Virtual Playbill!
The Plays
TBD...We will find out on March 29th! :)
Meet The Playwrights
Molly Harrington Canu
Molly, a native of the Adirondack Mountains, made the move to New York City in 2006 to pursue her passion for Theatre Arts. Since then, she has dedicated her efforts to perfecting her skills in comedy, storytelling, performance, and more recently, playwriting. Her first full length play, It'll Be Fine is set to be staged this October in Westchester. Aside from her creative endeavors, Molly is owner and operator of the Fit Inn and mother to two young boys. She currently resides in Westchester.
Jessica Feder-Birnbaum
Her plays have had readings, workshops and productions in New York, regionally, and virtually. Recent readings/productions: Crossways Theatre Women’s Festival. Jewish Women’s Festival 14th St. Y. The Playground Experiment. Round The Bend Theatre (Bedford Playhouse). Tiger’s Heart Players (Bronx NY). Project Y (Women in Theatre Festival/HONOR ROLL MONOLOGUE SLAM); Pump House Regional Arts Center, La Crosse Wisconsin. Code Red Playwrights Gun Violence Initiative. The Director’s Workshop Theatre of Western Springs (Illinois). Plays and Pizza Zoom Series (NYC). Coronavirus One Minute Play Festival (Queens Theatre, NYC). Bechdel Group’s 9th Overnight Writing Challenge (NYC). Clutch Productions EmpowerHER Reading Series (Primary Stages Studios NYC). Burning Coal Theatre (Raleigh NC). 5 Minute Jewish Play Festival- Lawrence Family JCC (San Diego). Member: Dramatists Guild Honor Roll! LPTW (League of Professional Theatre Women), Advisory Board Clutch Productions. Initiating Artist JTC (Jewish Theatre Circle).
Abbie Goldberg
Abbie is a multidisciplinary artist from the mountains of Maine. She is a member of Pink Umbrella Theater’s inaugural Disability Cohort. They are also an alumnus of Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s Theater of Change program and the Join for Justice Community Organizing Fellowship. She developed her full length work Believing Cassandra as part of The New Opera and Musical Theater Initiative, and her piece 504: The Musical (written with collaborator Mason McDowell) at New York University’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program. Their work has been performed at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Theatre Creation in Tokyo, Japan, Rattlestick Theater, Rockwood Music Hall, and more. Her writing has been published by HowlRound, Autostraddle, Dame, Sinister Wisdom, AK Press, and more. They are also a cofounder of the troupe Full Moon Drag with whom they perform under the name Chava GoodTime. She has been reviewed by her psychiatrist as “such a good storyteller.”
Lizbette Ocasio-Russe
Lizbette Ocasio-Russe is a Puerto Rican author currently working as an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University. She is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the entertainment site PussyPopCulture.com. Her work generally takes up queer and anti-colonialist themes using fictive characters to explore pressing social issues and criticize discriminatory and oppressive sociopolitical and economic practices. Lizbette’s fiction has been published in several publications including eTropic electronic journal of studies in the tropics, Poui: The Cavehill Journal of Creative Writing, Moko: Caribbean Arts and Letters, Tonguas: Student Literary and Artistic Expression Journal, Flash Fiction Magazine, Writing Texas, Corpus Christi Writers 2023, Mays Publishing, The Windward Review, and South Hall Literary Magazine. Lizbette’s debut book, Loverbar, was published July 2023 by Flashpoint Publications.
Serena Norr
Serena Norr is a writer, director, playwright, and founder of Let’s Make a Play, a playwriting program for kids and adults. Her plays have been performed at the Omaha Fringe Festival, White Plains Performing Arts Center, the New Deal Creative Arts Center, Westchester Collaborative Theater, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, The Players Theater with the Rogue Theater Festival and the NYC Short Play Festival, The Tank, The Flea, the University of Alabama as well as various productions over Zoom. She is the director of the short movie “Bland” as well as “Mar and Debbie’s Very Haunted Situation,” “Inspired by True Events,” “Dream Catcher,” “Agency for the Lost,” and many others. Her plays have been published in the “Bittersweet Monologue Collection,” “ellipsis... literature & art Drama,” and the “Stonecoast Review.” She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Westchester Collaborative Theatre, participant in the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive (2021), the National Women’s Theatre Festival (WTF) Directing Program (2022) and Producing/Directing Program (2023), and The Workshop Theater (2023). For more information, visit http://www.serenanorr.com/
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Meet the Artists
Xandra Abney (Actor)
Xandra is an actor, writer and producer based out of New York and is thrilled to be performing with River's Edge for the first time! She has recently been seen in Unoriginal Film's Beware the Box Folk and on stage at The Twenty-Sided Tavern. For more spooky content, you can hear her voice in the podcast I Fell In Love With a Video Nasty or join her on her Twitch stream @astrallyalex. Other selected credits: Icarus (Sarah), Stop Kiss (Callie), The Secretaries (Patty Johnson)
Noni Alley (Actor)
Noni (they/them) is an actor and Voice Over artist based in NYC. An acting alumni of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, with a background in circus arts, Noni performs in film, live theater, animation, and audiobooks, with a special interest in characters that break gender stereotypes and productions that delve into societal standards and outlooks.
Mark Cajigao (Actor)
Mark is very happy to be working again with River's Edge Theatre Company. He is an actor, singer, director and producer who has worked on stage and in film in NYC, regionally, and as far abroad as Cairo, Egypt. Mark also co-curates RETCo’s Cold Reads series, where every month local actors tackle a different play with no prior rehearsal. He lives with his family in Hastings on Hudson, and holds degrees from Wagner College and The New School for Drama. Mark is a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Aaron Cirillo (Actor)
Aaron is honored to make his River’s Edge Theatre debut! Aaron is a proud graduate of UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Theatre: Patroclus in Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare produced at Staten Island Shakespeare Co., Sergius Saranoff in Arms and The Man by George Bernard Shaw produced at UC Irvine, and Tom in The Firefighters Wife by John Attanas at Sunlight Studios. Film: Young Andrew in In the Radiant City directed by Rachel Lambert, Alex in Out of Frame directed by Adhurim Tetaj, Noah in Film Cult directed by Michael Sarkisian.
Ray Flaks (Sound and Lighting Technician)
Ray is an A/V technician and audio engineer from Westchester, NY, and currently based in Ossining, NY. This is his third time collaborating with Rivers Edge Theater Company (Ichabod, Marian), and he is grateful to be working with this wonderful team again. Ray has worked on a variety of theater productions from a young age, including a few recent shows at Bethany Arts Community. He received a BA in Cinema from Binghamton University in 2021, and is excited to continue supporting the arts in his community.
Alejandro Flores (Actor)
Alejandro is a rising actor in the NYC area and an Ossining native who was introduced to acting via the Ossining High School Drama Club. Since his time at OHS, Alejandro has been a part of productions such as Sweat, Pipeline, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Sketch of New York, and most recently Romeo and Juliet. He is excited to be able to act in his home town again and work with new and amazing people!
Nina Fry (Director)
Nina is a transatlantic actor/director/producer and collaborator on theatre, opera and film projects. She gained a BFA in Acting from Drama Centre London and an MFA in Directing from The New School of Drama. Her work is greatly influenced by two life long passions: movement and documentary. By mixing and threading these forms together we can create powerful art that to changes our understanding of the world. Her work weaves interviews, recordings, new writing and live soundscapes with movement and physical exploration to create honest and exciting vehicles for change. Notable examples of that in her work are: The Connection, a play meshing live jazz/sound within a documentary play; Losing Control, a new opera series investigating the historic/current struggle for reproductive rights; Primordial, a performance play written using verbatim interviews; an upcoming ‘cabaret’, The Hole Story, aiming to reshape the birthing narrative.
Jessica Irons (Director), an Ossining resident, and sits on the Board of Bethany Arts Community, and is the current president. She sat on the Board of Ossining MATTERS for 6 years and was president for 2. For 10 years she was the Artistic Director of the award winning , NYC based Andhow ! Theater Company where she fostered new plays from a seed of an idea through to full productions. She directed Off & Off Off Broadway at the Flea, The Ohio, HERE Arts Center, 78th Street Theater Lab, Dixon Place, The Blue Heron Arts Center, The Ontological at St. Mark's Church in the Bowery New Georges and adobe theatre company. She was the Associate Artistic Director of adobe theatre company and the Artistic Associate at Adirondack Theater Festival. As an educator she has directed/taught in Newark NJ, Redhook, Brooklyn, for the 52nd Street Project in Manhattan, Allan Stevenson, Fordham University, the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester and elsewhere throughout the tri-state area . Locally, she has directed adults professionally for Rivers Edge Theatre Co. She was the original therapeutic arts director at Children of Promise, NYC in Bedford Stuyvesant, where she developed and implemented therapeutic art & theater curricula for children of incarcerated parents. Jessica studied theater at Skidmore College (BA) and Creative Arts Therapy at the New School.
Tess Kaplan (Actor)
Tess (she/her) is a young gal living the dream in NYC. Originally from the spooky town of Sleepy Hollow, she graduated from Tufts University last year with credits including Marie Antoinette (Marie Antoinette) and Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife). She has recently performed in multiple cabarets and now is thrilled to collaborate and perform with this group of talented artists. IG: @tess.kaplan
Jennifer Kim (Actor)
Jennifer is a NYC-based actress. Her recent roles include Emily Delacey in Citygate Productions' Frankenstein, as well as ensemble roles in the Heights Players Theatre's Miracle on 34th Street and Staten Island Shakespeare Theatre's A Dream Play. She is thrilled to be participating in River Edge Theatre's Women's Writes: 24-Hour Play Fest!
Katie Kopajtic (Director)
Katie is a theatre person and writer thrilled to be making her directorial debut with RETCo, following past acting roles in Peekaboo and Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood. Katie also teaches Comedy Skillz on Tuesday nights. You can see her next as Sharon in Quacks and Whacks: A Cancer Comedy at The Chain Theatre, NYC, as part of the New York Fringe Festival (shows April 4, 6, 15, and 20). Her writing has been published in cream city review, Electric Literature, Variant Literature, The Future Fire, and more. If not on stage or writing, she's researching '90s dyke bar culture, or working on feature-length documentary about the fantasy of heritage. Explore her work at www.katiekopajtic.com
David Andrew Laws (Actor)
David (he/they) is an NYC-based bard. Notable works: Co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern, where he wrote and originated the role of Dungeon Master for five campaigns. Over 400 performances as Macbeth in Drunk Shakespeare off-Broadway. Founding Artistic Director of NYC's 213th-best Shakespeare company, Hamlet Isn't Dead. His first play, Attack! of the Killer Man from the Sun!, has been performed in nine US states over the past year. And his cat Stirling is just the most perfect and handsome little gentleman there ever was. Thrilled to be showing off his Bottom again; big thanks to Jim Cairl, Sarah Reynolds, and Alex Abney. For more, visit davidandrewlaws.com. Or don't. What am I gonna do? I'm just a bio
Marie Louise Miller (Director)
Marie-Louise has had the honor of working with artists from all walks of life and artistic disciplines over many decades from Germany to New York. An international traveler, stage director, teacher, dramaturge and integrated arts events producer, Marie-Louise uses her many lenses to craft an experience for her audience. A veteran of 24-hr musicals from the A-Train days in NYC, she is excited to do her part for River’s Edge.
Aisling Mulhern (Actor)
Aisling is a native of Ireland, has lived in New York and Maine, and currently resides in PA. She spent her childhood performing in professional theaters across the US and is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater. Aisling has performed Off-Broadway and in New York regional theaters, as a member of Axial Theater Ensemble and the Westchester Theater Collaborative. She adores the process of rehearsing and performing new works and has participated in multiple play festivals. is excited to join the Women's Writes 24 hour Play Fest!
Lauren Orkus (Actor)
Lauren is happy to be back onstage with RETCO! Favorite shows include: It's A Wonderful Life & The Snow Queen (Portland Stage); Metamorphoses (Lookingglass Theatre and Arena Stage); My Sweet Charlie (Abingdon, NYC); Comedy of Errors & Two Noble Kinsmen (Pennsylvania Shakes); Doubt (Weston Playhouse). Lauren serves as board vice president of RiverArts and is Head of Operations for the documentary film company Barnicle Brothers. MFA - FSU/Asolo Theatre Conservatory.
Marissa Porto (Actor)
Marissa is thrilled to be performing with River's Edge again! For the past 15+ years, Marissa has been primarily working as a Theatre Educator. Over the years, however, she has continued performing wherever and whenever she could. Favorite recent roles: Alice in The Drowning Girls, Penny in Urinetown, and Baker's Wife in Into the Woods. Lately, Marissa has been spending most of her time raising her 2 wonderful daughters. She's honored to be part of this ensemble and to make her return to the stage with such an inspiring group of artists!
Traci Redmond (Actor)
Traci is a multi-talented SAG-AFTRA actor, improviser, and voice-over artist. She has showcased her talent with River's Edge Theatre in "Riverside Haunts: Episode 1," the short play "Listening," and numerous play readings since 2021. She also coaches the monthly adult improv jam "Adult Swim," returning early Fall 2024. Most recently, Traci starred as Sandra in the hilarious sold-out production of "The Play That Goes Wrong" at Elmwood Playhouse. Her performances span across NYC and regional theaters, including Primary Stages, Manhattan Theater Club, Dixon Place, FIAF/PS122, bluemouth inc., The Tank Theater, Upright Citizens Brigade, Queens Players, The Creek Theater, Irvington Shakespeare Company, National Comedy Theater, Dad's Garage Theater, Red Chair Theater, Peoples Improv Theater, iO West, Ansley Park Playhouse, and Horizon Theater Company. Additionally, Traci frequently joins creative forces with Jon Hatch, crafting evocative voice-overs with his intricate music compositions. Traci studied acting at the University of Oklahoma, Atlantic Theater School, MN Acting Studio, and with many other prestigious coaches in NYC. To learn more about Traci and her voice-over, film and theatre projects: www.traciredmond.com and follow her in Instagram @tracired
Monica Robles (Stage Manager)
Monica is the co-founder of Tres Brujas Productions where she serves as a producer and stage manager. Past production credits include work in NYC, Puerto Rico and Edinburgh. During the day, she is a media Partnerships Director at SiriusXM and sits as the chair of their DE&I Board and their Pride ERG, developing partnerships with non-profit organizations such as The Ally Coalition, New Alternatives and Live Out Loud.
Julia Schonberg (Director)
Julia (she/her) is an actor, theatre maker, applied theatre artist, educator, and arts administrator based in Tarrytown, NY by way of Cleveland, Boston, and Brooklyn. Julia received her BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University and her MA in Applied Theatre from CUNY's School of Professional Studies. Julia has worked both on and offstage with NY based companies: The Barrow Group, Houses on the Moon, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Superhero Clubhouse, The Bushwick Starr, Brave New World Repertory Theatre, Writopia Lab, Columbia Stages, Theatre Revolution, State of Play Productions, and River's Edge Theatre Co. She is a founder and company member of The Neighborhood Theatre Project, a theatre company creating opportunities for community building, reflection, and dialogue through verbatim theatre making. Julia is the community engagement & outreach coordinator at Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, NY. juliaschonberg.com, theneighborhoodtheatreproject.org @juliamschonberg
Gwendolyn Torrence (Actor)
Originally from the DMV (not to be confused with the Department of Motor Vehicles), Gwendolyn is an actor/mover currently based in Queens. Recent credits include Joan of Arc in a Supermarket in California (The Tank), Nightmare:Dollhouse (Psycho Clan Company). She is classically trained in dance and movement and had the fortune of studying under the best (Master Classes include Alvin Ailey, Carmen de Lavallade, Alonzo King LINES) at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She is a current ensemble member of Blessed Unrest’s training company. She is also a member of Sunrise Movement, an organization advocating for political action and climate change. Montclair State BFA ‘20. She is thrilled to be a part of Women’s Writes: 24 Hour Play Fest and sends a thank-you to River’s Edge Theatre! @__ggwendolyn__
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About River's Edge Theatre Co.
Mission:
To reflect the human experience, spark conversation, and inspire social change through theatre and theatre education.
River's Edge Theatre Company (RETCo) is a non-profit organization based in Hastings-on- Hudson. Founded in 2019 by theatre artists David and Meghan Covington (an Ardsley, NY couple with three children), the company tackles important social issues such as social justice reform, gender equality, race, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, mental health, and climate change. Since its birth, RETCo has produced experimental staged readings, storytelling events, and fully staged productions, both in-person and virtually. River's Edge has established its self as a leader in experimental and boundary pushing theatre in the region, putting the EDGE into the name River's Edge. In addition to its bold, unique performances, RETCo offers theatre education programming for children and adults, focusing on the social emotional benefits of theatre. River's Edge Theatre Company Inc is a 501(c)3 NY State nonprofit organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of River's Edge Theatre Company are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
About Bethany Arts Community
Mission:
Bethany Arts Community is a space and environment where all forms of art can be learned and expressed, where hope & acceptance are the norms. Nurturing the creative process, Bethany welcomes artists, from young to old, and all levels of experience, to explore and create art that the community can engage with. Bethany fosters sharing, connection, and collaboration, in an inclusive culture where people experience the power of art to improve lives and expand their perceptions and perspectives of the world.
About Hopes Door
Mission:
Hope’s Door seeks to end domestic violence and to empower victims to achieve safety, independence, and healing from the trauma of abuse.
Hope’s Door prevents, responds to, and partners to end domestic and intimate partner violence and other forms of abuse. We provide a 24/7/365 crisis, support and information hotline (the gateway to all our services) as well as emergency shelter to ensure individuals are safe from the threat of violence. Engaging in domestic violence education and training in schools and community centers throughout Westchester County, Hope’s Door offers counseling, advocacy and legal services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. All of our services are provided free of charge to victims and survivors; we rely on the generosity of private and corporate donors as well as federal, state and county grants.
If you or a friend or family member are living with abuse, we welcome you to call us.
More awesome local organizations that amplify women's voices:
Impact100 Westchester
Impact 100 is a women's collective giving organization engaging women in philanthropy.
Thanks to our members, we will award $250,000 this June for our 2025 Grant Cycle, including two $85,000 Transformational Project Grants, two Core Mission Grants and four Boost Awards that focus on smaller nonprofits. With this year’s grants, we will have awarded over $3 million to Westchester nonprofits since our founding. More info HERE.
Moms Out Front Rivertowns
We are a team of moms and others working together to transition our communities off fossil fuels to renewable energy. Our members mostly live in the villages along or near the Hudson River from Sleepy Hollow south to Hastings-on-Hudson, but all are welcome. No experience or expertise is required! Your participation and concern for preserving a livable climate for all children is all we need to strengthen our movement and see real results. There are different ways to get involved depending on your interests and availability. Learn more HERE.
Rivertowns for Reproductive Rights
R4RR mobilizes area residents to take action for reproductive justice. Our mission is to raise awareness and funds to support abortion access through events that foster a sense of community and joy. Check out their next fundraiser HERE.
Next On Stage for River's Edge Theatre Co...
World Builders
By Johnna Adams
Directed by Mark Cajigao
May 30th and 31st at 7:30pm
June 1st at 3pm
River's Edge Theatre Co Studio, Hastings-on-Hudson
Max and Whitney live in their own, imaginary worlds. They are both patients in a clinical trial experimenting with a new drug – a treatment that will cure them of their schizophrenic dreams and flights of fancy – that will make them functioning members of society. As the pills take effect their fantasies fade. And amidst their struggles to preserve their illusions they fall in love. Max and Whitney must choose between a love that is real and the worlds that they have built. World Builders is a dark comedy that is both heartfelt and philosophical, asking audience members to reconsider their own realities, sense of self, and what it means to truly love another.
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