PROGRAM 6
Orchid or Kid by Jordan Galland
The Wait by W. Murray Whelan
Tigueraje by Max Garcia
orchid or kid
Written and Directed by Jordan Galland
Synopsis: “Orchid or Kid” is about a married couple expecting a child. The pregnant wife, DAPHNE has an unsettling confession to make to GAVIN, a morally superior husband with a savior complex, who is attempting to understand his wife’s obsession with keeping a dying orchid alive.
ACTOR
Alex Vara is a writer, producer, and public speaking teacher. Born in San Francisco, California, she was raised in Mill Valley and lives in Manhattan. She hosts the monthly reading series NO REQUIRED READING at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg. An ex bread baker, Waldorf teacher, and farm hand, she studies acting at HB Studio in the West Village. Orchid or Kid is her first play. (Instagram: @alexvara)
ACTOR / PLAYWRIGHT / DIRECTOR
Jordan Galland is an award winning filmmaker and musician from New York City. While off-broadway theater has been the subject of several of his films, such as the vampire comedy “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead,” "Orchid or Kid" is Jordan's debut on stage, as a playwright and actor. (Instagram: @landofgal)
the wait
written & directed by William Whalen
Synopsis:
The Wait opens on Christmas Eve with Maura decorating the tree with her son Niall. The phone rings. Friends of Niall’s are picking him up to go to the pub. Maura resumes decorating when through the front window she observes her husband and son Liam. Niall tells Maura that they are dead. Maura reminisces about them being ambushed by the SAS with information from an informer. Niall attempts to explain to Maura that even an informer may deserve forgiveness. Niall’s ride arrives and he departs. Maura sits and falls asleep. The next morning, she awakens and realizes Niall will not return.
William Whelan Director/Playwright
William Whelan is a Director/Playwright from Salem, Connecticut. Bill has a M.A from Wesleyan University and graduated from the Advanced Playwriting Program at the National Theater Institute in May 2022. His play The Curmudgeon of Crossmaglen was a semifinalist at the National Playwright's Conference and a Playlab selection at the Great Plains Theater Conference in 2011. The Wait was presented at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival to three-star reviews. Bill is euphoric at having his play The Wait presented at the 2023 The Chain Theater One Act Festival.
Abby Jim, Actor
Abby Jim is a Queens, New York native who, like many other NYC inhabitants, fell in love with the arts and never looked back. The singer, songwriter, and actor has only just begun her career- making appearances on Amazon’s Wholly Broken and CBS’s F.B.I. as well as working on the release of her first EP. It’s been a journey of learning that rejection is just a reveal of where there’s more room to grow, and it has been incredible.
Miriam McCafferty, Actor
Emmy McCafferty is an actor, musician, and singer-songwriter from McComb, Mississippi. She began her theatre training at the National Musical Theater Institute in Waterford, CT in fall 2021 and the National Theater Institute in spring 2022. This past September, McCafferty moved to New York City to continue studying drama and pursue her professional acting career. She is currently a first year acting student at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting 3 Year Conservatory program in Manhattan. She is thrilled to be making her professional acting debut in The Wait at The Chain Theatre Festival. Instagram: emmymccafferty
Elise Martin, Actor
Elise Martin is from McMinnville, Oregon and has a degree in Theatre Arts and Psychology from Linfield University. She recently graduated from the National Theater Institute last fall, and was recently seen in the Blackbox New Play Festival with Gallery Players. New to New York she is thrilled to be apart of The Chain One Act Festival.
tigueraje
by Max Garcia
Directed by Max Garcia
Assistant Director: Leandra Torres
Synopsis: A young Afro-Latin couple has their relationship tested, but it’s not what it looks like I swear.
Bios:
Director/Playwright/Actor: Marcus
Max Garcia (b.2000) is a Dominican-American Director, Actor, Playwright, Rapper, and Musician from the Bronx, New York. He is currently a student at the City College of New York Majoring in Political Science. I don’t know if he’s going to do anything with that degree though because he’s dedicated himself to telling Black and Latin stories on stage, on screen, and through music. He’s a Bernie West Award recipient for Excellence in Performing at the CCNY theater program. And this will be the first time his work is going to be performed at a festival.
Assistant Director:
Leandra Torres is a Director from Bronx, New York and has received her education from SUNY Purchase. Leandra’s Purchase credits include: The Pirandello Party (AD), Purgatorio wonderland (AD), No Child (Director/Producer), Death to Masculinity (Director), The Silent Observer (Director, Writer), Tough Call ( Director), Love Thyselves (Producer). Leandra is thrilled to have been a part of this process and wants to thank her friends, family, cast and crew for their endless support!
Actress-Zoey
Victoria Lino is an Afro-latinx Bronx native. Victoria is currently a student in her second and final year at Circle In The Square Theatre School; in the Professional Theatre Workshop to solidify her training as an actor. Her most recent work was as Wren in Sprites with Rising Sun Theatre Company. She was also a multi-slashing actor in Circle in The Square Theatre School’s production of Macbeth where she played, Witch 3/The Porter/Second Murderer/Servant. Victoria is motivated by spaces that work to place BIPOC and queer stories at the forefront that focus on intersectionality and healing.