Who's Who

Playwrights for Pets is grateful to the following individuals and organizations for their talent and support.

Playwrights, Actors, Directors

Sue Yocum spends as much time as possible pursuing two passions: writing and animal welfare. In 2005, Sue created Playwrights for Pets, dedicated to presenting play readings to benefit organizations that rescue and care for animals. Featuring short plays that share a theme (MISCHIEF NIGHT, THE MARRYING KIND, FLYING SOLO, etc.), Playwrights for Pets has produced several readings for the benefit of Animal Haven, a no-kill shelter based in New York City. As a volunteer with the New York Foundling Center from October 2004 through May 2005, Sue created a writing/performance workshop for teens, which culminated in a sketch comedy video, Set It Off. Having begun her life in the theater as an actress, Sue made the switch to playwright after writing, performing, and directing sketch comedy. New York City productions (as playwright) include Contents under Pressure, Five to the Bar, Out of the Blue, and Martha’s Guest. Sue is a member of Charles Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sue spent her childhood in Edison, New Jersey. After graduating from Temple University, she lived in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey, and has been a resident of Brooklyn, New York for over 20 years. To put food on the table, Sue has worked as a nurse’s aide, exotic dancer, and paralegal, among many other professions. Her current day job: freelance copyeditor/proofreader — but Sue dreams of putting her red pencil down for good so that she can spend more time on writing, working with animals, and her devoted feline companion, Tara.

Judd Lear Silverman is a founding member of Playwrights for Pets—proving you can be allergic and still love animals! A playwriting grant recipient from the Berrilla Kerr Foundation, his plays have been seen at NYC’s Neighborhood Playhouse, Brooklyn’s Gallery Players, The Queens Players (in Queens!), Ohio’s Dayton Playhouse (FutureFest), the Samuel French One-Act Festival, Houston’s Theatre Southwest, Florida’s Caldwell Theatre Co., Stage 3 in Sonora, CA, and the Herring Run Arts Fest in Middleboro, MA, as well as in the Edinburgh, London and Vancouver Fringe Festivals. He has spent many years developing new work as a playwright and a director, with directing credits including Angels in America at Brooklyn Center; Wolf!, Holes, and The Brave Little Tailor at the Henry Street Settlement Abrons Arts Center (where he also teaches playwriting); and, most recently, Edward Musto’s Mass. Murder. A longtime member of Charles Maryan's Playwrights/Directors Workshop, his first book for children, Eddie Has Allergies, is available at www.lulu.com/ErnestSilliman.

As a playwright, Griffin Miller has written and produced a number of plays including Waiting for DoDo, Channel to Channel, and, with Sue Yocum, Contents under Pressure. In the real world, she’s a writer/editor specializing in theatre and travel. For Griffin trivia buffs, she has a BFA in theatre from Case Western Reserve University, is an actress, singer, collage artist and scarf designer, and sits on the board of The Lewis Carroll Society of North America. With her husband Richard Sandomir, she is the proud parent of Animal Haven kitty adoptees, Cassidy and Fuzzy.

Beau Allulli Off Off Broadway: Homesick by Individualist Ensemble (Ohio Theater).Productions with the International WOW Company include: You Belong to Me: Death of Nations V (Forum Fries Theatre, Germany), Limitless Joy (CSV), The Oresteia (Theatre Faction), Busted Jesus Comix (Blue Coyote Theater Group). Dance: Megan Metcalf’s 50 Friends (Joyce Soho). Beau was selected by Eric Bogosian for an artistic residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in 2003 for solo performance and new play development. Beau is the cofounder of the Performance Laboratory. Besides performance, his other passion is photography: www.beauallulliphotography.com.

Lisa Marjorie Barnes has collaborated with Barbara Kahn for the past decade as director, playwright and performer. She directed Barbara's COOP at Theater for the New City and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Cyma's Story for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and The Cat's Meow at New Georges, among others. Lisa directed her own plays: ForgetMeNot at Expanded Arts and Theater for the New City and A Small Miracle for Sisters On Stage and Theater for the New City. For the past five years, she has been the General Manager of Classic Stage Company. Lisa is currently in the process of launching her next venture, designing and creating couture handknit accessories for people and their pets. To design your customknit dog sweater, email lisa.barnes@mac.com.

Born and raised in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Kaseem Bristow got his start in theater at Grand Street Settlement's Abrons Arts Center at the age of 12. As a member of the Abrons Arts Center's pre-professional Urban Youth Theater Company, he trained for five years and is known there for originating the role of Stanley Yelnats in the New York City theatrical premiere of Holes and starring as Daniel Beauxhomme in Once on This Island. He then spent a year at Niagara University before transferring to Pace University, where he recently graduated from with a BFA in Theatre. He is also a proud founding member of both New Company Theatre and PieDreems Crew. He is happy that he had the opportunity to work with Playwrights for Pets in this incredible experience.

Meghan Cary has previously appeared in Kathleen Warnock’s A Bushel of Crabs and Grieving for Genevieve. She has performed in more than 50 plays throughout the United States and Europe while simultaneously working in film, television and radio. Cary is a founding member of the NYCbased Actor's Shakespeare Company. She is also a nationally recognized singer/songwriter. Visit her at www.meghancary.com.

Susan Carey has been an Interpreter for the Deaf in a number of school districts on Long Island for the past 12 years. A graduate of Temple University's theater program, Susan has been able to blend her two interests by interpreting for the past 3 seasons at the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts. Recently, she added Sidd, the Off-Broadway musical, to her list of credits. Her professional affiliation with Playwrights for Pets began in January 2006 when she interpreted FLYING SOLO at Baruch College.

Erin Cronican recently starred in the San Diego premiere of The Last Five Years and the national tour of Suds. Other favorites: Angels in America, King Lear, Wit, My Fair Lady, Camelot, South Pacific, and Evita. She has also appeared on the television show Veronica Mars as well as several short and feature length films. Proud member of AEA and SAG. Erin is the founder of The Actors’ Enterprise — a business coaching service for actors: www.theactorsenterprise.org. Learn more about her at www.erincronican.com.

Joe Cummings is excited to be acting in another one of Judd Lear Silverman’s plays. In the past, Joe has been seen as Jon in a short play by Judd entitled A Reason for All Things. Joe wants to dedicate this performance to his pet dog, Cocoa, as she recently passed away and was always forced to put up with his acting and singing shenanigans; much to her ears’ chagrin. Recently Joe was cast as the lead in a film for the 48hour film festival in DC. The film has been named a finalist and is awaiting awards. As well, you may have seen Joe on June 1st playing football on the Fox Sports Network in a show entitled Amazing Sports Stories. Joe thanks his friends and family, especially his brother, for their unending support.

Jim Dalglish is a former resident of New York. He recently moved to Cape Cod to become the managing director of Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT). Jim is a member of WHAT's Playwrights Alliance (WPA) and a former member of Chuck Maryan's Playwrights/Directors workshop in New York. Jim's full-length play Unsafe was a semifinalist at this year's Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference and his short play Daughter of the Regiment was seen in last year's Playwrights for Pets program. Jim is grateful to Sue Yocum for including his play The Black Eye in IN THE RAINBOW and is thrilled to support such a noble cause.

Marcus Davidson is a member of Charles Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop and was a 2003 recipient of the Berrilla Kerr Foundation Award for Playwrights for Birthday Letters and The Phoney War. Monologue For Three; Theatre Off-Park, 1993; The Bubonic Plays: ‘Triumph of Life’ and ‘The Position’; Irish Arts Center, 1994; The Living Room; Alice's Fourth Floor, 1995; Play Date; Samuel French One-Act Festival, 2003. Walks like an ex-con; throws like a girl. He has no hobbies.

Janet Demarest is a teacher, performer, playwright and director of adult and children’s educational productions. Original produced theatrical works include Land That I Love, now in its fifth year of touring; The More Things Change, a 19th Century vaudeville recreation; Dearest Abigail, a one-woman show based on the writings of Abigail Adams; and children’s works such as The Legend of the Milky Way, It’s Okay To Be Different and America – Of Thee We Sing. Janet is a proud member of Chuck Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop and The Dramatists Guild of America. She lives on LI with husband, sons and a lunatic 60-pound Golden puppy named Daisy.

Dena Douglass has performed at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, The Image Theatre, The Westbank Theatre and numerous haunts on Theatre Row—before the demolition. A member of the Charles Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop and The Red Truck Writers Group. Recently her play Torn Genes was part of an evening of one-act plays performed at Neighborhood Playhouse. The joys of her life are her two amazing pups, Hunter and Knox.

Bill Dudley, a social worker with NYC’s Human Resources Administration, is delighted to contribute his plays to Playwrights for Pets to help support Animal Haven. His past works have been performed at the Pulse Ensemble Theatre, the Player’s Club, the Hudson Valley Players, the Present Tense Theatre and Staten Island Shakespeare. He has also authored several radio plays, all produced at the Museum of Television and Radio, and subsequently aired on WFUV. Bill is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and Charles Maryan's Playwrights/Directors Workshop. He lives in Staten Island with his incredibly patient wife Maureen.

Judith Estrine’s Nothing Personal was first performed at the Friars Club in NYC and published by Brooklyn Publishers. Another ten-minute play, She & He, won 1st prize in Nantucket's Annual Short Play Competition and was on a national tour of short plays that focused on older women. Filming of the screenplay version was just completed. Her full-length plays include Ghost Mommy, which was a winner of the National Renaissance League’s “Out On The Edge” Festival and Pinochle and Roses, which was short-listed for the National Playwrights Conference and performed as an Equity Showcase at the Vital Theater in NYC. Judith is co-author of Midlife: A Manual, published in the U.S., UK, and Mexico. She is a member of Chuck Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop and the Dramatists Guild.

Cristina Fernandez is an actress living and working in NYC. Recent work includes indie feature films and national commercials. She will soon be performing in the Ultimate Latina Theatre Festival at the Bank St. Theatre during the month of June, as part of the Yo Soy Latina ensemble and Jose Can Speak. Cristina is extremely passionate about promoting women and Latinos in the arts.

Mark Finley is the Artistic Director of TOSOS II Theatre. He has just returned from Ireland, where he directed the Emerging Artists Theatre’s production of Some Are People at the Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival. He has directed and appeared in many shows in New York City, and is the author of several plays, including Better Now (Wings Theatre, 2007) and The Mermaid (TOSOS II, 2005).

Alden Ford is happy to be back on stage in a straight play (so to speak) after filling much of his last few years in the city performing improv and sketch with his comedy trio, Sidecar. Alden lives in Brooklyn where he spends his daylight hours taking headshots.

Carolyn Gage is a playwright, performer, author and activist. She has written more than fiftyfive plays and five books, four of which are on lesbian theatre. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild and her catalog is online at www.carolyngage.com

Ron Frankel is a former copywriter who has written commercials for Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Dick Cavett, Lily Tomlin and others. He has recently started writing short plays. He hopes that soon he will have written enough of them so that his bio isn't so ridiculously skimpy.

Brian Fuqua most recently appeared in David Johnston’s acclaimed production of Candy & Dorothy. A proud member of Blue Coyote Theater Group, notable productions include Busted Jesus Comix, Saturdays With Martin and A Bush Carol, or George Dubya and the X-Mas of Evil (all by David Johnston). Other credits include In Circles (DramaLogue Award – Ensemble) and Identical Twins From Baltimore (opposite Sheryl Lee Ralph) in Los Angeles, Des McAnuff’s Silent Edward at the La Jolla Playhouse, and the New York workshop production of BETTY Rules! (directed by Michael Greif). Not-so-acclaimed stints include Ghostbustering at Universal Studios and serenading patrons waiting to ride the Teacups at Tokyo Disneyland. Frequently featured in TV commercials, Brian is currently annoying millions hawking mattresses, eggs, digital cable and life insurance. One of his fondest achievements is appearing in HBO’s The Best of the Chris Rock Show, now available on DVD.

Elizabeth Gee recently appeared in Ed Musto’s Shute Branch and Mannerz, and has also been in his plays For All The Rude People, Louder Than Words, Porter Peace: Separate Flights, and Porter Peace: Armistice, Paul Eiseman’s Looking Back (the Happy Prince and Ensemble),The Bacchae (Agave) and Oedipus Rex (Second Messenger) for Cypreco (Jay Michaels, director), Turbulence: Rage II for Cockpit Ensemble, Ring Round the Moon (the Mother) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hippolyta), director Paul Eiseman; and Maggie’s Daughters (Jay Michaels, Director). Film and TV credits include Kevin Segalla’s Thanks, Ed, Yonatan Regeur's So It Goes, and Lou Berger's Show on the Road.

Laura Gillis: This is Laura’s fifth reading with Playwrights for Pets, previously performing in both versions of FAIRY TALES…, MISCHIEF NIGHT, LADIES’ NIGHT, and THE MARRYING KIND. Previous theatrical experience includes national tours with the world famous Prince Street Players and Off-off and Off Bway performances with the critically acclaimed Art & Work Ensemble and American Globe Theatre. Laura has performed many summers at the Depot Theatre in Westport, NY. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and AFTRA.

Evan Guilford-Blake PFP website photo 2008

Evan Guilford-Blake’s plays have received about 85 productions across the U.S., in Canada, England and Australia. He has won 19 playwriting competitions, as well as awards for short fiction and poetry. Playscripts publishes his plays The Firebird and True Magic: A Christmas Farce with Unoriginal Music for the Entire Family. Evan's other published works include numerous articles and stories, the text for a children's picture book and contributions to two collections of monologues. He and his wife, freelance writer and jewelry designer Roxanna Guilford-Blake, live in the Atlanta area with their two lovable, dumb-as-dirt doves, Quill and Gabriella. Learn more at www.guilford-blake.com/evan.

Paul Guskin, a recently retired food service executive, started his career as an actor, and was lucky enough to appear in Manny on Broadway, The Guys in the Truck, Off-Broadway, and movies, including Tootsie, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, and Just Tell Me What You Want, among others. On television, Paul appeared in Kojak (9 episodes), and The Edge of Night. However, his most fulfilling experiences were as Artist-in-Residence at colleges and schools in the Northeast. A native New Yorker, Paul has his sights on becoming a ROMEO (Retired Old Man Eating Out).

Nell Gwynn is thrilled to be supporting Animal Haven with Playwrights for Pets. She most recently appeared in Ed Musto's Mass. Murder directed by Judd Silverman. Check out pure excitement at www.gwynnactress.com

Maureen Hennigan, a friend of the furry ones, is happy to be presenting her play Table for One at Playwrights for Pets and to help support Animal Haven. Her previous writing credits include three short films which she wrote, directed and acted in, as well as sketch comedy work. She has worked as a film editor and assistant director on many independent films. As an actor, Maureen has performed classical and new work in theater, appeared on television as both an actor and dancer, and spent too much time in comedy clubs and on the college circuit doing improv.

Jeremy Holmes is originally from Columbus, Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio University's School of Theater. Since moving to New York, he has acted in numerous productions, primarily with Yankee Rep Theater, and has danced for Stefa Zawerucha at Danspace Project. He has also had the unique pleasure of dancing for Ursula Eagly in Garden of Earthly Delights, at Danspace Project, Galapagos Arts Space and Dance Theater Workshop, and in Smearcase, also at DTW. Thanks to Judd, Ed and Alden. Love always to Abby.

Liz Honig is a graduate of the interpreter training program at SCCC and has been working as an educational interpreter for 15 years. She has interpreted for such luminaries as Governor Pataki and Senator Schumer. Along with Susan Carey, she interprets for the theatre season at Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts in Smithtown, NY, including such challenging works as Into the Woods, Amadeus, and Urinetown. She is pleased to be affiliated with Playwrights for Pets and enjoyed interpreting FLYING SOLO in January 2006.

Jim Ireland Off Broadway: Ephemera by John Yearley; The Shawl with Dianne Wiest, directed by Sidney Lumet (Jewish Repertory Theatre). Regional Theatre: Proof (Delaware Theatre Co.); Philadelphia, Here I Come! (Walnut Street Theatre); Julius Caesar (Orlando Shakespeare Festival); Man and Superman (Arden Theatre); Twelfth Night, directed by Greg Doran of the RSC. More recently, Jim played The Fool in King Lear at Orlando Shakespeare Festival, where he will return this fall to play Tom in The Glass Menagerie. Jim is a member of Blue Roses Productions, Polaris North, and Circle East theater companies.

David Johnston’s works have been performed and read at the New Group, the Neighborhood Playhouse, Henry Street Settlement, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre. He was named one of Time Out’s Playwrights to Watch for in 2006. New York productions: Blue Coyote Theater Group, a new adaptation of The Oresteia, Busted Jesus Comix (GLAAD nominee 2005), Busted Jesus Comix Plus Three More Plays!, A Bush Carol, or George Dubya and the Xmas of Evil, The Standards of Decency Project. With director Kevin Newbury, Candy & Dorothy (GLAAD winner, 2006) and The Eumenides. Los Angeles productions: Cow, For Those Of Us Who Have Lived in France, Saturday with Martin, and Busted Jesus Comix, Moving Arts, Candy & Dorothy, at Rude Guerrilla. Publications: The Eumenides, (Playing With Canons, published by New York Theatre Experience, Inc.) Leaving Tangier , (Samuel French, produced by Blue Coyote); New York Telephone Conversation and The Revolution Will Commence at Chase Manhattan, (Rosebud); Death is Cold Like Barbie and I Dream of Ezra Pound (Stage Press Weekly). Playwriting awards include the Alan Minieri Memorial Award, Theater Oxford Ten Minute Play Contest, Turnip Festival One-Act Play Competition, the B.W. Morris Playwright Residency at the University of Cincinnati, the Berrilla Kerr Foundation Grant, the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation and the Arch & Bruce Brown Foundation. Education: B.A. from the College of William and Mary, the Professional Workshop at Circle in the Square. Member: Actors Equity, Dramatists Guild, Charles Maryan's Playwrights/Directors Workshop and Blue Coyote Theater Group.

Barbara Kahn is a multi-award winning playwright, director and actor. Her honors include the Torch of Hope Award, whose past recipients include Terrence McNally, August Wilson, Horton Foote, A.R. Gurney and other theater luminaries and the James R. Quirk Award for “memorable contributions to American theatre.” Her plays have been produced annually at Theater for the New City since 1994, as well as throughout the U.S. and in Paris, France, and Mainz, Germany. She has directed in New York, Paris and the National Theatre in London. Barbara has been an acting and playwriting coach for more than fifteen years. Member: Actors Equity, SAG, the Dramatists Guild. www.barbara-kahn.com

Jonna McElrath has performed with a number of regional theaters, as well as off-off-Broadway theater companies in New York. She is a member of Blue Coyote Theater Group, and was seen most recently in their production of David Johnston's Oresteia at the Access Theater. Other NYC productions include Paradise, Leaving Tangiers (Samuel French Award winner, published in 2004), Busted Jesus Comix + 3, A Bush Carol, Trip's Cinch, and The Jilting of Granny Weatherall (New York Fringe Festival, winner Best Ensemble Acting). Jonna is an avid supporter of new works by emerging playwrights (not to mention an animal lover), and is very pleased to be part of Playwrights for Pets. AEA Member.

Courtney McLean is a solo performance actress hailing from Southern California. So far, she has written and performed two one-woman shows, Normal-C, a hilarious collection of autobiographical anecdotes challenging the definitions of normal, and Super Glossy!, a satire on women’s magazines. Selections from Normal-C were most recently performed in FLYING SOLO, a Playwrights for Pets benefit reading for Animal Haven. Courtney will be taking Normal-C on tour with the DC and Minnesota Fringe Festivals this summer and Super Glossy!, having just enjoyed an awesome debut workshop performance, is to be fully produced at the end of 2006. Favorite “traditional” acting roles include Bette in The Marriage Of Bette and Boo, and Rosalind in As You Like It. Courtney also spent close to three years on the New York City comedy circuit, performing in numerous clubs including The Comedy Cellar, Stand-Up New York, Gotham Comedy Club, and The Village Lantern. She now lives in East Harlem, NYC with her awesome cat, Gracie. Courtney is a proud member of the FCW Society: http://fcwsociety.blogspot.com. You can also check out her personal site at www.courtneymclean.com.

Janice Mann just returned from Dublin where she reprised the role of Anna in Kathleen Warnock’s Some Are People. Earlier this year she made her Off Broadway debut in Emerging Artists Theatre’s Sisters’ Dance. Proud member of Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT), AEA and AFTRA.

John Moss’s recent theatre credits in New York include DiMaggio: The Musical (portraying Mel Allen, Casey Stengel, FDR, Walter Winchell, Billy Wilder, Edward R. Murrow, Larry King and Henry Kissinger). Recent regional: Hank Williams: Lost Highway at the Lake Placid Center for the Performing Arts, How to Succeed in Business… at Westport’s Depot Theatre and a national tour of Walk Two Moons. Recent films include Revolutionary Road, Voice of the Nation, The Disorganized Man, Post Mortem, Tenderness, Jumpers..: Television: Law and Order, The Dana Carvey Show. Film: It Could Happen to You, No Looking Back. Regional: Showboat, The Fantasticks, 1776, The Mikado, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Arsenic and Old Lace, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Off-Bway: Mamet’s Edmond, Our Town, Richard III, The Seagull, King Lear. Graduate of Temple University (Alumni Award).

Edward Musto is the author of Genevieve, Blood Dues, Porter Peace, Boston Proper, The Game of Love, and The Ninth Circle, all of which have been produced in New York. He has also penned the "evening of murder" series, the first of which, An Evening of Murder and the Like, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America as Best Play. The most recent in the series, Mass. Murder, premiered last month. Recipient of an Edward Albee fellowship, Edward is a member of Charles Maryan's Playwrights/Directors Workshop and The Dramatists Guild.

Arlene Nadel has appeared in New York productions on and off-Broadway, and for both the Roundabout and the Public Theater. Off-off Broadway includes Judd Silverman’s award-winning production of Never Wear a Dead Man's Shoes. She played Mrs. Dalton in Classical Theatre of Harlem's new adaptation of Native Son twice, also appearing there in Rhinoceros. She has recently done staged readings of 5 neglected classics for the Shaw Project, but regularly participates in new play development in New York. Her regional credits include roles from Shakespeare, Brecht, Wilde, Orton, and Chekhov. Arlene is a graduate of Northwestern University and a member of Actors’ Equity since age 16.

Charles Navarrette has had numerous roles in plays ranging from Mamet to Shakespeare. Favorites include Zach in A Chorus Line, Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross, and a Kaiser. Currently in a workshop for Viagra: The Musical. Movies: several independent films; TV: 26” Sony. Thanks to Michael for not playing his Game Boy while Daddy performs and to Sue for inviting me into the club.

James O'Shea is a graduate of Fordham University and The Neighborhood Playhouse school of the Theater. He can been seen weekly as a cast member of Off the Top of Our Heads, the mainstage improvisational comedy show in the Whose Line Is It, Anyway? vein, seen every Saturday night at 7pm at Gotham City Improv. (www.gothamcityimprov.com) In addition, he can been seen on various television projects, including a currently running commercial for Chuck E. Cheese.

Annie Pesch graduated from Wright State University with a BFA in Acting. She recently performed in I Ought To Be In Pictures and Edward Musto’s Mass. Murder. Her past credits include The Belle of Amherst, A Piece of My Heart, and eight years performing in the nationally recognized New Works Festival, FutureFest. NY theatre companies/venues include Ensemble Studio Theatre, Symphony Space, eyeBLINK Entertainment, and Interart Annex. Annie previously appeared in Fables & Fairy Tales with Playwrights For Pets.

Robbie Rescigno Theatre: Mannerz (Stan, La Muse Venale); Violating Uncle Piggy (Mummy, Gallery Players); Twelfth Night (Feste, Syracuse University); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Quince, Syracuse University); and Kiss Me, Kate (First Gangster, Syracuse University). Robbie has also written and starred with his twin brother, Paul, in The Rescignos’ Variety Show (Syracuse University). Film: The Three Chances to Woo the Future Mrs. Harold Dowd (Harold). BFA Acting, Syracuse University.

Susan Shafer's first play, Sadie and Ida, won both the 2007 Nor’Eastern one-act contest and the Theatre League of South Florida’s competition, and was part of the 6 Women @ 60 traveling play festival in 2006. Her Pass the Horseradish was produced this year on Martha’s Vineyard and in Rome, New York. A freelance education writer and former teacher, Susan has written five plays for children, all published by Benchmark Education Company. Susan is a member of Charles Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop and the Dramatists Guild.

Gary Schrader is a founding member of Blue Coyote Theater Group. For Blue Coyote, he has appeared in and directed numerous plays, among them David Johnston's Busted Jesus Comix, Leaving Tangier, and A Bush Carol, the last with music and lyrics by Stephen Speights. This fall, he will direct the premiere of David Johnston's The George Place in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

Clare Melley Smith's full-length play, The Writing Room, won the Vermont Playwrights Award (6/06), sponsor: Valley Players, Waitsfield, VT. The Writing Room had a reading at Ensemble Studio Theatre (6/05). Her new play, A Christmas in Kerry (adapted from stories by John B. Keane), will be produced in Nov/Dec 2006 in Portland, Maine by AIRE (American Irish Repertory Ensemble) and performed at Portland Stage’s Studio Theatre. A shorter version of this play was produced by the Irish Bronx Theatre Co, (12/95). A one-act play, Looking for Nadia, was a finalist in the 2005 Henrico Competition (VA). Nadia was given a staged reading by Meeting House Theatre Lab/Schoodic Arts for All, Winter Harbor, Maine (1/06). A new play, Time Downeast, will have a staged reading by MHTL/Schoodic (1/07). Other activities: Playwriting Residency with E.S.T./Lexington (7/04), and member of Curt Dempster’s Playwriting Lab in NYC (11/04-2/06). Member of Charles Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop (9/05-present). A short play, Sunday Sonata, was performed at the Neighborhood Playhouse (11/05) in an evening of Maryan Workshop plays. A Turn for the Worse was produced by Playwrights for Pets (5/06). Having recently adopted a fourth pet, Clare is delighted to be a part of Playwrights for Pets. Member: Dramatists Guild.

Barry Steely has appeared in numerous readings of new works in Charles Maryan’s Playwrights/Directors Workshop, as well as productions of As Is and She Stoops to Conquer at Brooklyn Center and workshops of Light Up the Sky, Good Woman of Setzuan, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with other companies around town. He just completed a run in Edward Musto's Camera-Ready Art, in which he appeared as the Priest in A Wedding Album, and was recently seen in THE MARRYING KIND and FABLES & FAIRY TALES, both produced by Playwrights for Pets. He also appeared in the video installation, You Connect the Dots at the Whitney Museum of Art. In New York, he studied acting with Peter Thompson at the Michael Howard Studios. A native of Denver, PA, he has appeared in a variety of productions in his home state, including My Fat Friend and Bedroom Farce (both at Ephrata Playhouse in the Park), Fools, Play It Again, Sam, Baby, I Ought to Be in Pictures, The Apple Tree, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Pippin. When he is not acting or guarding paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Barry is a painter who exhibits at Figureworks in Williamsburg and at Art-at-Large in Manhattan.

Tony Travostino’s acting has followed a circuitous path. As an undergraduate, he worked with Frank Galati at Northwestern and Roman Polanski in Paris. He then became an entertainment attorney, working in Los Angeles and then New York, where he founded a successful software company which he runs to this day. A few years ago he returned to acting, studying in New York with Doug Hall and appearing in productions of The Seagull and The Winter's Tale as well as new works like Lloyd Pace's New Orleans and Robert Gulack's The Six Husbands of Elizabeth the First. His 8-year-old German Shepherd rescue, Truman, would prefer that he didn't rehearse at home.

Steph Van Vlack last worked with Barbara Kahn, who wisely kept her hidden behind a dark screen with her hand stuffed up a puppet’s butt, at Theater for the New City. However, Barbara allowed Steph to be out in public in this production after Steph promised to behave herself. She most recently appeared at the Michael Chekhov Theatre as Amanda Wingvalley in Durang Durang; other previous roles include Truvy in Steel Magnolias, and Queen Eleanor in The Lion in Winter. She’s also appeared in several independent films, and regional and national commercials including for TLC and the Discovery Channel. More can be found at http://www.sceneinteractive.com/talents/StephVV/ . She thanks Barbara for allowing her this opportunity, and especially Steve.

Kathleen Warnock is a proud member of Emerging Artists Theatre, TOSOS II, Wings Theatre and a founding member of En Avant Playwrights. Her work has been performed in New York, London, Dublin (Ireland and Georgia), and regionally. She won the Robert Chesley and John Golden Playwriting Awards. Her play Rock the Line is published by United Stages. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Dana Watkins is currently featured in My First Time off Broadway, and was last seen as Charlotte Corday in Marat/Sade at the Classical Theatre of Harlem. Other roles: F. Scott Fitzgerald in Allan Knee's The Jazz Age, Charles Smithson in the world premiere stage adaptation of The French Lieutenant's Woman, Prince Hal in Henry the IV Parts I and II, Franz Kafka in the U.S. premiere of Stanley Walden's Letter to My Father at the Kaye Playhouse, as well as Native Son (Jan Erlone), Macbeth (Banquo) and The Cherry Orchard (Trofimov) all at the Classical Theatre of Harlem, and the one-man show An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, which enjoyed a two-year run at the Waverly Inn. TV: One Life to Live, Guiding Light, The City. Film: The Empath, Dreamgirl, Unbridled. Dana has been performing since the age of seven, as a boy soprano, both in the chorus and as a soloist, at the Metropolitan and New York City Operas, working with such directors as Frank Corsaro, John Dexter and Franco Zeffirelli. He is a graduate of the acting program at SUNY Purchase.

Playwrights for Pets

Making theater to benefit animals in need

Who's Who

Playwrights, Actors, Directors

Offstage Friends