she/her) is a current freshman BFA Musical Theatre student at Marymount Manhattan College. She is so thrilled to be a part of this amazing piece and opportunity! Julia would like to give a big thank you to the entire cast, creative team, her family and friends for always being the best!
Chloe Friedman (Sam):
Chloe Friedman (she/her) is excited to be returning to the story of Daughters Of Miriam. Chloe is a senior at Marymount Manhattan College, pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has recently been in Musical of Musicals The Musical, Daughters Of Miriam, and The Theory of Relativity. Chloe would like to thank the entire creative team, her fellow actors, and her friends and family for their support!