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
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
Dot
Dot
by Colman Domingo
Directed by Rikki Lacewell
December 6 – 15, 2024
A heartfelt and humorous family drama that examines the challenges of aging and dementia during a chaotic Christmas reunion in West Philadelphia.
CAST
Dotty – Bridgett McCain
Shelly – Brianna Nobles
Jackie – Pamela Northrup
Donnie – Luke Hellyer
Adam – Mark Boisvert
Avery – Jo Monplaisir
Fidel – James-Curtis Bowers
Junk
Junk
by Ayad Akhtar
Directed by Fletcher Lowe
October 25 – November 10, 2024
Junk, a compelling play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, immerses audiences in the intense world of 1980s finance. Centered around a controversial corporate takeover, the story examines the intersection of ambition, greed, and ethics. This thought-provoking work challenges perceptions of the American Dream and invites viewers to reflect on the true cost of success.
CAST
Robert Merkin – Jonathan Muhlberg
Raul Rivera – Alan Gonzalez Bisnes
Israel Peterman – Nicholas Temple
Boris Pronsky – George Kassouf
Tom Everson Jr. – Bill Bodie
Judy Chen – Helen Cheng Mao
Maxine Cizik – Jill Goodrich
Jacqueline Blount – Ellen Schiavone
Leo Tresler – Andy Greenleaf
Amy Merkin – Leanna Saler
Giuseppe Addesso – Gary Sullivan
Kevin Walsh – Axandre Oge
Mark O’Hare/Union Rep/Curt – Seth Rose
Devon Atkins/Merkin’s Lawyer – Stefan Mitrovic
Corrigan Wiley/Waiter – Mark Regini
Murray Lefkowitz/Steel Worker – Stan Rosen
Charlene Stewart/Chen’s Lawyer – Yael Schoenbaum
Church and State
Church and State
by Jason Odell Williams
Directed by Jen Katz
September 13 – 29, 2024
A provocative, timely political drama that explores the intersection of faith, politics, and personal conviction in the high-stakes world of elections.
CAST
Charles Whitmore: Hart Wood
Sara Whitmore: Juanisha Brooks
Alex Klein: Whitney Johnson
Tom: Kurt Elliott II
Marshall/Security Guard: Jack Elmendorf
Rugged American Male/Mayor: Kevin Dykstra
Reporter (voice): Katie Anthony
Male News Anchor (voice): Steve Katz
Senate President (voice): Nicholas Temple
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director/Producer: Jen Katz
Master Carpenter: Steve Leshin
Lighting Designer: Don Slater
Sound Designer: Rich Frangiamore
Video Designer/Editor: Brad Tehaan
Set Decoration: Jessica Casiano
Dialect Coach: Gary Sullivan
Intimacy Choreographer: Kristen Geatz Temple
Artistic Liaison: Matthew Bannister
Reading: A Black and White Cookie
Staged Reading: A Black and White Cookie
by Gary Morgenstein
Directed by Jacqueline Youm
March 16, 2025 at 7pm
Please join us in person or via Zoom for a benefit reading of the award-winning play, A Black and White Cookie by Gary Morgenstein and directed by Jacqueline Youm. After its World Premiere at Silver Spring Stage in October 2021 (for which it won the Broadway World regional award for Best Original Play), A Black and White Cookie has been produced in New York, Los Angeles, and New Jersey.
In this provocative and timely play, Harold Wilson—a gruff, conservative African American in his late 60s—finally re-opens his New York City newsstand following the pandemic lockdown. But an exorbitant rent increase forces him to close after 30 years and reluctantly retire to Florida with his niece Carol. Enter Albie Sands, an eccentric 1960s Jewish radical who persuades Harold to fight the landlord. Overcoming their differences, Harold and Albie form an unlikely yet powerful friendship to confront corporate greed and prejudice.
Suggested Donation: $5