Theatre is recovery.
This year, we’ve commissioned five playwrights to write five new plays around one big question: What does it mean to rebuild? It's a question of rebirth and revival. Performed back-to-back, making for an unforgettable evening at Court Square Theater.
The series was founded in 2016 to bring great new plays beyond the footlights and into nontraditional spaces like breweries, rooftops, and taverns to provide an immersive and unique audience experience. Beginning in 2021, the series moved into the theater, but the spirit of creating theatre that propels story with minimal production continues. Fulfilling one of the company's core beliefs to make theatre more accessible to all, tickets are available on a suggested donation basis.
TWO WEEKS ONLY!
SHOW INFORMATION
Date: October 15-24
Ticket Price: Suggested Donation
Court Square Theater
Running Time: 60 min
Intermission: No
WHO’S WHO
Annabel Capper (Director, GOODBYE PORTER, HELLO DOLLY) is a London born, New York City based actor, director and producer. She is the creator of Annabel Capper Presents…..producing and directing theatre and live performance in NYC. Favorite directing credits include: Joe Orton: A Celebration, starring Alec Baldwin (Five Angels Theatre, NYC), Reunion (Bedlam Veteran Outreach Program, USS Intrepid), This Time (Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research), Entertaining Mr. Sloane (Gene Frankel Theatre), Skylight, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Multitudes (Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company, NYC), The Importance of Being Earnest, The Price and Entertaining Mr. Sloane (Bedlam's ‘Do More’ Reading Series) London productions, readings & workshops: The Actor’s Centre, Arcola Theatre, Almeida Theatre, Rosemary Branch, Jermyn Street Theatre, RSC, London Drama School, London Shakespeare Workshop.
Alexei Brusiloff (Director, EUCALYPTUS AND MARINA THE REALLY GREAT WIZARD NEED SOME REST) is a writer and director, born and raised in NYC. He is a second year MFA candidate at Columbia University’s Screenwriting & Directing program at the School of the Arts. He graduated Wesleyan University in 2025 with a double major in English and Film.
Christie Farrell* (Jill, GOOD WORK) is thrilled to be doing 5x5 with Theatre East! New York: Significant Other (Kiki) TAG Theatre Company. National Tour: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Belle cover/ Ensemble). Regional: Annie (Swing/Star to Be cover), A Chorus Line (Tricia, Female Swing) - Helen Hayes Award for Best Ensemble, The Wedding Singer (Featured Ensemble), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Usherette/ Featured Ensemble), and more. She jokes that she holds a BFA in Make Believe and that she can’t count past eight now. www.christiefarrell.com
Mark Briggs and Carlton Norris (Playwrights, GOOD WORK) met in college, where Carlton immediately tried to shake Mark. Mark, being Mark, mistook this persistence for friendship. It would take several years for him to realize Carlton had actually been trying to get rid of him. Luckily, by the time he did he had worn Carlton down and the two had become best friends. Since then, the two have independently concluded that the other is stupid, annoying, arrogant, brave, generous, infuriating, talented, and occasionally alarmingly perceptive. Good Work is their latest collaboration, which means neither of them can take all the credit, but Carlton can be blamed.
Dani Foster (Marvin, GOODBYE PORTER, HELLO DOLLY)(NYU ‘17) is an actor based in Brooklyn. Past screen credits: Law & Order SVU, Rocky’s. You can notably see Dani in a NY Blood Drive ad that will run forever or in a Brooklyn College classroom where he’s getting his masters in History.
Mila Besson Galimberti (Playwright/Nina, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUM) is a French-Italian actress, writer, and director working between New York City and Paris. Trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, she performs fluently in English, French, Italian, and Spanish. Her screen credits include Con Job on Amazon Prime, the award-winning short Sapling, and the role of Nicole in the horror feature Shovelface, premiering at the Chelsea Film Festival in October 2026. Her short play Pending Approval, which she wrote and directed, won the 2026 Audience Choice Award. She is a singer, songwriter, and certified in stage combat.
Chapman Hyatt (Playwright, CLAREMONT) NYU BFA '17, thanks to Ollie, Christa, Jud, Doug and Nathaniel. Previous works include finalist and semifinalist placement at Close Up: Reykjavik International Film Festival, Flickers' RIIFF and Austin Film Festival.
Christa Kimlicko Jones* (Director, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUM) (she/her) actress/teacher/producer based in NYC. Selected NYC credits: ANNA (co-pro, Theatre East/HC Lab). EDIE SAVES THE BIRDS, A NAME FOR A GHOST TO MUTTER, THE SOLDIER DREAMS (Theatre East). THE CHERRY ORCHARD, AWAKE AND SING!, THE SEAGULL, THE WHALE, THREE SISTERS, UNCLE VANYA, OUR TOWN (Harold Clurman Lab Theatre). UMBRELLA, HARVEST (Alchemy Theatre Company). Regionally: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, HEDDA GABLER, DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS, FOOL FOR LOVE. Teaches at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, NYC. Director of Teen Conservatory and Young Artists Programs at Stella Adler. Associate Artistic Director/Theatre East. Member: V.A.S.T.A., League of Professional Theatre Women, Actors’ Equity Association. MFA in Acting/University of Texas at Austin. www.ChristaKJones.com
Judson Jones* (Director, CLAREMONT) is an award-winning producer and director who has had the privilege of collaborating on the premieres of Tim Blake Nelson’s EYE OF GOD, Christopher Durang’s THE VIETNAMIZATON OF NEW JERSEY (NY Times Critic Pick), David Crawford’s HARVEST (Smith & Kraus Best New Plays of 2008; Back Stage Critic’s Pick), Bennett Windheim’s NORMALCY, Megan O’Brien’s THE JUNGLE BOOK, Daniel MacIvor’s THE SOLDIER DREAMS, and DEVIL AND THE DEEP with Air Supply‘s Graham Russell. Regional producing credits include: THE JINN (The American Theatre Critics Award) HEDDA, BASH, and DESIRE. His directing credits include: HOLY GHOSTS, NAME FOR A GHOST TO MUTTER, and THE SOLDIER DREAMS (Theatre East), HARVEST (Alchemy Theatre Company), BASH (the dirigo group), S-MAN (Scriptworks), THE ELF and GIFT (Salvage Vanguard Theatre). He serves on the Board of Directors for Texas Dramatists, is a member of Actors’ Equity and SAG/AFTRA, and an instructor at the Kanbar Institute of Film & Television, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
Nathaniel Meek* (Justin, CLAREMONT) Theater: Fat Pig (Geffen Playhouse - West Coast Premiere), Bled…(Rogue Machine), Hamlet (Speakeasy Theater Company), Autobahn, The Devil and Billy Markham (UCLA LIVE). The Distance From Here, The Water Engine, Cyrano De Bergerac, The Laramie Project, Arcadia, Coriolanus (Theatricum Botanicum). Film: Ouija House, Halfway to Zen. TV: My Crazy Ex, The Call Room. LA Opera: La Traviata (with Placido Domingo), Barber Of Seville. Best Actor Nomination in I Knew Him Well at Oregon Shorts Fest. As writer and director: The Boy and Chaya at The Tank. Nathaniel lives in Brooklyn with his fiancé, two cats and a doggy.
Matthew Napoli* (Jack, GOOD WORK) is so excited to be a part of 5x5 again. He has also had the privilege of being a part of the Theatre East community for almost eight seasons. From main-stage to casual readings including HOLY GHOSTS directed by Judson Jones. Other New York work includes The Metropolitan Opera, THE GOLFER at The Brick Theater, WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN at the Westside Theater and DUTCH COURAGE at The Wings Theatre.
Oliver Palmer* (Playwright/Billy, GOODBYE PORTER, HELLO DOLLY) is the Facilitator of the Theatre East Writer’s Room. Off Broadway: This Land Was Made- Vineyard Theatre, Holy Ghosts- Theatre East, Regional: American Buffalo- Dorset Theater Festival. Film/TV: Upcoming Apple TV miniseries opposite Jessica Chastain, The Bride!, The Hunting Party, Power, FBI, Godfather of Harlem, Blue Bloods, Orange is the New Black, & Daredevil. Originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, Oliver Palmer is also an impassioned playwright and screenwriter dedicated to sharing southern stories. More at www.olivercpalmer.com
Lukas Poost* (Frank/GOOD WORK) is an actor and a big fan a new works. Sprinkled amongst his numerous credits in known pieces (KINKY BOOTS, SHREK THE MUSICAL, HAIRSPRAY, JERSEY BOYS, and more) are countless new works. Some being read aloud for the first time amongst friends, some seeking their first outside believers, and occasionally one or two finally reaching their first audiences in rooms not unlike this one— these are some of the most exciting. Thank you for being here and supporting live arts!
Roni Ragone (Playwright/UCALYPTUS AND MARINA THE REALLY GREAT WIZARD NEED SOME REST) (they/them) - Night Night, Roger Roger (Seattle Public Theater, University of California, Santa Barbara; Published by Dramatic Publishing Company). Up Strung Down (The Tank: Moonlight Series, Amplify, SheNYC Semifinalist, New Works Finalist). “Left Overs” (Finalist in 50th Annual Concord Theatrical Off Off Broadway Festival [OOB], Boston Theatre Company’s Queer Voices, Cry Havoc). Company Drain (Center at West Park Launchpad). “We’re All Girls Here” (Top 30 in 47th OOB, West Texas A&M University, University of Evansville). Featured monologues published in Smith & Kraus Best Men’s Stage Monologues 2025 and Purple Light Production’s Typecast.
Benedetta Spinetti (Ella, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUM) is an actress and writer originally from Italy. She then moved here in 2019 to attend the 3 year Conservatory at Stella Adler Studio of Acting. She is beyond excited to be returning to the 5x5 at Theatre East, a community that holds a special place in her heart and where she has the absolute pleasure of being a writer in residence. Some of her professional work in New York includes B in Till Next Time (a short play that she also wrote that was featured in the Rogue Theatre Festival), Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Lucy in After Eden (TheaterEast). Her first short movie “Anna” that she wrote, produced and starred in was produced and is currently in post production. She would like to thank her parents for their support. With special thanks to her grandma Anna,whose kind and beautiful heart taught her everything that she knows.
Doug Sheppard* (Neil, CLAREMONT) last appeared with The Harold Clurman Laboratory Theater in Three Sisters. Other Off Broadway credits include Harvest (Alchemy Theatre Company), Eye of God (Theatre East), The Office Murders, Intermezzo and Iphigenia At Aulis. Favorite Repertory and Regional roles have been those by O’Neill, Chekhov, Williams and Miller. Television: “Boardwalk Empire” and “Death by Chocolate” with Ashton Kutcher, directed by Jason Reitman for SNL. Cabaret: “A Most Unusual Day” at The Metropolitan Room. Doug is a proud member of Actor’s Equity and SAG-AFTRA. Many thanks to the Theater East family, Court Square Theater and to all of you who support live theater.
Kelsey Sheppard (Marina, EUCALYPTUS AND MARINA THE REALLY GREAT WIZARD NEED SOME REST/Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MUM) is a New York-based actor, singer, and dancer! She most recently appeared in The Power of Something Invisible at the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar. Some favorite credits include And Then There Were None (Secret Theatre), Holy Ghosts (Urban Stages), Normalcy (Peter Jay Sharp Theater), The Wedding Singer (Riverside Center for the Performing Arts), and a staged reading of Richard Alleman’s The Bunner Sisters (The Mount). @kelseyrsheppard, KelseySheppard.com
Kat Warnusz-Steckel (Eucalyptus, EUCALYPTUS AND MARINA THE REALLY GREAT WIZARD NEED SOME REST)(they/them) is a Brooklyn based actor, writer and producer. Recent credits include The Censorship of Dreams at La Mama by Nora Sørena Casey and Madeleine Olnek’s upcoming feature. They hold a BA from LAMDA and an MFA from NYU Grad Acting. In their limited spare time you might find them very slowly walking their tiny, ancient dog, Bella, or staving off the existential dread with a glass of orange wine among found family. Kat is passionate about telling queer stories and despite the horrors of our time, remaining silly. Connect with them through katwsteckel.com
Jeffrey Whitted (Director, GOOD WORK) is thrilled to be making his third go round with Theatre East's 5x5 Drama Series. He previously served as the Executive Producer of the Impossible Bottle Theatre Company, and the Resident Director for the Subjective Theatre Company for 5 years (where he helped to found their collaborative theatre ensemble). Additionally, he has worked regionally (Alley Theatre, Galveston Island Musicals, Penguin Rep) as well as in New York City (NY Fringe, Vampire Cowboys, TinyRhino, NYU Senior Thesis Reading). MFA in directing, University of Houston.
DIRECTIONS
Theatre East's new permanent space is located at 44-02 23rd Street in Long Island City! 15 minutes from Times Square!
Right under the 7 train - closest subway is the 7/E/G/M at Court Square or the N/W at Queensboro Plaza
Look for the loading dock beyond the giant gate!