Actor, THE BIG BAD D WORD

Torée is very excited to be a part of FEARfest!

You last saw her with The Acting Company in Shakespeare’s horror of a love story: Romeo and Juliet, where she played one of the star-crossed lovers. You may have also seen her dodging blood-sucking fiends in Vampires vs the Bronx on Netflix! Torée would like to thank her mom, grandma, and sister for their love and support. toreealexandre.com

Actor, THE RIGHT ONE

Born in South Carolina, polished at Harvard, distilled by New York City. Toni A. continues her journey to becoming the artist of her dreams, acting and writing to capture some of her army brat, craft maven, sci-fi-geek-girl experiences. SAG-AFTRA and AEA, she is wide awake and gripping the steering wheel. toniaanderson.net

Actor, HYSTERICAL

Kendra has a B.A in theatre. She also studied at Stella Adler's summer conservatory, T. Schreiber's summer Physical Theatre/ Devising Intensive, and has taken clown at Shakespeare Forum and most recently, Brooklyn Comedy Collective.

Past shows: Blurring Boundaries 2022, Barbara Kahn’s THE THREE-MILE LIMIT as Florence Mills (Theatre for the New City), Kat Mustatea’s THE ONE AND ONLY AMANDA PALMER as Amanda Palmer 1 (Medicine Show Theatre), Michael Sadler’s CODE PANTERA as Jeremy (AMiOS’ Buffy the Vampire Shotz), Liz Amadio’s IN THE ATTIC as Mona (Dream Up Festival), Peculiar Works Project’s ANDROBOROS as Solemn (Fraunces Tavern Museum).

Director, A YEAR TO GREIVE

Sydney Burtner is a NYC-based writer/director and award-winning producer. As a company member of New Ambassadors, she’s directed plays by Max Gill, Amanda Hanna, Aly Kantor, Caitland Winsett and Erin Moughon. She executed a writing assignment with Producer James Hornbeak, adapting the young adult novel THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE QUEST. She develops projects separately via the theatre incubator The Playground Experiment. As a journalist, she won awards for both writing and photography and rose to Managing Editor. As a Finance VP, she built FoHF infrastructure. She earned a Master’s degree in producing / screenwriting at NYU.

Actor, PRACTICE

Maile Binion is an actor, director, and producer from New Orleans, LA. She has worked with theaters across the South and Northeast including Southern Rep, Playmakers Youth Theatre, and Who What Where Productions. She is thrilled to be back on stage acting with New Ambassadors, where she last directed “Flooded”, seen in HEARTbroke 2023.

Actor, THE BOWL

A founding member of the company and a member of the board of directors for New Ambassadors, Jeff has appeared in a number of the festivals. He has also served as associate producer for the company's first feature play. Most recently he served as executive producer for the company's highly successful fun of "Irregulars" and "Tight Five". As a playwright, Jeff has written a number of short as well a feature length plays. He appeared in the company's last Blurring Boundaries Festival playing the part of Blake in "Wednesday in the Park with Blake".

Actor, HYSTERICAL

Erica is a queer actor, writer and comedian living in Brooklyn, NY. She is a character performer at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade and performs sketch with her indie team Wilburn. Erica is a SAG member and repped by Stewart Talent for commercial. www.ericadiederich.com

Actor, A YEAR TO GREIVE

Writer/Actor/Producer/Musician. Award winning feature film producer of "1 Night in San Diego" (Hulu) and "Bibi." Off-Broadway acting credits include “With A Little Help, It’s John Belushi” and a sold-out run of “Lighthouse: The Musical” at the Edinburgh Fringe. Member of Oscar winner, Bobby Moresco’s Actor’s Gym. Contributor at Naked Angels' Tuesdays@9. BFa NYU Tisch, Dramatic Writing. Studied Acting at William Esper Studio under Bill Esper. Published playwright "Trump Supporter, Beaten" with The NY Collective C:10 festival. Currently living in Brooklyn with two senior cats he rescued and one girlfriend he married. Instagram: @nicdnyc

Writer, THE BIG BAD D WORD

Jennifer Downes is a writer, producer, and actor based in NYC. She has served as the Associate Artistic Director of New Ambassadors since 2021, and is thrilled to be sharing her work through this tremendous company once again. Credits: Tight Five (stage play, produced at Cherry Lane Theatre and Hudson Guild Theatre), Good Mourning (pilot - available online), How To Break Up While Drunk: A Tragicomedy in Three Attempts (short play), The Devil You Know (short play), Scan Incomplete (short play), and has several film projects in development. For more information please see www.jenniferdownes.com

Actor, HYSTERICAL

Juliana is a performer and filmmaker based in New York City. Selected stage credits include Of Government (Clubbed Thumb Summerworks); What Ships Are Built For (The Haven Project); You’re A Weirdo, Annie Best (Fresh Fruit Festival 2022); Spills (Who What Where Productions); Pizza Rolls (Secret Theatre); and Redheads Only Orgy and Any Port in a Storm, both with New Ambassadors Theatre Company. She is a graduate of the Columbia University/Barnard College Theatre Department and is represented by Brilliant Talent Management. Proud member of AEA.

Writer, CASSIE STRICKLAND IS NOT UNDER THE BED

Vince Gatton is a New York-based playwright and Drama Desk-nominated actor. His short plays have won the Gary Garrison Playwriting Award, the Samuel French OOB Festival, and the LIC Short Play Festival, and he’s a three-time finalist for the National Short Playwriting Award at City Theatre in Miami. His full-length ALEXANDRIA won Sanguine Theatre Company’s Project Playwright Festival and was a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Award. Vince is a regular contributor to Motolla Theatre Project’s annual CHERRY PICKING, a new-play-generating event at the Wild Project in NYC. His full-length ghost story WAKE is published by Next Stage Press. http://www.vincegatton.com

Director, THE BOWL

Irregulars (Cherry Lane, NY); Providence (Transient Theater, Chicago; Roy Arias, NYC); F*cked –up Family Trilogy: Experimenting with Katz (TheatreLab), Irregulars & Unfinished; More Myself Than I Am (Secret Theatre & Manhattan Repertory, Best Play; HEARTbroke 2022); A Most Egregious Way (HEARTbroke 2020); Inside & Out, Fault Lines (Blurring Boundaries, Secret Theatre, Best American Short Plays 2018-2019); Wee Annie’s Hold (octoberFEARfest), Inside & Out (Blurring Boundaries 2021), Defying Lorelei (Blurring Boundaries 2022), Eugene & Oliver Back at the White Horse Tavern (HEARTbroke 2023). Co-founder and Artistic Director of New Ambassadors Theatre Company. DGA Member.

Writer, A YEAR TO GREIVE

Deirdre Girard received her Playwriting MFA from Boston University. She’s had dozens of award winning short plays produced worldwide, and several full-length productions. Her work has been published by Applause Books, Smith & Kraus, Next Stage Press and Heuer Publishing. Most recently, her collection Women at the Center was published, her play Soulmate appeared in Smith & Kraus’s Best 10-Minute Plays of 2023 and she completed a new collection of short horror plays to be produced in the fall of 2023. Deirdre is a playwriting instructor and a member of the Boston Playwright’s Theatre Advisory Council.

Writer, HYSTERICAL

John is a writer, actor, and director who studied at Yale University and William Esper Studio. John is a proud member of New Ambassadors and a founding member of the experimental comedy troupe ‘His Majesty, the Baby’ Insta: @johnwritesandacts

Director, THE RIGHT ONE

Emily is a 2022 Drama League Directing Fellow and a proud Creative Partner with Flux Theatre Ensemble. Recent projects include the world premiere of Metra: A Climate Revolution Play with Songs (co-written with Ned Hartford; Flux); Hannah Benitez’s Dike (Hofstra University); and Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School (TheaterWorksUSA – remount national tour). Her first short film, Type A, premiered at the Woods Hole Film Festival in 2021 and has appeared in festivals across the country. Member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab. Emily is a Field Instructor with Playwrights Horizons Theater School at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. www.emilyhartford.com

Actor, CASSIE STRICKLAND IS NOT UNDER THE BED

Mark is delighted to play "Howie" in Vince Gatton's play, "Cassie Strickland is Not Under the Bed". He has an extensive career in regional and Off-Broadway theatre for over 40 years, performing with luminaries like Kim Hunter. He is thrilled to work with pioneering theatre groups such as New Ambassadors, Shop-Talk, and his wife's theatre in Morningside Heights. He credits his success in large measure to two titans of the coaching profession, Wynn Handman and Michael Howard. Mark is the proud father of two great kids, now working grown-ups in ... the theatre!

Director, HYSTERICAL

Maura first moved to NYC to pursue acting and gained most of her work in musical theater. She performed with Gotham Beyond/Gotham City Improv for 4+ years. She created her own comedy and improv shows. One favorite, Law and Odor, an improvised spoof on the real show was great fun. She was awarded two artist grants to produce her play Dog Park, a canine comedy. Member of Manhattan Theater Source, 10 Estrogenius Festivals. She participated in the NY Fringe Festival, a number of times. Planet Samovar and Earth’s Vacation, were the play and musical which she also penned. She is super excited about this opportunity to direct with Fear Fest. maurakelley.net & petandhouseportrait.com

Actor, THE BOWL

David Michael Kirby is a graduate of the Atlantic Theater Company conservatory program. He is a versatile actor, singer, director, and writer. His most recent play "Ephemory Lane" premiered at New Ambassadors' Blurring Boundaries Festival in 2021. Numerous NYC appearances include A Little Princess (US premiere-Signature); The Spoon River Project (NYC premiere-Greenwood Cemetery); Carnival Round the Central Figure (NYC premiere-IRT). Select film: Zero Issue; WARFIELD; The Lion’s Den. Web series: Mythos (ITVFest award-winner). David is a founding member of New Ambassadors Theatre Company, and served two terms on its Board.

Actor, THE BOWL

Mary Lauren Off-Broadway; Performer, Director/Choreographer and Writer. B.F.A. from CSF. Credits: Cathy, The Last 5 Years and Helena, Midsummer (Mysterium), Louise, Gypsy (The Secret), Sarah, Sarah Was Mine (Cherry Lane) Sophia, Sophia (June Havoc), Omotenashi Journey (Carnegie Hall), Requited, A Quixotic Cabaret (AMT), and Gertrude, Hamlet (Compass Rose).Written works; My Shadow and Me (Cape May Stage) and Start With I Do (Chain) award winner. Film: Lead Dancer/Choreographer Dream of Spring. She is the Youth Artistic Director at AMT Theatre. Director/choreographer; Omotenashi Journey (Carnegie Hall), Hair (The Secret), Shrek (AMT) and Start With I Do (The Chain). marylaurenonline.com

Actor, CASSIE STRICKLAND IS NOT UNDER THE BED

Christopher Morucci He/They is a Brooklyn based and Montana repping Actor, Musician, Dancer, Writer, and Producer. Christopher has performed in, directed, and choreographed work Off Broadway, Regionally, and Internationally. Christopher performs with DISCOunt, Duty Free Live!, Comedy Burlesque, BoogieManja’s Pointless Appliance, Bar None, the musical comedy duo Super Casual and founded the Sketch Comedy Collective Sponsored By:. Their work has been featured at The Boom Chicago Comedy Festival, Toronto Sketch Fest, and All The Laughs Comedy Awards where they won “Best Original Comedy Song”. Their original music is available on all streaming services.

Actor, THE BIG BAD D WORD

Mandy Murphy is an actress and playwright based in NYC. She is a proud company member of New Ambassadors Theatre Co. & The Playground Experiment. She was most recently seen in NATC’s Blurring Boundaries short play festival. Some favorite roles include: Lucy in Mister Marmalade, Red in Late: A Cowboy Song & Lil’ Bit How I Learned to Drive. Mandy’s full-length plays From A to Double D & Valer have been presented by multiple companies including SheNYC and Moxie Arts. Mandy is a proud graduate of Texas State’s BFA program. Keep up with Mandy and her latest shenanigans at www.mandymurphy.org.

Actor, PRACTICE

If you'd like to see what Chase is up to next, you can follow his projects on social media. @chasenaylor on instagram. You may also email him at chasenaylor@gmail.com.

We do it for fun and because we love it! I hope you enjoy it too!

Festival Chair

Actor, A YEAR OF GREIVING

Director, CASSIE STRICKLAND IS NOT UNDER THE BED

A founding member, Marie Elèna’s past directing credits with New Ambassadors include David Adam Gill’s IN THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES and Wallace Shawn’s THE DESIGNATED MOURNER for our Friday Night Footlights Series. She was last seen onstage in the role of Margie for NATC’s 2023 production of IRREGULARS. Other NATC favorites include: TO DATE (HeartBROKE), BETTER ANGELS (FEARfest), FAULT LINES, GUNS AND AMMUNITION ( Blurring Boundaries) and EXPERIMENTING WITH KATZ. What’s next? Follow on Instagram @mojo2meo

Writer, THE BOWL

Rich began writing for the theatre while working a day job as a senior writer at

Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. He has enjoyed many full productions and staged readings of his work in venues ranging from one-minute-play extravaganzas to ten-minute-play festivals to full-length presentations, both live and streaming. He considers this work to be a vindication of his choice of a liberal arts undergraduate education. When not writing, Rich can be found engaging in activities involving strings, such as tennis, banjo playing, or untangling Christmas tree lights (seasonal). He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Director, PRACTICE

SOUND DESIGN

Lucy Roberts is extremely proud to have worked with New Ambassadors for the last two years. As an AEA stage manager, she has previously worked with The Tank, Geva Theater, The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture, and Cherry Lane. Special thanks to Chase and Maile for being hot and funny.

Director, THE BIG BAD D WORD

Claire Shiell is a director, actor, and menace to society. Proud CAP21 Professional Musical Theatre Program and New School grad. She is thrilled to be back directing for New Ambassadors. For more about her upcoming projects, follow her @claireshiell on instagram and claireshiell.com

Actor, THE BOWL

Sammy Smedley has been working in NYC Television & Film for nearly 10 years (she’s one year away from officially becoming a New Yorker). She is thrilled to have finally found her way back to her theater roots, recently performing with the New Perspective’s Theater Co. in a staged reading of “Leda’s Children” and in the short play “The Great Bluffer” this past Spring. She has been a huge supporter of The New Ambassador’s Theater Co. and is beyond excited to step out from the audience and take the stage alongside the amazing cast of “The Bowl”. Making people laugh has always been her passion and she looks forward to filming her first written comedic short film this November!

Writer/Actor, THE RIGHT ONE

WILLIAM OLIVER WATKINS is an NYC-based actor and writer. Writing: Equitas; Black, White & Blue; Attempted Burglary (Best Short Nom., Cincinnati Film Fest, Off. Sel. @ MVAAFF, BAFF, Asheville), Hero Complex, Free Will; Acting. Stage: Jordan (Northern Stage), Thirst (CATF), Sweat, Ruined, Jackie & Me, One Night in Miami, As You Like It (Denver Center); Othello, Twelfth Night (Cincinnati Shakes); Screen: The Cleaner (short), 40-Year Old Version (Sundance Award Winner); “The Endgame”; “Bull”; “Wu-Tang’s American Saga”; “L&O”; “SVU”; “Blindspot”; “The Blacklist”; “The Blacklist: Redemption”; “Madam Secretary”; “Forever”; Nasty Baby; “Nurse Jackie”; “Rescue Me”. Will is originally from Cincinnati, OH.

Writer, PRACTICE

Caitland is terrifyingly excited to be included in Fearfest again this year! Previous work with New Ambassadors includes “Tub Therapy,” “Fear Floor,” and “This Burning Fire.” You can also catch her in the booth, where she tries her best not to screw up light cues.