A Night of Shorts 2009

All women--even when they're men.



The Wellesley Project presents a night of eight original pieces, all created and performed by women. Join us for an evening of comedy, drama, and sometimes cross-dressing.

Performs at the WorkShop Theater in NYC June 4-7, 2009. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $15 or at the door for $20. For more information, showtimes, and to purchase tickets, please visit SmartTix.

*There will be a talkback with the audience for the performance on Friday, June 5.




THE PLAYS



Ignition
by Caitlin Graham
A long-kept secret is revealed that may change a friendship forever.

MICHELLE GUADALUPE (Gi)
Michelle Guadalupe is a recent graduate of Wellesley College. She started acting as a wee child and has continued throughout her life playing such roles as the Angel in 4th Grade, and moving on to Belize in Angels in America, and Portia in Julius Caesar. She made her off-broadway debut recently acting, singing and do-dooing in The New Hopeville Comics. She is stoked to be working with Caitlin once again and is so excited to be a part of the experience! Enjoy the show!

ELIZABETH NEPTUNE (Riley)
Elizabeth is a founding member of the Ateh Theater Group, where she has performed in Mr. A's Amazing Maze Plays, The Girl Detective, Long Distance, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Girl in the Flammable Skirt. Other credits include Romeo and Juliet, Abraham: A Shot in the Head, Grimms' Tales, 7 Blowjobs, The Little Prince, and Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams. Elizabeth is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied at the Atlantic Theater Company and Classical Studio.

CAITLIN GRAHAM (Director/Playwright)
Caitlin Graham is an NYC-based writer and actor originally from Brooklyn. In addition to writing film reviews for various publications, she maintains her own blog and is currently workshopping a feature-length screenplay. Caitlin has appeared in many plays and independent films in New York and Boston, and she is one of the creators of The Wellesley Project. Past directing credits include Tape and Breath, Boom. She holds a BA from Wellesley College and an MFA in Film Studies from Boston University. Love to Janice, Sam & Lee, her friends and family, and all of you for your support. For her Nana, Lillian Cunningham.
PS. She loves feedback: mailto:caitlin.a.graham@gmail.com


**

The Tracks Are Electrified
by Jane Miller
It’s late at night and a young couple is coming home from a dinner party. They’ve been waiting for their train for nearly a half hour. Getting antsy and bored, they decide to play a seemingly innocuous game of trust. The game makes them confront questions that illuminate the gaps in their perceptions, experiences and core values. Are they who they thought the other really was and can their life together survive this new information?



ROCIO MENDEZ (Max)
Rocio Alexis Mendez is an actor, born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Starting in theater at a very young age, Rocio has been trained at LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts, Harlem School of the Arts and recently completing conservatory training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Rocio has done productions with Harlem School of the Arts, Classical Theater of Harlem, _gaia Studios, J City theater, Phare Play Productions and currently does performances for high school students about HIV/AIDS prevention with the organization Pride Not Prejudice. Rocio is very excited to be a part of this production and can’t wait for more.

ALLISON WHITTINGHILL (Rosy)
Allison is a New York-based actor, originally hailing from Houston, Texas. In addition to mastering the art of barbeque, she attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied theatre and history. At that time, she worked with the Gobotrick Theatre Company and the New Works and Frontera Festivals. In the spirit of collaboration, she was one of the founding members of the Experimental Theatre Project, in which actors write, cast, and produce original work in a group setting. In New York, she has enjoyed working with the Sanctuary Playwrights and the Anthropologists. She is also super excited to be participating in the Wellesley Project!

JANE MILLER (Playwright)
Jane Miller is a screenwriter/playwright living in Brooklyn. While not writing or making movies, she works at the School of Visual Arts in the film production office. Most recently, her play A Good Day was presented as part of The Network’s One-Act Festival in NYC and produced as part of the Brooklyn Arts Collective, Me and Them. Her feature film script, Entry-Level was optioned in 2006 and was shortlisted at the Gotham Screen Competition. While growing up in New York City, she performed in many plays with the youth theater group Downtown Art. It was here she got her first experience being involved in community building theater. In college at Johns Hopkins, she wrote and directed several short plays that were performed as part of Witness Theater Group, and directed a Baltimore production of The Vagina Monologues.

ERIN PORVAZNIKA (Director)
Erin Porvaznika is both delighted and proud to be part of the initial offering from The Wellesley Project! Recent New York choreography credits include the first NY revival of See What I Wanna See (5th Floor Productions), KNB - The Musical (FringeNYC), the upcoming feature film Beer Pong: The Musical, and various workshops with her dance-theatre company, EP Dance Players. Erin is a director/choreographer for City Lights Youth Theatre where credits include The Music Man, Honk!, Guys & Dolls, and the original revues Hello, Jerry! and What is this Feeling?. Aries, Pennsylvanian, and Notre Dame graduate. Many thanks to Janice and Caitlin for this fantastic experience; eternal thanks to JMcK, and as always, to her family and the UF.




**

Sugar in my Bowl
Choreographed by Erin Porvaznika



KIRSTIN DAHMER (Dancer)
Kirstin Dahmer, a native Michigander from Ann Arbor, now resides in Brooklyn, NY. This is her first dance production here in the city and she's so grateful to Erin for the chance to be a part of it! She is a 2008 graduate of Syracuse University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater. She participated in many dance and theatrical productions there and her regional credits include Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Cecile) with Syracuse Stage.

JESTINA O'DELL (Dancer)
Jestina O'Dell is originally from Massachusetts and now lives in Hoboken, NJ. She graduated from Dean College in Franklin, MA with an A.A. in Dance. She has taught and choreographed for Judy Hermans Dance Studio and Central Mass Dance Academy. On stage, she has worked at Foothills Theater, Steps Off Broadway Inc, Reagle Players, and Six Flags New England. Her most famous co-star has been Big Bird on National and International tours of Sesame Street Live where she played Elmo. She has traveled the world, and has made some amazing friends along the way! Thanks for coming!



**

Absent Friends
by Amber Gray
Tanya tries to come to terms with her friend Ivy's death when Ivy visits her as a ghost.



DREW HONEYWELL (Ivy)
Drew Honeywell is thrilled to be working on The Wellesley Project. She is a graduate of NYU/Tisch having studied at Playwrights Horizons, the Royal Academy (London), and the Experimental Theatre Wing. Recent productions include Out of Gas on Lovers' Leap and Problem Child (WOW Cafe), Sandalwood Box (Hangar Theater Lab Co.), Princess & the Pea (Florida Studio Theater), and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse (Manhattan Children's Theater). Lots of love to Mom, Dad and Gus (the only man I'd ever marry three times)!

KRISTIN WITTERSCHEIN (Tanya)
A graduate from NYU Tisch & the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Kristin was most recently seen in GEM! A Truly Outrageous Parody! at the 2008 NY Fringe Festival. Favorite past roles include the Rabbi in Angels in America Part 1: Milennium Approaches and Hannah/Ethel in Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika.

AMBER GRAY (Playwright)
Amber Gray is a freelance writer.

JANICE YANG (Director)
Janice Yang grew up in New York City writing very bad poetry. But she didn't know it. Until she got to Wellesley College and really started studying other people's works. She continued to write very bad poetry. Then she met her artistic soulmate, Caitlin Graham, and began having ridiculous fun with the college's film equipment. The fun never stopped and continues with The Wellesley Project: an idea born one night while eating, drinking, and reminiscing about the "good old days (we were only 22 at the time)." Janice has written numerous shorts of every variety and is currently working on "the novel that will make her famous"--not really. When not writing bad bios about herself, Janice can be found baking and breaking. She still writes bad poetry. Love to my mom&dad, and the best sister ever: Tiff! To Caitlin Graham, Sam, and the hardworking cast & crew: ♥ ! For JMP. Dragonfly.
mailto:yangjanice@gmail.com




**

Wine Diatribe
by Caroline Parsons
Five years after a broken off engagement and an impromptu move to California, Rachel comes back to NYC to expound on it all.



NATALYA KRIMGOLD (Rachel)
Natalya graduated from Wellesley College in 2006 with an honors B.A. in English literature. While at Wellesley, she played Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Janice Yang, and interned at The Boston Publick Theater. In New York, she has appeared in several short films and short play festivals and she is an acting student at William Esper Studio.

CAROLINE PARSONS (Playwright)
Caroline Parsons is a storyteller from a long line of storytellers. She graduated with a degree in Dramatic Studies and Russian Language from Wellesley College.

CAITLIN GRAHAM (Director)
See Ignition




**

Rituals
by Asha Sundararaman
Two friends have an overdue conversation of the past year's events.



EMILY LOEB (Steven)
This weekend is the two year anniversary of Emily's move to New York - and what a two years it has been! Emily was last seen as Natalie in the premier of No Entrance by Alec Gutherz. She spends as much time as possible flying high through the air with the greatest of ease on the flying trapeze, her newest passion. She also enjoys singing, playing in Prospect Park, and pining for a puppy of her own. Emily is grateful to be a part of this production!

HOLLIS WITHERSPOON (Michelle)
Originally from the Oregon countryside, Hollis is now a bona fide Brooklynite. She regularly performs with the Sticky series at the Bowery Poetry Club and is a member of the Old Kent Road Theatre, most recently seen in The Protestants at the Brick. In addition to the stage, Hollis has numerous commercial and film credits to her name, most recently as the saucy secretary in the just-wrapped fashion pilot "The Green Room". Hollis is a graduate of Princeton University and The William Esper Studio. Thanks for this great opportunity and love to grollis!

ASHA SUNDARARAMAN (Playwright)
Asha Sundararaman is a graduate of Wellesley College and School of Oriental and African Studies in London. She is a New York-based writer, actress, and saver of the world.

CHRISTOPHER GOODWIN (Director)
Christopher Goodwin hails from California and is excited to be working on The Wellesley Project. Past directing projects include two productions of Quilters (one for which he earned a Kennedy Center Award), A Christmas Carol, and numerous children's theatre shows. In addition to directing, Christopher is an actor and a playwright. He had one of his shows (The Baker's Oven) produced last year at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre. http://thegreengoodwins.com/




**

How About You?
Choreographed by Erin Porvaznika



KIRSTIN DAHMER (Dancer)
See Sugar in my Bowl

KELLY DYNAN (Dancer)
Kelly is thrilled to be a part of Wellesley Project's Shorts and perform another one of Erin's smart and amazing choreographed numbers. She last worked with Erin in The International Fringe Festival in KNB The Musical. Kelly has recorded, toured and cruise shipped with her music theatre talent and has been seen on numerous stages Off-Off Broadway. She would like to thank Erin for helping her find her groove, her manager Susan Campochiaro-Confrey for believing, and Matt for, well, everything.

WENDY PEPPER (Dancer)
Wendy Pepper is jazzed to be a part of The Wellesley Project in its (and her) New York stage debut. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Wendy has danced with the EP Dance Players and can also be seen as the Cuban Rose in the upcoming feature film Beer Pong: The Musical. She'd like to thank her families (original and urban), and especially L'Vaz for sharing her creative genius.



**

Blocked and Blocked
by Janice Yang
Writer's block. Or what happens when a writer tries to write and her characters start talking back to her...



CLARE DILL (Male)
Clare Dill recently graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a BA in Theater Arts & Humanities. Some recent credits include: The Heidi Chronicles (Heidi Holland), The Graduate (Stripper), The Velveteen Rabbit (Nanny), Comic Potential (Trudi Floote), Cheaper by the Dozen (Miss Brill), The Legend of Quasimodo (Simone), A Midsummer Night's Dream, and I'm in Charge of Me! (Tri-State Tour). She just wrapped "The Swing" at NYFA, and can also be seen in projects with Manic Attack Pictures, Sweet Victory Entertainment & Murder-to-Go Productions. Clare also teaches children's drama throughout studios and schools in NJ.

SHEIRA FEUERSTEIN (Female)
Off-Broadway: The Public Theater, Julyfest; Bleecker Street Theatre, Night of the Butterfly. Off-Off Broadway: Faux-Real Theatre Company, 365 Days/Plays; Co-Op Theatre East, Questionable Content. Regional: Philadelphia Music Theater Works, Watch the Birdie. Favorite credits include Maria in West Side Story (Pennsylvania Players); Carla & Saraghina in Nine (Front Row Theatre Company), Woman 2 in Songs for a New World (iNtuitons Theatre Company) and Kate/Lilli Vanessi in Kiss Me, Kate (Pennsylvania Singers Light Opera Co.). Sheira is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the American Theatre Wing’s SpringboardNYC. http://www.sheirasings.com/

KRYSTAL GOFF (Disclaimer Person)
Krystal grew up in a bunch of places, but spent most of her time in Seattle, the daughter of two musicians. She's lived in New York City for nearly four years now, but is still pretty new to the professional acting scene. She has appeared in student films, and has had some small roles in independent films. She has recently graduated from college and is excited to be part of The Wellesley Project. Krystal lives in Astoria, Queens with her boyfriend.

ANN MARIE YOO (Writer)
Ann Marie Yoo began her performance career at the age of 6 on the piano; she then picked up the violin at age 8 and has performed with many symphonies and orchestras throughout New York (notably two performances at Carnegie Hall). Ann Marie holds a BS from Columbia University, and is currently a violinist (on her blue electric violin!) with the String Angels and The Journey band. Acting-wise, Ann Marie holds numerous film credits, ranging from music videos to independent feature films to The CollegeHumor Show on MTV, and you can also find her credited on IMDb! New York City theatre has seen a good amount of Ann Marie as well; she has played the lead or featured roles in numerous Off-Broadway shows. This past fall her "Edgar Allan Poe" show met rave reviews, including those from The New York Times and Time Out magazine. She was also prodominently featured in a Balenciaga-outfitted show at the Guggenheim Musem. Ann Marie is thrilled to be accepted into the Wellesley Project and family! She thanks and sends her endless love to her parents, sister, her closest friends, and her boyfriend, all of whom have supported her and stuck with her through anything and everything. Thank you so much for coming and supporting this show!

JANICE YANG (Playwright)
See Absent Friends

PATRICK VASSEL (Director)
Patrick Vassel is excited to be a part of The Wellesley Project in this, his NYC directorial debut. A Notre Dame graduate from Akron, Ohio, Patrick's past directing credits include Two Rooms, Inventing Van Gogh, and A Few Good Men. He's hoping this is just the start of his creative journey in New York and would like to thank EP, Janice, Caitlin, JMcK, Drew Shea, and his cast for making this beginning possible.




THE CREW


STEPHANIE CARAGLIANO (Stage Manager: Ignition, Absent Friends, Rituals, Wine Diatribe)
After fleeing to the Czech Republic for several months, Stephanie is happy to be back home in NYC and working on WP. From intern to SM to designer, past credits include: Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps, Beebo Brinker Chronicles, Guardians, and many more. She is currently pursuing her degree in Theater Arts from Brooklyn College. Big thanks to Sam, Janice, and Caitlin.

JENNIFER MCKNIGHT (Stage Manager: The Tracks are Electrified, Sugar in my Bowl, How About You?, Blocked and Blocked)
Jennifer is thrilled to be a part of the Wellesley Project's big debut! Other recent theatre production credits include: Native Speech (Boomerang Theatre Co.), Nunsense (Pace University), EP Dance Players. B.A. - Television Production: Loyola Marymount University.

SAM PINCUS (Assistant Director)
Sam Pincus is honored to be part of this inaugural production of The Wellesley Project and thinks the awesome Caitlin Graham and Janice Yang should be feeling mighty proud of their lovely selves. A Certified Life Coach by day, Sam is the Assistant Director of Borough Dance Theatre and has performed in many Brooklyn theatrical productions. Sam thanks Lee and Sadie for being her favorite person and dog, respectively.