IHRAF Festival!
53 different performances,
11 performance blocks,
One magical week!
IHRAF Festival 2023!
This documentary from the 2023 IHRAF Festival at the Tank Theater (December 4-10), shows the power and possibility of art at the intersection of society and the spirit. Meet our creators and hear them speak! Documentary by Chris Bradley.
📢 Fifth Annual 📢
International Human Rights Art Festival
December 4th - 10th, 2023
The Tank
312 W 36th St., New York, NY 10018
Tom Block, Producer
Costanza Bugiani, Assistant Producer
Jeff D’Ambrosio, Technical Director
Lova Hellberg, Stage Manager
Chris Bradley, Videographer
Robin Michals, Photographer
Serena Norr/Katie Mack, PR/Marketing
Monday, December 4, 7:00 pm
TICKETS HERE
Ten Minute Play Festival
With special thanks to an in partnership with the Cameroon American Council (@CamAmerCouncil).
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An accidental meeting of two mothers descends into heartbreaking revelations. Taiwo Aloba (Playwright and Director) is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist whose work involves contemporary and historical themes. Estelle Bikibili is a Cameroonian-born, New York-based singer-songwriter, creative performer, and pianist/composer. Enih Agwe is a Cameroonian-American actress, singer, writer, social commentator, and creative storyteller.
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High school sweethearts Chase and Alice meet in the park to talk about some very bitter things, all the while being watched by a pair of magic trees. The couple struggles to reach a decision on what to do next in this world that's being affected by rapidly changing reproductive health laws. A short film was recently produced by Theater Resources Unlimited, and directed by Jordan Richards.Alex Goldberg has written over 20 produced plays, and has written and/or directed three feature films and four short films.
Jordan Richards is a New York-based director, actor, and writer who graduated from Florida State University with his BFA in Acting. www.jordanrichardsactorwriter.com
Cameron Schmitt (Chase) is a New York based actor from Florida who graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Acting from Florida State University.
Hallie Bond (Alice) is a graduate of the Institute for American Musical Theatre in New York City. www.halliebond.com Jaimie Paulson (Citizen #2) is an award-winning improvisor, narrator, world traveler, pizza lover, and whimsical work in progress. jaimiepaulson.com Anderson Khochaiche (Citizen #1) is a New York based actor.
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Two young mothers come to realize that their worldviews are not compatible with their friendship.
Meron Langsner (Playwright) is a NYC based playwright, scholar, and fight director whose work has been performed around the world and published by major imprints.
Aliza Shane (Director) is an award-winning director, playwright and producer based in NYC.
Rebecca Lynn Goldfarb (Rachel) has performed on all stages and platforms including Broadway, TV, Film, Commercials, and Voiceovers.
Ebony N. Kennedy (Alisa) is a writer and sometimes actor, born and raised in Brooklyn.
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The ten-minute version of what will be a full-length play, "Dirty Laundry" explores the moment a mother and son come to an impasse when a horrible truth is finally said out loud. The play deals with dark, triggering topics involving statutory rape and abuse.
Caleb Dukes (playwright/director) is an award-winning, New York City-based playwright and (sometimes) actor/director with a creative focus on social justice and dark comedy. Michaela Winter (MARGIE) is thrilled to be returning to the New York stage. Past credits include Nina in The Women and Wallace, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, and Tilly in Melancholy Play. Samuel Frye (KIT) is an actor attending The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. Samuel’s experience includes commercial, television, film, and theatre work.
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Olive arrives for an obligatory timeshare sales pitch from Kelly, but what she is asked to buy into is not a condo.
Christine Benvenuto, playwright Christine Benvenuto’s plays have been performed in NYC, Los Angeles, Connecticut, Florida, Boston and Western Massachusetts, and she is the author of two books from St. Martin’s Press, and many short stories and essays that have been widely published. Hilary Dennis is an actor, independent producer and Shakespearean who works out of Northampton, MA and NYC. Vanessa Query is a director, writer, performer, and organizer based in Greenfield, Mass. She has been making theater and movies for 20 years.
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Queen Jaguar is a warrior poetess and songstress from the jungle. Assisted by The Ambassador for Translation, Queen Jaguar sings and chants, but never speaks. Created by Christine Stoddard of Quail Bell Press & Productions, this a cappella act is entirely improvised, with a new experience every time.
Christine Stoddard (Queen Jaguar) is an artist, filmmaker, and the creator of the Art Bitch comedy act, the Badass Lady-Folk TV show, and Quail Bell Magazine. Aaron Gold (The Ambassador) is an actor, comedian, and creator of the TV show/podcast Don't Mind If I Don't and the You Are Not Alone comedy show.
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Three men sit in the waiting room of a hospital's outpatient clinic in 1983 with the intention of being tested for the AIDS virus. During the course of events, these very different individuals will evolve from a feeling of intense dislike to one of solidarity and love for each other as they are forced to confront a doctor who is totally indifferent to their plight and anti-gay rioters (never seen) outside the facility.
Steven Gaynor (Playwright, Producer) is an Administrative Law Judge for the New York City Department of Finance and an aspiring playwright whose one-act play, THE BOY SCOUT IN THE BURNING HALL, was shown at the New York Theater Festival in 2022. Sophie Schulman (Director) is an NYC-based actor, SFX makeup artist, and independent creative who has worked with the New York Theater Festival and Theater for the New City since receiving her BFA from NYU Tisch. Nick Bisa (David) is a 20 year old Australian artist currently completing his acting training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute through the BFA Drama program at NYU Tisch. Adrian Anthony (Paul) is a sophomore at NYU's Tisch Drama and is excited to be a part of this compelling play that speaks on the prominence of the AIDS epidemic and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Sebastian Zuniga (Hubert) is a queer Mexi-Puerto Rican actor who has worked with Intar, the Working Theatre and the Sol Project IG: sebastian zuniga. Randy Lindsay (Dr. Bellamy) is from Baltimore, MD, currently residing there, is thankful for the opportunity from playwright Steven Gaynor to perform on a stage in New York City tonight. Aleksi Puhakka (Understudy) Aleksi Puhakka is a second-year student at NYU Tisch Drama thrilled to have the opportunity to be an understudy for such an impactful project.
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The More Things Change is a devised eco-performance work conceived and directed by artistic director and farmer, Tannis Kowalchuk. It is play #4 in a decade long climate change-themed series entitled Dream on the Farm (the ensemble is making 10 plays in 10 years). It tells the story of a multi-generational farm family offered a huge sum of money to sell their farm to developers of “bio-diversity” theme parks.
Farm Arts Collective is an ensemble comprised of actors, musicians, farmers, playwrights, musicians, workers and makers who live in the Upper Delaware River and Catskills rural community. The ensemble trains together weekly and is deeply invested in collective creations that center on human and earth justice.
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Sherry’s Bop is a comedy about humanity’s toxic relationship with our planet Earth. Through a series of arguments, eventually God intervenes as a couple’s counselor between Edward (humanity) and Earth. A serious couple’s session is had, leading to a shocking conclusion.
Nicholas Bompart is an award-winning filmmaker and playwright from New York City. Stefania Papadopoulos is a regular director, also co-writer. Tay Schmitt is a uniquely experienced stage manager, having done so for over twenty years. Travis Bergmann represents us all, the dark parts etc. Dasja Amenze mission has been to captivate audiences with each role she takes. Catherine Waller: Hailing from New Zealand, Catherine is a regular in the Off-Broadway circuit. Jaminson Fletcher brings his craft to another high in this festival, which he is thrilled about! Mehdi Abouzaid is a stage-hand/crew member from Jamaica, Queens and grew up in and around theater productions.
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Regeneration is a contemporary dance by JCWK Dance Lab that explores the relationships between humans and Mother Earth. Regeneration draws inspiration from agricultural soil regeneration research originating in JCWK Dance Lab’s hometown of Berks County, PA. The Rodale Institute’s research has demonstrated a direct relationship between soil regeneration and climate change. Regeneration is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) experiment with an all-female, multigenerational cast and original music.
Jessica C. Warchal-King (Choreographic Direction) is Director/ Founder of JCWK Dance Lab, and has presented work and performed nationally and internationally. Arielle Ridley (Dance Artist) is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and currently resides and works in southeastern PA. Cady Monasmith (Dance Artist), a Clinical Counselor with her BFA in Dance, helps her clients reconnect to their bodies by finding compassion, self-acceptance, and a sense of freedom and inner strength. Megan Zalek (Dance Artist) is an Associate Veterinarian with a Minor in Dance from Penn State University. Sarena Gable (Dance Artist) is a mother and a graduate of Temple University’s BFA program in Dance and the Expressive Dance Therapy program “Tamalpa.” Riley Monasmith (Music Composition) is a Philadelphia based composer and sound engineer.
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Somewhere, in the near distant future, the planet has gotten hot... and is only getting hotter.
Gwyneth Clare (Playwright) is an actress and writer based in Chicago where she spends time writing, reading, and playing tennis. Annaleise Loxton (Director) is a director/producer/writer based in Manhattan with a focus on commercial theatre and audience outreach. Imani Wright Brissett (Micah) is a first generation Jamaican American actor and musician from Fort Lauderdale, Florida that now lives in NYC. Mars Madalyn (Don) (They/Them) is a gender non-conforming actor from Indianapolis, IN looking to explore visible transness and how to accept queerness in all its forms.
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Eruption / Regenesis, set to original music by Daniel Gall, explores the myriad ways diverse individuals react to disaster. The piece tracks the trajectory of an erupting volcano, and the choreography is informed by the dancers' own tendencies and coping mechanisms in the face of challenging circumstances.
Charly, Artistic Director of mignolo, is a dancer, choreographer, and writer. Charly will be joined on stage by Paige Bodnar, Ishita Mili, Louisa Miller, Aanyse Pettiford-Chandler, and Eriel Santagado. Daniel Gall is a composer, writer, and arts organizer.
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Moyosola is a Nigerian Poet and Digital creator. She engages with her ever-growing audience through mindful audio-visual content geared toward psycho-social and cultural development.
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Rachael brings selections from her critically acclaimed “Sistersongs” to the IHRAF on the heels of releasing her 15th full-length album, “The Other Side”. Sage has been at the forefront of the NYC indie women’s music scene for over 20 years, having founded MPress Records to release her and many other artists’ work. Sage’s empowering lyrics and genre-crossing musical compositions have been described as “wildly expressive” by Paste Magazine. Informed by her own experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and cancer while also harnessing a seemingly unlimited amount of idealism and hope for a better future, Sage’s “Sistersongs” take the listener on a journey exploring our common humanity while challenging us with difficult questions and a world reimagined, where inclusion and compassion reign supreme. www.rachaelsage.com
Rachael is a New York-based singer-songwriter and visual artist; a 6-time Independent Music Award Winner and recipient of the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Sage has collaborated with Judy Collins, Dar Williams, and Ani DiFranco.
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Sacred Women is a dance that honors Black women and their role in society as healers through the traditional dances of Oya, coming from the sacred Yoruba movements; the Cabolco, coming from the sacred Indigenous movements from present-day Brazil; and movements coming from the descendants of African ancestors in the United States.
Monique LeFlore, Suzi Alila, and Tamara Williams. Moving Spirits, Inc. is a contemporary arts organization dedicated to performing, researching, documenting, cultivating, and producing arts of the African diaspora; we believe that the creative arts should be used as a vehicle to bring awareness to injustices and obstacles impacting our communities.
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Girlhood in motion is a ballet up close. Sweat, blood, tears, and all. Mary wakes up in a body that does not feel her own, in a world she knows not the rules of, with only the choices to sink or to swim.
Steph Prizhitomsky (playwright/director) is a playwright/screenwriter, co-founder of the White Rabbit Film Festival, and editor in chief of Suits and Sage Magazine, currently studying film at New York University. Daniel Oliver Lee (production designer) is three rats in a trench coat who are often mistaken for an award winning multidisciplinary artist. Haley Odum (Mary) is a multi-hyphenated artist and creative director; she currently attends New York University as a filmmaker.
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In a comic triptych, Viable probes the paradox of the female body in twenty-first century America. On the one hand, sex positivity, SlutWalks, no more fat shaming! On the other, the end of legal abortion in half the country. Why is half the American body politic still a problem, and what’s a person with a uterus to do?
Madelyn Chapman trained at the Drama Studio in London and Oberlin College and then hung her creative hat at the Castillo Theatre, where for over 30 years she worked as a performer, director, teacher, producer, and fundraiser. Aurélie Harp is a French American actress and improviser, a filmmaker, a creative coach and a performance activist who trained and worked in Paris, London and NYC. https://eastsideinstitute.org/developing-across-borders/ , https://www.womanityplay.com/ Stephanie King holds an MFA in Acting from Brooklyn College and MA in Theatre from Villanova University. Sadie Rosales is a New York City based vocalist, composer and educator with an extensive body of work in contemporary classical music and improvisation. Starshima Trent: Theater saved my life. Cate Wiley is honored to showcase a second play with IHRAF; her tragedy, “Sheltered,” based on stories by women experiencing homelessness, will be produced at The Cell in New York next year. Kim Yancey is a native New Yorker and currently can be heard as Wanda in the Heart podcast, “Supreme: The Battle for Roe.”
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This multidisciplinary performance work represents women's freedom of choice with movement, texts and music.
Sayoko Kojima is a multidisciplinary artist whose works represent transformations of the flow of time and objects. Debra Disbrow creates, performs, and directs ensemble and solo works that cross disciplines of music, dance, and theater. Joseph Jones, a graduate of The Juilliard School, is bassoonist and composer based in Manhattan.
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Terraland is a poetry-performed piece which includes the reading of a poem written in Galician as well as English. The piece explores the concept of migration and belonging: the capacity of becoming native in another language and the fear of losing one's identity.
Sofía Ruvira is an artist, poet and researcher. Her work focuses on the exploration of liminality throughout performance art, movement and writing. Zachary Hann is a musician based in Brooklyn, NY.
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Ayepo, a young boy, is held in the “immigrant system”, doing well: but he was brought to this country under strange and false pretenses and he cries at night for home and his mother wants him back home too. But the system can’t let him go; it must protect him. Who knows who his real mother is and his foster mother is fine. He can’t travel anyway because he has no papers. He’s in the system now and he’s doing fine. Leave well enough alone. Our hands are tied. The press steps in. It’s a true story.
Leonard D Goodisman has been in most aspects of theatre, acting to house management, but playwriting is his chosen role because that's where he can best love and understand the world. Monica Hoyt, Director, Painter, and Photographer, is grateful to bring voices to the stage that may not be heard otherwise. Kathryn Loggins is an actor and writer based in Brooklyn, NY and a proud member of Theatre 68. Juliann Lavallee (they/them) is a Chicago born actor performing in NYC for 7 years Paola Rossi is a Dominican actress pursuing her dreams in New York.
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Picture Bride is the story of a 16-year-old Armenian girl who is sent all alone without money, language, or a familiar face to the United States to escape the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Once on Ellis Island she meets the man her mother sent her to marry who she knows only through an old photograph and the promise that "he will save you."
Judith Boyajian Strang-Waldau is a Rhode Island based playwright, classical musician, and teacher. Thomas Martin is a Boston based director/producer/former Artistic Director with an MFA from Boston University. Ardemis Kassabian is an actor and baker from southern Rhode Island with an intense passion for her Armenian Heritage.
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Alien Numbers is a short performative documentary about the inner struggle of an immigrant feeling insecure and unsure of their place and future in what they thought could be their new home. The film employs a blend of archival footage and performative elements creating a visual tapestry that immerses the audience in the protagonist's personal journey. Shot on 16mm color film.
Inna Ivanovskaya is an independent filmmaker mostly focusing on documentary work and exploring themes of immigration and the role of introspection in life. Victor Posa is an independent filmmaker with a keen eye for composition and the ability to infuse each frame with a timeless, cinematic quality.
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As a poet, Aloma prefers the term 'emerging' over 'amateur' since sh can no longer use 'young'. She divides her time between living in Melbourne, Australia, and living in her head. In 2022, she accidentally became a national finalist in the Australian Poetry Slam.
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Weighty Matters by Bob Ost
A heavyset American woman, Nigerian professor and Croatian matron squabble over politics, culture and food outside an upper west side market. A comedy about innate assumptions, appetitites and unspoken judgments. Directed by Glynn Borders. Assistant Ross Milstead.
C.K. Allen (Adisa) Carnival Girls Productions: Christie Perfetti Williams’ "The Magazine"; Chain Theatre: Keith Huff’s "Six Corners”; WorkShop Theater: Scott C. Sickles’ "Composure"; Rich Orloff’s "Couples" (“Notable performance” -NY Times), Levy Lee Simon’s "The Bow Wow Club"; SAG-AFTRA. Leslie C. Nemet (Lisette) is an actress, director, writer, casting director, coach and hair/make-up artist. Nominated for a NY Innovative Theater award for outstanding performance by a Lead Actress in "Divorcification." Natalie Mosco* (Mrs. Cardell) - B'way debut in the original cast of "Hair." Her career has spanned three continents: B'way ("The Magic Show"), Off-B'way, and regional USA; London's West End ("Grand Hotel"); Paris ("Hair"); and Australia ("Stepping Out", "Grease", "The Archbishop's Ceiling", "Dames at Sea"). TelevisionTV: credits include "Carson's Law" (Australia) and "All My Children." She has Danced with the Royal Ballet, wrote "A Brush with Georgia O'Keeffe", and "Wallis in Wonderland," and co-wrote "Get Happy!" (a tribute to Harold Arlen). Bob Ost (playwright) "Everybody's Gettin' into the Act"his work has appeared ran off-B'way; multiple showcases in NYC; "Breeders" won was a winner of the National New Works of Merit Competition; his musical "Finale!" won two national competitions, and appeared at NAMT; his "Angel in My Heart" won Outstanding Musical in the Fresh Fruit Festival, "Beast" was in the first season of Playwright’s Horizons. Glynn Borders is a writer, director, producer, solo show performer, voiceover artist, teaching artist, union stagehand and the Special Effects Director for the Late Show with David Letterman, and then Stephen Colbert. TV: SNL, Conan O’Brien, Rosie O’Donnell. Co-created The Dark Star From Harlem: The Spectacular Rise of Josephine Baker, winner of five AUDELCO Awards, including Best Musical.
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Inside/Out and is a work of embodied activism centered around themes of gender identity and healing. The vision for this work began in response to the recent increase in violence and control related to gender, sexual orientation, and bodily autonomy. Inside/Out explores the complex, individualized journeys of navigating this societal trauma. Three multi-identity dancers move through stages of turmoil, expressed through dynamic choreographic sequences, culminating in a healing release of tension, breath, and energy. Inside/Out illustrates the power of the self against discriminatory actions and the ways in which our identities are altered as a result.
Teresa Fellion (Artistic Director, Choreographer) has shown work at Baryshnikov Arts Center, Jacob’s Pillow, The Public Theater, Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, University of Florida, ENTPE University (Lyon, France), NYU, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Bryant Park Summer Stage, and many more, as well as in concerts with Phish. Eddie Stockton, Company Member, Education Director: Stockton has worked with several companies and choreographers including George Faison, Kevin Iega Jeff, Philadanco, Dwight Rhoden, DC Shakespeare Theatre, Nathan Trice, Nai-ni Chen, Bill T. Jones, and more. Leann Gioia, Company Member, has been pursuing her professional dance career in NYC since 2014, after receiving her BFA in Dance at the University of Iowa. She is currently a member of the Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company and Body Stories: Teresa Fellion Dance. Arianna Stendardo, Company Member: Upon graduating in 2019, Stendardo took flight to New York City, where she studied and graduated from The Ailey School’s Professional Division Certificate Program. She has had the pleasure of working with such choreographers and directors as Sue Samuels, Nathan Trice, Simona Rodano, Hollie Wright, Paul Gamble, Tiffany Carson, and more.
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“Seam Route” is a short play about two high school boys discussing their personal relationship in the wake of a debate about “Don’t Say Gay” laws in their history class. Joshua Piper (Playywright/Griffin) is ecstatic to return to the IHRAF festival after his play “10-72 Fire In Progress” was performed here last year! Ralph Bologna (Harley) is a Junior Theatre Performance major from Wagner College who is elated to be performing in the International Human Rights Festival. Insta @ralphabologna. Sadie Corley (Director) is a Senior Theatre Performance major from Wagner College who is ecstatic to be making her directorial debut at The Tank during the International Human Rights Festival. Insta @sadiecorley
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Kathak, a profound and expressive Indian classical dance form, serves as Maithili's primary canvas for storytelling. She illuminates the journey of women's empowerment, shedding light on its challenges, progress, and the timeless lessons deeply embedded in her cultural heritage. Maithili draws inspiration from iconic figures such as Draupadi and Sita (her namesake) in Hindu mythology, emphasizing their narratives to underline strength, resilience, and unwavering determination as enduring sources of inspiration for women.
Trained in the artform for 21 years, Maithili Patel is a Prime disciple of Guru Dr. Pali Chandra and has been refining her rhythmic prowess under the tutelage of Pandit Divyang Vakil. Maithili has performed at numerous events in New York, Belgium, Switzerland, London, Lebanon, Dubai, and India. One of her globally acclaimed works, ‘Draupadi, ‘ translates the traditional story of draupadi into the modern context of women empowerment, through the art of storytelling. Maithili holds a Distinction in the ISTD Vocational Kathak Diploma and has also been a part of various panel discussions exploring the legacy of Asian culture and remaining connected to tradition today.
Friday, December 8, 7:00 pm
TICKETS HERE
Ariel Lembeck Curates: Solo Dolo - An evening of solo works by Angel Acuña, Ariel Lembeck, Ariana Speight
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V.A.L (study 1) is a solo work in process that plays with exposing that which feels forbidden as a cathartic act of self acceptance. It is a work of woven performance threads that embolden desire and bring body and object together to create a site for confession and reflection. Ariel Lembeck (she/her) is a dance artist and dance maker based in Lenapehoking (Brooklyn, NY). Through performance scores, embodied improvisation, installation, and video Ariel develops environments for performer and witness to question the presence of the physical body, to decenter the assumed, and reflect on our humanity. Ariel’s work has been presented by various venues in NYC: Triskelion Arts, WaxWorks, STUFFED at Judson Church, The Jack Crystal Theater, The Footlight, The Floor on Atlantic, The Wild Project/IHRAF FESTIVAL and by Kibbutz Ga’aton (Israel) and Ruth Page Center for the Arts (Chicago, IL).
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Second Place transcends the surface, focusing individual awareness on the nuances of brownness within a realm of recollection. It embodies a shared identity, a Mexicanidad rooted in Mexican-American narratives, presenting a lifeworld that unveils the distinctive ecosystem of brown queerness in the United States.
Angel Acuña (he/him) is a dancer and designer from San Diego, CA living in Philadelphia. Angel forms part of FAILSPACE NYC and is a part of CHILD, a company of artists making shows using an experimental framework directed by Lisa Fagan
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This piece journeys through metamorphosis revealing the inner workings and complexities of self. Through a multidimensional framework, 'morph' explores what hinders and supports the process of emergence in reflection of and response to the times we are living in. Ariana Speight (she/her), originally from Los Angeles and currently based in Brooklyn, has worked with a number of artists including Kayla Farrish, Joanna Kotze, Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Kyle Marshall, Anna Sperber, and Jessie Young. Her freelance journey as a contemporary dance artist has led her to perform at Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX), Chelsea Factory, Coffey Street, Dancewave, Irondale, Lincoln Center Hearst Plaza, New York Live Arts, Pageant, Roulette, The Shed, Webster Hall, among others in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
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Two young siblings have built a routine of playing card games together but what are they really protecting each other from?
Elizabeth Shannon (ELLIS) is a playwright whose works often address social issues and activism; her plays have been produced nationally and internationally. Katie Michelle Stahl is a 3rd year BFA Musical Theatre student at Marymount Manhattan College who has directed, produced and performed professionally. Kimmi Curcio is a third year BFA Acting major at Marymount Manhattan College. Sprite Sayre is delighted to work with her fellow MMC theatre artists on “The Games We Play" in her first off-broadway festival!
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Based on a true story, Wilcox Prom 2k13 tells the story of an interracial couple - Keshawn, the Black school quarterback, and Martha, the white cheerleader - who are seniors in the year 2013. Students from Wilcox County High School in Wilcox County, Georgia, hosted their own integrated prom - not sponsored by parents or school, who at the time maintained their history of throwing a segregated prom.
Cris Eli Blak (Playwright) is currently an artist-in-residence with Abingdon Theatre Company and the winner of the Black Broadway Men Playwriting Initiative, who has had his work performed around the world with the goal of creating work that cultivates conversation and promotes diverse voices.
Autumn Angelettie (Director) is a theatrical director and producer dedicated to crafting mission-oriented work that is subversively joyful, spiritually fulfilling, and rich with the energy-giving force that fuels art for liberation: hope. Charles Fenner III (Keshawn) is an enthusiastic Actor hailing from the Bronx, New York. Teresa Langford (Martha) is a Boston native, Brooklyn transplant actor and writer passionate about telling stories that build community, ignite conversation, and cultivate empathy in an experience that brings us back to our collective humanity. www.teresalangford.com / instagram: @teresalangford_
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Four nine-year-old girls at summer camp stay up past their bedtime forging bonds over late-night gossip. When one of them returns from an encounter with a boy, the girls must rely on their limited information about sex and pregnancy to make sense of the situation. This play asks audiences to think about the impact on young girls when access to birth control, abortions, and sexual education programs is taken away.
Fleurette Modica (Playwright) is a writer, performer, composer, and graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the National Theater Institute whose work can be found at fleurettemodica.com. Caitlin Mayernik (Director) is a Detroit-born and New York-based director, writer, and arts producer whose work has been seen onstage with The Tank NYC, The Brick, First Kiss Theatre, and more at caitlinmayernik.com. Skylar Davidson (Molly) is passionate about human rights and the arts, culminating in her academic, professional, and personal aspirations at the intersection of both arenas. Sophia Harber (Camilla) is an actor and director living in Brooklyn, and is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful play and festival! Katie Friedemann (Avery) is an actor, playwright, filmmaker, and director. Daniela Cardarelli (JJ) is an actress, singer-songwriter, and resident Swiftie.
Trained in the artform for 21 years, Maithili Patel is a Prime disciple of Guru Dr. Pali Chandra and has been refining her rhythmic prowess under the tutelage of Pandit Divyang Vakil. Maithili has performed at numerous events in New York, Belgium, Switzerland, London, Lebanon, Dubai, and India. One of her globally acclaimed works, ‘Draupadi, ‘ translates the traditional story of draupadi into the modern context of women empowerment, through the art of storytelling. Maithili holds a Distinction in the ISTD Vocational Kathak Diploma and has also been a part of various panel discussions exploring the legacy of Asian culture and remaining connected to tradition today.
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Blackpilled, A Blueprint is a technique for reassuring a hopeless friend, a refutation of the nihilist worldview underpinning ‘black-pilled’ internet subculture, and an intimate account of digital racism’s lasting effects. We may think we’re immune to propaganda, but no one ever is.
Alex Beige (Playwright/Actor) is a casual cyborg, unserious website maker, & oat-enjoying creative nothing (they love eating raw oats & writing plays) @virtually.alex.beige. Xander Brown (Director) is a Black, queer, Brooklyn-based writer/director who specializes in dark comedy and is a member of the Breaking & Entering Theater Collective @xan_____der. Greg Lakhan (Actor) (Luh-con) is the GOAT 🐐 LOLOLOL @sirgregolas.
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In Co-Captains, Riley, a non-speaking kid, knows Morse Code to contact aliens — one needs to use Morse Code to contact someone so far away, obviously. Quinn, a speaking kid, knows Morse Code to live on the ocean one day — one needs to use Morse Code to send signals in case the Kraken attacks them, obviously. When they meet, Riley and Quinn bond over wanting to be captains for their respective vessels. But can they combine their interests to captain together?
Rhys Collins (Writer & Director): is currently an undergraduate at Pace University pursuing a BA in Writing for Diversity and Equity in Theater and Media, and a BA in Film and Screen studies. Mia Vongsavang (Riley) has been acting almost non-stop since she was in fourth grade. Madeleine Yu-Phelps (Quinn) (they/them) is a writer, actor, and director currently pursuing a BA in Writing for Diversity and Equity in Theater and Media at Pace University. McKenna Logan (Quinn's Mom) is a BA Acting International Performance Ensemble major at Pace University, who has produced and performed in shows off-broadway.
Saturday, December 9, 2:00 pm
TICKETS HERE
Mosaic in Medicine curated by
The Aseemkala Initiative
These series of pieces narrate lived embodied experiences—of how the body is judged, loved, recovers, and changes. Each piece is an original choreography by the artists of Aseemkala and will be introduced by the artist. We will conclude with a workshop by Sloka Iyengar.
Sloka Iyengar is a neuroscientist and practitioner of Bharatanatyam, passionate about relieving suffering through the sciences and the arts. In addition to learning from her guru and performing in and around NYC, she is creating works to explore the intersections between the arts and the sciences. She is also developing the foundation to use Bharatanatyam for creative aging. Sloka is an Aseemkala Initiative Choreography Fellow and through this fellowship, is exploring age and aging through dance. Through her piece called īkṣaṇa (Sanskrit for “sight” but also for “care” or “looking after”), she will depict themes of caregiving through dance.
Nithya Ramesh is a public health dentist and has trained in Bharatanatyam for over two decades and holds the title “Vidushi” for her scholarly accomplishments in the field. She has performed over 250 shows as part of the senior ensemble of her guru’s dance school, Natyanjali, and as a solo artist, has performed in festivals across the United States and India. She is also the director of Natyaroha, an organization focused on dance education and research, and is a research fellow with the Aseemkala Initiative.
Monica Shah is an independent dance artist who performs in both classical and contemporary Indian styles. She has trained in Bharatanatyam for over 30 years, with complimentary work in diverse movement forms, and toured North America as a senior member of the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company for a decade. Since then, Monica has performed as a soloist and guest artist in dance productions and festivals across Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, and New York. Monica is a choreography fellow with the Aseemkala Initiative and also a licensed psychologist, providing therapeutic services to individuals across the age range. Her pieces draw from her experiences as a cognitive behavioral therapist - “The Space Between Pain and Healing” explores the human capacity for both great pain and extraordinary healing, and “Cognitions” examines different qualities of thoughts that can create our suffering and how we can allow them to exist while living our lives.
Shreya Srivastava is a fourth year medical student and Bharatanatyam dancer. She trained in Bharatanatyam for over 16 years at the Natya Dharmi Foundation for Performing Arts in Okemos, Michigan. Shreya studied music at Union College and participated in extensive ethnomusicology performances, workshops, and presentations throughout her undergraduate years. She also spent three years playing in the Union College Japanese Drumming (Taiko) ensemble. She then went on to medical school, where she continues research on how to incorporate the performing arts into medicine. Shreya was first a research fellow for the Aseemkala Initiative and now a board member, and hopes to continue to involve more medical students into the interdisciplinary work of narrative dance medicine. In her piece, “Fluidity,” Shreya explores the cultural exchanges that occur through medical experiences among diverse communities.
The Aseemkala Initiative uses traditional dance to narrate stories of women in medicine. Why traditional dance? There is an inherent expression of cultural empowerment in traditional dance performances–in the music, lyrics, dance gestures, religious rites, sacred food, and cultural storytelling offered to a connected community audience. Through cultural empowerment and cross-cultural exchanges with medical students, physicians-in-training who participate can better understand their patients and themselves through telling stories through their bodies. Follow our research, choreographies, and community workshops at www.aseemkala.org or on Facebook@aseemkalainitiative.
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Radical Reversal explores music and language through a social justice lens and will performing original compositions from their project Not One Real MF, which weaves a necessary critique of the criminal justice system using instrument and poetic voice.
Randall Horton is a writer, poet, artist, and the recipient of the 2022 Creative Capital Award, two American Book Awards, a National Endowment of the Arts Fellowship in Literature, a Poet-in-Residence at the Civil Right Corpse, and a Soze Foundation Right to Return Fellow. Devin B Waldman is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music producer. Melanie Dyer performs and composes in creative, improvised and through-composed music spheres. Taru Alexander is an esteemed American jazz drummer whose award-winning career span over three decades. Brendan Regan is a guitarist in New York and is the founder of the group Of_Ethare and performs with the musical group Radical Reversal.
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Solitary confinement, a deeply distressing ordeal for political detainees in Iran, takes a toll on their mental and physical health. In this state, their auditory experience is limited to the "Azan" call to prayer, the distressing cries of fellow prisoners, or an eerie silence. Their movements and space are limited within a confined environment. This piece will delve into the transformation of human instincts from natural to survival mode. Some prisoners, like Toomaj (an Iranian rapper), endure severe torture, while others, like Vahid Afkari, have been in solitary confinement for 1000 days. "Azan" is the call to prayer; it's a beautiful, eloquent singing of praise to God. "Allahu Akbar" means God is great. The government employs these prayers as a form of torture for these political prisoners. Dancing to prayers is considered a sin by extremists, as these prayers are deemed divine and should not be associated with any dance or artistic movements.
Tina Bararian is an award-winning modern dancer, choreographer, actor, and film director. After obtaining her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at York University, Tina relocated to New York City to further her studies at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. In 2023, she established her own dance company in New York and premiered her first piece, 'Not Here,' at Spoke The Hub residency.Tina is the visionary curator and founder of "Dancers Of Iran," a global artistic project and platform dedicated to showcasing dancers of Iranian descent. Rebecca Pelleri was born and raised in Florence, Italy. She attended the Martha Graham School, where she was enrolled in the Independent Program from 2021 to 2022 and the Teacher Training Program from 2022 to 2023. Rebecca has participated in workshops with renowned companies such as Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Buglisi Dance Theater Company, Hofesh Shechter Company, and GALLIM, among others. She works as a freelance dancer and also as a dance teacher at Greenhouse Arts Center.
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When a queer couple decides to get pregnant, they must agree on a sperm donor before they start a family.
Tova Hopemark (Playwright) is an NYC-based writer, actor, and filmmaker best known for earning the award for "least likely to engage in petty drama" in the 12th grade. Lee Hannah Conrads (Director) is an LA-based theater director, raised and trained in the Midwest, whose productions ask big questions, wrestle with paradox, and stage impossible things. Julia Gu she/they, a NYC based performer, proudly made in China. ig: @shihuiyy. Anya Krawcheck talks for a living and giggles aspirationally; actor, voice actor, mover & shaker ig:@kranya.
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Invited by Chinese Artists and Organizers (CAO) Collective, a group of Chinese queer feminists will read collectively written poems addressed to diasporic experiences of grief, rage, empowerment and transnational care. This performance is a new iteration of our Ciba Punch performance in 2022 where twenty-two performers punched on sticky rice to make the traditional Chinese ciba rice cakes while chanting poetry in Manhattan Chinatown. These poems were newly written in the collective poetry workshops that we have hosted since the Ciba Punch, using the Exquisite Corpse method of random reassignment. Where CAO’s process of writing already explores co-authorship and community narratives, this reading/performance will further highlight the multivocality of the pieces by choreographing the live reading with audio recordings from the Ciba Punch.
Chinese Artists and Organizers (CAO) Collective 离离草 is a queer feminist group that creates art to empower relational community healing in the Sinophone diaspora.
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Grace and Alice, the two lone surviving astronauts of a nuclear Armageddon on Earth, await the coming of the Alien Red Queen - culminating in a shocking finale.
Eleanor Klein is new to playwriting, and excited for her first production! Catherine Gold (Director) is a director, actor, writer, and mixed media artist based in New York City. Eliza Vann (Alice) is an actor and artistic collaborator based in NYC. Miranda Plant is a Canadian actress and filmmaker in NYC. Alex Silverman (Stage-manager) is very excited to be stage-managing at The Tank.
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Inconceivable is a a quest to discover how our past experiences, individual and collective, marry with our present realities. What do we value in ourselves and our communities? How does this manifest in raw and authentic ways through the body?
Julie Becker is a theatre artist based in New York City. Perri Yaniv* most recently worked with Blessed Unrest in this past spring's Misconceptions and Refuge in 2019 which was devised with Kosova's Teatri Oda. Ronnie Williams spends his day creating art on raw canvas, which evoke a strong connection to humans. Cloteal Lee Horne (Her/She)*, is committed to collaborative processes that illuminates humanity through the craft of storytelling. Jessica Burr (Director) is the founding Artistic Director of Blessed Unrest, and recipient of the 2019 Kennedy Center ACTF Commendation for Distinguished Leadership. Jenn Allen (Assistant Director) is a writer, director, and devisor, originally from Richmond, Virginia who concentrates on new ways of creating theater. Michael Gene Jacobs (Stage Manager) has been a member of Blessed Unrest since 2017. Sera Bourgeau (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be designing for Blessed Unrest again, where her previous design credits include Refuge, Battle of Angels, Misconceptions, and Chasing the Tides or Exposure. *These Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
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'Struggles and Hope' is a poignant song cycle by composer and singer Ongama Mhlontlo. This 15-minute set explores the universal themes of resilience and the indomitable human spirit of hope. Through a unique fusion of piano, voice, and strings, we invite you to embark on an emotional journey that celebrates hope in the face of adversity. “With every tragic story, there is also a story of hope”
Movements
1. Hope
2. I Remember lyrics by Ntando Ngcume
3. Purity
4. Today note by Ntando Ngcume
5. Emachibini
Ongama Mhlontlo, a versatile musician and recent Mail and Guardian '200 Young South Africans' awardee, has performed regularly at Carnegie Hall. Audrey Jellett: Cellist. Audrey Jellett is in her last year of studies at the Manhattan School of Music, and enjoys playing throughout New York and North America for recitals, educational concerts, private events and more as a soloist and chamber musician. Nini Giordadze: Winner of the W. A. Mozart international competition violinist Nini Giorgadze has been playing since age 6 in her native Georgia. She started violin lessons with Eka Giorgadze and since 2010, she became a member of The Art Academy in Georgia. In 2012, after winning the 5th national competition of Georgia, she received a special prize from Liana Isakadze and a stipend from the Embassy of Japan.In 2015 she received 1st place in the ‘’future Stars international competition’’ in Italy and played with Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma. She performed on a tour with the Georgian Sinfonietta Orchestra in cities of Georgia – Kutaisi, Tbilisi, and Telavi. Currently, Nini is studying at Manhattan School of Music with Nicholas Mann. Sally Yapto: As an Indonesian pianist, Sally Yapto is the winner of numerous competitions and has performed in seven countries. Her musicality and convincing interpretations have been enjoyed by audiences around the world.
Sunday, December 10, 2:00 pm
TICKETS HERE
Improv Meets Activism
At the intersection of improvisation and activism, you find: ImprovisActivism. Activismprov. Impractivists? A new and exciting space to explore! Watch as we use the tools of improv and the inspiration of activism to channel connection over conflict, and share some chuckles along the way. Featuring...Katie Hutch, Dana Shulman, Mark Stetson, Sarah Ashey Morgan, Christine Piñiero and Aaron LaRoche
Sunday, December 10, 4:00 pm
TICKETS HERE
Emerging Choreographers Concert curated by WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience)
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Anchorage presents the desire to hold onto time as it passes. Time can be a person, place, thing or memory, but the subconscious feeling of never wanting to leave it behind. Left alone in the wallowing space of time not ready to go but can’t go back as everyone has already moved on. This piece symbolizes the fear of everything and everyone changing in a split second. Six dancers are used.
Elena Wrinkle Garcia (She/Her/Hers) is a latina artist, choreographer, and current student with NYU Tisch Dance. She began her dance training at Royal Ballet Dance Academy in Dallas, Texas, then moved to Boston, Massachusetts having trained with Boston Ballet Professional Division at Walnut Hill. She now focuses on her contemporary training and choreographic endeavors while currently in her second year at Tisch School for the Arts. Having performed student works with NYU Tisch and repertoire with Sidra Bell, Doug Varone, Gibney, Sean Curran, David Dorfman, and more during residency.
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Paradox in Translation embodyies two poems, creating a vocabulary that exactly maps to the spoken/sung text. This is complemented by more disjointed translations, culminating in a dreamscape that explores the contradictions inherent in love and loss.
Charly Santagado (Mignolo Dance) + Poetry: Matthew Menchaca and Charly Santagado; Music: Emory Campbell and Steve Reich.
mignolo dance is a contemporary dance company founded by sisters Charly & Eriel Santagado in 2017. They are lifelong dance and creative partners dedicated to developing new work that explores elements of various artistic mediums through movement. The company has presented at many festivals including Altofest, Come Together Dance Festival, Dance on the Lawn, Dumbo Dance Festival, FAKI Festival, KoDaFe, Making Moves Dance Festival, the Moving Memory project, New Wave Dance Festival, Triskelion’s SummerFest, and Your Move. Their work has been produced by Arts On Site, The Berrie Center at Ramapo College, Dixon Place, Gardenship Art, HERE Arts Center, and Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. Their dance film work has been featured at several international festivals including Austin Dance Festival, Dance Days Chania, Leeds International Film Festival, InShadow, New Jersey Film Festival, TANZAHOi, and Utah Dance Film Festival.
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Through landscapes of movement, this work examines connections to other women as an intricate web, causing both intense synchronicity and complications. Expressing falling in love with women through friendship, romance, and all that lies in between, this work focuses on that space which cannot be named or understood, only felt.
Eilish Henderson is a movement artist working primarily with subjects of the body based in NYC. She is interested in nourishing the collective practice of translation through the written word, movement, and drawing. Shuning Huang, born and raised in Nanjing, China, received her MA in Dance Education from New York University, and BA in Dance Studies from Beijing Dance Academy. She started formally studying Chinese dance and ballet at the age of 6, and shifted her focus to modern dance from undergraduate school to continue her studies, her training encompasses Chinese (classical and folk) dance, Modern/Contemporary, Ballet, and Jazz.
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Love , a concept and feeling that is shared throughout the world. But what does this mean in a more negative light? Unhealthy Love, Toxicity, Limerence and Mania - the idea of obsessive love, self destruction, and how it is passed on contributing to the destruction of others. These concepts cause people to lose their consciousness and emote into psychological abuse.
Choreography and Music: Iyanna Jackson. Performers: Matthew Mancuso, Payton Brewster, Sage Sarai, Henry Leef, Lerato Rangontse, Joshua Dawson, Julia Ozdych, Ngoz Mokwunye. Music: Audio edited by Iyanna Jackson “Reach” by Eternal Eclipse , “Bed” by Devonte Hynes , “Intro” by Jcole, “Then I Heard a Bachelor's Cry” by Benjamin Clementine, Ted Talk “Psychological abuse” by Signe M. Hegestand, “8 ways Emotional Abuse Traumatizes You” by Psych2Go, Ted talk “The difference between healthy and unhealthy love” by Katie Hood, Written excerpts/Narration on toxicity by Iyanna Jackson.
Iyanna Jackson (she, her) began dancing in her hometown of Charlotte, NC, at the age of 2 years old. Between the ages 5 and 10, she took a break from formal training but soon resumed back training at 11 years old where she found her passion and followed this by continuing her journey in pursuing dance. She has studied a multitude of styles at local studios in her hometown formerly known as Charlotte Performing Arts Academy, Miller Street Dance Academy, and Havilah Dance Company, and BB Dance Productions. She has gotten the opportunity to work with artists such as Sidra Bell, Evidence company, David Dorfman, and has rehearsed works such as "Storytime" with members of the Bill T company. She’s had the opportunity to perform at places like the Joyce Theater and has made appearances on So You Think You Can Dance, Dance Spirit Magazine, and many more. Dance will continue to be her deepest passion and has continued to be her dream.
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A passionate tree-hugger willing to sacrifice everything to save the redwoods is at odds with her sister about the importance of her priorities. Mother Tree, a short dramatic play, illuminates the choices and sacrifices made on individual/personal levels versus community/collective/global levels.
Loretta is a poet and playwright with work performed at The Westchester Collaborative Theater, The Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, The Up Theater, The Garrison Theater, The Tank Theater, and others. Lil Malinich (Director) Lil is a director, actress and acting coach. Nelia McNicol (Actor) is an actress, dancer and producer, graduating from Joffrey Ballet School with a BFA in Dance; Jordyn Cormier (Actor) is an actor, filmmaker, and dance artist with a BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory.
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The history of queer liberation is explored through the friendship of Bruce and Jeffrey over 50 years as framed in three presidential administrations, from the late 60s, through the AIDS Crisis, and into the early 2000s.
Aaron Leventman (he/him; Author, Co-Producer) is a playwright, actor, producer, educator, and curator whose works have been performed and published all over the world and is the founder of Almost Adults Productions which has created virtual and actual LGBTQ+ theatre productions. Aaron Clark Burstein (he/him; Director, Light and Sound Designer) is an actor, director, and playwright located in Brooklyn, NY. Xavier Moses (they/them): "Jeffrey." Special thanks to friends, family, mentors, and the Aarons! Spence Logan (he/him) "Bruce," is an actor and director originally from Salem, OR and currently based in Manhattan.
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An old-school manager of a pharmaceuticals company accuses his new receptionist of stealing money from petty cash. In a world where appearances are taken for truth, subversion may be needed to bring understanding to the conference room.
Sarah Congress (Playwright): Her play Overdose won 2nd place for BEST SHORT in the 2023 Downtown Urban Arts Festival at Playwrights Horizon. She co-wrote the screenplay "I Can't Hear You" which received 2nd place in the AP in 3 Film festival in Asbury Park, NJ. James Bosley (Director) is grateful to everyone. April is a London trained, NY based actress and voiceover artist with biceps that will blow your mind. Ed is an actor and voiceover artist and can be seen in two upcoming productions with Knowledge Working Theater.
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Ada and David exist in a world where everyone has a shared consciousness - the ability to access each other's thoughts and memories. Ada has been cut off from this consciousness. Can she survive as a bee cut off from the hive? Can her relationship with David?
Dylan Horowitz (Writer/Director) is a Jewish, Genderqueer playwright and a member of the Dramatist Guild of America. Toi Howard (ADA) is an actor, singer, and model who has studied at NYU Tisch Drama and The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Yair Stein (DAVID) is a New York-based actor, writer, and filmmaker, currently studying acting at The Studio.
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Two suffragists connect at the daily protest outside the White House in 1917. Idealistic Nellie faces the realities of the hard work it takes to make change.
Uma Incrocci’s (playwright) short plays have been produced all over the country, and her tv movies pop up sometimes on the Hallmark Channel. Erica Jensen (director) is a Casting Director (Calleri Jensen Davis), an acting teacher, a mom, and an occasional director living in Brooklyn, NY. Talley Gale (Nellie) is originally from Arkansas, holds an MFA from The Old Globe/USD, and mostly does period work. Hollis Maltby (Dora) is a SAG-AFTRA strong TV, film and stage actor, writer and audiobook narrator who plays powerful women, fights with swords and co-authors the epic fantasy series The Magic of Larlion with her mom, Dee Maltby.
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Redshirts is the only all all-women, Star Trek inspired musical improv team in the known universe. For this show, we will create a comedic story and song, made up on the spot, based on a suggestion from the audience.
Susan O’Doherty (she/her) is an actor, writer, clinical psychologist, and founding member of Redshirts. Sloane Miller (she/her) is a singer, performer, author, licensed social worker, and a founding member of Redshirts. Julia Lunetta (she/her) is a professional geek, a semi-professional actor and musician, and an amateur human being. Heather Jewels Booth (she/her) trained in drama and musical theater at NYU, but her true form of a cat/chicken/octopus hybrid was hatched from the egg of a dusty vinyl called “TOTO IV” and ultimately led her to comedy. Melissa Parker Caron (she/her) is a versatile Asian-mixed-race actor, crafter, and voiceover artist, among many other creative accomplishments.