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About the Shows
1st Weekend – Friday & Saturday, June 2nd & 3rd
Out at Sea by Slawomir Mrozek
Directed by David Moseder
Fat Castaway: Michael Fewks
Medium Castaway: Gary Lizardo
Thin Castaway: Aditi Sanghavi
Postwoman: Carol Wagner
Butler: David Mackler
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Open Window: A Twilight Zone Fairy Tale
by John Squires w/add'l writing by Michelle Feza Kuchuk
Directed by John Squires
Starring Chantel Woo, Charlie Melkonian & Riley Hilton-Squires
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2nd Weekend - Friday & Saturday June 9th & 10th
The Bear by Anton Chekhov
Directed by Chris Carlson
Yelena Ivanova Popova - Catherine Brophy
Grigory Stepanovich Smirnov - Bill Barry
Luka - Brian Farrell
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Cowboy Mouth by Sam Shepard and Patti Smith
Directed by Sam Cini
Slim - Alexander Gisondi
Cavale - Zora Smith
Lobster Man - Shawn A. Guerra
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The Insanity of Mary Girard
Directed by Dorea Slagle
Mary Girard - Sam Burkhard
Stephen Girard - Vincent Ingrisano
Fury 1 / The Warder - Isaiah Michaels
Fury 2 / Mrs. Lum - Laura Chartrand
Fury 3 / Polly Kenton - Julia Keesler
Fury 4 / Mr. Phillips - Nate Becker
Fury 5 / Mrs. Hatcher - Ashley Kobayashi
Mary Girard Understudy - Elisa Diaz
Fury Understudy - Hannah Weaver
Fury Understudy - Alex Andrews
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Meet The Directors
John Squires
John Squires is grateful for the opportunity to direct (and write with his friend Michelle Feza Kuchuk!) with such a wonderful cast (that includes his daughter!). The Heights Players holds a special place in his heart, reigniting his love for theater when he was cast in Dog Sees God (2016). Most recently switched gears to Film & TV and can be seen in Lifetime TV's "Revenge Best Served Chill", "The Blacklist" as well as the upcoming "The Crowded Room" (Apple+) and an Untitled Marvel Series (Disney+).
David Moseder
David Moseder is making his Heights Players directorial debut with Slawomir Mrozek’s Out at Sea. He has appeared on stage in more than a dozen of their productions, most recently in The Crucible, Fool for Love, Act One and Night Watch. In a prior lifetime he directed such efforts as The Runner Stumbles, How the Other Half Loves, Death Knocks and a pair of his own one-act plays. He also steps out of his comfort zone on occasion with the Pacemakers Dance Team.
Chris Carlson
Chris Carlson would like to acknowledge the success of Heights Players in this, its 67th season. A co-founder of Brooklyn Players, he has produced numerous Brooklyn shows including Ragtime, Hairspray and Pippin. He has directed productions of Sartre's' No Exit, Ibsen's Master Builder, cabarets and skit comedy. He was also the Production Coordinator for The Crucible and Proof at the Heights Players.
Sam Cini
Sam Cini is grateful to be returning to the Heights Players for his second directors workshop this year, with another show penned by the great Sam Shepard. He wants to thank his family and friends for their support, as well as this cast for their hard work, creativity, and fearlessness in bringing this show to life.
Dorea Slagle
Dorea Slagle is a Brooklyn based actor and director. Her last project at The Heights Players was Assistant Directing Guys & Dolls, and was on stage this season as Abigail Williams in The Crucible. She also just wrapped up directing the MainStage production in the New York Theater Festival: Occupation: Housewife. Select additional directing credits include: Arizona (Ryan Repertory Company), The Elephant Man (Kings Players), HiTops (Theater 315), and Ocean in my Soul (Workshop). She would like to thank her amazing cast & crew for their help bringing this piece to life. And to Jacob - thank you for supporting me through the long weeks. I couldn’t do it without you. For more info, visit: doreaslagle.com
Meet The Cast
Out At Sea
Riley Hilton-Squires
Riley Hilton-Squires (Little Girl) is graduating 4th grade and thrilled to be performing in her first theatrical production at the Heights Players. A few of her favorite things: slime, puppies, ballet and lip gloss. She has acted in several commercials & short films as well as "Sesame Street."
Charlie Melkonian
Charlie Melkonian (Male) is thrilled to be making his Heights Players, and New York City debut. Charlie grew up in Manhattan on the Upper West Side, and currently attends NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts at the Atlantic Acting Studio. In addition to acting, Charlie loves to play guitar and sing!
Chantel Woo
Chantel Woo (Female) is a Hong Kong-born and Brooklyn-based actor, singer, and dancer. She is thrilled to be returning to the Heights Players after her performance in Water by the Spoonful (Orangutan) earlier this year. Other favorite credits include The Great Gatsby (Jordan), The Addams Family (Morticia) and Legally Blonde (Margot). Endless gratitude to her loved ones for their support, and to John, Charlie, and Riley for a weird and wonderful adventure.
The Bear
Alexander Gisondi
Alexander Gisondi (Slim) is a graduate of The William Esper Studio. Credits include Eric in Strictly Personnel (Chain Theatre Festival), and Young Actor in Midas (Theater For The New City). Film: Kevin in Keepsake (Americana Film Festival), Jake in The Family Key (Toronto International Women Film Festival), and writes his own music as The Spree. He’s immensely grateful to all his friends, family, and teachers for their support. alexandergisondi.com @asondiii
Shawn Alexander Guerra
Shawn A. Guerra (Lobster Man) comes back to The Heights Players for the second time. The first was as Gustav the Butler in Dinner at Eight. Other roles include Chiron in Titus Andronicus, Mail Beineke in The Addams Family, & Lewis in Pippin!
Zora Smith
Zora Smith (Cavale) is an actor, music artist and songwriter. Originally from Singapore, Zora moved to NYC to train at William Esper Studio. Zora’s theatrical experienced includes collaborative, devised theatre in Singapore; (Where Are You?, 2021), (Palindromes, 2019). As a music artist, Zora Smith self-released her Electronic/Alternative R&B music project, Of Sound Mind in 2022. Cowboy Mouth is Zora’s first stage performance in New York.
The Insanity of Mary Girard
Michael Fewks
Michael Fewks (Fat Castaway) received his MFA in acting from Brooklyn College. He has appeared in two previous Heights Players productions: Moon Over Buffalo and Nell Dash. @Fewxie on Instagram.
GaryLizardo
Gary Lizardo (Medium Castaway) NYC stage credits include: George S Kaufman (“Act One”), Arvide Abernathy (“Guys And Dolls”), Narrator (“Into The Woods”), Jerry Cohan (“George M”), Chauncey Miles ("The Nance"), Julian Marsh ("42nd St"), David Kingsley ("Stage Door"), Herr Schultz ("Cabaret"),: Zoser ("Aida"), Robert de Beaudricourt ("St. Joan"), Mr. Laurence ("Little Women"), King Marchand ("Victor Victoria"), Danvers Carew ("Jekyll And Hyde - The Musical"), Larry Renault ("Dinner At Eight"), Dennis Shepard ("The Laramie Project"),
Aditi Sanghavi
Aditi Sanghavi (Thin Castaway) is excited to make her debut at The Heights Players Theater! She was most recently in the sketch comedy show, A Sketch of New York. Among her film credits are The Waiting Room (dir. Suhashini Krishnan) and the web series, Q-Train (dir. Sam Tran).
Carol Wagner
Carol Wagner (Postman) is always grateful for the little surprises that make life interesting - especially when it involves the stage! Her all time favorite role is Elaine in The Heights Players 2021 production of Night Watch; other favorites include Hamlet (Guildenstern), The Mystery of the Mosiac Bridge (Joey, OOBC) and Avenue Q (Bad Idea Bear). Congratulations to all the directors! :)
David Mackler
David Mackler (Butler) most recently appeared as Geoffrey in Six Degrees of Separation with St. Jean’s Players. He's happy to add another Heights Players Workshop to his resume.
Open Window: A Twilight Zone Fairy Tale
Bill Barry
Bill Barry (Smirnoff) appeared on this stage as John Proctor in this seasons Heights Players Production of The Crucible, directed by James Martinelli and also recently appeared in the role of Juror # 3 in the Westfield Theater production of 12 Angry Jurors. He is thrilled to be working with members of the Crucible crew again (thanks Catherine and Brian) and is grateful to Chris for selecting him for this part and for his wonderful direction.
Catherine Brophy
Catherine Brophy (Yelena Ivanova Popova) was last seen as Ouisa in the St. Jean's Players production of the John Guare's 6 Degrees of Separation'. Also as Elizabeth Proctor in Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Evy Meara in Neil Simon's The Gingerbread Lady both at Heights Players in Brooklyn. She has numerous theater, film and television credits, including The Rainmaker with the Barrow Group and Final, a feature film with Denis Leary and Hope Davis directed by Campbell Scott.
Brian Farrell
Brian Farrell (Luka) This is my second appearance with The Heights Players. I’m excited to be collaborating once again with Catherine, Chris and Bill. Recent work - The Ledge, at the Gallery Players, and Funny Guy, by Patrick Nash, which we will be taking to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I can be seen in the Bollywood feature, Gandhi My Father, and the adult entertainment feature, The Crack of Dawn. Listen at farrellsongs.com
Cowboy Mouth
Sam Burkard
Sam Burkard (Mary Girard) is thrilled to be returning to The Heights Players for her first Directors’ Workshop! Most recently seen here as a Hot Box Doll and Miss Adelaide understudy/stand-in in Guys and Dolls, she is excited to step back in time again, this time to 1976, for The Insanity of Mary Girard. Sam is currently working full-time for the ticketing specialist On The Stage, and is so happy to get back to spending her evenings in the theatre. Originally from Wisconsin, she studied Theatre and Public Relations at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater. Special thanks to her family, friends, and Dorea for their unwavering support and guidance!
Vincent Ingrisano
Vincent Ingrisano (Stephen Girard) has appeared at the Heights Players before, recently in Clybourne Park - Karl\Steve. Also Played Supporting Roles in City on a Hill on Showtime and Boardwalk Empire on HBO, and multiple episodes of Blindspot on NBC and Bull on CBS. He has enjoyed playing Leroy Hamilton in The Last Yankee by Arthur Miller, and Sgt. Maurice A. Creely in the premiere production of To Whom it May Concern by Aurin Squire.
Isaiah Michaels
Isaiah Michaels (Fury #1/The Warder) is ecstatic to be back on stage at The Heights Players! It’s been such a joy working with friends on such a powerful, intense piece. Thank you Dorea and Alex for your fantastic direction and friendship, and the immensely talented cast for letting me play off you. Much love to y’all!
Laura Chartrand
Laura Chartrand (Fury #2/Mrs. Lum) is so excited to be a part of this wonderful production! She has been seen in And Then There Were None (Mrs. Rogers) at Gallery Players, Coney Island Christmas (Evie) and The Crucible (Mary Warren) at The Heights Players.
Julia Keesler
Julia Keesler (Polly Kenton/Fury #3) is excited to be jumping back into theater with her first production with The Heights Players. Julia’s first love lies in the world of film and she recently completed filming her short film that she wrote, produced and starred in called Follow, If I Can, a historical drama taking place in Regency Era England. When Julia isn’t acting, she is making sculpture candles by hand with her small business Musea Study. She would like to thank Dorea for inviting her to audition- it’s been a blessing and an incredible opportunity to work on this show. JuliaKeesler.com | museastudy.com
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