Join us on June 23rd for the latest reading in our New Works Initiative, TEACH written by Donna Hoke and directed by Gregg Wiggans. There are two opportunities to hear this new work: 2pm and 7pm. While tickets are free, you must RSVP at info@tschreiber.org to attend this reading. Please include your name, indicate which performance you will attend, and let us know how many seats you will need.
Donna Hoke (Playwright) Resident playwright at Road Less Traveled Productions, Donna’s work has been seen in 46 states and on five continents. Plays include THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR (Princess Grace semi-finalist), SAFE (winner of the Todd McNerney, Naatak, and Great Gay Play and Musical Contests), BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART (2016 Kilroys List), and ELEVATOR GIRL (2017 O’Neill finalist); she has also been nominated for both the Primus and Blackburn Prizes.
Donna is also a New York Times-published crossword puzzle constructor; author of Neko and the Twiggets, a children’s book; and founder/co-curator of BUA Takes 10: GLBT Short Stories. She has received an Individual Artist Award from the New York State Council on the Arts to develop HEARTS OF STONE, and is a two-time winner of the Emanuel Fried Award for Outstanding New Play (SEEDS, SONS & LOVERS). For three consecutive years, she was named Buffalo’s Best Writer by Artvoice—the only woman to ever receive the designation.
Donna serves on the Dramatists Guild Council and also as Western New York regional representative. In addition, she is a blogger, and moderator of the 12,000+-member Official Playwrights of Facebook. Recent speaking engagements include Citywrights, Kenyon Playwrights Conference, the Dramatists Guild National Conference, Chicago Dramatists, the Austin Film Festival, and a live Dramatists Guild webinar. Her commentary has been seen on #2amt, howlround, The Dramatist, the Official Playwrights of Facebook, Workshopping the New Play(Applause, 2017), and at donnahoke.com.
Gregg Wiggans (Director) Broadway: Assistant Director/Ockrent Directing Fellow on Promises, Promises. Assistant Executive Producer How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying Off Broadway: AFTEROrlando, Kristin Chenoweth: This One’s Personal, Ripcords. For Transport Group, Gregg has contributed to over 10 productions, readings and laboratories. Regional: Occupiers Tragedy (Actors Theater of Louisville), Barge (Actors Theater of Louisville). The Illuminations(DanceRink/State TheaterMinneapolis), . Internationally: The Chocolate Wall, Ladies, Sam Hunter’s Clarkston (Baltic Playwrights Conference in Estonia) He has also worked with Paper Mill Playhouse, Geva Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theater Festival, The Lark, The Goodman, Actor’s Salon of D.C., Austin Script Works, Casa Manana, Austin Lyric Opera, Arena Stage. Television: Assistant Executive Producer, SMASH (NBC), 2nd Assistant Director, IT COULD BE WORSE (Hulu) Gregg is member of Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab, and faculty member for the National Theater Institute. He is proud graduate University of Texas at Austin.
Alton Alburo (Male Emerson) has performed with Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ma-Yi, The Flea, Target Margin Lab, New Dramatists, The Civilians, NYSAF, The Lark, La MaMa, IRT, New Light Theater Project, Two Headed Rep, Concrete Temple, PEN World Voices, Children’s Theatre Company (MN), ArtsEmerson (MA), Connecticut Free Shakespeare (CT), Red Cloud Opera House (NE), among others. TV/Film: “Friends From College;” “Two Girls | 1 Asian;” Breakfast; Exchange; The Hedgehog Dilemma. Alton is on the board of Undiscovered Countries, a bimonthly new and developing works festival. altonalburo.com
Casey Hartnett (Female Emerson) is excited to make her T. Schreiber Studio debut! Casey is a graduate of the William Esper Studio’s two-year training program under the instruction of Suzanne Esper. She is currently continuing her training with Terry Schreiber. Her New York stage experience has included sketch comedy shows around NYC. She has also produced and acted in several independent films and web series, including “The Crash” (2017) and the upcoming film “The Buried Girl” in which she acts opposite Elizabeth Mitchell. She is the creator of two comedic web series about taboo women’s issues and is the NYC Lead Ambassador for the organization #HappyPeriod, organizing donation drives to collect menstrual products for the homeless. Casey thanks her family and friends for supporting her two crazy passions of acting and period activism. www.cehartnett.com Instagram: @caseyhartnett and @we.are.happyperiodnyc
Alex Kirshy (Stage Directions Reader) Alex Kirshy is a New York based actor who made his New York Theater debut last year in Oona O’Leary’s Please Go Gentle Into That Good Night. For his undergraduate education, Alex Kirshy went to Kenyon College, where he studied Drama and English. In his time there, he worked on many productions, including playing Vanya in Uncle Vanya, Joe Keller in All My Sons, Walker and Ned in Three Days of Rain, and originating the role of Angus in Wendy McLeod’s The Ballad of Bonnie Prince Chucky. He also interned with the Kenyon Playwrights Conference each summer from 2015 to 2017, where he was involved was involved in readings of many new plays. He enjoys writing, reading, and games of every kind, and when he isn’t acting, he can be found working on various projects and catching up on long-completed television shows. He is thrilled be here and wants to thank everyone involved and, of course, his parents.
Geoff Pictor (Male Chris) is a Buffalo born actor singer and teacher. Most recent productions include Bachelor Agreement (Manhattan Repertory Theater), Tabula Rasa a premier jazz opera (Cantanti Project), Louisiana Bacchae (Red Thread Theater), Brilliant Works of Art (reading, Writer’s Theater of New Jersey), and All Quiet on the Western Front (New Phoenix Theater). Geoff is a proud student of Doriane Elliott, a member of the University Glee Club, and its subset group The Ten. Geoff gives special thanks to Donna Hoke for her brilliant works of words and his partner in crime Kelsey George Mogensen for her continued love and support.
Lisa Rochlin (Female Chris) Lisa has studied with various teachers at T. Schreiber Studio, HB Studio and the Aquila Ensemble Theater. Most recently, Lisa studied with Terry Schreiber in the role of Honey from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Other roles of study at T. Schreiber include Mary from Mauritius, Sarah from Time Stands Still and Claire from Proof. Additionally, Lisa studied with the Aquila Ensemble Theater in the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and played Belle in Florida State University’s Mainstage production of A Christmas Carol. Lisa is also a certified fitness instructor who teaches Zumba and regularly attends classes at Broadway Dance Center.
Alexis Suarez (Ken James) is an actor and producer known for The Comedian (2016) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of The Shadows (2016), and Weiner-Dog (2016). He has appeared in numerous prime time and cable television roles, including IFC’s comedy series “Benders”, “Gotham” (FX), “Shades of Blue” (NBC), and HBOs critically acclaimed drama series, “The Night Of”. Born and raised in NYC, Alexis has been actively performing for 20+ years and producing for almost a decade. He is represented by BLOC and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.
