The Cast
Linda Manning (writer/director/Rapunzel) is an award winning playwright, screenwriter, and actor. Her solo show, "Perfect Love", premiered at the United Solo Festival in NYC 2018 directed by Obie, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Gretchen Cryer and has also been performed at Dixon Place and the Poor Mouth Theatre Company. She has written five full length plays: "Bite the Apple" (2019 Finalist for the Kentucky Women Writers Prize); "There Is No You and Me" (Finalist - New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest – 2017); "GUY" (semi-finalist for the O'Neill National Playwriting Conference 2007); "DO SOMETHING WITH YOURSELF! The Life of Charlotte Brontë" produced by The Invisible Theatre, NYC and published by Smith and Kraus; adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher" produced by The Invisible Theatre, NYC.
She has written three full length screenplays: "Learning to Drive" (Grand Prize in the 2013 StoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest), "Charlotte" (Best Feature Screenplay in the 2021 City of Angels Women’s Film Festival and second round of competition for the 2016 Sundance Screenwriters Lab), and "Divine Food". Linda has performed in theater productions regionally and in New York, and she has had featured roles on television and in numerous independent films. Linda has a Masters Degree from Trinity Rep Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island, and a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Denver. LindaSManning.com |
Diana Henry (Cinderella)
has been acting professionally for over 25 years in television, film, theatre, voice overs and commercials. She has been a lead regular since 2009 on ABC's hit TV show “What Would You Do?” appearing in over 70 episodes and has had Co-Star roles in “The Equalizer”, "The Sinner", “The Blacklist”, and “Law & Order.” She starred with Tony Hale and James Urbaniak in her first feature film “Fortunes” written by Matt Salzberg. Theatre credits include multiple NYC productions, Off-Broadway plays “Shrunken Heads” at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, “After The Rain” at Theatre Four, and regionally in “Ruler of My Destiny” at Long Wharf Theatre and “He Looks Great in a Hat” at The Alliance Theatre. In 2014, Diana captured three NY Emmy Awards for her role as presenting host on “The Lineup: Best Sports Movies”, a special series featuring Spike Lee, Chazz Palminteri and sports legend Fran Healy. Diana is an Acting Instructor at the New York Film Academy, a Teaching Artist at the Riverdale Children’s Theatre, and privately coaches young actors preparing for performing art high schools and colleges. She is also a co-founder and producing host of The Drawing Board NYC, a successful non-profit script reading company. Training: MFA in Acting at Rutgers University, NJ and BFA in Acting at Miami University, Ohio. DianaHenryInc.com |
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Designers
Adanne Spencer-Johnson (Costumes) is a Costume Designer and illustrator based in New York City. She studied at SUNY Purchase College and graduated with a BFA in Theatre Design/Technology with a concentration in Costume Design and Construction.
While at Purchase she has had the opportunity to design three Purchase Repertory shows including "Helen" by Ellen McLaughlin, "Right Behind You" a devised piece by Purchase Repertory Theatre, and Shakespeare's "As You Like It". She aspires to design for shows that bring people unforgettable joy! adannespencer.myportfolio.com |
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Deborah L. Jensen (Consulting Scenic Designer) is a seasoned Supervising Art Director and Production Designer. She recently completed the HBO Limited Series "Scenes From A Marriage". Prior to that, she was the Supervising Art Director with Designer Adam Stockhausen on Steven Spielberg’s "West Side Story". Jensen has worked with Designer Rick Carter on Spielberg’s "The Post", with Thompson on Joe Wright’s "Woman in the Window" and K.K. Barrett on "The Goldfinch". She art directed the acclaimed Coen Brothers film "Inside Llewyn Davis" with Designer Jess Gonchor, which won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
Jensen received Art Directors Guild nominations for the Coen features "Inside Llewyn Davis", "Serious Man" and "Burn After Reading". She won the Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design with Jess Gonchor on "No Country for Old Men" and Todd Hayne’s "Mildred Pierce" for HBO. Jensen studied cultural anthropology, theater, and art history at Emory University in its Scholars Program. She moved to New York to study set design, beginning in downtown and regional theater with Designer Douglas Stein. She created installations for photographers including Frederic Brenner and Birdie Sun. Jensen then took her eyes and craft and transitioned to film, seeking collaborations with the masters in the field. DebJensenStudio.com |
Suzanne Hockstein (Scenic Artist) came to the South Bronx area of NYC in 1980 to live in and help run a free-volunteer ambulance service, as part of the relief organization Plenty International. Falling deeply in love with all things New York and specifically The Bronx, she settled here with her husband and they raised 2 children, now grown with spouses of their own, who also still reside in NYC.
Along the way, Suzanne worked for 15 years in pre-K as a Music and Arts Specialist, and spent 18 summers at a popular Bronx summer day camp, where she ran the Art Department and sang daily with the Quad Band. Suzanne has for decades been creating her own art, mixed media, paper collage and assemblage, and has had much success with local exhibits. While paper is her first love, she also works with wood, found objects and anything perfectly rusted that she can lift. Also a singer-songwriter, on any given night you can find her fronting the NY-based band Seeing Voices, or playing acoustic gigs with her husband/guitar-god Richard. Now retired, Suzanne is working full time on her art and music, applying all the grand things she has picked up along the way, literally and figuratively. |
Production Team
Drew Pisarra (Dramaturg) has toured his one-man shows “Singularly Grotesque”, “Queer Notions”, and “The Gospel According to Saint Genet” to Bumbershoot and On the Boards in Seattle, The Kitchen Theatre Company in Ithaca, Maryland Art Place in Baltimore, and Highways in LA.
He has been the recipient of grants/commissions from Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX), Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation, Curious Elixirs: Curious Creators, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), Portland Art Museum, and the Regional Arts and Culture Council. His short plays "Burst," "Misery & Good Fortune" and "Serves Three" have all been seen off-off-Broadway. “The Strange Case of Nick M.”, his first-ever radio play, premiered on K-BOO-fm c/o Imago Theatre. He is a published poet and short story writer. His most recent book of stories, “I’m Pretty Gay”, has received critical acclaim from numerous publications. |
Michael Pinney (Producer) was the Producing Director of The Invisible Theatre, which, along with his partners Linda Manning and Douglas Wagner, produced original works in NYC throughout the 1990’s. He subsequently worked for Richard Frankel Productions. Mike has worked in almost any role you can imagine in the theater; backstage to onstage, to front of house, to producer.
He is currently producing True Stories, five solo shows all directed by Obie, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner and Grammy nominee Gretchen Cryer, slated to open at the Cherry Lane Theatre in May, 2022. Mike is a graduate of Trinity Rep Conservatory and is currently a commercial real estate broker in Manhattan. GettingtoLease.com |
Amy Sapp (Publicist, Digital Media Consultant)
From New York to Nashville, Amy Sapp has effectively managed Social Media and Public Relations for clients throughout the entertainment industry for five years. Her portfolio has run the gamut, from Broadway musicals like "Hamilton" and "The Great Comet" to beloved properties like NBCUniversal and The Tony Awards. Currently, Amy consults with multiple creators, including The Tiny Chef Show, Desmond Child, Inside Edition’s Megan Alexander, and the Obsessed Podcast Network. Outside of digital media, Amy has programmed live concerts in New York City for nearly five years, booking over 300 concerts at Feinstein’s/54 Below. She was profiled in Forbes at 22 years-old. amyesapp.com @amyesapp |
Victoria A. Gelling (Stage Manager) is a stage manager/creative based in Manhattan, passionate about creating art that serves as an enemy to hopelessness. Victoria typically works with The Juilliard School, but has had the pleasure of collaborating with a number of other companies in the greater New York Area such as Rattlestick, Red Bull Theater, Circle In The Square Theater School, New York Stage and Film, Long Wharf Theatre, Bard SummerScape, Spicy Witch Productions @ The Flea, Barrington Stage Company and Norwalk Symphony. She is currently pursuing a master’s in expressive arts therapy. Some of her musings can be found on thoughtspirals.com.
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