Category: Uncategorized

Makoto Hirano is a Philadelphia-based dance, theatre, and spoken word artist. His award-winning ensemble and solo performance works have been presented nationally in numerous venues and festivals including the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, Yale University, and off-Broadway at the National Asian American Theatre Festival. Performer/collaborator highlights include projects with Bill Irwin, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Subcircle, Kate Watson-Wallace/anonymous bodies, Nichole Canuso Dance Company and Thaddeus Phillips/Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental. Hirano’s work has received support from the Independence Foundation, Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through Dance Advance, Wyncote Foundation, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival’s LAB Fellow Program, the Asian Arts Initiative’s Residency Programs, with commissions from the National Constitution Center, Rowan University’s Theater and Dance Department, and several local dance and theatre companies. Hirano is also a co-founder of Team Sunshine Performance Corporation, where he is a co-creator and administrator of all projects and events. A former-U.S. Marine, Hirano studied dance at Columbia College Chicago and earned his BFA at Temple University.

 A Festival of New Works-In-Progress Created By Women To Tell Their Stories Through Art 

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE FULL SCHEDULE AND ALL OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WERE IN MZ FEST 2015!

Mz. Fest 2015 was a premiere festival hosted by Plays & Players that brings multiple local theatre companies together for a week to explore, question, and celebrate female stories. In 2015, Mz. Fest attempted to answer “Who are women in today’s world? In yesterday’s world? And in tomorrow’sworld?”

For Mz. Fest 2015, Plays & Players was joined by TS Hawkins, ReVamp Collective, and Kaleid Theatre to bring you a one week festival the first week of April of women’s’ voices through art.

Be Sure To Check Out All Of the COMMIT TO CREATE Projects at the Bottom! 

MZ. FEST 2015 PRODUCER
AMBER EMORY

THE SHOWS IN MZ FEST 2015:

THE SECRET LIFE OF WONDER: A PROLOGUE IN G
BY TS HAWKINS

The Secret Life of Wonder: a prologue in G journeys through the lives of seven girls being escorted into womanhood. Embracing multiple levels of play, the girls teach one another ways to interact with the world at large. Using poetic dialogue, these girls introduce that their similarities expand beyond their assigned genders while exploring how their differences bring them together. Positioning itself as a foreshadowing to Ntozake Shange’s work “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf”, The Secret Life of Wonder: a prologue in G highlights the embryonic spark of when all girls gather; soothing one’s aches, sorting each one’s puzzles, and sharing one’s triumphs with her chosen collective.

Featuring: Nastassja Baset, Marisol Custodio, Jackie DiFerdinado, Kimie Muroya, Kaitlyn Pribulsky, Zoe Richards, Rebekah Sharp and special guest appearance by Steve Wright

TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CAST OF THE SECRET LIFE OF WONDER, CLICK HERE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
TS Hawkins plays include two off-Broadway solo works titled “Seeking Silence” and “Cartons of Ultrasounds” that were created in partnership with Alphabet Arts (NYC). “The Secret Life of Wonder: a prologue in G” is her first full length play. Additionally, Hawkins is an internationally recognized author and an artist of many trades. She adores teaching and conducting workshops for audiences across the nation. In her spare time, she leads a course titled “Legacy & Lineage” which she designed specifically for youth to explore poetic language and hone proficient skills in creative writing to pursue artistic careers in literature. For fun, she runs her own radio station dedicated to promoting a community at large; it currently serves over 42,000 listeners worldwide with satellite offices in the West Coast & London. For more detailed information on TS Hawkins, CLICK HERE.

SHIT MEN HAVE SAID TO ME: TALES OF HOW MEN AND WOMEN COMMUNICATE
BY REVAMP COLLECTIVE

“Shit Men Have Said to Me: Tales of how Men and Women Communicate” is a devised piece about the ways in which men and women interrelate.  The work blends together the thoughts and interactions confronting societal realities—from catcalling to slut shaming, and everything in between, it is a piece about “what is” as well as “what has been” in the lives of women and men.

Written By: Carly Bodnar, Erin Carr, Greg Nanni, Katherine Perry, Slade Roff, and Kristen Scatton
Choreographer: Peter Andrew Danzig
Sound Design: Carly Bodnar & Matt Dargan
Featuring: Slade Roff, Lisa Fischel, Colleen Hughes, James Kern, Adam Rzepka, and Ryan Tygh.

TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CAST OF SHIT MEN HAVE SAID TO ME, CLICK HERE!

ABOUT THE THEATRE COMPANY:
ReVamp Collective is a woman-centric theatre company that strives to create opportunities for women in all aspects of the theatrical process. We create inspiring work that investigates societal constructs and cultivates theatrical discourse–all the while producing established contemporary plays, works by new and emerging artists and collective devised theatre. Both behind the scenes and on the stage, our goal is to reset the woman default in theatre and to explore the direction of the work when women collaborate.

For more information about ReVamp Collective, CLICK HERE  and/or contact Producing Artistic Director Carly Bodnar.

TAKE/SACRIFICE
BY KALEID THEATRE

What do we cling to?
In history and in myth, we sacrifice humans to win battles, abate crop failure, or maintain peace. Iphigenia was sacrificed for wind to take her father’s army to Troy and Jephthah offered his own daughter in exchange for victory in battle. We trade human lives to shape the world and ask for cosmic favors.

Take/Sacrifice explores this space of desire, a landscape littered with those we have sacrificed to secure the things we want. Surrounded by iconic figures and archaeological mysteries, our wishes become reflections of ourselves – what we want from the world, how we want the world to behave, and the lengths we are willing to go to make it so. What do we cling to? What do we want so much that we’ll destroy each other for it?

Featuring: Pratima Agrawal, Jess Brownell, Jess Jacob, and Rachel O’Hanlon-Rodriguez.

TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CAST OF TAKE / SACRIFICE, CLICK HERE!

ABOUT THE THEATRE COMPANY:
Kaleid Theatre (as in kaleidoscope, as in collide) is a physical theatre ensemble that combines an obsession with language, a compulsion to dance, and a thirst for community knowledge to create new work. We are dedicated to exploring the dynamic, contemporary questions our communities are asking today. Kaleid combines language, movement, music, and sound to create a new, multi-sensory, multi-dimensional language, which, allows us to honestly explore the conflicted emotions and urges of these human experiences.

For more information about Kaleid Theatre, CLICK HERE.

COMMIT TO CREATE PROJECTS:

During our Post Show REVEAL Panel on March 31st, we revealed a series of programs committed to creating opportunities for female artists in Philadelphia. Be sure to check them out below!

COMMIT TO CREATE PROJECT #1:  Pointbold: A Neighborhood Project: Point Breeze is a neighborhood in South Philadelphia that is changing fast: some of the change is positive and some of the change is not, depending on who you talk to. But that’s the problem…residents and developers and city officials are having a hard time talking. Pointbold, a collective of professional performers, educators, and creatively minded neighbors, wants to help these conversations happen productively – so everyone’s voice is heard. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SUPPORT THEIR CAUSE LIKE THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE!  COMMIT TO CREATE PROJECT #2:  Girls Rock Philly is a volunteer-based non-profit music and mentoring organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women from the greater Philadelphia region through music education and activities that foster leadership skills, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE! LIKE THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE!  COMMIT TO CREATE PROJECT #3:
SHE Directs:  SHE Directs will feature a variety of Philadelphia-based emerging female directors. Each participant will present a short showing of work that represents their point of view as a theatre artist. Reject Theatre Project strives to provide a showcase opportunity for emerging female directors and create an evening that celebrates female theatre artists.  The evening will be hosted by Philadelphia lady-director-favorites Kathryn MacMillan (Associate Artistic Director of Lantern Theater Company & Freelance Director) and Amy Smith (Co-Director of Headlong Dance Theater, Director & Choreographer). SHE DIRECTS IS ON AUGUST 1ST @ THE PLAYS & PLAYERS MAIN STAGE TO LEARN MORE, OR TO PARTICIPATE, CLICK HERE!  LIKE THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE!  COMMIT TO CREATE PROJECT #4:  Part of the Souls of Black Folk Bridal Salon over at The Painted Bride Do we give ourselves room to be ourselves? Or do we allow societal structures to solely shape how we navigate and exist in the world today? Using W.E.B DuBois work as a template, these six women explore how the concepts of “to be the problem” and “to live in privilege” collide, survive and thrive physically and linguistically in everyday life.
SHOWCASE IS ON MAY 19TH AT 7PM CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

COMMIT TO CREATE PROJECT #5:
Diana:

Diana is an ensemble that champions women through a diverse body of work. They seek to create theater through which they can explore the past and dream in the present to build a future where women can just be themselves without being confined or defined by traditional relationships. Nothing in life is black and white, including women. Diana seeks to show the black, white and resulting gray within the female experience which is, after all, everyone’s experiences. By challenging dualities and stereotypes, Diana hopes to truthfully portray the lives of a myriad of women and share their unique stories from the familiar to the fantastical while inspiring audiences to think critically. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!  COMMIT TO CREATE PROJECT #6:  Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival:  PWTF fosters and encourages women in the performing arts by offering unique opportunities for exposure, professional and artistic and personal development and a platform for performance.
FESTIVAL IS ON JULY 30TH – AUGUST 2ND CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!  CLICK HERE TO GET INVOLVED! LIKE THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE! 

Plays & Players began in 1911 as a social club devoted to expanding and developing new theater experiences for and by its membership. The first President, Maud Durbin Skinner, was the wife of the famed American actor Otis Skinner. The Plays & Players Theatre, then called the “Little Theatre of Philadelphia,” first opened its doors in 1913. The theatre was founded by Beulah E. Jay and her husband Edward G. Jay, Jr. with acquaintance F.H. Shelton in an effort to produce “American plays of ideas,” an underrepresented genre at the time. During its 100 years of performing, Plays & Players theater company has produced innumerable notable performances — some of the most noteworthy being the world premiere of the acclaimed Broadway play “Stalag 17” in 1949, and a childhood performance by actor Kevin Bacon in Member of the Wedding in 1974. The first season of Plays & Players included An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde and The Learned Ladies by Moliere, both still popular plays today.

In the 1960′s Plays & Players decided to grow from being a members only club to an all inclusive one, and opened its productions to the entire community. In the 70′s the Plays and Players Children’s Theater was added to its busy schedule. On March 14, 1973, Plays & Players Theatre was entered in the National Register of Historic Places. Over the course of the twentieth century, Plays & Players expanded its repertoire beyond community theater to include workshops, classes and more. In 2011-2012, Plays & Players celebrated its 100th season of performances by local artists in Philadelphia.

Once an exclusive club, Plays & Players has grown over the years into a professional theatre devoted to supporting established and emerging local artists in practicing and performing their craft. A historic company existing in a vibrant modern arts scene, Plays & Players continues to change and grow with the times while always keeping an eye on its rich and powerful past.

Plays & Players Theatre is one of the oldest theaters in continuous use in the United States. It was designed and constructed in 1912 by famed Philadelphia architect Amos W. Barnes. Beginning as The Little Theatre, it has also been known as the Delancey Street Theatre (1920) and The Philadelphia Theatre before being known as Plays & Players Theatre. Tours of Plays & Players Theatre are available by appointment only. Please contact us at 215-735-0630 or Email Us to schedule a date and time.

As a coalition of theatre artists and enthusiasts, Plays & Players strives to provide intelligent, inclusive and diverse plays that engage and entertain audiences, to invest in local talent, and to preserve its historic landmark home.

Plays & Players seeks to cultivate a sustainable relationship between Philadelphia and its local theater artists.

World Premiere Work-in-Progress
Written by Johanna Dunphy, Shoshanna Hill, Joseph Nevin, Ken Sandberg, & Owen Timoney 
Directed by Joseph Nevin
September 3-11, 2009
Plays & Players Main Stage

Starring: Victoria Frings, Davon Williams, Ken Sandberg, Johanna Dunphy, Nicholas Troy, Benjamin Goldman, Nikki Evans, Christopher Morse, Amanda Greco, Susan Roth

It’s a musical. About zombies. Inspired by classic horror films and cult musicals, our story follows a mad scientist, a surly sheriff, a pair of young lovers, and a zombie hunter as they try to survive in a world overrun by zombies . . . and sing about it.

“This show is not a piece of high art – it’s silly, outrageous and fun – everything you’d think a musical about zombie’s should be.”

-Philly Theatre Talk

EARLY IN THE MOURNING

Photo credit: Drew Hood, Throwing Light Photography

World Premiere
Written by P. Seth Bauer
Directed by Daniel Student
November 5-22, 2009

Starring: Mark Cairns, Robert DaPonte, John Devennie, and Helen McCrane

Plays & Players was proud to present this world premiere by local playwright P. Seth Bauer, writer of 1812 Productions’ hit comedy, “The Karma Cookie.” During a blinding snow storm on New Year’s Eve, Leo and Betty Rosen recall a recent car crash involving their son, Daniel, and his long-time partner whom they never accepted. While debates on  little league strategy, the frugality of firewood, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve ensue, unexpected visitors arrive at their Newtown, Massachusetts home, including Daniel himself. Early in the Mourning takes us through the emotional and unexpectedly humorous journey of familial love and loss, and the struggle for Leo and Betty to face reality before it is too late.

Photo credit: Drew Hood, Throwing Light Photography

“Cairns admirably navigates the play’s centerline role with a serious approach that never delves into histrionics. Devennie remains appreciably staid throughout, a much appreciated balance to McCrane’s wrought, though appropriate, hysterics. And DaPonte… plays each revelation with judicious sincerity.”

-Edge Philadelphia

“With a beautiful set and new risers for seating in the Skinner Studio, it was impressive from the beginning.”

–Philly Theatre Talk

CONCRETE DINOSAUR

World Premiere
Written by Nicholas Wardigo
Directed by Carol Laratonda
January 7-24, 2010

Photo credit: Ashley Smith, Throwing Light Photography

Amidst a sprawling garden in Wynnewood, PA, a sculpture of a protoceratops looms over Angelica Busso and her friends as they prepare for a spirited evening of conversation, croquet and cocktails. Joining them for the game is Angelica’s daughter, Marta, who is home on break from graduate school while working on a cure for squirrel overpopulation, and their sexy house boy, Dennis, each with their own secrets to hide.  As the competition begins, more than just points are tallied. These “Desperate Housewives of the Main Line”sift through one another’s sordid pasts and settle old scores.

Photo credit: Ashley Smith, Throwing Light Photography

“Plays and Players definitely found a cast that understood the characters they were cast to play.  Each character was extremely real and each had their own, unique personality, even in portraying characters who are all guarded, and to an extent, fake. Peggy Smith (Angelica) had the audience wrapped around her finger from the moment she opened her mouth to speak. Sincere and a bit scary, she knew what she wanted and wasn’t at all afraid to say it.”

–Philly Theatre Talk

“Lance Moore’s scenic design makes her backyard a big “X” in Plays & Players’ intimate upstairs space, with the audience tucked in corners close to the action, and features the titular stony reptile in a dark comedy that sizzles with sexual tension and naughty secrets. “

–Philadelphia City Paper

TAKE ME OUT

Photo credit: Ashley Smith, Throwing Light Photography

Tony Award for Best Play
Written by Richard Greenberg Directed Daniel Student March 11-27, 2010

Plays & Players 

Main Stage 

Starring: Chuck DeLong, Bill Egan, Sam Han, Gerard Joseph, Joe Matyas, David Mason, Ted Powell, Jerry Rudasill, Dan Sanchez, Ryan Walter, and Peter Zielinski

Photo credit: Ashley Smith, Throwing Light Photography

In this Tony Award Winner for Best Play, America’s National Pastime is forever altered as Darren Lemmings, star of the New York Empires, comes out of the closet to his team, his friends, and to the public at large. As his deeply racist and homophobic teammate, Shane Mungitt, grows incensed by the news, Darren’s gay financial manager, Mason Marzac, finds a new hero, and the other players see their locker room in a whole new light, the only person who seems unaffected is Darren himself. The drama of the season unfolds on and off the field, and in the end we are left with one question: “what will we do till spring?”

“Take Me Out”, presented by Plays & Players, will not only remind you of how you’ve missed watching our beloved Phillies during this long, cold winter, but also hooks hard into the proverbial left field, exploring the life of a star baseball player after he announced his homosexuality to the public.”

–Philly2Philly

CAROUSEL

Written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Directed by Lance Moore
May 27 – June 12, 2010

Photo credit: Ashley Smith, Throwing Light Photography

Starring:  Eileen Cella, John D’Alonzo, Michael Dura, Tomas Dura, Justina Ercole, Joel Evans, Abby Fallen, Teri Leahy, Susan Mattson, Helen McCrane, Hope McQuiod, Molly McQuiod, Will McQuiod, Patti Allis Mengers, Tom Osborne, Jonathan Rivera, David Stahl, Michael Stimson

Photo credit: Ashley Smith, Throwing Light Photography

In this revival of the groundbreaking Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, a mill girl in a small New England fishing village, Julie Jordan, marries a handsome carousel barker, Billy Bigelow, things soon turn sour for the couple. Desperate for money after learning that he is soon to become a father, Billy is killed during an attempted robbery. Several years later, when he is allowed to return to earth for a short time, he seeks out the daughter of his union with Julie. Enter a world of love lost and love regained, and stunning classic musical numbers such as If I Loved You, June Is Bustin’ Out All Over, and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Jennifer MacMillan is a professional actor, director, and theater educator. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of the Arts where she is also a Lecturer. Jennifer is the Artistic Director of Bright Invention, the resident ensemble at White Pines Productions, as well as the Director of Education Programming at The White Pines Place. A founding member of the Slightly Awkward Peep Show Storytelling Collective, Jennifer’s storytelling work, twice produced by Quince Productions, received a four star review at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her first play, co-authored with noted Philadelphia playwright Jacqueline Goldfinger, Enter Bogart…, won the 2014 National Inaugural “Are Women Funny?” new play competition sponsored by Playscripts and the International Center for Women Playwrights. Jennifer’s acting credits include commercials, independent films, and theatre; recent favorite acting credits include Trish Tinkler Gets Saved (Theater Exile), The Exit Interview (InterAct), the world premiere of Raw Stitch (Philadelphia Fringe Festival), House of Blue Leaves (Isis Productions), and How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found (Luna). Favorite directorial credits include Superheroes who Are Super (Save the Day Productions), The Melting of Kim Banks (Parallax), Ballad Boys (Aspire Arts), and The Importance of Being Earnest and Naked Will (PGLTF). Jenn lives in South Philadelphia with her cats Wobbles and Quinny, and her dog Peanut.

Getting older is never easy! With over 100 years of service under our belt, Plays and Players Theatre is certainly showing its age. Help us preserve and restore our historic jewel box of a theater today! Your contribution will help keep it open to the public, ensuring a space for artists and audiences alike for generations to come!

Upcoming Projects:

Jan/Feb 2025 – Replace old sinks in Mainstage dressing rooms (currently the originals!!) and refinish drywall plasterwork in Mainstage Dressing Rooms

Spring 2025 – Patch & Paint Marquee, Begin planning for a replacement!

Winter 2026 – Replace the Mainstage Stage Floor
[IMAGE OF INTERIOR?/EXTERIOR?]

Presenting local talent in community-built plays has always been a key pillar of Plays & Players. We’ve grown from a traditional community theatre to one that welcomes professional talent. We’re proud to say we’ve relaunched our independent productions! With your support, we can continue into 2026 and beyond!

24/25 Season Bullet Points
THURGOOD – PLAYWRIGHT – DATES ticket link coming soonIn The Continuum – PLAYWRIGHT – DATES (ticket link)

Single Black Female – Playwright – Dates

[IMAGE FROM ZOO STORY]

Want to give in a larger way?

Consider Producing our Productions or Sponsoring an Event!

Produce our Productions! (link here too)Our Productions include two staged readings and one full production each season.The average cost of our staged reading is $2,500 – while our average production is $15,000.Our ticket sales cover a modest portion of our production costs.We were delighted to showcase our skills in last years “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee.

Imagine where we could go with your support today!

Executive Producer – $5000+Producer – $2,500 – 4,999

Associate Producer – $1000 – $2,499

All Producer Levels will be acknowledged in our program.

Executive Producers & Producers will be acknowledged on our Website & Promotional Materials.

All Executive Producers will be invited to our first read-through and a dress rehearsal to peek behind the curtain.

Sponsor an Event!
Beyond our productions, we produce several events that promote and foster local community art!

What are you into?The Art Gallery – showcasing local artists and rotating quarterlyYour Sunday Best – our monthly open mic standup night

Going Acoustic at Quig’s Pub – our quarterly open mic featuring local musicians and poets

Maybe you like a social club event?
From the Spookeasy to Burns Supper to the Hooley – we’ll find a place for your support!

And there’s always another opening!

SPONSORSOpening Night Sponsor $500+Gallery Opening $250 – 499

Special Event $100 – 249

Want to advertise in our program or donate an auction item?
Reach out to development@playsandplayers.org
(THIS SHOULD NOT BE KRIS’S P&P EMAIL – IT SHOULD BE MORE OFFICIAL/ONGOING)

RAVEN NOTE – CURRENTLY FEELS TOO WORDS WORDS WORDS

Plays & Players Theatre continues to be a vital space in the Philadelphia community, hosting not only Plays & Players, but rental companies large and small. Click here for rental rates!

Help us maintain this beautiful Philadelphia and theatrical landmark. Donate to Plays & Players now and tell us which space you want your funds to go to!

Photos by Rosie Simmons

Getting older is never easy! With over 100 years of service under our belt, Plays and Players Theatre is certainly showing its age. Help us preserve and restore our historic jewel box of a theater today! Your contribution will help keep it open to the public, ensuring a space for artists and audiences for generations to come!

Presenting local talent in community-built plays has always been a key pillar of Plays & Players. We’ve grown from a traditional community theatre to one that welcomes professional talent. We’re proud to say we’ve relaunched our independent productions! With your support, we can continue into 2026 and beyond!

2024/25 Productions & Events

Consider Producing our Productions or Sponsoring an Event!

Our Productions include two staged readings and one full production each season. The average cost of our staged reading is $2,500 – while our average production is $15,000. Our ticket sales cover a modest portion of our production costs. We were delighted to showcase our skills in last year’s “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee.

Executive Producer – $5000+

Producer – $2,500 – $4,999

Associate Producer – $1000 – $2,499

All Producer Levels will be acknowledged in our program. Executive Producers & Producers will be acknowledged on our Website & Promotional Materials. All Executive Producers will be invited to our first read-through and a dress rehearsal to peek behind the curtain.

Beyond our productions, we produce several events that promote and foster local community art! From Gallery Openings to Social Parties to Open Mics – We’ll find a place for your support!

Opening Night Sponsor $500+

Gallery Opening $250 – 499

Special Event $100 – 249

All sponsors will get a special thank you at their sponsored event and will mention it in print materials when available.

Imagine where we could go with your support today!

Want to advertise in our program or donate an auction item?
Reach out to development@playsandplayers.org

TS Hawkins (Playwright)
TS Hawkins is an internationally recognized author, performance poet, and artist of many trades. Currently, she has her own radio station serving over 42,000 listeners worldwide, teaches her poetry course, “Legacy and Lineage,” at various youth centers, and serves on the Program Committee for the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy. Additionally, she enjoys getting individuals to incorporate arts into their daily lives! For more detailed information on TS Hawkins, visit www.tspoetics.com.

Amber Emory (Director)
Amber Emory is a freelance director focusing on new and ensemble-built work. She has a BA in Theater, Directing Concentration, from Temple University. This past season she assisted Lucie Tiberghien (Love in Afghanistan), Moises Kaufman (Tallest Tree in the Forest), both at Arena Stage, and Blanka Zizka (Don Juan Comes Home From Iraq), at the Wilma Theater. She currently works as the Outreach and Partnerships Associate for Directors Gathering, a service organization advancing the craft of theatre directing through community, advocacy, pedagogy, and praxis. She has been honored to work with the Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Simpatico Theatre Project, The Wilma Theater, Temple Repertory Theater, The Renegade Company and Found Theater Company in her hometown of Philadelphia, and in theaters in New York and London.

Natassja Baset (Indigo)
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Nastassja Baset has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre with a specialization in African Studies and a Master of Arts Degree from New York University in Performance Studies.  Her credits include,Milk Like Sugar (Simpatico Theatre Project), The Clothesline Muse (Painted Bride Art Center),for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (Community Education Center), Black Mass (Malcolm X Park), blood pudding (Grace Exhibition Place, NY).  Nastassja is most thankful for the Ancestors and family for their love and support and the universe for aligning the stars for this moment. www.nastassjabaset.weebly.com 

Marisol Custodio (Orange)
Marisol is excited to be a part of the inaugural Mz. Fest in “The Secret Life of Wonder: a prologue in G.” Previous theatre credits include Natalia in Chekhov’s A Marriage Proposal and Shelley in the original one-act, Planet Radio. She also works with the PALMS project, an acting troupe that educates at-risk teens on safer sex and HIV prevention.  She graduated from LaSalle University where she studied Communication and Sociology with minors in Spanish, Film Studies, and Central Eastern European Studies. Marisol would like to thank Amber Emory and TS Hawkins for this opportunity, all involved in making Mz.Fest a reality, as well as her mom for continued support.

Jackie DiFerdinando (Red)
Jackie is a recent graduate of Temple University’s acting concentration, is excited to be part of The Secret Life of Wonder: A Prologue in G as well as the inaugural Mz. Fest!  She recently appeared as Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show Live with BrainSpunk Theater and Molly in Farragut North at Stagecrafters in Chestnut Hill.  Her favorite roles at Temple included Abigail Williams in The Crucible and Angie/Dull Gret in Top Girls.  Jackie thanks her family and friends for their continued support and Amber Emory, TS Hawkins, and the Mz. Fest team for this marvelous opportunity.

Kimie Muroya (Violet)
Kimie is currently studying theatre at Temple University, where she has performed with Temple Theaters (Macbeth), in the inaugural Student Sidestage Season production (Othello), and two Philadelphia Young Playwrights New Voices festivals. Professionally, she has worked with InterAct Theatre Company in the premiere of Caught and two new play reading for the National Asian American Theatre Conference and Festival (Purple Cloud and Kung Fu Zombies). She is an advocate for diversity on the stage, and is currently working on a performance piece for Temple University’s Undergraduate Research Forum – Creative Works Symposium concerning the presence of Asian Americans in the theatre.

Kaitlin Pribulsky (Yellow)
Kaitlin is delighted to be performing in her first production in the Philadelphia area. She is currently finishing her last semester at Temple University and will be receiving her BA in Theater with a concentration in acting. She is very passionate about celebrating the strength of women and is excited to be a part of this production to enlighten audiences on the struggles women face throughout life and the connections they build through these struggles.

Zoe Richards (Blue)
Zoe Richards has recently graduated from the University of the Arts. She is very excited to be a part of this production, and of Mz Fest. This will be her first time performing in the Plays & Players space. Up next,  Zoe will be playing  in Azuka Theatre’s upcoming production of Speech and Debate.

Rebekah Sharp (Green)
Rebekah Sharp is honored to be working amongst such beautiful and talented women. She recently graduated from the University of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. Previous favorite roles include Greed in Lauren Tuvell’s “Parthenon” and Terry in U Arts’ “Stage Door”, directed by Drucie McDaniel. “All the love and light to my family, friends, and my ladies!

SHIT MEN HAVE SAID TO ME:
TALES OF HOW MEN AND WOMEN COMMUNICATE

Carly Bodnar (Director, Company Member)Carly Bodnar is co-artistic director and founding member of ReVamp Collective. She is a director, teaching artist, and sometimes actor. Carly has directed pieces for various one act festivals and most recently assistant directed for Plays and Players, Voices; A People’s History of the United State and Lantern Theater Company’s production of Taming of the Shrew. Next up she will be assistant directing A Winter’s Tale with Shakespeare in Clark Park. Carly received her BA in Theatre from Temple University with a minor in Art History.www.carlylbodnar.com

Slade Roff (Performer, Company Member)
Slade Roff is a proud company member of ReVamp Collective and is thrilled to be a part of ReVamp’s inaugural production! Slade is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in Theater, among other things. Since moving to Philadelphia in 2012, Slade has worked extensively with Luna Theater Company in the capacity of General Manager (and sometimes actor), and has worked on several short films with Sickening Thud Productions.

Lisa Fischel  (Performer)
Lisa’s recent credits include Ensemble in Dare the Gabler (Theatre Drapeau Rose), Alice inAlice in Wonderland (Hampstead Stage Company), Annabella/Margaret/Pamela in The 39 Steps (Southern Arena Theatre), and Regan in King Lear (Univ. Southern Miss). Lisa holds an MFA in Theatre Performance (University of Southern Mississippi) and is a newcomer to Philadelphia. She is thrilled to work in such wonderful company! Much love and gratitude to friends and family, both new and old!

Colleen Hughes (Performer)
Colleen is a Philadelphia-based actor and movement artist.  She has worked with Tribe of Fools, EgoPo Classic Theatre, Swim Pony Performing Arts, Commonwealth Classic Theatre, Plays & Players, Enchantment Theatre Company, Iron Age Theatre, and the Wilma Theatre. She is a company member at Curio Theatre Company. Training: NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.  Love to Terry.  www.colleenhughes.com

James Kern (Performer)
James would really like to thank Carly for bringing him on board for this project. A former graduate of University of the Arts for Jazz drumming and Temple University for Acting. Most recent works include: Romeo in fringe’s Mad Blood, and Joseph Wykowski in Lock Haven’s production of Biloxi Blues. Also the drummer in the Philadelphia infamous, Jawbone Junction.

Adam Rzepka (Performer)
Adam is thrilled to be working with Mz. Fest. You may have seen his work with Revolution Shakespeare, PAC, and The Inis Nua Theatre.  He is currently producing a mixed artform cabaret called, “Feeling Lucky Philly” being performed right here on April 13th.

Ryan Tygh (Performer)
Ryan has more than fifty film, television, and commercial credits, including roles in Silver Linings Playbook, and a series of commercial campaigns for the PA Lottery and Arby’s. Theatrical credits include work with The Walnut, Montgomery, and Media Theatres, as well as Opera Philadelphia. Coming up is Creed, the next film in the Rocky film franchise. You can also catch him, well…his butt, hands, arms, and back of head, every week on the NBC series The Blacklist. He is the photo double for the show’s star, James Spader. Love to everyone…EXCELSIOR!!!

TAKE / SACRIFICE

Sarah Mitteldorf (Creator/Director)
Sarah is a penguin-lover, puppy scruffler, and theatre maker. With Kaleid, she’s created Eurydice in Market East, Eurydice in Grand Central, Glow, and No Place Like. In 2012-2013, she worked with a group of nine to twelve year olds, who had been adopted from China, to create the piece Many Ways, which explored their individual and collective experiences and was featured in the Inquirer. This fall, she was invited to speak on a panel about Casting and Representation at the National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival. She is honored to work with amazing creators – artists who always challenge her to grow.
Photo Credit: Jacques-Jean Tiziou)

Pratima Agrawal (Creator/Performer)
Pratima is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where she fell in love with theatre and has been involved in a complicated relationship with this art form for several years since then. While she still considers herself a Texas girl, her journey recently brought her to Philadelphia in September of 2014, where she hopes to soon receive her PA certification to teach middle school theatre, while creating meaningful theatrical experiences in the community. She is particularly drawn to projects that involve the intersection of art and the examination/inquiry of societal concerns. Currently, she works at FACTS Charter School, as a substitute teacher in Philadelphia charters, and as a Teaching Artist with Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre. Some of her favorite things to do are eat dark chocolate, watch a 76ers game, and travel.

Jess Brownell (Creator/Performer)
Jess Brownell was born and raised in Colorado and made her way to Philadelphia by way of Cedar Rapids, IA where she earned her B.A. in Chemistry/Theatre at Coe College. Upon graduation, she took a job as an analytical chemist with a pharmaceutical company in the Philadelphia area but left the industry to pursue her acting career. Recent work includes: Mortimer in The Fantasticks (The Centre Theater), Camillo/Emilia/Player in The Winter’s Tale (Forge Theater), Trumpet Player in Noir (GDP Productions), Ensemble in Dust to Dust: A Brief History of Religious Violence (GDP Productions), Margaret McKivan in Independence After Hours (Historic Philadelphia, Inc.), and portraying Betsy Ross at the Betsy Ross House.
(Photo Credit: Christopher Kadish)

Jess Jacob (Creator/Performer)
Jess has been participating in and loving theatre since she could walk. She has recently graduated from Arcadia University with a BFA in acting. Her perilous credits include The Collector, fml:how Carson McCullers saved my life and A Midsummer Nights Dream to name a few. This is her first time working with Kaleid and she is beyond excited to work with these amazing women to create this piece.

Rachel O’Hanlon-Rodriguez (Creator/Performer)Rachel is a Philadelphia based actress by night and EgoPo Classic Theater’s Company Manager by day. A founding member of Kaleid, she has been a theater administrator for three years and has worked with a variety of local theaters such as Simpatico Theatre Project, The Walking Fish, and Represented. She received her B.A. in Theater Arts from Rowan University, received the Joseph Robinette Award for Excellence in Theater and Dance, and was a 2010 semi-finalist in the Region II KCACTF. Favorite credits include Uncle Tom’s Cabin: An Unfortunate History (EgoPo), Missed Connections (Simpatico Theatre Project), El Nogalar (a reading, part of No Passport’s 30/30), and Glow (Kaleid Theatre, of course). She is currently in residence at The Painted Bride.
(Photo Credit: Matthew Wright)

Gina Purri (Composer)
Gina Purri is a Philadelphia-area musician and music teacher. She sings, plays, composes, and maintains a private studio of voice, violin, and piano students – more information available at ginapurripiano.tumblr.com. This is her 2nd collaboration with Kaleid, and she’s grateful to have the opportunity to work with such dedicated women.

Adrian Bridges (Sound Designer)
Adrian is a guitarist and composer originally from Philadelphia and now living in New York City. He received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from New York University’s Jazz Studies program, with emphasis on guitar and composition, where he was honored as a Presser Scholar. As a versatile instrumentalist, proficient on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass, Adrian has played for numerous musical theater productions and music directed Less Than Rent Theatre’s Little Town Blues and Diva. He has worked with Kaleid Theatre as a sound designer and composer, developing the aural settings of No Place Like, Glow, and both Eurydice productions. www.adrianbridges.com.
(Photo Credit: Zoe Bridges)

Nina Giacobbe (Choreographer/Researcher)
Nina is a creator, researcher, and founding member of Kaleid. Credits with Kaleid Theatre include Spill, Eurydice in Market East, their short piece Bounce, and their 2013 Fringe production, Glow. She has also performed as a guest artist with Tangle Movement Arts and danced her bum off in 2012’s Le Grand Continental. Nina also studies aerials at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. When she’s not flipping around in the air, she loves to geek out about Harry Potter and Greek/Roman mythology.
(Photo Credit: Jennifer Apple)

Ro Gauger (Lighting Designer)
Ro is a recent graduate from Arcadia University with a BA in English and currently serves as the Technical Theater Coordinator for Rosemont College. She has previously worked on productions of On the Verge,Proof, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Arcadia University and this will be her first Philadelphia production. She is both honored and thankful to work alongside such talented artists!

Browning Sterner  (Stage Manager)
Browning Todd Sterner is very happy to be working once again with Sarah Mitteldorf. Browning has worked at several area theaters, including InterAct Theater in Philadelphia, Stagecrafters in Chestnut Hill, and is now Allens Lane’s first resident Stage Manager. He most recently worked on The Tale of the Allergist’s Wifeat Stagecrafters, and The Lady from Dubuque at Allens Lane. Browning is a recent graduate from Temple University with a BA degree in Theater.

Photo credit: Kyle Ober

A World Premiere
Written by Joy Cutler
Directed by Cara Blouin
November 3-19, 2011
Plays & Players Skinner Studio

Starring: Julian Cloud, Emily Gibson, Theresa Leahy, Joe O’Brien, Angela Smith, and Jennifer Summerfield

Photo credit: Kyle Cassidy

When Private Malcolm Jack goes AWOL from serving in Iraq, he discovers there are a lot safer places to hide than in the body of a 13-year-old girl. Her novelist mother enlists the biggest bombshell in her pulp fiction arsenal to seduce him out, but it will take more imagination than that to end the occupation in this dark and twisted farce spearing sex, gender, and invasion from Philadelphia’s own Joy Cutler.

“So here’s a real surprise: On the third floor of Plays and Players Theatre, there’s a world premiere by an under-the-radar local playwright — Joy Cutler — filled with amateur actors, directed by a relative newcomer. All outward signs indicate a hot mess; instead, it’s a blast. With Cutler’s pen, Blouin’s eye, the all-out cast of pros (amateur or not) and Lance Kniskern, whose red-walled, askew-angled set prepares us for Cutler’s off-kilter tone while hiding a few secrets of its own, this production runs like a well-oiled military machine. In a fall season loaded with heavy themes and full-frontal realism, Plays and Players’ left-field entry is a welcome respite, and a sneaky contender.”

-Philadelphia Inquirer

JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE

Photo credit: Drew Hood, Throwing Light Photography

Written by August Wilson Directed by Daniel Student January 19 – February 4 2012

Plays & Players Mainstage

Starring: Mle Chester, Jamal Douglas, Kash Goins, Brett Gray, Cherie Jazmyn, Lauryn Simone-Jones, Erin Stewart, Candace Thomas, James Tolbert, Damien Wallace, and Bob Weick

Photo credit: Drew Hood, Throwing Light Photography

As emancipated slaves flood north in search of employment and a chance to start over, Seth and Bertha Holly’s boarding house in Pittsburgh, offers a new place to call home in this drama by the multiple Pulitzer prize-winning author of The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars and Fences. When an angry and lost man arrives looking for his wife, forcibly removed from him years ago when he was captured and put in a chain gang by a man named Joe Turner, these once strangers are forced to confront their own demons and to come together to help him find his way. This is the first of two plays at P&P that looked back at life 100 years ago in celebration of their 100^th Anniversary Season.  August Wilson is heralded as one of the greatest writers of the 20^th century to explore black consciousness and culture.

“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is a big, strong, juicy play, and Plays & Players’ production is just as big, strong, and juicy… while the building may be old, the company is new; it’s led by Daniel Student, who is rapidly proving himself a young director of range and vision.”

-Philadelphia Inquirer

“Plays & Players production of the second part of that cycle, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, skillfully captures the tone and tension in the playwright’s work… Director Daniel Student creates the requisite tension between all these ideas and elements skillfully, while also bringing to life the warmth and simplicity of the everyday world in which these characters exist… creatively and technically, this production is beautifully mounted.”

-Stage Magazine

TRAVESTIES

Written by Tom Stoppard Directed by Candace Cihocki June 7-23, 2012

Plays & Players Skinner Studio

Photo credit: Kyle Ober

Starring: Kaki Burns, Andrew Carroll, Jim Ludovici, Cathy Mostek, Kristen Norine, Tim Rinehart, and Eric Wunsch

The second of two plays looking back at 100 years ago, Travesties is written by one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th Century. A Tony Award winning comedic masterpiece from the writer of Coast of Utopia, Arcadia, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Travesties takes you on a stylistic joy ride through an imagined meeting between James Joyce, Vladimir Lenin and Tristan Tzara who all lived in Zurich during World War I. When Joyce casts British consular official Henry Carr in a performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest in the lead role of Algernon, Carr finds himself immersed in a wacky and wonderful world of Wildean wit, Joycean limericks, Leninist ideology, and sheer Tzarist anarchy.

Photo credit: Kyle Ober

“His [Stoppard’s] 1974 Travesties is a supersmart, super-theatrical tour de force challenging both actors and audiences, and plucky little Plays and Players sometimes meets that challenge and sometimes doesn’t, but it’s well worth a look.”

-Philadelphia Inquirer

“This is a beautifully-written play that’s deliciously directed by Candace Cihocki… I really liked the way that she chose to use the entire space, making even inanimate objects have personality and spirit… please do yourself and a friend a favor and please see this show.”

-The Examiner