PROGRAM 2

Program #2* (3rd Floor)

The Interlude by Jeff Checkley

The Same Place by Rory Lance

We Were Girls Together by Jacklyn Collier

Wipeout by Jeryl Brunner

*Shows in this block include Equity Members appearing with permission of Actor’s Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this off-off Broadway production.

Jeff Checkley (Playwright) is a consistent contributor to the independent theatre scene as a playwright, actor, and producer of countless new works featured in some of New York's favorite venues. A founding member of New Ambassadors Theatre Company, Jeff is thrilled to be making his debut at the Chain Theatre with his production of Interlude. @checkley.jeff 

William Franke* (Doug) has worked with all these folks before, plus: Morningside Players; J City Theater; Retro Productions; Theatre East; New Georges; Cake Productions and others. TV: FBI, Blacklist, Hunters, Law & Order: SVU, and more. Film: Alone, If the Trees Could Talk, and others. William also co-produces the award-winning paranormal audio drama podcast Uncanny County (uncannycounty.com). AEA & SAG-AFTRA. William Franke.com 

Marie Eléna O'Brien* (Melissa) is a NY-based stage & film actor, writer, director, producer, and the Founder & Artistic Director of the newly developed Jade Rabbit Theatre Company and the Conscious Creatives Circle. Last seen: as Dottie in Bettye & The Jockettes Spinning Records At The Holiday Inn (Retro Productions; nominated for a Pulitzer), as Veronica in Shitty Shitty Bang Bang (Best Actor, Queens Short Play Festival; Secret Theatre), Faces Of America: 6 (The PGE), as well as new play development projects with Jade Rabbit, New Perspectives and Breaking The Binary Theatre. Follow on Instagram @jade.rabbit.theatre.company 

Brian Reilly (Matt) Recent NYC stage credits include In The Garden Of The Hesperides and Back To You (The Secret Theater); Honor (A.R.T./New York Theaters). He also acts in films and tv. He is a co-founder of Blue Plumbago Productions, and a graduate of Fordham University. www.brianreillyactor.com 

Sara Thigpen (Director) An award-winning actor and director, Sara is thrilled to return to the Chain One Act Festival. She won a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Director for her work on Twelfth Night with Boomerang Theatre Company. Other directing credits include On The Verge, Chasing The River, Nudists In Love, and most recently, Bettye And The Jockettes Spinning Records At The Holiday Inn. Sara's performance experience encompasses theater (regional, downtown, Indie), film ('SUB AI', 'PRESIDENT OF THE FAN CLUB'), commercials, and workshops/readings, in addition to her work co-writing and producing GRACE. Thanks to Jeryl & Jeff. Love to Tim. www.sarathigpen.com 

Rory Lance (Playwright, Director, McCloskey) is an accomplished character actor with  experience in both the musical and legitimate stage and numerous film and television  projects throughout his career. In addition to his work as an actor, he has spent much of  his career teaching and introducing young people to the joys and challenges of the  theatre. Rory's original solo adaptation of Death In Venice has been performed  successfully at the United Solo Theatre Festival, winning the Festival's prestigious award for Best Period Piece. He is delighted to be returning to The Chain Theatre.  

Jordan Elman (Randy) is an actor, voice-over artist, improviser, musician, and comedian based in  NYC. He is currently an MFA candidate with The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace  University (Class of 2027). Jordan earned his BA in Theatre and Psychology at Muhlenberg  College, completed the Magnet Theater’s Improv Training Program in NYC, and studied Commedia dell’arte at L’accademia dell’arte in Arezzo, Italy. He is excited to return to The Chain Theater stage and hopes you all had a Happy New Year. www.jordanelman.com 

Gail Nalven Fuchs (Fanny) is a long-time supporter of community and regional theatre. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, she studied Theatre Arts at Brooklyn College. She is an active member of The Heights Players and sings with ROCK VOICES in Brooklyn Heights. Her favorite roles are wife, mother, and Bubbe. 

Kate (K8) (Director) is a multidimensional artist who loves experimenting within the connectivity of play, consciousness, and light. She studied Theatre Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University (BFA) and trained at Second City. Theatre theorists from the beginning of time inspired her to develop experimental methods of devising and harmonizing ensembles and individuals. She sees theatre as an impactful way to offer the world a refreshing new mythology. Instagram: @kinetic.k8

Isa Mellody (Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Youth Coordinator) is an actor, writer, theatre-maker, and Native New Yorker–she also lives there now! She has a Bachelor's degree in Theater Studies from Duke University where she graduated with distinction and currently studies at Michael Howard Studios. She loves participating in new works and telling queer stories. Instagram: @isam3ls

Josephine Huang* (Callie) is a Brooklyn-based, Taiwanese American actor, voice actor and filmmaker. Josephine recently starred as Miriam Osprey in the feature film Space Cadet on Amazon Prime. TV: WeCrashed, Billions, Ramy, Pose, L&O: SVU, Crashing, The Following. VO: Past Lives and multiple award-winning audiobooks. As a filmmaker, Josephine's comedic short, In Sync (which she co-wrote, produced, and starred in), was made in just 72 hours and has been an official selection and award winner at over 35 film festivals internationally. Upcoming: The Spaces Between Us – shot in Iceland, this film was proudly made with an international group of all AAPI creatives and talent. Outside of making films and performing, Josephine is an avid foodie, travel fanatic, fitpro, and dog mom. Instagram: @itmejosephine

Elisabeth Choi (Young Callie) is very excited to be a part of We Were Girls Together. She is 10 years old and loves musical theater. Elisabeth most recently appeared on Saturday Night Live! She performed as Pabbie in a Frozen Jr. production by A Class Act NY. She also played the roles of Dory in her school's Finding Nemo Kids production and Pumbaa in Lion King Jr. at BergenPAC in Englewood, NJ. When she's not on stage, Elisabeth is listening to Kpop, dancing ballet, ice-skating or swimming. She is thankful for this opportunity and would like to thank her family and all her wonderful teachers.

Cordelia Cornell (Young Alex) (2/21) is thrilled to join the cast of We Were Girls Together. Select theater credits include Annie in Annie (Milton Theater), Small Allison in Fun Home (Nxt Generation Theatrics), Annie in Annie (A Class Act NY), Alice in Matilda (Broadway Workshop), and Fritz in Happy Birthday Anna Loggins (Off-Broadway premiere). Cordelia can be seen in a short film as Ella (Can’t You See I’m Trying) and also in a National Geographic Voice Over project. Cordelia was also recently nominated for a Broadway World Award. Cordelia thanks her marvelous manager Jason at Bercy Talent, her dance teacher Janine Molinari, and her phenomenal coaches Alyson Isbrandtsen and Rance Wright for their guidance. Instagram: @cordeliacornellofficial
Glory be to God.

Stella Coviello (Young Grace) is thrilled to be a part of We Were Girls Together! Stella is a 15-year-old New York based performer whose favorite theatre credits include: MPAC’s School of Rock (Shonelle), Polar Express (Hero Child), Festivites (Ivy), Annie (Duffy), and Peace, Love & Cupcakes (Sadie Harris). TV credits include: Law and Order: Organized Crime (Kesha Jones), Sisters Pilot (Young Meghan). Short Films: Harlem Fragments (winner of 19 Film Festival awards), Goldenrod, Peekaboo. Commercials: Rockettes/Radio City Christmas Spectacular, US Cellular, Up 2 Us Sports, Phil Murphy Re-Election Campaign. Stella is grateful to friends, family, coaches, Bercy Talent and Zuri Agency for their endless support. Thank you to Jacklyn Collier for this incredible experience!

Zuela Besmertnik (Young Alex) (2/9 and 2/29) is 12 years old, recently performed in the short film In Between Bites. Theatre credits include Footloose the Musical (Gateway Productions), Seussical the Musical (Ocean City Theatre Company), Legally Blonde Jr., Shrek Jr., Mary Poppins Jr., Moana Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., and Annie Jr. She is thrilled to be a part of We Were Girls Together and would like to thank Jacklyn Collier for this amazing opportunity. Zuela wrote and performed the original songs for this production. Spotify: Search for "Zuela"

Alia Hodge* (Grace) has been a New York based singer and actor for over 10 years. National Tours include: First National of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, 20th Anniversary Tour of RENT. Regional credits include: Waitress (The MUNY), Dreamgirls (Goodspeed Opera House), Little Shop of Horrors (Berkshire Theatre Festival). Television: Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent. BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Much love to my family, friends, and agents at Hudson Artists! Instagram: @blackiesnackie

Jacklyn Collier* (Alex, Playwright) is a girl’s girl. We Were Girls Together is her love letter to female friendship, and she’s grateful to the incredible team bringing this play to life. Thanks to The Chain for supporting artists and to her parents for putting her in community theatre even though they are a sports family. Callie, watching you grow up is a joy. I hope you get into as many adventures as your mom and I did when we were girls together. Instagram: @jacklyncollier

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Chris Harcum* (Leo/Mr. Judson) is an award-winning actor, playwright, and filmmaker. His duo improv show Pedro & Chris, airs on MNN Lifestyle on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and anytime on YouTube. He is currently training for the New York City Half Marathon. Love and appreciation to his partner in life and art Aimee Todoroff. www.chrisharcum.com. 

Amy Ziff* (Carol on the subway platform/Suzy/Mom) In addition to being a pop icon and touring the world with the band BETTY, Amy has appeared in movies and TV, including Showtime's The L-Word, and originating the roles of Mom and Ida on the ABC series Edith Ann. Amy has also written and performed her one-woman shows, Superlatives and Accident in several festivals and theaters across the United States and Canada. She has also co-written an opera about Typhoid Mary, called A Danger to Us All.  Amy is excited to be a part of Wipeout.  To celebrate the new cd, and 39th anniversary, be sure to grab a ticket for BETTY’s concert series this month in New York City and tour! Hellobetty.com. P.S. Love to Kristi, Saylor and Slate.

Jeryl Brunner (Justine and playwright) is ecstatic to return to the Chain Theatre’s One Act Festival as a performer and playwright. Other Chain Theatre Festival shows include Catch, directed by Sara Thigpen and Dill, directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Jeryl has done voice overs for books on Audible.com, appeared in Younger and Law & Order and wrote for Anika Larsen for 24 Hour Plays. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Jeryl performs improv throughout New York City. She is developing her full-length play, Love Justine, which was workshopped at The Hundredth Hill. Jeryl also hosts the podcast, When Lightning Strikes!, on the Broadway Podcast Network, produced by Anna Strout. 

So much gratitude to the Chain Theatre, Christina Perry, Kirk Gostkowski, Rick Hamilton, Sara Thigpen, Anna Strout, Jesse Eisenberg, Barbara Toy, Amy Ziff, Chris Harcum, Laura Vogel, Krista Detor, Dave Weber and the Hundredth Hill, Elizabeth Perkins, Julie Besonen, James Knapp, Scooter Alpert, Paige Morrow Kimball, Jenica Bergere, Patrick Boll, Ben McHugh, Jason Kravits, Courtney Laine Self, Gray Thurstone, Spencer Giles, Ilene Angel, Dina Zuckerberg, Sarah Elizabeth Greer, Andrea Kannapell, Denice Nortez, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Karen Schaler, Katie Rosin, Bonnie Brodner and Sherry Brodner. 

Sara Thigpen (Director)  An award-winning actor and director, Sara is thrilled to return to the Chain Theatre’s One Act Festival. She won a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Director for her work on Twelfth Night with Boomerang Theatre Company. Other directing credits include On The Verge, Chasing The River, Nudists in Love, and most recently the world-premiere of Bettye and the Jockettes Spinning Records at the Holiday Inn. Sara's performance experience encompasses theater (regional, downtown, Indie), film ('Sub Al', 'President of the Fan Club'), commercials, and workshops/readings, in addition to her work co-writing and producing Grace. Thanks to Jeryl & Jeff. Love to Tim.  www.sarathigpen.com

Anna Strout (Producer) produces and casts programs, as well as serves as an educator for Voices of a People's History and their many partner organizations from high schools to universities, unions to performing arts centers—and develops new programs, community collaborations, and artist engagement models.  Over the years, Anna has consulted on numerous socio-historical documentaries, multi-media DVDs and world music releases, animated and fiction film productions, and museum exhibits. She also is an advisor for The Hundreth Hill artist residency and a volunteer with Middle Way House, an organization that works to end domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking through an empowerment model. Anna produces and books talent for When Lightning Strikes! with host Jeryl Brunner on the Broadway Podcast Network. 

Jesse Eisenberg (Producer) A writer, director, filmmaker and playwright, Jesse Eisenberg is an Academy Award–nominated actor and writer who has appeared in more than 40 films and TV shows. Additionally, he has written plays, essays for the New Yorker and McSweeney's and is a cast member with Theater of War, a performing arts non-profit that presents readings of Sophocles and Philoctetes to communities throughout the United States and Europe. Jesse made his directorial debut with the movie, When You Finish Saving the World, which he also wrote. His newest film, A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed and stars in, has been listed as one of the ten best films of 2024 by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the National Board of Review.

Barbara Toy (Producer) is the director of development for New York Stage and Film. She has extensive fundraising experience for both non-profit arts organizations/social service agencies and commercial enterprises, centering on fund raising for and management of the arts, culture and education. Barbara’s focus is on giving a voice to a new generation of artists: work that is reflective of the diversity of backgrounds and experiences in the New York community. 

*These Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association. Equity approved showcase.