FRESH ACTS
A festival of new plays
Program A
HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT RESUME WITHOUT REALLY TRYING by Minseo Koo, Directed by Shruthi Sunil
VIVA VOCE by Michaela Adam
Directed by Honor Kilpatrick
TALKING PICTURES by Sebastian Stone
Directed by Shruthi Sunil
Program B
HIATUS by Donnie-Lee Frazier
Directed by Jaylen Adison
THE FRENCH DEFENCE by Jonathan Zuckerman
Directed by Marilyn Feerick
Fresh Bites
A sampler of eight new play excerpts by Nate Cooper, Donnie-Lee Frazier, Dasha Hegeman, Bria Knox, Amanda Springer, Sebastian Stone, Shanell West, Jonathan Zuckerman
Directed by Marilyn Feerick
Stage Manager & Designer
Design Mentor
Assistant Stage Managers
Artistic Director
Jacob Bell
Nora Marlow Smith
Cat Brady and Jay Pottak
Kate Walat
This production is made possible with generous support from The John Orser ’55 Theatrical Endowment and University Auxiliary Services
The Company
ENSEMBLE A
Hazel Chaudoir
Vincent Chen
Victoria Chui
Rahul Giri
Joshua Kim
Jared Lewis-Holliday
Amanda Springer
Hudson Villeneuve
Jewel Winant
ENSEMBLE B
Bryan J. Antinore
Claire Dell-Priscoli
Matthew Dodd
Luis Lowery
Isabel Sanchez
Drew Sherman
Jaydon Vineyard
Shanell West
Welcome to the sixth year of FRESH ACTS Festival of New Plays, featuring staged readings of one-act plays, written, directed, and performed by students. This year we are also inaugurating Fresh Bites, a showcase of excerpts from eight works-in-progress by students in this spring’s Advanced Playwriting workshop, and a “dream design” process that begins to imagine what these plays might look like fully realized onstage.
FRESH ACTS is modeled on professional play development festivals across the country, such as the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference and PlayLabs at the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis. Festivals like these offer playwrights the opportunity for invaluable conversations with creative collaborators to gain a better understanding of the theatrical potential of their plays before entering a production process.
The five one-act plays in this year’s FRESH ACTS were selected through a competitive submission process, judged by visiting playwright Amina Henry, whose work will be featured in our annual Authors Theatre in collaboration with the New York State Writers Institute. The playwrights have continued to shape and rewrite their plays throughout the process. We are happy to share with you these new plays, in this important step in their journey. Thank you for being part of theatre being made!
Kate Walat Playwright-in-Residence Theatre Program Director
A Note from the Artistic Director
Program A: Wednesday at 8pm & Saturday at 2pm
How to Make a Perfect Resume Without Really Trying
by Minseo Koo
Directed by Shruthi Sunil
Lucas Kwon VINCENT CHEN
Arden Cho RAHUL GIRI
Jaimie Cai VICTORIA CHUI
Brianna Lewin AMANDA SPRINGER
Yuze Wang JOSHUA KIM
Stage Directions JEWEL WINANT
Viva Voce
by Michaela Adam
Directed by Honor Kilpatrick
A HAZEL CHAUDOIR
B HUDSON VILLENEUVE
Stage Directions JARED LEWIS-HOLLIDAY
Talking Pictures
by Sebastian Stone
Directed by Shruthi Sunil
Helena Baines JEWEL WINANT
Sam Toller HUDSON VILLENEUVE
Ed Winters JARED LEWIS-HOLLIDAY
Katie AMANDA SPRINGER
Stage Directions VINCENT CHEN
Program B: Thursday at 8pm & Saturday at 8pm
Hiatus
by Donnie-Lee Frazier
Directed by Jaylen Adison
Dean BRYAN J. ANTINORE
Diane CLAIRE DELL-PRISCOLI
August DREW SHERMAN
Morrison JAYDON VINEYARD
Jules ISABEL SANCHEZ
Stage Directions SHANELL WEST
The French Defense
by Jonathan Zuckerman
Directed by Marilyn Feerick
Maximillian MATTHEW DODD
Johan DREW SHERMAN
Monica SHANELL WEST
Paul LUIS LOWERY
Solange ISABEL SANCHEZ
Richter BRYAN J. ANTINORE
Stage Directions CLAIRE DELL-PRISCOLI
Fresh Bites: Friday at 3pm
Performed by the Playwrights, together with Godswill Utionkpan and Gabby Villanueva
Directed by Marilyn Feerick, with excerpts from:
Bellator en Periculum by Nate Cooper
The Sandman’s Dream by Donnie-Lee Frazier
Man’s Best Friend by Dasha Hegeman
Quick Fix by Bria Knox
Midnight Rain Amanda Springer
Marksman by Sebastian Stone
Way Down to North Caroline by Shanell West
To Kill a Mind by Jonathan Zuckerman
MICHAELA ADAM (Playwright) is a sophomore and the playwright of Viva Voce. She is an English and Human Development Major with a minor in Theatre. This is the first play she has written, but she has previously been seen both on- and offstage in high school productions such as She Kills Monsters and Les Miserables and has done tech work for various productions at UAlbany. She is so excited to see the readings come together, and wishes the cast, crew, and her fellow playwrights luck!
JAYLEN ADISON (Director) is a senior at UAlbany. He is a Cybersecurity major and Theatre minor, from Queens, NY. Most recently he performed as a Huntsman in the Theatre Program’s production of The Taming of the Shrew. He was also understudy for Jim in The Glass Menagerie and last year played Wining Boy in the The Piano Lesson. This is his first time participating in FRESH ACTS and was very excited to start directing for it.
BRYAN ANTINORE (Ensemble B) is a Theater major and Acting minor at UAlbany. He previously performed in multiple shows with the BARC community theater in his hometown of Ballston Spa, and most recently performed in UAlbany Theatre Program’s production of The Taming of the Shrew. He also was the assistant director and assistant stage manager for a production of Little Shop of Horrors with the Not So Common Players in Clifton Park, and has been been on wardrobe crew at UAlbany with RENT and The Glass Menagerie.
JACOB BELL (Designer and Stage Manager) is very excited to be stage managing his first show. In UAlbany Theatre Program productions, Jacob has acted in The Glass Menagerie (Tom Wingfield), RENT (Mark Cohen), and most recently Taming of The Shrew (Christopher Sly). Jacob would like to dedicate this
Who’s Who
performance to his Uncle Jim. He also would like to thank his mother, father, sister, and grandma for their support. He hopes you enjoy all of these brilliant new plays, being presented by equally brilliant actors!
CAT BRADY (Assistant Stage Manager) is a freshman at UAlbany, double majoring in Theater and Communication. She has worked in the Theatre Program’s scene shop since the fall, and this is her first assistant stage management position here. She is very excited to work with such talented directors, playwrights, and actors.
HAZEL CHAUDOIR (Ensemble A) is a sophomore, with a minor in Theater. Hazel is a performer from Wisconsin that has extensive experience in dance and theater in a multitude of companies all around the Midwest and East Coast. She couldn’t be more excited to continue her journey through theater at UAlbany.
VINCENT CHEN (Ensemble A) is a senior at UAlbany. He is a Criminal Justice major and a Psychology minor. He previously appeared in the Theatre Program production of The Glass Menagerie as the character Jim this fall. He is originally from Queens.
VICTORIA CHUI (Ensemble A) is a junior at UAlbany. She is a Homeland Security & Emergency Management major, with a minor in English. This is her theatrical performance debut. She enjoys watching live shows and seeing music and action come to life, and in her free time, writes stories and scripts. She hopes that she might be able to incorporate this passion into her future!
CLAIRE DELL-PRISCOLI (Ensemble B) is a graduate student of Library Science at UAlbany. She has been involved in many other Theatre Program productions, including previous FRESH ACTS festivals. She is honored to have the opportunity to perform once again for a UAlbany audience!
MATTHEW DODD (Ensemble B) is a freshman at UAlbany. He is a dual major in Theatre and Political Science. He has been in past productions throughout middle and high school, even bringing his talents to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera house. Matthew loves to share his passion for the performing arts and looks forward to being a contributing member of the UAlbany performing arts community.
MARILYN FEERICK (Director) is a senior from the Bronx double majoring in Theatre and English and minoring in Acting and French. After directing in high school, she made her UAlbany directing debut with There Was a Dent Here, It's Gone Now in FRESH ACTS in 2022. Acting roles in Theatre Program productions include The Taming of the Shrew (Tranio), Twelfth Night (Viola), The Glass Menagerie (Laura), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Starveling), The Wolves (#13), RENT (Ensemble), and Six Scenes in a Theater (Samantha). She has nothing but gratitude for the UAlbany Theatre Program for the space to grow and learn, and for her family for their endless support. This is her fourth time being part of FRESH ACTS.
DONNIE FRAZIER (Playwright) is a senior at UAlbany, pursuing a degree in Theater and a minor in Creative Writing. He is from Long Island, New York. Hiatus is Donnie’s first work as a playwright and was written in Playwriting I class. He has performed in the Theatre Program’s 2021 New Play Arena, FRESH ACTS in the spring of 2022, and The Piano Lesson in the fall of 2022. This fall, he led the costume design of The Glass Menagerie as well. Donnie has been involved in at least one performance every semester since changing his major to Theatre in the fall of 2021.
RAHUL GIRI (Ensemble A) is an international student, and a sophomore majoring in Cybersecurity and minoring in Business.
He is a petrol-head and enjoys motorcycle rides when not at the gym or trying to code the next big AI model. Being international himself, he is super-hyped to be playing this character. This is his debut theatrical production.
HONOR KILPATRICK (Director) is a junior majoring in Theatre with an Acting minor. Previous performing credits in Theatre Program productions include The Wolves (#8) and There Was a Dent Here, It’s Gone Now (Deborah), as well as Musical Theatre Association’s production of Heathers (Heather McNamara).
JOSHUA KIM (Ensemble A) is a junior Business major at UAlbany. Previous productions he has worked on include the Mafia Game and the Black Owl, but this is his theatrical debut. He is the President of Fisheye Media and an avid movie and television fan.
MINSEO KOO (Playwright) is a senior Theatre major with double minors in Business and Psychology at UAlbany. In past Theatre Program productions, she served as an Assistant to the Director in A Dream Play and as a Marketing Associate for RENT, The Glass Menagerie, and Clyde’s. Currently she holds the position of Marketing and Promotions Associate with the UAlbany Theatre Program. She is excited to contribute to FRESH ACTS and anticipates engaging audiences with her play. She also expresses profound gratitude to her family and friends for their unwavering support.
JARED LEWIS-HOLLIDAY (Ensemble A) is a freshman at UAlbany, who is a Political Science major and a Theatre minor. Previous productions he worked on in high school include The Wizard of Oz, Curtains the Musical, Pandemonium, This is Just to Say, and Into the Forest of the Night. This is his UAlbany performing debut!
LUIS LOWERY (Ensemble B) is a senior at UAlbany double majoring in English and History. He is originally from Middletown, New York, where he attended SUNY Orange. Luis has performed in past Theatre Program productions as Doaker in The Piano Lesson, understudy for Montrellous and Rafael in Clyde’s, and most recently as Bartholomew in The Taming of The Shrew. Luis is very thankful and excited to work with an amazing ensemble cast and wonderful crew.
JAY POTTAK (Assistant Stage Manager) is a sophomore and a double major in Theatre and Sociology. This is their second experience in stage management after being an assistant stage manager on Clyde’s last semester. Previously they’ve worked backstage on the Theatre Program’s production of Rent and Musical Theatre Association’s production of Heathers, as well as a plethora of shows in high school. They wish the cast and crew luck!
ISABEL SANCHEZ (Ensemble B) is a senior studying Theater and Human Development from Westchester, New York. She is thrilled to be a part of another UAlbany Theater production! She recently made her professional acting debut in a production of What the Constitution Means to Me at Capital Repertory Theater. UAlbany Theater Program credits include The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio), The Wolves (#46), Fresh Acts (2022), Twelfth Night (Maria), and There Was a Dent Here, It’s Gone Now (Sue Newman).
DREW SHERMAN (Ensemble B) is a junior at UAlbany majoring in Theatre with a minor in Acting. This is his second Theatre Program production, after playing Jason last semester in Clyde’s. He is very excited to be working with his peers and the production team. Drew is also very thankful to his family and friends for supporting what he loves to do.
AMANDA SPRINGER (Ensemble A) is a junior double majoring in Theatre and Africana Studies. She has recently performed in UAlbany’s production of The Taming of the Shrew. For this year's FRESH ACTS festival, Amanda is excited to be part of the development of How to Make a Perfect Resume without Really Trying and Talking Pictures.
SEBASTIAN STONE (Playwright) is a senior at the University at Albany, majoring in English, with an English major and Film minor. Talking Pictures is the first play he has written, and this is the first theater production he has participated in. In his last semester at UAlbany, he is happy to have this opportunity to participate in a creative collaboration with such talented actors, writers, directors, and crew.
SHRUTHI SUNIL (Director) is a senior majoring in Theatre and Psychology at UAlbany. In the Theatre Program she has previously worked on productions of A Dream Play, Twelfth Night, The Piano Lesson, The Glass Menagerie, and The Taming of the Shrew. She is an international student from Bangalore, India, and has been into theater since high school. This is the first show that she will be directing, and she is really looking forward to it!
HUDSON VILLANEUVE (Ensemble A) is a Theater major with a minor in Film. He’s been acting in shows and musicals since middle school and would like to thank his family and friends for always encouraging this to pursue his ambitions in the arts. This is his second Theatre Program production, after understudying for Clyde’s last semester.
JAYDON VINEYARD (Ensemble B) is a freshman Theatre major. He is a transfer student, who previously attended SUNY Morrisville, where he studied Computer Science. He has now chosen
to pursue acting. Jaydon is completely new to this field, after his entire life he has been focused on engineering, mathematics, and computer science field. This is his performing debut.
SHANELL WEST (Ensemble B) is a graduating senior at UAlbany, originally from the Bronx, NY. Previous roles in Theatre Program productions include Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew, Letitia in Clyde’s, Bernice in The Piano Lesson, Valentina in Twelfth Night, and Virtue in Josephine. Shanell is beyond grateful for the experience she has gained here at UAlbany. She would like to thank all her friends and family for their support.
JEWEL WINANT (Ensemble A) is excited to participate in her first FRESH ACTS at UAlbany. She is a junior double major in Theater and Psychology, and an Acting minor. Roles in Theatre Program productions include Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew and Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. Previously she played Polina in The Seagull. She would like to thank the UAlbany theater students and faculty for making her first year here so memorable.
JONATHAN ZUCKERMAN (Playwright) is a senior at UAlbany. He is a Political Science major and a Homeland Security minor. His writing is often focused on history, mysticism, epistemology, phenomenology, political violence, value theory, and metaphysics.
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Production Team
Production Manager/Scene Shop Supervisor……….JOHN KNAPP
Costume Shop Manager………………………………... ANNE CROTEAU
Marketing & Promotions Associate…………………. NIA SAMERSON
Costume Shop Technical Assistant……………………….. LAUREL IZZO
Costume Shop Crew/Costume Construction…....… AJA AGOSTO, CATHERINE ALESIO, ARIANNA BOZAC, DASHA HEGEMAN, LAUREL IZZO, HONOR KILPATRICK, SAMANTHA LANDY, KAMERYN MARTIN, TATIANA PRICE, PERSEUS SALAZAR, RACHEL ULRICH
Prop Assistants……………………………..……… HEAVENLEE GONZALEZ, HAILEY PRESTON, OTTO VAVAL
Scene Shop Technical Assistants…………………………...JACOB BELL, NATHAN COOPER, MINSEO KOO, AVERY LEUNING, ESTHER LEVINE, NAT CHULMAN
Scene Shop Lab Students……………………… COLEEN CHAMBERLAIN, BENJAMIN GERCHICK, ALISHA LAI, YOONA LEE, JOHANNA LEVITT-DINDAS, FREY MATTHEW, JERMAINE MOORE, MOLLY O’TOOLE, JAY ROBINSON, CAROLINA THOMAS, HALEY VALVAL, GABBY VILLANUEVA, JAYDON VINEYARD, RYAN WILCOX
Theatre Program Administrative Staff
Theatre Program Director/Producer…………............KATE WALAT
Head of History, Literature & Criticism………….ESZTER SZALCZAR
Department Administrative Assistant…..….BERNADETTE SOCHA
Administrative Services ...................................... ........PAC STAFF
Theatre Faculty & Staff
Professor.......................................................... ESZTER SZALCZER
Associate Professor................................ .................KATE WALAT
Visiting Assistant Professors………………………….…ANNE CROTEAU
RYAN GARBAYO
NORA MARLOW SMITH
SHAUN PATRICK TUBBS
Instructional Support Associate..............................JOHN KNAPP
Adjunct Instructors………………………………..……..…... ELLEN CRIBBS
ELIZABETH GERBI
JOSEPH HAN
MICHAEL HANNON
AMINA HENRY
ASHLEY-SIMONE KIRCHNER
ANGELA LEDTKE
STEVEN MADORE
CHRISTOPHER MAXWELL
YVONNE PERRY
erforming rts enterC A P
HOUSE POLICIES
Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the management and its staff.
The use of photographic or recording devices of any kind during most performances is strictly prohibited.
There is no food or drink allowed in the theatres, nor is smoking allowed in UAlbany buildings.
. To avoid disrupting the performance, kindly disable any noise making electronic devices you may have with you.
Please take time to note the location of the fire exits nearest to you. In the event of an emergency, an announcement will be made from the stage. Please proceed to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion.
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