ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

This Halloween, MTC brings you a special treat… the premiere of Vampire Cowboys’ latest piece: The Un-Princess Non-Bride, the final installment of our 2021 Snapshot series of virtual work commissioned during the theatre shutdown. Starting on October 31st, watch this modern (anti-)fairytale chock full of the irreverent hip-hop, wild combat, and R-rated action you’ve come to expect from NYC’s favorite geek theater artists. And oh yeah, there are puppets! Who doesn’t love a badass puppet?!

ABOUT THE WRITER

Qui Nguyen is a playwright, tv/film writer, and Co-Founder of the OBIE Award-winning Vampire Cowboys, who are often credited as the pioneers of “geek theatre.” His plays include Vietgone (Premiere by South Coast Rep and Manhattan Theatre Club, 2016 Steinberg New Play Award winner), She Kills Monsters (The Flea), and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys productions of The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G, Soul Samurai, Alice in Slasherland, Fight Girl Battle World, Men of Steel and Revenge Song (Geffen Playhouse). For TV/Film, Qui’s written for Marvel Studios, AMC, SYFY, and PBS. He’s currently a writer on Netflix’s THE SOCIETY and a screenwriter for Walt Disney Animation Studios. He’s a proud member of the WGA, The Dramatists Guild, the Ma-Yi Writers Lab and an alumnus of New Dramatists and EST’s Youngblood.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Robert Ross Parker is co-founder of the Obie-winning Vampire Cowboys. He has directed all of their productions including Soul Samurai, Alice in Slasherland, Fight Girl/Battle World, and The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G. Other credits include Anna Moench’s Mothers (The Playwrights Realm); Vietgone (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Disgraced (Mirvish, Citadel Theatre, Hope and Hell Theatre Company); Fast Company (Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles, where Robert is a member); Branched (InViolet Theater); How to be a New Yorker (CRC productions); She Kills Monsters (The Flea Theater); Goodbye Cruel World (The Roundtable Ensemble), and Hamlet (solo) (Hope and Hell Theatre Company) which has toured for ten years playing in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Acting credits include Constellations (Hangar Theatre) and Frankenstein (Soho Rep./The Flying Machine). He is the former editor of The Dramatist, the Journal of the Dramatists Guild of America. M.F.A., Ohio University​.​

PERFORMED BY

Sheldon Best
Deborah S. Craig
Jon Hoche
Cameron Hoppe
Bianca Norwood
Jessica Savage

CREATED BY

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

RITUAL is a digital manifestation of magic and intention: starting on February 1, experience a five-day journey and guide to create your own personal spell for healing and transformation that culminates in a collective gathering and casting of energy at precisely 2:06p on 2/06.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Alexis Scheer‘s (Writer/Co-Director) plays include Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (WP Theater/Second Stage, NYT Critic’s Pick, Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award, Kilroy’s List, LTC Carnaval of New Latinx Work, Relentless Award semifinalist); Laughs in Spanish (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Harold & Mimi Steinberg National Student Playwriting Award, NNPN Showcase), Christina (Roe Green Award), The Sensational (Actors’ Theatre of Louisville), and A Very Herrera Holiday (New Rep). Her work has been developed at the Kennedy Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre Center, Cleveland Playhouse, San Diego REP, and others. Currently commissioned by Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage, and Northern Stage. BFA: The Boston Conservatory. MFA: Boston University. www.alexisscheer.com she/her

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Gabrielle Carrubba (Co-Director/Cast), is currently starring in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway as Zoe Murphy. Along with multiple performances as an actor (A.R.T., Goodspeed Opera House, NSMT), she also is a photographer, director, and filmmaker (most recently, Alex’s Boniello’s “I’m So Tired”). BFA The Boston Conservatory. Many thanks to the MTC team for letting us play! @gabrielle.carrubba @gabitakespicturesofyou

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Matt Rodin (Editor) believes that love is who we are. Everything he does is in an effort to tap into people’s light so that we can connect more deeply with ourselves and one another. He’s a queer maker of music, media, characters and campfires. Pre-pandemic, he starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Milwaukee Repertory Theater and released his first solo album, Matt Rodin: Live at Home. Recently, he directed and edited Ingrid Michaelson’s 14th Annual Holiday Hop. He’s grateful to have been able to work on this piece with these artists at this moment in time.

CAST

Octavia Chavez-Richmond is an actor, writer, and storyteller who uses theater and film to explore women’s relationship to their bodies. She is particularly interested in women of color and their sexual agency. Her work disrupts hierarchy, racism, and misogyny, and challenges conventional beauty standards. Select Theater: Native Gardens, Pride and Prejudice, Marisol, A Christmas Carol, Fuente Ovejuna, Between Riverside and Crazy (IRNE nomination and Elliot Norton Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress), Airness, As You Like It, Othello, Neva. Film: Lolita Express (2020) (Writer/Director), Free Guy (2021), A Ring For Christmas (2019), Knives Out (2019), Who We Are Now (2018), From Nowhere (2016).

Shirley Chen was awarded “Best Acting in a Narrative Short” at SXSW 2018 for her work in “Krista” and made her Sundance debut in 2020 as a lead in the feature Beast Beast, both directed by Danny Madden. Select credits: Man of God (Geffen Playhouse), Speechless (ABC), Gamer’s Guide (Disney XD), and Parenthood (NBC). At Harvard University, Shirley currently studies History & Literature and Theater, Dance, & Media and was one of the first six women cast in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, America’s oldest theatrical group. She is represented by KMR and GEM Entertainment Group.

Ari Groover a.k.a “Ari Grooves,” has worked on musicals such as; Holler If Ya Hear Me, Summer:The Donna Summer Musical, Head Over Heels, Alice By Heart, Bare the Musical at New World Stages, and more. TV/Flim credits includes Spiderman: Homecoming, The Get Down (Netflix), Law & Order: SVU, and 72 Hours: A Brooklyn Love Story. Ari recently finished her run of the Off Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, where she was nominated for a Lucille Lortel award for her portrayal of Ronnette, to join the cast of Tina the Musical as Tina’s sister, “Alline”.  Ari is also a DJ/Producer and is developing an album based off her TedXBway show “Message From A Wanderer”.

Samantha Williams A Texas native, Samantha Williams made her Broadway debut in the Tony award winning hit musical Dear Evan Hansen playing the principal role of ”Alana Beck” when she was in her junior year at Pace University. Samantha will next be seen in Roundabout’s Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change as the Tony-award winning role of “Emmie Thibodeaux” once Broadway safely reopens in the Spring of 2021. Her university credits include the role of “Dot” in Sunday in the Park with George and the title role in Caroline or Change.

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

Liza Birkenmeier, a playwright without a personality, gives you a personality assessment.
With the help of a surprise guest star and an experimental survey, maybe she’ll guide you toward a better understanding of your unique self.

PLEASE WELCOME OUR GUEST will runs approximately 20 minutes.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Liza Birkenmeier was recently the Tow Playwright-in-Residence at Ars Nova, where her play Dr. Ride’s American Beach House premiered in 2019. She is collaborating with director Katie Brook on Islander, a verbatim NHL piece, which has been postponed at NYTW Next Door. Her musical collaboration with Jill Sobule has been postponed at City Theatre.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Trish Harnetiaux is a playwright, filmmaker and podcast creator. Current projects include The MS Phoenix Rising with Playwrights Horizons, a narrative podcast about the relaunch of the cruise ship industry following one ship’s attempt to rebrand using avant-garde theatre. She’s developed and presented work at Soho Rep, Ars Nova, Clubbed Thumb (current commission), New Georges and more. Residencies include MacDowell, SPACE on Ryder Farm and Yaddo. Harnetiaux’s short film You Wouldn’t Understand will be part of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Rocco DiSanti (Video Editor):USA 829 Projection Designer with multiple on and off Broadway credits including; Broadway: The Snow Geese, The Columnist, Wit, Collected Stories, Time Stands Still, The Nap. Off Broadway: Incident at Vichy(Signature); Desire, Lift, Inner Voices, Wide Awake Hearts(59E59); Completeness(Playwrights Horizons); A Second Chance(The Public) and more. Regional: Fly(Florida Studio Theatre); The Threepenny Opera, Spin, Company, A Second Chance(Signature Theatre); Kansas City Swing, Lift, The Adventure of Fishy Waters In Bed With The Blues(Crossroads). Awards: Nominated for a 2012 Henry Hewes Design Award for Completeness.

ABOUT THE STAGE MANAGER

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Devorah Kengmana is a New York based Lighting and Projections designer. She has worked with Capital Repertory Theatre, KEEN Company, Voyage Theatre Company, Crossroads Theatre Company, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Portland Stage Company, and the Kansas City Actors’ Theatre, among others. She is thrilled to be helping to bring PLEASE WELCOME OUR GUEST to life with Manhattan Theatre Club.

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

A rare and intimate look inside the mind and creative process of this superstar director and choreographer as she prepares for her re-envisioned production of the landmark musical Ain’t Misbehavin’ (an upcoming co-production between Westport Country Playhouse and Barrington Stage Company).

Filmed during Camille A. Brown & Dancers’ Bubble Residency at PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century, Chatham, NY.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Camille A. Brown is an award-winning Black female choreographer addressing issues of identity with her dance company, her Broadway theater choreography, and her community engagement programs.