2024 One-Act Festival
2024 One-Act Festival
August 2-11
Congratulations to the honorees at the 2024 Silver Spring Stage One-Act Festival!
Outstanding Show: “Snack Machine Blues” by Chuck Smith, dir. Seth Ghitelman, music dir. Zoe Fischthal
Runner-up: “Close Inncounters” by Anthony Pezzula, dir. Pauline Griller-Mitchell, asst. dir. Teresa Gillcrist
Second runner-up: “Choices” by James McLindon, dir. Mercedes Blankenship
Audience Favorite, Week One: “Case of the Missing Know-It-All” by Mark Saunders, dir. by Yehuda Goldman
Audience Favorite, Week Two: “Snack Machine Blues”
Best Script: “The Death of Boson X” by David Malouf
Weekend One: August 2-4
“Tofana Bobana” by Peter Boyer, dir. by Lorraine Brooks
A horror spoof in which women flip the script on the stereotypical serial killer.
Ashley: Melina Gross
Harriet: Kelci Friend
Bethany: Juanisha Brooks
Frankie: Diego Maramba
“It Was a Dark and Stormy Night When” by Bohdan Dowhaluk, dir. by Caro Dubberly
A film-noir look at the conflict between logic and mystery, reality and an escape from reality, and loyalties and betrayals.
Phil Knorr: Elijah Rakha-Sheketoff
Alice: Darcy Fowler
Kowalsky: Jonathan Blansfied
Tony: Jack Mayo
“The Death of Boson X” by David Malouf, dir. by Peter Orvetti
What happens when a world-changing AI takes matters into its own virtual hands?
Jordan: Melina Gross
Dr. Alex Burrows: Karen Lawrence
Merrill Hastings: Alayna Theunissen
Boson X: Kim Cincotti-Seldon
“Close Inncounters” by Anthony Pezzula, dir. Pauline Griller-Mitchell, asst. dir. Teresa Gillcrist
A light look at those who espouse conspiracy theories.
Donnie Mattice: Vedant Sharma
Emma Betruger: Nancy Sommers
Sadie Smith: Morgan Fuller
Stranger: Alan Gonzales Bisnes
“Case of the Missing Know-It-All” by Mark Saunders, dir. by Yehuda Goldman
What happens when an aging Sherlock Holmes, now with a family of his own, is forced into retirement before he’s ready? A twist on how one strange family deals with retirement.
Mr. Holmes: John Purnell
Mrs. Holmes: Julia Frank
Annie: Mary Pryal
Irene: Elina Lingappa
Weekend Two: August 9-11
“Choices” by James McLindon, dir. Mercedes Blankenship
A debtor burdened by crushing student loans is offered a way out… but is the deal too good to be true?
Client: Courtney Naughton
Counselor: Hart Wood
“No Transferable Skills” by Kathleen Roult, dir. Jen Katz, asst. dir. Suzanne Kang
Superman — er, Clark Kent — meets with a career counselor.
Clark: Mark Regini
Mrs. Jenkins: Selina Tom-Johnson
Wanda Worman: Juanisha Brooks
Louise: Emma Wesslund
“Little Free Library” by Bill Schauman, dir. Matthew Bannister
A couple interacts with a Little Free Library that seems to be sending them some strange messages.
Brian: Thomas Friend
Sharon: Kerala Bannister
Passer-by: Matthew Bannister
Passer-by: Nancy Somers
“Snack Machine Blues” by Chuck Smith, dir. Seth Ghitelman, music dir. Zoe Fischthal
The hidden world of a vending machine in a Dallas rendering plant that’s about to close. The company hasn’t restocked the vending machine and, slowly, each of the remaining snacks is chosen by customers. Some are willing to go down the chute because it’s their destiny, but others are not.
Baked Potato Chips: Matthew Dantas-McCutheon
Debbie: Nancy Sommers
Frito: Alan Gonzales Bisnes
Granola Bar: Sophie Shampande
Armadillo Slim Jim: Steve Malone
Cheese Doodle: Nadia Abouraya
Set construction: Steve Leshin
Costumes: Jennifer Morrisey
Sound designer: Rich Frangiamore
“Heard Mentality” by Allison Fradkin, dir. by Jen Katz, asst. dir. Shaq Stewart
Ada may be hard of hearing, but she certainly isn’t hard of fearing how her first date will go. Will Ada’s new hearing aids aid and abet her insecurities? Or will they persuade her to see the versatility of her disability? And if so, will she hear them out?
Ada: Michelle Norris
Left E: Kerala Bannister
Right E: Gill Rydholm
“The Worst Hallmark Christmas Movie Never Made” by Les Abromovitz, dir. Jacqueline Youm, asst. dir. Andy Mauer
Two novice screenwriters collaborate on a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. But will this become a real-life rom-com?
Steven Schaub: Camden Salguero
Wanda Wilson: Morgan Hawkins
Production Team:
Producers: Jen Katz, Shaq Stewart, Emma Wesslund
Sound: Shaq Stewart
Lights: Don Slater
Stage Managers: Kristen Temple and Lena Winter
Play Reading Team: Pauline Griller-Mitchell, Suzanne Kang, Jen Katz, Emma Wesslund
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens, adapted by Peter Orvetti
Directed by Peter Orvetti and Jeff Poretsky
December 12 – 21, 2025
CAST
Ebenezer Scrooge: Andrew Greenleaf
Narrator Boz: Steven Malone
Narrator Ned: Alan Gonzales Bisnes
Narrator Vic: Becca Watts
Jacob Marley/Guest One/First Businessman: Tone Arce
Fred: Kelci Friend
Bob Cratchit: Thomas Friend
Rachel Cratchit: Carla Morgan
Martha Cratchit/Miss Ives: Isha Goel
Peter Cratchit: Shane Levine
Tiny Tim Cratchit: Zachary Boyd
Ghost of Christmas Past: Harper Ruszkowski
Ghost of Christmas Present: Darcella Owens
Ghost of Christmas Future: Tara Scully
Young Ebenezer Scrooge: Sean Healy
Belle Whittington/Miss Mangle: Addison Ruszkowski
Fan Scrooge/Baker: Emma Bailey
Mr. Fezziwig/Joe: David Jackson
Mrs. Fezziwig/Mrs. Dilber: Meagan Boyd
Mr. Currier/Guest Two/Second Businessman: Kenneth Edwards
Wilbur/Third Businessman: Kaidan Hetzer
Boy/Child 1: Angelina Greenleaf
Child 2/Cratchit Child: Ellison Bihm
Child 3/Cratchit Child: Braden Ruszkowski
Child 4/Cratchit Child: Mackenzie Ruszkowski
Tartuffe
Tartuffe
by Molière
Directed by Jacqueline Youm
October 31 – November 16, 2025
A wealthy household is turned upside down by a pious conman. As the hypocritical Tartuffe worms his way into favor, deception, desire, and righteous outrage collide in this biting satire about blind faith, gullibility, and the chaos of misplaced trust.
CAST
Syd Johnson: Marianne
Justin Meyer: Valère
Joshua Presscott: Damis
Erin Gallalee: Elmire
Chevell Thomas: Cléante
Mike Kroboth: Tartuffe
Tracye Brewer: Madame Pernelle
Joseph Coracle: Orgon
Zach Shields: M. Loyal
Jaylen Shode: Police officer
Megan Hinton: Flipote
Maggie Murphy: Laurent
Jacqueline Youm: Dorine
Understudies:
Kimberly-Elise Recas : Dorine, Mariane, Flipote
Megan Hinton: Police officer, Elmire
Cristian Hernandez: M. Loyal, Laurent, M. Orgon, Tartuffe
Zach Shields: Valère, Damis
Maggie Murphy : Cléante, Mme Pernelle
Lillian Hall: Mariane
Understudy Performances:
Sunday, November 2, 2:00 p.m.
Kimberly-Elise Recas: Flipote
Megan Hinton: Police officer
Sunday, November 9, 2:00 p.m.
Maggie Murphy: Cléante
Cristian Hernandez: Laurent
Kimberly-Elise Recas: Flipote
Megan Hinton: Police officer
Friends With Guns
Friends With Guns
by Stephanie Alison Walker
Directed by Julia Harris
September 26 – October 12, 2025
You think you know your friends, your neighbors, your spouse, but what happens when you suddenly find out they have a garage full of guns? This new dark comedy explores the complicated issue of gun proliferation when two young liberal couples are forced to confront their assumptions about who should own a gun and why.
The time of easy answers regarding this issue is long gone. In the wake of current events, we are all forced to reexamine our strongly held beliefs about gun ownership. Friends With Guns explores the question of what we can compartmentalize… and what we can’t. It examines what happens when guns enter the conversation. It pulls the curtain back on liberals with guns. It asks what happens when suddenly one person in a marriage does a 180 on the gun issue. And it does all of this through a female lens.
CAST
Shannon: Vanessa Markowitz
Josh: Bri Caelleigh
Leah: Ellen Schiavone
Danny: Smithchai Chutchainon
2025 One-Act Festival
2025 One-Act Festival
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Silver Spring Stage One-Act Festival awards! (The audience favorite production will be announced shortly.)
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
“The Waiting Room” by Alli Hartley-Kong, directed by Robin Berl
RUNNER-UP:
“Chiquita!” by James Bosley, directed by Bill Hurlbut
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
David Dieudonne, “A Very Different Kind of Truth” by Erica Smith
OUTSTANDING SCRIPT
“The Waiting Room” by Alli Hartley-Kong
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTING
Caroline Adams, “After Charlottesville”
Kat Binney, “The Waiting Room”
Evelyn Meek, “A Very Different Kind of Truth”
Matthew J. Murray, “A Very Different Kind of Truth”
OUTSTANDING TECH
“A Very Different Kind of Truth” by Erica Smith, directed by David Dieudonne
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUMING
Jennnifer Morrisey, “Chiquita!”
AUDIENCE FAVORITE (tie vote)
“The Waiting Room” by Alli Hartley-Kong, directed by Robin Berl
“A Very Different Kind of Truth” by Erica Smith, directed by David Dieudonne
SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVAL AWARD
Skye Skolnik, “After Charlottesville”
Thomas Friend and Ron Ward, “Chiquita!”
August 8-17, 2025
CHIQUITA! by James Bosley, directed by Bill Hurlbut
One afternoon in a hotel room in Hollywood, the movie star Steve McQueen met with Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors to discuss a movie idea. McQueen wants to make an auto racing movie, but discussion breaks down when Morrison suggests casting the Latina parking attendant with impressive driving skills.
Steve McQueen: Ron Ward
Jim Morrison: Thomas Friend
Irene: Diana Valle
Tomas: Saúl Díaz Cruz
THE WAITING ROOM by Alli Hartley-Kong, directed by Robin Berl
When loud-mouth comedian Natalie violates the Fight Club etiquette of the waiting room of a fertility clinic, an unexpected and hilarious friendship forms between her and Katherine, another woman who is waiting… not just to see the doctor, but to have a chance to start her family.
Katherine: Kat Binney
Natalie: Erica Smith
AFTER CHARLOTTESVILLE by Latisha Jones, directed by Kristen Davis
Two best friends — one a white woman who attended the 2017 Charlottesville protest, the other an African American woman who couldn’t be there — reflect on the trauma and emotion through their personal experiences, exploring the impact of the events from both inside and outside the crowd.
Marcy: Iyanu Bishop
Amber: Caroline Adams
A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH by Erica Smith, directed by David Dieudonne
Nine years ago, Cass and his sister Bee disappeared. Cass came back after two months, but Bee didn’t. Cass claims they were abducted by aliens — he even went on a reality TV show to make his case — but no one believes him. Now Cass is a pariah. Only Sayer accepts Cass’s crazy story… but what counts as belief? And how solid can it really be?
Michael Cassidy (Cass): Matthew J. Murray
Sayer Morrison: Frances Russell
Honeybee Cassidy (Bee): Evelyn Meek
Company
Company: The Musical
music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth
Directed by Matt J. Bannister
June 13 – 29, 2025
Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical about modern relationships, following Bobby, a bachelor facing his 35th birthday, as he contemplates love, commitment, and the complexities of being single in a coupled world.
CAST
Bobby: Billy Lewis
Joanne: Pamela Northrup
Larry: Bri Calleigh
Amy: Marissa Liotta
Paul: Alan Gonzalez-Bisnes
Sarah: Tanya Coyne
Harry: Brian Lyons-Burke
Susan: Isabelle Solomon
Peter: Daniel Riker
Jenny: Danielle Comer
David: James Armstrong
April: Rose Hutchison
Marta: Elizabeth Suzanne
Kathy: Laura Hepp
COMPANY is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI.). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Blues for an Alabama Sky
Blues for an Alabama Sky
by Pearl Cleage
Directed by Kevin Sockwell
May 2 – 18, 2025
Set during the Harlem Renaissance, this poignant drama weaves together the lives of five passionate and determined characters as they chase their dreams and navigate love and adversity.
CAST
Angel: Jacqueline Youm
Guy: Cainan Geier
Della: Iyanu Bishop
Sam: Matthew Murray
Leland: Mack Leamon
Understudy (Angel/Delia): Rachel Manu
Understudy (Guy/Leland): Tyler Ward
Understudy (Sam): Donta Henley
Peerless
Peerless
by Jiehae Park
Directed by Youri Kim
March 14 – 30, 2025
Post-show talkback with director Youri Kim and the cast on Sunday, March 23.
Understudy performances on Sunday, March 23 & Friday, March 28
A darkly comedic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, set in the cutthroat world of college admissions, where two ambitious Asian-American sisters stop at nothing to get into the college of their dreams.
Running time: 100 minutes
CAST
M: Imaan Khan
L: Jay Thaiyod
BF: David Jackson
Dirty Girl / Preppy Girl: Hope Campbell
D / D`s Brother: CC Gallagher
M Understudy: Daniella Ignacio
L Understudy: Kira Judish
Bf Understudy: Tyler Ward
D / D`s Brother Understudy: Jeremiah Kirstein
Dirty Girl / Preppy Girl Understudy: Sarah Marie Wilson
PotWW
The Playboy of the Western World — A New Version
by Bisi Adigun and Roddy Doyle
Directed by Seth Ghitelman
January 24 – February 9, 2025
A fresh take on J.M. Synge’s classic comedy about a young man who gains unexpected fame in a rural Irish village by claiming to have committed a heinous crime.
CAST
Pegeen: Yael Schoenbaum
Sean: Thomas Friend
Christopher: Justin Oratokhari
Michael: Bill Hurlbut
Philly: William Darden Jr.
Jimmy: Bri Caelleigh
Widow Quin: Katherine Leiden
Malamo: Kevin Sockwell
Susan: Amanda Brenner
Honor: Olivia Cholewczynski
Sarah: Morgan Fuller