OTR READING SERIES The Queer Couch A new play by B.J. TINDAL Directed by BROOKE ASTON Thursday and Sunday August 19 & 22, 2021 Staged Reading (888) 455-4212 www.ChanceTheater.com SEASON 23 5522 E. LA PALMA AVE. ANAHEIM OTR Staged Reading of The Queer Couch by B.J. Tindal* Directed by Brooke Aston Dramaturg Maansi Sahay Seth Stage Manager Wade Williamson* OTR Producing Associate James Michael McHale* CAST Zayn Torrence ............................... Mitchell Gerrard Johnson Nola .............................................. J Valerione Tia ................................................. Kumari Small Marta/Ted/Mrs. Clarence .............. Camryn Long Jason ............................................ Christopher Diem* Stage Directions. .......................... Wade Williamson* Setting: April 2018. John Kenny High School, somewhere on the West Coast Running Time: 1 hour with no intermission There will be a discussion with the creative team following the performance. 2021 OTR Reading Series Sponsors ASHLEIGH AITKEN & MICHAEL PENN * Chance Theater Resident Artist Artist Biographies Mitchell Gerrard Johnson (Zayn Camryn Long (Marta/Ted/Mrs. Torrence) is originally from Houston, Clarence) is honored to be able to just Texas (Land of Beyoncé) but currently be in the same room as these lives in Los Angeles. He moved there incredible artists. Camryn has been in after graduating college at Saint Louis many shows at the Chance, including, University with a degree Marketing but are not limited to, Triassic Parq and Vocal Performance. Some of his favorite credits (Ovation nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a include hanging with his pal Sebastian in Mickey and Musical), A Chorus Line, Hairspray, She Loves Me, the Magical Map and Pumba in Tale of the Lion King at After The Revolution, and Lysistrata Jones. To the Disneyland. Judah in Joseph and the Amazing brat- who is such a big brat. Technicolored Dreamcoat directed by Will North and Christopher Diem (Jason) is so choreographed by Dave Scott, the Big Bad Wolf in excited and thankful to be back on the Shrek (5 Star Theatrical), and In the Heights as the Chance stage for this wonderful assistant choreographer (Young Artist Ensemble). staged reading. Past Chance credits Follow him on social media at @mgjohns if you want include: Charles Wallace (A Wrinkle in some fun content that will bring you joy and ask the Time), Schroeder (A Charlie Brown question, “Why does he have that French Fry Christmas), Brian (Goosebumps), James (James and Costume?” the Giant Peach), and Dickon (The Secret Garden). J Valerione (Nola), they/them, is a Christopher is also currently in a production of Love’s native of Louisiana, is an LA-based Labour’s Lost with Shakespeare by the Sea, running actor who’s been performing since August 13-22. Enjoy the show! given their first gospel CD (Kirk Franklin & Family – “Whatcha Lookin’ Playwright, Director, and Designers 4”) at the age of 5. Having been B.J. Tindal (Playwright), they/them, is raised in the church, some of their musical influences a Black queer playwright, teaching include artists such as Donny Hathaway, Stevie artist, and sour candy enthusiast. Wonder, and The Clark Sisters. After spending time They recently moved back to their studying and touring with the internationally known hometown of Philadelphia after group, The Young Americans, J began doing regional completing their MFA in Writing for the theatre projects in the OC/LA area of California. Some Screen and Stage at Northwestern University. Since of these include The Wayward Artist, The Rubicon moving back to the city, B.J. has been working with a Theatre, and The Walt Disney Company. This is J’s number of organizations devoted to arts-Education, first time telling stories within the Chance Theater including Philly Young Playwrights and After-School space. They pray that there will many more stories in Activities Partnerships as well as creating their own the future they will get to tell with this new found family. workshops designed to encourage writing-confidence “To God Be The Glory, For The Things They Have for elementary school students. B.J.’s play Goodnight, Done.” Tyler received its world premiere in February 2019 at Kumari Small (Tia), she/her, is so the Alliance Theater and has been published by happy to return to the Chance this Samuel French/Concord Theatricals in Fall 2020. Their summer! She was previously in the other play, What We Look Like, had its inaugural ensemble of Beauty and the Beast in production at Oberlin College’s new Irene and Alan 2019 with the company. Previous Wurtzel Theater also in February 2019. B.J. is excited credits include the titular role in Mary to be working with Chance Theater this season. Poppins at the Hyperion Theatre in the Disneyland Brooke Aston (Director) is a graduate Resort, Ensemble/Babette u/s in Beauty and the Beast of California State University, at the Moonlight Amphitheater, Alice Murphy in Bright Fullerton’s Musical Theater program. Star, Lorraine in All Shook Up, and Niki Harris in She began traveling with The Young Curtains. Her passion is working with theaters and Americans at age 16, and has called creative teams all over SoCal to encourage California, New York, and Las Vegas non-traditional casting to better include her fellow her home while touring, doing regional theater, working BIPOC actors. She is moved and inspired by her on cruise ships, and singing in bands. Her long friends and family, who have supported her every step performance career has been dotted with opportunities of the way. Follow her journey to direct, write, and produce many variety shows, @kumarismall and at kumarismall.com. including a cabaret with the 5th National Tour of All 2021 OTR Reading Series v 3 Shook Up, Ruby Lewis’ Blue Eyed Soul with Broadway Andrew Jackson (Ovation Recommended; LA Times Knights, a fundraiser at Tuacahn Performing Arts, and Critic’s Choice), and The Laramie Project & Laramie her own headliner shows. She has directed The Project: 10 Years Later (LA Stage Times’ Top 10 of Wizard of Oz at Mysterium, All Shook Up for 2013). He played Hamlet in Hamlet and Rosencrantz Southgate Productions, and Ordinary Days for The & Guildenstern Are Dead in repertory at American Wayward Artist. She has experience on-camera as the Coast Theater Company where his theater credits also host of a daily morning show, in web series, and has include All My Sons, and the West Coast Premiere of participated in and produced numerous media projects The Hiding Place. James received his B.A. in Theater during the pandemic, including thebstream8ng event Arts Performance from CSU Long Beach, and has The Young Americans Connected Now. She strives to studied with the Michael Chekhov Association and The facilitate her collaborators’ process through empathy, Actor’s Center (NYC). James also works as a director encouragement, and clarity both in vision and and teaching artist. His directing credits include the communication. World Premiere of Comedy of ERRORS (ACTC), and The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Chance Theater). Maansi Shahay Seth (Dramaturg), is He has taught and directed for local middle-schools, a theater artist hailing from Musical Theater Playground, and for Chance Theater’s Washington, D.C. Maansi was the Speak Up youth program. developmental dramaturg for B.J. Tindal’s play, Goodnight, Tyler which Chance Theater Staff received its world premiere in February 2019 at the Alliance Theater and was Oanh Nguyen (Executive Artistic published by Samuel French/Concord Theatricals in Director) has been serving as Chance Fall 2020, as well as the developmental dramaturg for Theater’s founding Artistic Director B.J. Tindal’s other play, What We Look Like, which had since 1999. Oanh is a recipient of its inaugural production at Oberlin College’s new Irene TCG’s New Generations Grant and and Alan Wurtzel Theater also in February 2019. the TCG Nathan Cummings Young Maansi is particularly passionate about the theory and Leaders of Color Fellowship. He was awarded the practice of dramatic composition and is honored to Outstanding Artist Award by Arts Orange County, have the opportunity to be working with Chance profiled in Orange County Register’s “Most Influential Theater! People” series and OC Weekly’s People Issue, inducted into Anaheim High School’s Hall of Fame and Wade Williamson (Stage Manager/ was a commencement speaker for Chapman Stage Directions) is a Resident Artist University College of Performing Arts. Oanh was with Chance Theater. He has been Producing Associate at South Coast Repertory for four active in the local Orange County years. He also served on the advisory board of the theater scene for the past 30 years. Anaheim High School Performing Arts Conservatory, He has stage managed the staged the board of Network of Ensemble Theatres, LA’s “singing” of L.A. Vida and the mainstage productions 99-seat Transitional Committee, and OC Theatre of Seminar, Tribes, Violet, and Good People. A Guild, as well as panels and committees for Stage graduate of Cal State Fullerton’s acclaimed School of Directors and Choreographers Society, National the Arts Department of Theatre & Dance, he has Endowment for the Arts and Theatre Communications served as an actor, stage manager, director, Group. Oanh is a proud member of SDC and technician, designer, producer, and even artistic SAG-AFTRA. His directing credits include productions director. He has directed plays at Modjeska at Chance Theater, East West Players, the J. Paul Playhouse, STAGEStheatre, and Vanguard Theater Getty Museum, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Ensemble. Acting credits at Chance Theater include Coast Repertory, Chapman University, Azusa Pacific various roles in The Stinky Cheese Man and Other University, AMDA, CSU Fullerton, and served as the Fairly Stupid Tales. Associate Director for the international tour of David James Michael McHale (OTR Henry Hwang’s Chinglish (Berkeley Repertory, South Producing Associate, Literary Coast Repertory, Hong Kong Arts Festival).