SHOPTALK
by TyLie Shider
TYLIE SHIDER (Playwright) is an American writer, a 2024 New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellow, and the inaugural playwright in residence at ArtYard. A proud member of the Dramatist Guild, he is currently a Professor of Playwriting at Augsburg and Pace University, and a staff writer for Minnesota Playlist where he writes a regular column on Creative Discipline.
DANIEL BOISROND (Director) is a NYC-based, multi-hyphenate artist creating bold, immersive theatre, with credits including National Black Theatre, LaMaMa, ArtYard and a BFA from UNC School of the Arts. Visit danielboisrond.com. IG: @danielboisrond. SAG/AFTRA & AEA.
VLADIMIR VERSAILLES (Doc) Marymount Manhattan graduate, has off-Broadway credits including Burning and Through the Yellow Hour, TV roles in Orange is the New Black and Person of Interest, and film credits like Certified Black Genius. Award-winning actor and entrepreneur, also involved in affordable housing projects. #ResetDaBlock
EDDIE GOUVEIA BLACKMAN (Shine) is grateful to inhabit a world created by TyLie Shider. Thanks griot, for continuing to tell our stories truthfully and adroitly.
KEVIS HILLOCKS (LJ) is a New York native. Training: BFA Acting Conservatory, SUNY Purchase College, Ted Sluburski Studios-Scene Study. @kevishill (IG)
WESLEY MCINTYRE (Stage Directions) is a NYC-based freelance artist, believes that art is the truest expression of purpose. Authentically telling your story should alway be your guide. IG: @wesleytroymcintyre.
HAPPY HAVENS CHURCH OF HIGHER ENLIGHTENMENT
by Paris Herbert-Taylor
PARIS HERBERT-TAYLOR (Playwright/Director) is an Australian immigrant who spent her childhood and adolescence in Asia, her early twenties in Canada, and has since found a permanent home in Los Angeles. Paris is an active member of entertainment mentorship programs, a comedy enthusiast, and is passionate about animal rights and dog rescue, and not drinking the required koolaide.
CILLIAN O’SULLIVAN (Brother Tranquility) Cillian’s credits for the screen include In from the cold, Then You Run, Misty Button and The Lost Princess. Upcoming credits include Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Daredevil: Born Again both coming 2025.
NATALIA LEE (Sister Harmony) (she/her) earned a B.A. in theatre performance from Fordham University. Her favorite credits include The Wolves, Mirandolina, My Papier-Mache Monster, and Three Sisters.
DATA QUEEN
by Adam Ashraf Elsayigh
ADAM ASHRAF ELSAYIGH (Playwright) Cairo-born and Dubai-raised, Adam Ashraf Elsayigh’s childhood entwined a Muslim Egyptian home, American cable and British schooling in a migrant-majority city. This upbringing at the cross-section of cultures is at the core of the stage and teleplays Adam writes today, which dramatize modern people navigating themes of queerness, labor and class across borders, all with a pinch of comedic camp.
ALEX TOBEY (Director) (he/him) is a Brooklyn-based director and creative producer. Associate Producer of Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College and Resident Director of INKubator at Art House Productions. alextobey.com
SAMY NOUR YOUNES FIGAREDO (Sam) (he/they) is an actor, model and community organizer. They are passionate about storytelling and impactful activism. The 30 Names of Night, The Other Two, Into the Woods, JUST Water.
POOYA MOHSENI (Sharon) (she/her) is an award-winning Iranian American actor, writer, filmmaker and trans activist. The Walking Dead: Dead City, Law and Order: SVU, Falling Water, Madam Secretary, Big Dogs, See You Then.
WYATT FENNER (Joel) (he/him) has worked onstage with Terrence McNally, Michael Kahn, Martin Benson and Samuel D. Hunter, among others. Film/TV: Chrissy Judy, the Emmy-winning series After Forever and more. Education: University of Southern California: BFA Acting.
JOYAH DOMINIQUE (JD) (Stage Directions) (they/them, she/her) is a New York-based performer and creator. Previous credits: House of Telescopes (Pipeline) and The Elementary Spacetime Show (Powerhouse). Follow them everywhere @ButJDisBetter.
ARE YOU MY LAST STOP?
by T.J. L
T.J. L (Playwright/Artistic Producer) (he/him/his) is a writer and producer from the Carolinas based in NYC, who dedicates his energy to making space for openly tender art.
AUTUMN ANGELETTIE (Director) is a Black feminist and abolitionist director and organizer who crafts mission-oriented work.
AMANDA HUNT (Stage Directions) is an actor, playwright and filmmaker from Spanish Town, Jamaica currently based in Queens, NYC.
ALFRED CABRERA (Richie) (he/him/his) is a New York raised theatre and film actor. He has trained at the Barrow Group. He’s thankful for TJL for allowing to share this story with you.
ALEX-TERRELL PALMER (Denali) (he/him/his), a NYC native, believes that performing Arts goes beyond entertainment but in fact has the power to shift and influence culture and society.
BRAVE PEOPLE
by Allan Staples
ALLAN STAPLES (Playwright), playwright and screenwriter, has an MFA from the New School for Drama. He’s a two-time O’Neill semifinalist and a two-time Austin Film Festival semifinalist. allanstaples.com
LORI KEE (Director) has originated new work with numerous collaborators including Lyle Kessler, Arlene Hutton, Don Nigro and John Patrick Shanley. lorikee.com
LAURA NIEVES (Andy) is an award-winning NYC-based actor and singer-songwriter known for her solo show You Hold a Pole Everyday. Emerson College, BFA. @lalauranieves / lalauranieves.com
GREG CARERE (Ben) is a Brooklyn-based actor and writer, originally from Toronto. He holds an MFA from the New School for Drama.
A MERCY AT MIDNIGHT CASTLE
by Phillip Gregory Burke
PHILLIP GREGORY BURKE (Playwright) (he/him) is a Black American of Haitian, Creole and Gullah-Geechee descent, artivist, actor and playwright. MA: Classical and Contemporary Text, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. BFA: Drama, BS: Sociology – Syracuse University.
BRANDON ALVIÓN (Director) (he/him) A veteran of The Color Purple and A Soldier’s Play Broadway National Tours, Brandon is a multi-hyphenate committed to developing innovative works that enriches the theatrical canon.
SANDIE LEE (Araminta) BFA & MFA graduate of Savannah College of Art & Design. Notable credits: Hairspray National Tour (Motormouth Maybelle), The Color Purple 2nd National Tour (Shug Avery), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Muny, Uptown Singer).
JORDAN LAKINS (Violet) BFA acting graduate of Pace University. Notable credits: Tartuffe (Elmire), pumpernickel by Keelay Gipson and Spelling Bee (Logianne).
CODA LEANA BOYCE (Minerva) (she/her) is a recent New York transplant originally from Detroit. She has performed in several NYC shows and is excited to be a part of this festival.
COLE GILDER (Cyrus) (he/they) is earning their BFA Acting at Pace University. Notable credits: He’s the First by Phillip Gregory Burke, pumpernickel by Keelay Gipson and Urinetown: The Musical.
ANSI A. RODRIGUEZ (THE HOLY SHE/Stage Directions) This Bronx Native Dominicano is humbly trailblazing his way alongside industry heavy hitters while creating unique experiences in the Latinx theatre/filmmaking community.
2024 OOB Festival Credits
Festival Sponsor
Concord Theatricals
2024 Festival Judges
Nan Barnett
Liza Birkenmeier
Nathan Alan Davis
Julia Izumi
Margaret Ledford
Jiehae Park
Theresa Rebeck
Madhuri Shekar
Michael Walkup
Alexis Williams
Cezar Williams
Emmanuel Wilson
Honorary Playwright
Jen Silverman
Festival Co-Artistic Directors
Garrett Anderson
Casey McLain
Client Manager
Abbie Van Nostrand
House Manager
Tyler Mullen
Box Office Manager
Rosemary Bucher
Marketing Team
Meredith Foster
Jeremiah Hernandez
Courtney Kochuba
Imogen Lloyd Webber
Katie Priscott
Festival Production Coordinator
Katie Priscott
Festival Support Staff
Ella Andrew, Max Bahneman, Victoria Bond, Ranana Chernin, Meredith Foster, Shaina Gilks, Jeremiah Hernandez, Natty Koper, Rachel Levens, Gabriela Morales, Nate Netzley, Kristen Rea, Rachel Smith
2024 Submissions Readers
Caroline Barnard, Stephanie Jane Cerino, Jim Colleran, Meredith Foster, Shaina Gilks, Ben Keiper, Rachel Levens, Amy Rose Marsh, Debbie McLean, Elizabeth Minski, Gabriela Morales, Alexander Perez, Kristen Rea, Rachel Smith, Jackson Used, Abbie Van Nostrand, Faith Williams
Special Thanks
Sean Flahaven, Bill Gaden, Concord, City Theatre Miami, Dramatists Guild of America, National New Play Network
About Concord Theatricals
Concord Theatricals is the world’s most significant theatrical company, comprising the catalogs of R&H Theatricals, Samuel French, Tams-Witmark and The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, plus dozens of new signings each year. Our unparalleled roster includes the work of Irving Berlin, Agatha Christie, George & Ira Gershwin, Marvin Hamlisch, Lorraine Hansberry, Kander & Ebb, Kitt & Yorkey, Ken Ludwig, Marlow & Moss, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anaïs Mitchell, Dominique Morisseau, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Thornton Wilder and August Wilson. We are the only firm providing truly comprehensive services to the creators and producers of plays and musicals, including theatrical licensing, music publishing, script publishing, cast recording and first-class producing.