Cast & Creative Team Bios
Ava Wrestles the Alligator
Ensemble Note:
QUADZILLA ensemble is a NYC based group of Theatermakers who collectively write/design/direct/perform their own work. They are interested in telling coming of age stories centered around women. Their work is physically exciting, psychologically engaged and technologically inclined. Through their non-hierarchical theater making and female driven storytelling, they work to engender empathy and open-mindedness in their audiences. ​
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Kyle Best
Kyle Best is a NYC based director and designer who specializes in music, movement, and ensemble driven work. As a director, Kyle spends his time developing new musicals and making music videos. His directing work is always physically adventurous, psychologically intense, and farcical. As a designer, he specializes most in sound and projection design. He enjoys designing new plays and is drawn to building theatrical landscapes that connect the play world to the real world. His work has been seen at TheaterLab, Hudson Guild Theater, Dixon Place, Access Theater, St. Pauls Theater, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center(NTI), North Coast Rep, California Center for the Arts. BA Directing & Film/Screen Studies, PACE School of Performing Arts​
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Gavin Cranmer
Gavin is a New York City based, internationally trained, classically handsome, triple threat of actor/musician/idiot. He is set to graduate from Pace University with a degree in acting, and a 4 year long headache. In addition to performing, Gavin can be found watching either Bon Appetit videos or Better Off Dead starring John Cusack in his bedroom with his Godzilla blankie! He is also an avid theme park enthusiast and a complete metal head!
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Marlina Devery
Marlina is a New York-based, internationally trained actress, singer, and devised theatre creator. Originally from New Jersey, she is soon going to graduate from Pace University in downtown Manhattan with a degree in Acting/ Devised Ensemble-Based Theatre. She now lives in Brooklyn with her witch roommate and their demon/angel cat. Aside from piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, she enjoys writing her own work, going to the movies alone, baking for friends, and being a body positivity activist. She has been a vegetarian for 5 years and a Taurus for 21 years! Marlina is always eager to work with other curious, creative, and considerate minds.
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Abby Gumpper
Abby is a NYC based actor, singer, and theatre maker originally and proudly from Pittsburgh PA. She is a senior actor in Pace University’s International Performance Ensemble program. When she isn’t creating theatre with her ensemble- she is jamming on her ukulele, getting $wole at the gym, or finding the next show that she’ll describe to her mom as “the best show on tv!” Her car hank, birds on the street, and any thing that could be considered a dessert make her smile.
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Offloading
Ensemble Note:
Your first kiss in the linoleum booths of the Square Street Diner: $190.65
Watching the Moon landing with his arms around you: $715.67
His proposal to you under your apricot tree: $500.00
The Bourbon fueled argument over having kids outside on the lawn of your second house: $61.25
Every memory has a price. Rent needs to be paid. Which will Clive choose?
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Ryan Cook (Playwright/Clive)
Ryan Cook is a New York-based playwright/actor and senior in the Pace University International Performance Ensemble program. He is interested in works that deal with accessibility, immersive theatre, and the identities behind language. Ryan performs and interns at the Bowery Poetry Club, helping new poets and writers perform in open mics and private events. Check out Ryan's first poetry chapbook located at Mcnally Jackson bookstore on prince street, coming soon.
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Madi Hall (Choreographer/Mrs. Shwartz)
Madi is an NYC based actress who is a PPA BA senior. Her passions lie in film and television-based acting, movement and physical theatre, vintage clothing, good food, and her dog bailey. Madi is extremely excited to present her character Mrs. Schwartz in the production of OFFLOADING.
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Melissa Ingle (Director)
Melissa is a New York City-based director, and 2020 Graduate of Pace University’s International Performance Ensemble. Her work explores family, sexuality, and technology through the deconstruction of text and time. Some of her directing credits include "According to This...", "Mother/Daughter/Father/Son", and "Shakespeare Translate: Romeo & Juliet". Later this year she will be directing Anna K. Gorisch's "The Individuality of Streetlamps". www.melissaingle.com
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Pseudocide
Ensemble Note:
THE BUG
His classmates have discovered that happiness is simple… all you need to do is push a button. When an epidemic of shocking proportions jolts Middlebury High, Trevor Phillips is left to make a polarizing decision: to be or not to be?
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Chance Riley Kester
Chance is a New York-based theatre artist whose work aims to explore the role that people play in the lives of those around them as well as how they relate to and affect the world they live in. He enjoys engagingly physical work that keeps him and his audience on their toes—and in the air and on his hands and on tables, etc—and he hopes that you enjoy this show as much as he enjoyed creating it with his closest friends and collaborators. Previous credits include a stuffed dog possessed by Satan, a half naked crocodile, and a drug dealing seagull, and any production Yoni Weiss has been involved in.
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Tom Pastor
Tom is a New York-based actor and theater artist who is drawn towards work that searches for the meaning in the chaos. He enjoys experimenting with new ways to excite audiences in the hope of leaving them with something they will remember. Recent credits: I Do Believe in Fairies (Dixon Place/HOT! Festival), Everyone Hated Us (Dixon Place), Bloom (Pace University), Measure for Measure (Untitled Shakespeare Project), and Dark Play (Stand Up Productions). Tom is very excited for everyone to see the work that he and all of his peers have been developing. He would like to thank his family and friends for all the love and support and would like to thank his fellow BUGs for making the past year a dream.
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Tamar Rubin
Tamar is a Southern California native whose most recent credits include performing in the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, playing Wendy in I Do Believe in Fairies, and appearing on the beloved television show Will & Grace. Besides acting and creating theatre with her best friends, Tamar loves performing improv and standup comedy, farm animals, washing her hair, hummus, and being young in New York City. She would like to thank her family and Alisa Melendez for their love and support.
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Yoni Weiss
Yoni is a New York-based collaborative theatre artist whose offbeat work explores the intersection of nostalgia, trauma, and identity. He is a a Co-Artistic Director of Doghouse Ensemble Theatre, where he curates their Incubator program for young artists around the world to develop new works throughout all stages of the writing process. Directing: I Do Believe in Fairies (Dixon Place/HOT! Festival) featuring all the members of THE BUG, I’m a Fucking Icon (The Tank), Crowds Out Front, The Nina Variations, Elegies: A Song Cycle (Doghouse Ensemble Theatre). Feinstein's/54 Below: New Writers at 54!: The Music of Billy Recce, The Songs of Jacob Ryan Smith, Dream with Me, and others. He thinks the world of his collaborators and loves his chosen family and his real family, which makes him feel rather lucky.
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Strawberry Spring
Darkling Ensemble Note:
March 16, 1968
There’s something in the air at New Sharon college. Four students work to unravel the truth behind what is lurking in the fog.
Adria Branson (Co-Director)
Adria Branson is a New York-based director currently studying Directing at Pace University. She would like to thank her ensemble for everything! She has loved working with this exciting group of artists and she can’t wait for everyone to see the fruits of their labor.
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Ryan Courtelyou (Jack)
Ryan is a senior in college from Burbank, CA who is currently an actor with Darkling. He has been working with the group for nearly a year now and is very excited for everyone to see what they’ve been up to!
Noah Direnzo (Co-Director)
Noah is a New York based director. He is a current senior at Pace University and has been working with Darkling ensemble for over a year now. He is extremely proud of what his ensemble has created and admires their hard work and talent. Enjoy the show!
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Chloe Gluchanicz (Ann Bray)
Chloe is an actress from New Harbor, ME, where she lived alone in the woods for 4 years. She is so excited to be a member of Darkling ensemble because she is utterly fascinated with horror. Chloe hopes to be the last surviving member of Darkling ensemble and defeat death herself. Death is a woman!!!
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Nathan Luce (Danny)
Nathan Luce is a NYC based Actor originating from ST. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Currently a senior in the international performance ensemble BA Acting program, Nathan is proud to present these works that represent a accumulation of the last 4 years of hard work. Nathan would like to thank his ensemble for there hard work over the last year, as well as the unforgettable experience and bond he was able to share with them. Nathan would also like to thank his family and his partner Madi for there continued love and support.
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Jade Rodriguez (Marsha Curran)
Jade is so pumped to be a part of Darkling Ensemble! This gal is from Allentown, PA but calls the big ol’ apple her home. Her idol is Jennifer Lawrence and she’s so excited to be making devised theater with this fun group!
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Caveman
Ensemble Note:
TOP STORY TONIGHT! Normalcy has reached an impasse. Our lives have been invaded by an army of prehistoric pests. It’s only a matter of time before one of these cave boys gets too close for comfort, causing chaos in some poor young couple’s lives, or even their bedroom.
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Sophia Carlin
Sophia Carlin is a Chicago native turned New York theatre artist. Since moving to NYC to attend Pace University as a member of the International Performance Ensemble, she has worked with some amazing companies! Some of them include, Hamlet Isn't Dead, The Shadow Box, The Untitled Shakespeare Project, Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre,The Ride LLC, and many more! She thanks her friends and family for coming to all of her shows, even the bad ones. You can find out more about what she has done and is up to at sophiacarlin.com
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Conor Brennan
Conor is an actor hailing from the far away land of Queens, New York. As a senior in the International Performance Ensemble, Conor is excited to share the work that he and his peers have been working on these past few years. As a theatre artist, Conor is focused on stories that center around members of the LGBTQ community, and hopes to continue devising shows that bring these stories to life
Asha Printup
Asha is a theatrical director from Jacksonville,FL. She is thrilled to be sharing the work that the Kinzey Scale has been working on for the past year. Asha has always had a passion for telling the stories of underrepresented groups and would like to thank her family, friends, and collaborators for their constant support.
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The Veldt
Ensemble Note:
“Happylife Home, a place to see your fantasies come to life. Be careful what you wish for, Hadley family.” We have had such a challenge and a blast creating this adaptation over the past year. We all had to play many different roles at once, and we found a cohesiveness within all of our artistic minds that allow us to consistently be on the same thought as each other. Special thank you to my David Herndon, for being the sound genius. Also special thank you to our lighting designer Sasha Lysenko, Chance Kester, and Ianthe Demos for helping us construct our monster of a set. We couldn’t have done it without you.
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Elinor Cherin
Elinor Cherin is a junior at Pace University. She will receive her BFA in Acting for Film, Television, Voice Overs, and Commercials in the spring of 2021. She has a background in classical theatre, having worked with Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA many times. She is currently writing/developing new work and interning with a private chef in Manhattan. She lives in Crown Heights with several large basil plants. Elinor is very excited to be working with It’s Just Pretend Ensemble!
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Jordan Hudec
Jordan is a Senior BA IPE Actor. His most recent work includes Crowds Out Front presented at Manhattan Theatre Club. He enjoys being a member of Yes Anderson, Pace’s Improv Troupe and working with friends. Jordan hopes to continue discovering complex characters, especially in Dark Comedies where genre is malleable.
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Melissa Myers
Melissa is a Senior BA IPE Director based out of New York. Her most recent work has included a workshopped reading of ​Light My Fire ​at Dixon Place, and ​Spring Awakening ​at Portland Artist Rep Theatre. Her Directing work focuses on the minimalistic aspects of theatre, and she hopes to continue with her devising work after college! She currently lives in Brooklyn with her massive, three-year old cat named Shep, who she dedicates this performance to.
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Ryan Sans
Ryan is a writer and performer. He graduated from the high school drama program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and will receive his BA from the International Performance Ensemble program at Pace University in 2020. He studies improv and sketch writing at Upright Citizen’s Brigade and acting and playwriting at Primary Stages/ESPA. His work has been seen/developed at Dixon Place, 13th Street Repertory Theater, Primary Stages/ESPA, and Pace University . Ryan has worked with St. Ann’s Warehouse, BAM, One Year Lease Theatre Company, Sitting Shotgun, The Tank, and Target Margin Theater Company. He lives in Brooklyn with his gecko, Steve Buscemi and cat Avril Lavigne.
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Creations
Ensemble Note: A fresh new look on a tale as old as time itself. On the 5th day God created them, and much to her surprise the first love story. Adam and Eve like you’ve never seen before.​
Blood
Ensemble Note: Dan and Jay have a wonderful life together, A house, a pet chicken, and a book on the way. But what Jay doesn’t know, Dan likes it raw. Will Dan be able to hide his cravings from his husband, or will Jay think he’s meating someone else?
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Alex Church-Gonzales
Alex is a director-designer-artist-hyphenate who loves wearing many, many hats. Originally from California, she is currently a directing major at Pace University and a costume designer everywhere else in her life. She is an artist in residence with Breaking and Entering Theatre Collective. Some previous
credits include Everyone Hated Us (Dixon Place), How To Make Friends And Then Kill Them (Stand Up! Productions), Small Town Icons (Breaking & Entering Theatre Collective), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Pace University).
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Ethan Coniglio
Ethan is excited to perform Blood for you! The past two semesters of work on this production have been a blast, and have inspired him as a writer. Make sure to check out his thesis presentation on LGBTQ theater this coming May, enjoy the show! Insta: @ethan.coniglio
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Nolan Atterbury
Nolan is an Actor, Writer, and Propsmaster for WDE, and stars as Dan in Blood. He grew up in California, and enjoys stage combat, writing, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. He can often be found cooking Hello Fresh (not sponsored) meals, or working at Orangetheory (also not sponsored).
Production Team Bios
Savannah Wolfe (Production Stage Manager)
Savannah is a sophomore stage management major from the good ol Lone Star State. This spunky Aquarius is thrilled to have been given this opportunity to dip her little toes into the water that is PSMing and IPE. This experience while, stressy at times was over quite rewarding. She learned a lot about herself and the BA Program. She loved above all else her team. Special shout out to Anna for being the best company manager besides herself. Yeehaw! Enjoy the Show!
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Bailey Wilson (Assistant Stage Manager)
Bailey is psyched to be working on her first IPE show! She is a sophomore Stage Management major at Pace University's School of Performing Arts. Recent theatre credits include: Love's Labour's Lost (SDP), The Tempest (The Public), Peter and the Starcatcher (Pace). Recent film credits include Kumquat (Kristi Donna Ng Productions), In Case of Communism (Pace), The Meditater (Artist Tree Films), and Change for Change (Pace). She would like to thank her incredible friends and family for the endless support and hopes you enjoy the show!!
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Mariel Donahue (Assistant Stage Manager)
Mariel is so excited to be working on the Devised Theater Festival again this year with all the ensembles and the amazing creative team. Previous credits include Guys and Dolls, Everyone Hated Us, para(normals) in Rep with Employee of the Month, and Les Miserable.
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Wesley Schroeder (Production Assistant)
Wesley is a freshman Stage stage management major from Michigan. He is excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented people!
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Turner Barger (Production Assistant)
Turner is a freshman stage management major from Virginia. He is ecstatic to be working on the IPE Devised Festival! He has worked with numerous theater companies from his hometown. Last semester he worked on To Clothe the Naked and Evita. Thanks to the cast and the rest of the production team who made this show possible. Enjoy the show!
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