On Trash Monsters
by Gillian Beth Durkee directed by Shannon Molly Flynn
stage manager Michael Brent Hicks
dramaturges Dani Joseph+Kylie M. Brown
Cast
Jessica Elyse Steingold
O'Leary Julia Melfi
Dad Jake McCready
Mom Erin Christine Walsh
Sister Alanna Saunders
Boyfriend/Narrator RJ Vaillancourt
Barbara/Sally Keaton Whittaker
Albert Chang Sean Fowley
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Gillian Beth Durkee (playwright - she/her) is a playwright/screenwriter hailing originally from Seattle. She is an alumna of EST/Youngblood. Her work has been developed or produced with the Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Workshop Theater, Current Harbor, Sam French OOB, the Sewanee Writers Conference, PTP/NYC, In the Water, Tiny Rhino, and more. She has been a Sanguine Project Playwright Finalist and a two-time O’Neill semi-finalist. Her screenplay The Mast Year won a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan foundation and she currently writes for the web series Adulting with Jane. Gillian also sings a cappella with Treble NYC. BA: Middlebury, MFA: Carnegie Mellon.
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Shannon Molly Flynn (director - she/her) is an NYC-based, Seattle-reared director, producer, actor, and teaching artist. Her passion and empathy is what inspired her wild love affair with the theatre, all stemming from the drive to spread understanding of the human experience. There is no greater joy for her than being able to connect and house thoughtful, talented artists from all walks of life. Shannon directed Normal Ave’s inaugural production of Really, Really, The Dream of the Burning Boy, This Play is Not About Monica Lewinksy and most recently the 2018-2019 Season closer, Sons of the Prophet.
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Michael Brent Hicks (stage manager - he/him) is a freelance stage manager in NYC. Most recently was the ASM for the Off-Broadway run of Contact Hight at Ars Nova's Theatre 511. He graduated from the Boston Conservatory in 2018 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Born and raised in Louisiana - Thanks y'all! michaelbrenthicks.com
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Dani Joseph (dramaturge - she/her) is a dramaturg and creative producer who specializes in new plays and musicals. Right now, Dani facilitates writer’s intensives for WorkShop Theater, geared towards giving playwrights dramaturgical insight and support as they revise. Dani also develops projects: on the docket right now are two adaptations and two musicals. She always wants to meet and celebrate new creators. danijoseph.com
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Kylie M. Brown (dramaturge - she/her) is a Brooklyn-based director of new work and literary manager for Normal Ave. SRecent directing projects: Dead Meat by Paige Zubel, little lives by Shara Feit (Furnace Festival, G45 Lightbulb series), Of the Woman Came the Beginning of Sin and through her we all die by Lily Houghton (Normal Ave), What We Made: Gone Missing Lobby Project (The Civilians/City Center Encores! Off-Center), and Painting Faye Salvez by Rachel Covey (NYMF, Northwestern). Short plays and readings with EST/Youngblood, 7x7, Two Headed Rep. As an assistant/associate director, she has worked with Liesl Tommy, Leigh Silverman, and Lear Debessonet, among others. Notable projects include Eclipsed, Privacy, and most recently assisting Leigh Silverman on the first fully female/non-binary creative team on Broadway for Lifespan of a Fact. kyliembrown.com
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Elyse Steingold (Jessica - she/her) is thrilled to be part of the NAPseries after participating last year! She is an actor and comedian who can be seen onstage and on (computer) screen, with a particular fondness for developing new work! @elysesteingold
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Julia Melfi (O'Leary - she/her/they/them) is a performer, writer, and audio producer. Julia is an ensemble member of the New York Neo-Futurists, where she writes and performs in their ever-changing, weekly show, The Infinite Wrench. Julia has produced radio/podcasts for Night Vale Presents and NPR’s Ask Me Another, among others.
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Jake McCready (Dad - he/him) is a New York based international award-winning actor and director originally from Dallas. National Tour: ELF The Broadway Musical (Mr. Greenway) Select NYC Credits: Cabaret (Emcee), Macbeth (Macbeth), Happy End (The Governor), graveyard shift (Brian), Hallelujah (Sam); New Dramatists, Dixon Place, NYC One Minute Play Festival, 54 Below, Green Room 42; Regional: Assassins, God of Carnage, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Fool for Love. Love to family, with whom I would be nothing without. MFA The New School www.jakemccready.com
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Erin Christine Walsh (Mom - she/her) is an actor and singer and lives in Brooklyn. Recent favorites feature A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Emmy), Possessing Harriet (Elizabeth Cady Stanton), Romeo & Juliet (Romeo/Lady Capulet). Erin “studies” at UCB. BFA Acting, Syracuse. I love you Normal Ave! One day I’ll be normal. ErinChristineWalsh.com
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Alanna Saunders (Sister - she/her) most recently just finished playing Jessie in Scotland, PA at Roundabout. Other credits: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Broadway), Into the Woods (Natl. tour), Pirates of Penzance (Barrington), NBC’s Peter Pan Live! (Tiger Lily). IG: @alannasaun www.thesaunderscollective.com
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RJ Vaillancourt (Boyfriend/Narrator - he/him) recently performed in Georgia Shreve’s Dialogues of the Travelers at National Sawdust directed by Kylie Brown. Other credits include Manhattan Theatre Club's revival of Saint Joan, and original productions of Diaspora at the Gym at Judson, and Pussy Sludge at HERE Arts Center. Company member of Less Than Rent Theatre. Cat dad. rjvaillancourt.com.
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Keaton Whittaker (Barbara/Sally - she/her) is thrilled for be getting to work with some of her oldest and best friends on this cool new piece. Some credits Include: A Little Night Music (Broadway), A tree Grows in Brooklyn (Off Broadway), The Wolves (St. Louis Repertory), Carrie in Carrie (Balagan). BFA CCM ‘18
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Sean C. Fowley (Albert Chang - he/him) ​is thrilled to be making his Normal Ave debut! Sean is currently performing in Slime Time Live! ​at Nickelodeon Universe in the new American Dream. Recent credits: ​Jesus Christ Superstar, An Enemy of the People (Centenary Stage Company), The Wizard of Oz (Growing Stage), ​and ​Hair​. Training: Muhlenberg College. @schfowl3
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