WAITING FOR LEFTY | SoHo Shakespeare Company

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Directed by Alex Pepperman

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August 22 - September 8

2024

Thursdays — Saturdays at 7pm

Sundays at 3pm

The Flea Theater, 20 Thomas Street, Manhattan NY

About our Show | WFL | 2024

About our Show

The world is supposed to be for all of us ...

In a series of vignettes returning to a high-tempered union meeting, this Great Depression-era play explores the social repercussions of economic hardship. From workplace struggles to the stress placed on romantic relationships, this revival casts a harsh light on the realities of living under Captialism. The thrillingly real characters in Lefty struggle against villains we all know: the cost of living, corporate malpractice, institutional racism, antisemitism, and war profiteering.

Directed by Alex Pepperman; Assistant Director & Associate Producer Ryanne Ello, co-Executive Producers Ben Natan & Alex Pepperman.

The cast includes Ahmad Maher,* John Austin*, Marcus Stewart, Maya Jeyam,* Michael Aurelio*, Milena Makse, Txai Frota, and Oscar Javier in principal roles. Angela Parra, Rodolfo Pedroni, Ben Natan,* and Cito Mena will understudy.

The production team includes Oscar Javier (Musician & Composer), Miranda Tejeda (Production Stage Manager), Daniel Edwards (Costume Design & Wardrobe Supervisor) Alex Passikoff (Graphic Design).

Produced by SoHo Shakespeare Company, a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization &

Small Boat Productions

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The Cast

Cast-Crew-wfl-2024

By Clifford Odets

Directed by Alex Pepperman

Presented by

SoHo Shakespeare Company & Small Boat Productions

Maya Jeyam

Edna & Clayton

Maya Jeyam (she/they) is an Eelam-Tamil American actor, director, and bubble tea enthusiast based in New York City. As an artist, she is most passionate about community-building, mutual success, welfare, and fun. In her spare time, Maya enjoys creating situational Pinterest boards, trying new restaurants, and sitting out in the sun to photosynthesize.
www.mayajeyam.com @mayajeyam

Michael Aurelio

Sid & Fayette

Michael Aurelio’s theater credits include: RED VELVET (The Old Globe); u/s in the world premiere of Sean Patrick Shanley's THE PORTUGUESE KID (MTC); CASSABLANCABOX (HERE Arts Center); TIMBOCTOU (REDCAT); LEISURE & LUST (The Mount); CAMINO REAL (Boston Court); RICHARD III (Theatricum). TV credits: Guest Star roles in BLUE BLOODS; WU-TANG: An American Saga; MURDER IN THE FIRST; WE ARE MEN. Find him on X & Instagram @aurelioacts

John Austin

Harry Fatt

John Austin New York credits include: Atomi Theatre Collective: ROMEO & JULIET (Prince/Chorus), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Bottom); Theatre [Untitled], reading: THE CASTLE OF GHOUL HAMMOND AND HOW IT FELL INTO THE VOID (Dr. Hammond); Garret Theatre, readings: PROMETHEUS BOUND (Prometheus); SEVEN AGAINST THEBES; THE PERSIANS. National Tour: ME, MYSELF, AND SHIRLEY starring the late Cindy Williams of the hit television show “Laverne & Shirley;” National Players, Tour 69: OTHELLO; ALICE; THE GREAT GATSBY (Jay Gatsby). Regional: Arena Stage: ANGELS IN AMERICA, directed by János Szász (Joe Pitt) (Helen Hayes Award: Outstanding Ensemble; 12 total HHA Nominations including Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Production); HOLIDAY; RIGHT TO BE FORGIVEN; KLEPTOCRACY, directed by Jackson Gay. Round House: OSLO. Signature: EASY WOMEN SMOKING LOOSE CIGARETTES. Constellation: MELANCHOLY PLAY (Helen Hayes Awards: Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Production; Nomination: Outstanding Ensemble). Tutto Theatre Company: ZEUS IN THERAPY (Young Zeus) (B. Iden Payne Award, Outstanding Young Performer); Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival: THE TEMPEST (Ferdinand); SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (Willoughby). Austin Shakespeare: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Education: Boston University: BFA Acting, Summa Cum Laude, Dean’s Award, Bette Davis Prize; LAMDA: Certificate in Classical Acting. https://www.johnaustinactor.com/

Milena Makse

Florence & Benjamin

Milena Makse is a Brooklyn based actor and singer. She holds a BFA in Drama from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, studying at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, New Studio on Broadway, and Commedia dell’Arte-Florence. Recent stage credits include THE TROJAN WOMEN (Shakespeare Workshoppe), DIVERGENTES (Repertorio Español), ARMS AND THE MAN (The Gallery Players), WAR DANCE! (NY Theater Festival), and various 54 Below Performances. Film credits include SHE ATE THAT! (Mulberry Queens Prods.), which premiered at SVA Theatre this past May. Milena is thrilled to be part of her first production with SoHo Shakespeare Company and Small Boat Productions. milenamakse.com @milenamaksay

Txai Frota

Joe & Irv

Txai Frota is thrilled to be returning with Soho Shakes and making his debut with Small Boat Productions. He is a New York based actor originally from the Boston area. Txai is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts NY where he was the recipient of the Charles Jehlinger award and workshopped plays with playwrights John Cariani, Daniel Goldfarb, and Keelay Gibson. He studies with Scott Freeman at The Freeman Studio, has taken Improv at UCB and is an alumni of INTAR’s Unit 52, the LAByrinth Spring Ensemble Workshop, and the 24 Hour Plays: Nationals. Credits include: RICHARD III (SoHo Shakes); THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (Hunter College); THE FIRE THIS TIME FESTIVAL (Kraine Theatre); REASONS TO BE PRETTY (Secret Theatre) and more.

Ahmad Maher

Agate & Miller

Ahmad Maher is an Egyptian-born, NYC-based actor who has performed in various countries including Egypt, Sweden, and the United States. Ahmad, a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, was selected to be part of the prestigious Academy Company (MARIE ANTOINETTE, YOUTH, ADAPTIVE RADIATION). Favorite theater credits include: PILGRIMS MUSA & SHERI IN THE NEW WORLD (The Public Theatre); RICHARD III (SoHo Shakespeare Co.); INVASION! (Ancram Center for the Arts - Berkshire Theatre Critics Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance); GOOD THINGS HAPPEN (Lenfest Center for the Arts); and JESUS, SON OF MAN (Thanasis Theatre). He is featured in European commercials for Google, Länsförsäkringar, and Nicotinell. Ahmad is honored to be a part of this timely story with such a wonderful company. He is grateful to his friends and family for their unwavering support. For ماري. AEA | www.ahmad-maher.com | Instagram: @itssahmadmaher (He/Him)

Marcus Xavier Stewart | SoHo Shakespeare Company | Waiting for Lefty

Marcus X. Stewart

Barnes & Gunman

Marcus Xavier Stewart is a Jamaican-American multidisciplinary artist based in NYC; resident actor, Director of Outreach and Internal Communications Manager at SoHo Shakespeare company. Acting credits include: Clarence in RICHARD III, Ariel in THE TEMPEST, and Hecate in THE SISTERS (SoHo Shakespeare Company); ORESTEIA, ROMEO AND JULIET (Stairwell Theater Company); Ophelia in HAMLET (Torn Out Theater); and Hulu’s INITIATIVE 29. Marcus is excited to dig into some contemporary work with the company they’ve called home for 6 years and counting.

Oscar Javier

Musician & Composer

Oscar Javier is a New York/New Jersey based Actor. Before studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Oscar had been playing drums for 8 years and took a semester of music performance at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Most recent credits include : ANTIGONICK (American Academy of Dramatic Arts); LEGALLY BLONDE, Pit Orchestra (Bayonne High School)

Cito Mena

u/s Harry Fatt & Agate, Miller, Irv

Cito Mena is a New York based actor. He first studied acting at Arizona State University, before continuing his studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. Most recent credits include: THE GROUP (Columbia New Plays Festival); and DANCE NATION (American Academy of Dramatic Arts)

Ben Natan

u/s Joe

Bio coming soon!

Angela Para

u/s Edna, Clayton, Florence & Benjamin

Angela Parra is a Peruvian actress who has just graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Bringing new fresh and spontaneous energy to work is how directors have always described her. She trained in dancing, singing, and physical theater, also specialized as a character actress after studying two years in Buenos Aires. She has been part of different professional Musicals in Peru, TV shows, commercials, and musical video clips. Angela is currently working on building her own theater production company and looking forward to expanding her versatility as an artist.

Rodolfo Pedroni

u/s Gunman, Barnes, Sid & Fayette

Rodolfo Pedroni is a New York based actor, born and raised in Milano, Italy. At the age of five he fell in love with acting by observing how people were changed by the storytelling of a play. Since then, he has surrounded himself with artists and had the opportunity to study and collaborate with industry professionals from the CENTRO TEATRO ATTIVO in Milano, Italy, and RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts) in London, England. He recently graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan, and to this very day his heart beats wild for that same sense of compassion, generosity and heroism that one can experience with and for the audience when on stage telling a story.

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The Production Team

Alex Pepperman

Director & co-Executive Producer

Alex Pepperman (he/him) is the Founding Artistic Director and Executive Producer at SoHo Shakespeare Company. He is a director, actor, producer, teacher, text coach, and is on the faculty at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYC, where he teaches Acting Shakespeare. He holds a Masters in Theatre from Harvard University, where he specialized in Shakespeare studies (David Hammond). Directing credits include: RICHARD III (SoHo Shakespeare Co.), THUNDERSTRUCK (Gene Frankel Theater), COMPLICITY MACHINE (Eden Theatre Co.), BARDCORE: HAMLET (A.R.T. Oberon), MONOGAMOUS ANIMALS (Eden Theater Co.).

He holds a BA in Creative Writing, Acting, and Business Marketing from FDU, Madison; and an AOS from AADA, NYC. He has studied Shakespeare under the tutelage of acclaimed Broadway actor Jack Wetherall, and has worked professionally on the stages of New York, Boston, and Moscow.

Ryanne Ello

Assistant Director & Associate Producer

Ryanne Ello (they/she) is a writer, editor, actor, and native New Yorker. They are honored for the opportunity to work with this talented group of artists. Magic is real and theatre is a spell cast by heart, presence, and shared vision. Mabuhay! Love to all, and to Ben.

Ben Natan

co-Executive Producer

Bio coming soon!

Miranda Tejeda

Production Stage Manager

Bio coming soon!

Angelfaith Nalitolela

Social Media Coordinator

Angelfaith Nalitolela is an accomplished actor and dancer from Tanzania, currently based in New York. A graduate of the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Angelfaith's notable credits include Antigonick at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the ensemble dance piece Identity by Charly Wenzel, performed at the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts.

Daniel Edward

Alex Passikoff

Costume Designer &

Wardrobe Supervisor

Graphic Designer

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Special Thanks to

The Flea Theater, Ben Natan, Tali Natan, Augustin Gonzalez, Joseph Dwight, Tara Dorgan, Denise Marshall, Margherita Pepperman, and Dominque Booth

SoHo Shakespeare Company Board of Directors:

Abbas Syed, Jennifer Fouché, Eunice Sosa, Susi Korda, Alex Pepperman, Jesse Charles Friedman, Laura Yumi Snell, Rita Pepperman

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