Digital Playbills

Valeria Aceves - Mirielle 

Valeria Aceves (they/she) is a proud Mexican actor Meisner trained at The Neighborhood Playhouse. Recent credits include Rock Of Ages (Wolfie Award for Best Newcomer), The Waiting Room, The Chickens Have Come Home To Roost, Everyday Enchanted, In The Heights, among others. Valeria will also embark on a tour this September as Sugar Skull in the Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure. Always grateful to work with talented people and explore new works, stalk them irresponsibly at @valeria.aceves. 

Roque Berlanga - Director 

Roque Berlanga (Director) Roque is thrilled to be back for his third In The Works Festival (Gordon Gets Down, In BeTWEEN.) A California native, Roque is a proud Latinx director, actor, teaching artist and proud Associate Member of SDC. Roque is currently the Associate Director for the First International Tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roque is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Theatre [Untitled] and Actor’s Professional Theatre Conservatory (APTC) based in New York City. Theatre [Untitled] focuses on new and reinvented works and provides a platform for undiscovered artists with a focus on LGBTQ+, women, and BIPOC playwrights and artists. Roque currently serves as an Artistic Advisor for the Forestburgh Playhouse and is Co-Director of the Forestburgh Academy with Kate Wilson. Roque served as Artistic Director of the Allenberry Playhouse for three years in Pennsylvania and was the first Latinx to do so in the theater's over sixty year history. While in California, Roque trained with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Second City, and received his BA in Theatre from CSU Stanislaus. 

Favorite credits include: Next to Normal (Forestburgh Playhouse), Matilda (Forestburgh Playhouse) The Prom (Forestburgh Playhouse), The Whale Play (The Drama Book Shop), Bye Bye Birdie (Forestburgh Playhouse), The Lighting Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Forestburgh Playhouse), The SpongeBob Musical (Forestburgh Playhouse), The Theory of Relativity (Stagedoor Manor), Rent (Stagedoor Manor), Chicago (Allenberry), Footloose (Allenberry), The 39 Steps (Allenberry), Wait Until Dark (Allenberry), The Wedding Singer (APTC) and 13! (APTC). 

Kate Brennan - Writer - Music and Lyrics 

Kate Brennan is an artist, educator and creator. She has written a dozen plays and musicals and has taught across the country. She has been named a three-time O’Neill Semifinalist, a Princess Grace Finalist, a Judith Royer Finalist, a Jane Chambers Finalist, a Cultural Alliance Artist Innovator Award Finalist and a Jonathan Larson Grant Finalist. Kate is a Designated Linklater Teacher and holds an MFA from UVA. She writes More Humor More Humanity. www.katebrennan.org 

Anthony Cangiamila - Jahdo/Mr. Jasper 

Anthony Cangiamila is thrilled to be at Forestburgh Playhouse for the In the Works–In the Woods Festival! A proud first-generation Italian from Jersey, he recently attended Point Park University before making NYC his home. Much love and gratitude to his friends and family and a big thanks to the creative team for making this all possible! Recent credits include: Beautiful (Axelrod), Jersey Boys (ACT of CT, The REV), Here I Am (Off-Broadway). IG: @anthony_cang_ 

Max V. Gallagher - Nyein/Ms. Ardan 

Max Gallagher is a trans actor and musician based out of Philadelphia, whose work centers the development of new plays and the queering of classical texts. Some favorite previous projects include "Romeo and Juliet" with Catskill Mountain Shakespeare, "Drip" with Inis Nua Theatre Company, and "Melancholy Play" with Masquerade Theatre Company. She is also a songwriter - check out "The Blacksmith's Prayer" by Max Gallagher, on most streaming platforms! - and multi-instrumentalist. Max is honored to be involved in this festival, and if you happen to see her out and about, she would just love if you said hello. 

Lane LaVonne - Abenthe 

Lane LaVonne (they/them) is an actor, director, and theatremaker working in NYC and Philly. Recent and upcoming acting credits include Two Gentleman of Verona (DelShakes), Little Shop of Horrors (People’s Light), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hedgerow), and The Prom (Porthouse Theatre). BFA from Rider University. @lalalalavonne 

Corinne Prudente - Ms. Tarina/Artist/Archivist 

Corinne Prudente is a multi-hyphenate performer and artist based in NYC. They recently starred as Mary Vetsera in the New York Theatre Festival production of United in Love, Until Death and as Don John in Tier5 Theatre Company's production of Much Ado About Nothing. 

They previously performed in workshops of other Brennan & White musicals, including Alien8, Clean Slate, and Illuminate. Recent Off-Off-Broadway: GROSS!, Ghost Hoarders, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Junk in Grandma's Trunk, The Secret Garden. Film: The Ghost of Barbara Allen, Forces and Philosophies: A D&D Musical. 

Cameron Sparks - Production Stage Manager 

Cameron is a New York-based Stage Manager with experience in theatrical settings, events, live music, and cruise lines. He earned his BFA in Stage Management from the University of Central Florida. Regional theatre credits include Titanic: The Musical (Surflight Theatre), Footloose (Surflight Theatre), South Pacific (Surflight Theatre), Jersey Boys (Argyle Theatre), and Writes of Spring (Orlando Family Stage). Additional credits include UCF Celebrates the Arts (Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts), Stars in the House Live (Town Hall), and Letters Live (Town Hall), and the Happenings Events Program (Virgin Voyages). He is thrilled to be making his debut at the Playhouse this summer. IG: @cam_sparks 

Andrea Strickler - Ms. Gandry/Musician/Storyteller 

Andrea Strickler is delighted to join this year’s In the Works ~ In the Woods Theatre Festival! A proud Kansas City native now based in Jersey City, Andrea was most recently seen in New York City performing in the workshop of La Joie: A Play About Suffering, a devised theatre piece. She is deeply grateful for every opportunity to collaborate and create, especially when it means making art in the beauty of the outdoors. Offstage, Andrea is passionate about health and fitness, where she coaches others on their journey toward becoming the best version of themselves. 

Erik Wakar - Music Director 

(she/her) Music Director at Forestburgh Playhouse this season for Next To Normal, Young Frankenstein, and Head Over Heels, now Book of Wonder at ITW-ITW, Erik is thrilled to be supporting new works and collaborating with this wonderful team! Regional credits include: Something Rotten, 9 to 5, The Prom, Rock of Ages. Collegiate credits include: The Light In The Piazza, Fun Home, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Ordinary Days, The Last Five Years. Away from the stage she keeps up with an eclectic collection of hobbies and loved ones near and far. erikwakar.com 

David Lee White - Writer 

David Lee White is a playwright, performer and educator. For fourteen years he was the Associate Artistic Director of Passage Theatre. His work has been seen at Passage Theatre, McCarter, Vivid Stage, Bucks County Playhouse and other institutions in NJ/NY/PA. David was commissioned by NJPAC to create the play FIXED which earned him a Visionary Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Other plays include BLOOD: A COMEDY (Soon to be a feature film), SLIPPERY AS SIN and WAYS TO BE HAPPY (Next Stage Press.) He has performed his solo show, PANTHER HOLLOW at The United Solo Festival, Arcade Comedy Theatre, The New Jersey Fringe and multiple universities. With composer Kate Brennan, he co-created ALiEN8 (YouthPLAYS), CLEAN SLATE, ILLUMINATE, ANATOMY OF A FLOOD and BOOK OF WONDER. He is a MAP Fund recipient for his work with Passage Theatre (OK TRENTON) and Kate Brennan (CLEAN SLATE.) www.davidleewhite.net, www.brennanandwhite.com 

James Wong - Mayor/Narrator/Gardener/Brindlefeather 

James Wei-Yuan Wong is so excited + grateful to be making his Forestburgh Playhouse debut! He is a Taiwanese-American actor with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Utah! He was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina and currently resides in New York City. Credits include Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 (Pioneer Theatre Company), The Rocky Horror Show (Pioneer), SLAC’s Summer Show 2023 (Salt Lake Acting Company), and Into the Woods (University of Utah). Readings/Workshops: The Tale of the Gifted Prince (Darren Lee), Sound of the Silk Road (Gabriel Barre), and Where We Are (Brian Jose). He would love to thank his family and friends of whom he would not be here without their support! He is a cat person and loves Studio Ghibli. @jamesweiyuan 

Philippe Arroyo - Percival 

Philippe is a proud alumni of Carnegie Mellon University. Broadway/Theatre credits include: & Juliet (Francois Dubois), Kennedy Center’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip), Disney’s Aladdin National Tour (Omar), The York Theatre’s “Penelope” (Telemachus), Joe Iconis’ “Punk Rock Girl” (Dudley), The Karate Kid Musical (Freddie), Into the Woods First National Tour (Jack), Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s “Little Shop of Horrors” (Seymour), TUTS' In the Heights (Sonny). TV credits: Uncoupled on Netflix, Evil on CBS, Helpsters on Apple Plus, and Truth Slash Fiction!  IG: @philippearroyo 

Dennis Cao - Copernileo & Others 

Dennis Cao is an emerging artist from Houston, Texas who recently graduated from Pace University in the Musical Theatre class of 2024. Dennis is a proud 1st generation Vietnamese nonbinary actor. Now tackling the NYC theatre scene, they are excited to be sharing their authenticity, versatility, vulnerability, and insanity in their work. Dennis wants to say, “Trust your talent and worth. Having doubt is just a test of patience…because an opportunity to read for a looney, rotting old scientist hag could pop up on a random Tuesday.” 

Website: dennishuucao.com  IG: @itsdennishuucao 

Julia Knitel - Hildegarde & Others 

Julia Knitel is a New York City based actor, who most recently garnered a 2025 Tony Award nomination for her performance as Maggie/Millicent in the NYTimes Critic’s Pick Dead Outlaw on Broadway. Other Broadway Credits include: Beautiful, Bye Bye Birdie. Tour: Beautiful (Carole King), Come From Away (Janice). Off-Broadway: Dead Outlaw (Outer Critics Circle nom), A Letter to Harvey Milk (Lortel nom), Panic of ‘29, The Tycoons (Rave Theatre Award - Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role). Regional: Carole King in Beautiful (Asolo Rep, Cape Playhouse (Gertrude Lawrence Award), Theatre Aspen (Henry Award nom)). Louise in Gypsy starring Beth Leavel (The Muny, St. Louis Theatre Circle nom), Martha in The Constant Wife (Denver Center), Ulla in The Producers (Casa Mañana), Nora in Brighton Beach Memoirs (Portland Stage). TV/film: “The Other Two”, “Sub/liminal”. Film: Miles. 

Kooman & Dimond

Christopher Dimond - Writer (Book & Lyrics) 

Michael Kooman - Writer (Score) 

Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond are an Emmy-nominated writing team for the stage and screen. Their musical ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS (written with Emma Rice) debuted to rave reviews at Shakespeare's Globe. They wrote more than 150 songs for VAMPIRINA, an animated Disney TV series reaching over 100 million viewers in 115 countries. Other television work includes the Netflix series RIDLEY JONES, DEAD END: PARANORMAL PARK, and SPIRIT RANGERS. Their stage projects include FINN (written with Chris Nee, The Kennedy Center), THE BREAK, THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES (Village Theater), ORPHIE & THE BOOK OF HEROES (The Kennedy Center), JUDGE JACKIE: DISORDER IN THE COURT (Pittsburgh CLO), and DANI GIRL (Exit Pursued by a Bear). Awards and honors include the Fred Ebb Award, a Jonathan Larson Grant, the Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award, the Samuel French Next Step Award, the Burton Lane Award, and the Harold Adamson Award. Their debut album, “Out of Our Heads”, and the world premiere recordings of Romantics Anonymous and The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes are now available on iTunes and Spotify. Learn more at www.koomandimond.com @koomandimond 

Cynthia Meng - Music Director 

Cynthia is a New York-based music director and pianist. Film/TV: Associate Vocal Supervisor on Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) and Spirited (Apple TV+). Broadway: Ragtime (2025 Lincoln Center revival), Dead Outlaw, The Outsiders, Lempicka, Back to the Future, Company (2020 revival), Hadestown, Funny Girl, Kimberly Akimbo. Other recent favorites: Ragtime (NY City Center, 2024), The Jonathan Larson Project (Orpheum Theatre), Safety Not Guaranteed (BAM), Only Gold (MCC World Premiere), Suffs (Public Theater), The Last Five Years (Out of the Box Theatrics), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, In The Green (Lincoln Center Theatre), Witness Uganda (Wallis Annenberg Center). 

Kyle Taylor Parker - Mother Superior & Others 

Broadway: Kinky Boots (Lola), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Mrs. Green). Off Broadway: Smokey Joe's Cafe, Finian's Rainbow, Songs for a New World. National Tours: Pretty Woman: The Musical (Happy Man), Kinky Boots (Lola), In the Heights. TV/Film: Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (starring John Legend and Sara Bareilles). Favorite regional credits: The little Mermaid (Paper mill Playhouse),Jersey Boys (Music Circus), Dreamgirls (Lyric Theatre), Hair (Arizona Theatre Company), Guys and Dolls (Maltz Jupiter Theatre) and the World Premiere of My Very Own British Invasion. Stream and download Kyle's solo albums, Broadway Soul Vol.1 and Vol. 2, on all music platforms. @ktpway 

Ryann Redmond - Mother & Others 

Broadway: Once Upon a One More Time, Frozen (first female Olaf), Escape to Margaritaville, If/Then, Bring It On. FILM: Borderlands, A Good Person. TV: The Good Fight, Heels, Younger. Off-Broadway: Titanique, Usual Girls, Gigantic. Regional Favorites: Come From Away (Cape Playhouse), Regency Girls (Old Globe), Last of the Red Hot Mamas (Bucks County), Hairspray (MUNY). Education: NYU (CAP21). @ryannreds RyannRedmond.com 

Ashley Rodbro - Director 

Ashley is a Mexican-American director for theater, comedy, and film. Her current projects include new commercial productions with Disney Theatrical, Lively McCabe, and TEG+. Ashley was previously the Worldwide Supervising Associate Director for Moulin Rouge!: The Musical (Broadway, Australia, London, Germany, U.S. National Tour). She was also the Resident Director for Hamilton, opening the “And Peggy” company in Puerto Rico, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda. Her Associate work also expands to comedy specials, including John Mulaney’s Kid Gorgeous special at Radio City (Netflix), Oh Hello on Broadway (Netflix), and Alex Edelman’s Just For Us (HBO). Through her film production company, Heredia Vision, she directed the virtual special “Broadway Does Mother’s Day” for Broadway.com and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and worked with New York Theater Workshop on their “25 years of RENT” documentary and virtual event. She is also a creative consultant for Ad Hoc Live Entertainment, working with Jason Eagan and Teddy Bergman. 

James Schultz - Brontis & Others 

James is ecstatic to be a part of this years’ festival and to work with such an amazing group of artists. Some of his favorite credits include playing “The Grinch” on the national tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical for multiple years, “Mr. Banks” in Mary Poppins, “The D’Ysquith Family” in Gentleman’s Guide, “Nathan Detroit” in Guys & Dolls, and “Julian Marsh” in 42nd Street. He’s also loved being in productions of Beautiful, Proof, Singin’ In the Rain, Don’t Dress For Dinner, Into The Woods, Parade, Newsies, Vincent, Jekyll & Hyde, The Full Monty, & 1776. Thank you to my agents at FSE, my family, friends & wife, Amanda, for their constant love and support. For more about James, follow him on Instagram at @jamesdschultz. For Dad, always. 

Courtney Wigderson - Production Stage Manager 

Courtney Wigderson is thrilled to be back at the festival in the woods for her third year! She is proud to have joined Actors’ Equity Association earlier this year working on Next to Normal at Forestburgh. Favorite credits include: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (National Tour), A Taste of Ireland (National Tour), Rocky Horror, Jersey Boys, Matilda, Spamalot (Forestburgh Playhouse) Six, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots (Norwegian Cruise Line), A Chorus Line: High School Edition, Newsies, Elf (Gateway Playhouse). She is a proud graduate of the University of New Hampshire. She is eternally grateful to everyone who encouraged her down the path of stage management and those who continue to support her dreams. Lots of love and thanks to Mom and Dad for the constant love and support! 

Nicole Zelka - Flavian & Others 

Nicole Zelka - Stoked to be back in Forestburgh after appearing in this season's "The Full Monty" as Vicki! Albany, NY native. National Tours: "R&H’s Cinderella" (Gabrielle, u/s Marie), "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Teavee, u/s Mrs. Gloop), "Elf" (Ensemble, u/s Emily, u/s Deb). All the love and thanks to Anthony, Matt, Franklin, John, and the whole Playhouse fam! @nicolezelka / nicolezelka.com 

Taylor Hadsell - Emily 

ITW Festival Debut! Taylor is a Brooklyn based actress & singer. Select theatre credits include: Woke(The Actors Studio), La Ronde(IRT), The Wizard of Oz(Actors Temple), and The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds(Open Eye Theatre). Television: Evil Lives Here(HBO Max), Murder in Nashville(Lifetime Network). Proud Ball State University Alum. Bright Artist Management. All her love goes to Louis the shichon, C, & her family. Follow along @TayHadsell on Instagram. 

Chandler Hubbard - Playwright 

Chandler Hubbard (he/him/his) is an actor and playwright in Richmond, Virginia. Written works produced include: ANIMAL CONTROL (2019 Martha Hill Newell Playwright's Fund, Richmond Theatre Community Circle Best Original Work nomination, 2020 American Theatre Critics' Association / Steinberg New Play Award Citation) (Firehouse Theatre; American Lives Theatre); MOLLY HOUSE (Richmond Triangle Players); THE MINOTAUR (Rumput/Firehouse); MAN: The Live Podcast (Firehouse/Jackleg Media); ROMAN A CLEF (RTCC Best Original Work Winner 2024) (The New Theatre at Firehouse); and SHANIDAR (Wild Imaginings). Readings/Workshops: TELLING OF THE BEES (5th Wall Theatre; Barter Theatre; College of Charleston; Forestburgh Playhouse In the Woods); AKELDAMA (IATI), SMALL QUIET GOOD (Firehouse Theatre; Dragonfly Theatre Company; Clamour Theatre Company; Brightpoint Community College), SUNDAY THE THIRTIETH 3AM RAINING SLIGHTLY DRUNK (Wild Imaginings; Richmond Triangle Players), CHILDREN OF THE EMPIRE (Fulton Theatre) and YOUR SON (Firehouse Theatre). His screenplay SHANIDAR (Remember Tommy Productions, Mudroom Films and SideXSide Productions) is currently in post-production. He received the Theatre Lab at Florida Atlantic University's Fair Play Commission in 2025 for his play, THE LAST QUEEN OF SAN DOMINO. Chandler is a graduate of the University of Virginia (2012) and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild. 

Scott Keyes - Parker 

Scott is thrilled to be spending the week in the Catskills bringing this incredible play to life! Originally from London, Ontario, he is a Canadian-born queer actor and creative now based in NYC. A graduate of the Tom Todoroff Conservatory, Scott has continued his studies while working across theatre and film. Favorite roles include David in The Rhetoric of Us (NYC Premiere), Paul in War Dance! (NY Theatre Festival), The Archivist in Perish in the Flood, and Young Man/F*g in Moi, Moi, Moi (both at Columbia University). Upcoming: Alex in the feature film Timings (fall 2025). 

Lou Liberatore - Egg 

2nd season at Forestburgh (Palimpsest by Alix Sobler) Broadway: Burn This (TONY, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Award Nominations), As Is. Off-Broadway: Inspired by True Events (Out of the Box Theatrics/Theatre 154), Preparedness (Bushwick Starr/HERE Arts Center), Bruise & Thorn (Pipeline Theatre/A.R.T./NY), Daniel’s Husband (Westside Theatre, Primary Stages, Penguin Rep), Orpheus Descending (Bartley/Glezos Productions), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Masterworks Theatre Co.), Rocket to the Moon (St Clement’s), others. Regional: Angels in America, Pts 1 & 2 (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide… (Berkeley Rep, Theatre J), The Diary of Anne Frank & That Championship Season (Westport Playhouse), others. London: Burn This. Romania: Listen to Me (w/ Kathleen Turner, Sibiu International Theatre Festival). TV: The Affair, Law & Order, Law & Order, SVU, Sex and the City, Nurse Jackie, others. Film: The Philosophy of Dress (upcoming – w/ Sydney Lemmon, Eric Roberts), Relay (upcoming – w/ Riz Ahmed), Barrio Boy (Apple TV, Peacock, Prime Video), It’s My Party, Blood from a Stoner, Mary & Louise, others. Education: Fordham University (Lincoln Center), William Esper. Member Artist: Ensemble Studio Theatre, (also Board Member), The Actor’s Center, Circle Repertory Company (1985-1996) 

Frank Lombardi - Production Stage Manager 

Broadway: A Doll’s House, Betrayal, The Cher Show, Torch Song, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, A Behanding in Spokane, Hamlet (w/Jude Law), Spamalot, Disney’s Tarzan, Hairspray, The Sound of Music, Footloose, Side Show, Steel Pier, The Phantom of the Opera, Hamlet (w/Ralph Fiennes), Passion, The Red Shoes, The Secret Garden. Off Broadway: Plenty (Public Theatre). Regional: Truman Capote’s A Thanksgiving Visitor & A Christmas Memory (Park Theatre, Hudson, NY), The Lion King (original L.A. Company), Camelot (Westport Country Playhouse, CT), Idaho! (Smith Center, Las Vegas), The Will Rogers Follies (Maltz Jupiter Theatre, FL); World Premieres: Catch Me If You Can (Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, WA) and Randy Newman's Faust (La Jolla Playhouse, CA). He is also the former Head of the Stage Management Program at the University of NC School of the Arts. 

Luba Mason - Beatrice 

Has starred in 9 Broadway shows: GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY / Mrs. Burke (Lucille Lortel nomination), CHICAGO/ Velma Kelly, JEKYLL & HYDE/ Lucy Harris, HOW TO SUCCEED.../ Hedy LaRue (first revival), THE CAPEMAN/ Mrs. Krezinski, SID CAESAR & COMPANY, SUNSET BLVD.,THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES/ Ziegfeld’s Favorite, Betty Blake and LATE NITE COMIC. Off Broadway: LOS OTROS, PRETTY FILTHY (Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominations), UNEXPECTED JOY. Film : Tonya Pinkins’ RED PILL. TV Guest- star’s: THE WALKING DEAD/The Ones Who Live, PERSON OF INTEREST, FOREVER and LAW & ORDER. Luba has released 4 critically-acclaimed solo albums : TRIANGLE (2020) MIXTURA (2016), KRAZY LOVE (2009), and COLLAGE (2006) all available on all streaming services. Graduate of NYU’s Tisch SOA (Drama)/ Circle In the Square. Upcoming : a one-woman show titled LOVE, LUBA. Lubamason.com IG : luba_mason 

Jared Reinfeldt - Eric/Nick 

Jared Reinfeldt is an actor based in NYC. Upcoming films include Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite (opposite Jared Harris and Kaitlyn Dever) and Bookends, starring F. Murray Abraham and Caroline Aaron. Additional onscreen work includes FEUD: Capote vs. The Swans under Gus Van Sant, Soderbergh’s COMMAND Z, Gretta Gerwig’s Little Women, The Flight Attendant, American Horror Story, and Gossip Girl (in a role written for him). Onstage, he’s starred in contemporary epics (The Inheritance), Shakespearean dramas (Measure for Measure), fast-paced drag comedies (The Legend of Georgia McBride), psycho-horrors (Rules of Desire), reimagined classics (Frankenstein), and smash-hit musicals (Beautiful). His developmental work is extensive, and includes documentary theatre with Tectonic Theater Project, virtual-reality Shakespeare for Google, "Animal Farm"-style satire with Tye Blue (of Titanique), and a murder mystery podcast for Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. He’s thrilled to be here, making a play in the woods. 

Sarah Sirota - Gracie 

Sarah Sirota is a NY-based actress, singer, and teacher. She earned rave reviews for her portrayal of Carla Tortelli in the national tour of Cheers Live, which opened at the Shubert Theater in Boston. New York credits include Cut Throat (Abingdon Theater, dir. Mark Waldrop), Two September (Flea Theater, dir. Loy Arcenas), The Revenants (Cherry Lane), and The Laramie Project (dir. Jesse Berger), among others. Film and television credits include award-winning pilot "Patient", "A Scientist's Guide… (with Jay O. Sanders), “Small Miracles” (with Judd Hirsch), “Precious Cargo” (NYC Web Fest.) as well as several award-winning comedy shorts (FOX network, Friars Club Comedy Fest., Chicago Comedy Fest.). Sarah recently played recovering cult-member Grace Kessler on the podcast Deathless, is a member of Playwrights Gallery, and taught acting at Rutgers University. B.A. Dartmouth College, M.F.A. Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. AEA/SAG-AFTRA. www.sarahsirota.com 

Casey Stangl - Director 

Casey Stangl is an award-winning director based in Los Angeles. Recent projects include a workshop of Jennifer Maisel’s Provenance at the Asolo Theater in Florida (slated for production in 26-27), Alabaster at the Fountain Theater, the world premiere of John Ross Bowie’s Brushstroke at the Odyssey Theater, and Bekah Brunstetter’s play Gentle Parenting for the 24 Hour Plays. Casey’s work has been seen at theaters across the country including South Coast Repertory, Geffen Playhouse, American Conservatory Theater, Guthrie Theater, Arizona Theater Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Denver Center, Portland Stage and Cleveland Playhouse. Casey has developed work with numerous playwrights and directed at the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Humana Festival, Pacific Playwrights Festival, and from 20155-22 was Associate Artistic Director for Ojai Playwrights Conference. In addition to her work for the stage Casey does script adaptation on foreign language dubbing projects for Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and Amazon. 

Ryan Stinnett - Domino 

Ryan Wesley Stinnett is thrilled to be back at Forestburgh. He made his debut here with the inaugural season of the ITW-ITW Theatre Festival in Gina Femia’s THIS HAPPENED ONCE AT THE ROMANCE DEPOT OFF THE I-87 IN WESTCHESTER (Kevin). Other new works he’s been a part of: Liza Birkenmeier’s THE HOLLOWER (Pigman), Catya McMullen’s Hip Hop musical LOCKED UP BITCHES (Bull), Elizabeth Swados and Erin Courtney’s musical THE NOMAD (Vava), and Niegel Smith and Todd Shalom’s performance piece TAKE CARE (Ryan). His NY theatre and wizard inspired credits include PUFFS (Narrator) at New World Stages as well as Feinstein’s/54 Below’s performance of 54 PAYS TRIBUTE TO A VERY POTTER MUSICAL (Dumbledore/Voldemort). Regional roles include SHREK THE MUSICAL (Farquaad) and ROCK OF AGES (Hertz). Ryan is now noticing that he has been in far more musicals than he ever realized. He thought he mostly did plays. Anyway, follow @ryanstinnett for so few posts. 

Found

Shereen Ahmed - Performer 

Broadway/National Tour: Eliza in Lincoln Center Theater’s My Fair Lady (earning a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nomination on tour). Off-Broadway: Franca in The Light in the Piazza (City Center Encores!), Adele in A Man of No Importance (Classic Stage Company), and originated Ellen in The Age of Innocence at The Old Globe and Arena Stage. Concerts: Performed for President Biden at the White House (80th anniversary of D-Day), starred in Strike Up the Band and Iolanthe at Carnegie Hall. TV & Media: Appeared on NBC’s New Amsterdam, PBS’s Eyes of the World with the Boston Pops, and Beltline to Broadway. Shereen has been profiled in Vogue Arabia and named one of the "40 Under 40" accomplished Arab Americans. She is a guest speaker at the UN and a global ambassador for Education for Employment (EFE). B.S. in Criminal Justice from Towson University. 

Instagram: @shereen_ahmed 

 Jen Waldman - Director 

Since 2018, Jen Waldman has had the immense privilege of working alongside Shereen Ahmed and witnessing nearly every dazzling chapter of her professional journey. Watching Shereen’s rise — on stage and in the hearts of audiences everywhere — has been one of Jen’s greatest joys. Directing this show is more than a creative endeavor; it’s a love letter to one of her favorite artists and humans. Jen is the Artistic Director of Jen Waldman Studio (JWS) in New York City, where her clients have appeared in nearly every Broadway musical over the past 15 years. 

Just Call Me Raj; The Ego Has Landed!

Jeremy Gold Kronenberg - Director 

Jeremy Gold Kronenberg is a New York City–based director and theatre educator originally from Cleveland, OH. He directed the world premiere of Qadar, an original operetta commissioned by the Smithsonian as part of a $1.8 million endowment from the Sultanate of Oman, and helmed Hoaxocaust! at the 14th Street Y, following its 2014 FringeNYC award-winning production. In 2010, he directed the first New York revival of Caroline, or Change, nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award and named one of Playbill.com’s “unforgettable experiences of 2010.” Jeremy holds a BFA in Acting from Ohio University, an MFA in Directing (Musical Theatre Focus) from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, and an MA in Educational Theatre from Hunter College/Lincoln Center Scholars. He has guest directed at CW Post, St. John’s University, and NYU. Currently, he serves as Performing Arts Department Leader and Theatre Teacher at Williamsburg Charter High School. 

Robert Anthony Jones- Performer 

Robert Anthony Jones is thrilled to be returning to Forestburgh, having appeared as Trunchbull, Fester and Barry, three of his favorite roles in one of his favorite places. Credits: Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera (North American Tour), Finding Neverland (Lunt-Fontaine Theatre-Final Broadway Company), 101 Dalmatians (Madison Square Garden). Off-Broadway: Ahrens and Flaherty’s Lucky Stiff (AMT Theatre), Bunnicula (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording-Daryl Roth Theatre). Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar (Herod-Fulton Theatre-Deidre Goodwin-dir.), 42nd (Abner-Gateway Playhouse-Randy Skinner-dir). TV/Film: Queen of Knives (Amazon Prime and AppleTV), Kris Kringle (YouTube) www.robertanthonyjones.com 

Insta: justcallmeraj 

Andrew Sotomayor - Music Director 

Off-Broadway: Curvy Widow (Premiere). First National Tours:Tootsie, Escape to Margaritaville. Recent Credits: Annie (24-25 National Tour) My Best Friend’s Wedding (Ogunquit Playhouse), Tick, Tick... Boom! (George Street Playhouse), El Otro Oz (Atlantic Theater Company), and The SpongeBob Musical (Broadway At Music Circus). Previous credits include West Side Story (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), On Your Feet! (Paper Mill Playhouse), Man of La Mancha (Westport Country Playhouse), and Cutman: a boxing musical (Goodspeed Musicals). As a composer, Andrew has provided music and lyrics for the original musicals 50 Shades of F****d Up and Committed, as well the score for the audiobook “The Influential Voice.” He is a proud graduate of Stetson University in Florida. Endless love and gratitude to his wonderful husband, Bart. For more, visit soto.fun 

Colin Hanlon - Director 

Colin Hanlon is a director, actor and writer living in New York City. This summer, Colin directed ‘Buyer & Cellar’ at Theatre Workshop Nantucket and ‘Sylvia’ at Sharon Playhouse. This past winter he directed the new play ‘Kowalski’ by Gregg Ostrin off-broadway at the Duke on 42nd Street. He also directed ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ and co-directed 'It's Only a Play' at George Street Playhouse. He's the co-producer & star of Submissions Only. He's also an adjunct professor at NYU New Studio, LIU, Stella Adler and Cap 21. He teaches auditioning and self-tape technique at his private studio. Still a working actor as he's been on “Modern Family,” “Difficult People,” “The Sinner,” “The Good Fight” and currently “Uncoupled” on Showtime. Broadway: Falsettos, Rent, Wicked (First National Tour) and In Transit. Off-Broadway: NYC premier of Dot by Colman Domingo (Vineyard Theater, dir. Susan Stroman), A.R. Gurney’s last play Final Follies dir. David Saint (Cherry Lane) and I Love You Because (original cast). @ColinHanlon 

Neal Lerner - Writer/Performer 

Neal Lerner is a Yale School of Drama–trained actor who’s spent years doing theater in NYC and at regional theaters across the country. He’s appeared in over 75 TV shows and films — often as a doctor, a lawyer, or occasionally both in the same week. Most recently, he appeared in the Academy Award–winning film American Fiction and the Gus Van Sant–directed series Feud. In addition to acting, Neal has written several plays, with What Would Meryl Do? being his latest (and possibly most unhinged) work yet. 

Artistic

Anthony C. Daniel - Casting 

Previous Playhouse productions: Kinky Boots, And the World Goes ‘Round, Buddy, Million Dollar Quartet. Other Regional credits include The Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sister Act, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Murder For Two, The Marvelous Wonderettes, and more. National/International Tours: Associate Director - The Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Cheers! Live on Stage, the American Premieres of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical and A Complicated Woman. Member SDC. www.anthonycdaniel.com 

Matt Lenz - Artistic Director 

MATT LENZ - (Director) At FBP; Buyer and Cellar, Venus in Fur, Idaho! BROADWAY: Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Velocity of Autumn (Associate Director on original productions), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Resident Director). OFF-BROADWAY: Pageant: The Musical (Drama Desk nomination), The Irish Curse, Idaho! The Comedy Musical, The Great Daisy Theory, Fingers and Toes, and Alan Ball’s Tense Guy. US NATIONAL TOURS include: Hairspray (current), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Cheers: Live Onstage, Catch Me If You Can and The Who’s Tommy. INTERNATIONAL: Productions in Australia, Singapore, India, UK, Germany, Canada and South Africa. REGIONAL: many plays and musicals at Paper Mill Playhouse, the MUNY, Ogunquit Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theater, Zach Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse, Casa Manana, Gateway Playhouse, Short North Stage, La Mirada. Matt is the Founding Artistic Director of the annual In The Works ~ In The Woods Festival at FBP. www.mattlenzdirector.com 

Franklin Trapp - Producing Artistic Director of Forestburgh Playhouse 

Franklin is thrilled to present In the Works- In the Woods’ 5th Season! Franklin began his theatrical career at the Forestburgh Playhouse, as a Resident Company member, appeared in a national tour of Annie! and also performed at various regional theatres, including the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. In 2004, Franklin took a hiatus from the theatre, during which time he earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University and subsequently practiced in Atlanta, Georgia for the world’s largest law firm. When he learned that current producer Norman Duttweiler was looking to retire, Franklin could not resist the opportunity to return to Forestburgh and maintain and grow the rich cultural legacy that the Playhouse provides for Sullivan County. Franklin has a long association with the Forestburgh Playhouse beginning in 2001 as a Resident Company Member. He remained at the Playhouse every summer through 2004, earning his equity card, writing and directing children’s shows, directing cabarets and directing mainstage productions such as the Playhouse’s first production of The Sound of Music. While at the Forestburgh Playhouse, Franklin appeared in numerous productions, including, 1776, Titanic, Ragtime, My Fair Lady, Witness for the Prosecution, Catch Me If You Can, Miss Saigon, Evita, La Cage Aux Folles, and Hello Dolly!, to name a few. Franklin’s husband, John Bubb, also a Playhouse alum and a CRNA at Catskill Regional Medical Center, will share his talents as an artistic advisor. Franklin and John, and their Playhouse Pets—Lucy and Sally are excited to not only live full-time in the Sullivan County Catskills, but also to have the opportunity to be a part of a New York cultural landmark—The Forestburgh Playhouse!