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ART THAT AWAKENS
csp 2024 events
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October 10-13, 2024 - CONCH SHELL INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST
Conch Shell Productions presented our 3rd annual Conch Shell International Film Fest this Fall: Thursday October 10, 2024-October 13, 2024 at Regal UA Midway Cinemas - 108-22 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills Queens.
Conch Shell International Film Fest’s (CSIFF) goal is to infuse unique Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean filmmaker voices into the American film industry.
CSIFF is a festival that empowers Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora artists and spotlights television and film content created by and for people of diverse Caribbean descent. Our festival brings together fans of Caribbean culture with industry experts and creatives from around the world for four days of screenings, enlightening talks, gatherings and valuable networking opportunities.
CSIFF aims to broaden the perspectives of all who attend by creating a space for empowering, positive and inspirational exchange. Join us as we CELEBRATE Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora stories.
CSIFF is a showcase of the creative voices of indie and student film directors and writers of the Caribbean Diaspora and the Caribbean whose work inspires social change.
November 19, 2024 at flushing town hall
Join Us for the Premiere Reading of Thalia Sablon’s New Play
Synopsis:
Mille, a young overworked server’s first shift at a subpar catering event becomes a chaotic quest for self-worth, solidarity, and survival as she learns the hidden art of reclaiming time from a system that takes everything.
About Thalia:
Thalia Sablon is Haitian American focused on creating work that challenges people's capacity for understanding. When she isn’t writing or producing she is trying not wreak havoc around New York.
Themes:
Destruction of Capitalism, Never ending work shift, Cycles.
Genrie:
Surreal Comedy.
Cast members:
Anaela Lia, Jerome Allen Smith, Darius Adamson Jr, Sasha Manzetti, Mya Ison, Simeon Buresch
Trigger warnings/Content Transparency: Adult language
JULY 25TH, 2024
Captain Heaven America & the Evil Foreign Hell Demons written by Petron B.
SYNPOSIS:
Evil Foreign Hell Demons are lurking under the Foreign Boy’s bed as he dreams of rescuing his mother from Hell. Will Captain Heaven America show up in time to save the day?
Themes: Immigration. Christianity. American Identity.
Trigger Warning/Content Transparency: Gun violence
LOCATION:
FLUSHING TOWN HALL
137-35 Northern Boulevard Queens, NY 11354
Audience Q&A (moderated by CSP Co-Resident Dramaturge Jasmeene Francois).
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Petron B. (writer/actor/producer) is a Bahamian-born theatre artist. He is the recipient of several national theatre awards including a distinguished achievement for the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award, first-runner up for the David Shelton Playwriting Award, and a KCACTF Special Achievement in Performance Award. He is 2024-25 Artist in Residence at Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre, a company member at Conch Shell Productions Artist Collective, and 2024 Dramatists Guild Foundation National Playwriting Fellow. He received his MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi where he was recently inducted into the USM Graduate Student Hall of Fame. @petron.brown
ARTISTIC STATEMENT: This is a fever dream not a play. At times this story feels like a comic book, and at other moments a cartoon. It is a raw investigation into the psyche of an island child—a dance between American exceptionalism and the foreign identity.performing arts center, offering classes, workshops, and performances to students of all ages.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Marissa Joyce Stamps (director) is a Black, Haitian-American Afrosurreal artist and educator. She's part of Clubbed Thumb's 2023-2024 ECWG and EST/Youngblood. Recent: BEING UP IN HERE... (2023 Princess Grace Playwriting Award, Exponential Festival 2024), BLUE FIRE... (Exponential Festival 2022), ...TWISTED JUNIPER (O'Neill NPC 2022). MFA Playwriting: Brooklyn College. marissajoycestamps.com @marissajoycestamps
CAST:
Petron Brown as "FOREIGN BOY"
Carol Jacobanis as "WHITE WOMAN IN ALL WHITE"
Jay Patterson as "CAPTAIN HEAVEN AMERICAN"
Othello Pratt Jr. as "EVIL FOREIGN HELL DEMONS"
Thalia Sablon as "EVIL FOREIGN HELL DEMONS"
Ben Teitelbaum as "REAL AMERICAN BOY"
csp cold reading series - july 2024
HOW TO STEAL TIME & OTHER IMPORTANT POOR PEOPLE SKILLS
HOW TO STEAL TIME & OTHER IMPORTANT POOR PEOPLE SKILLS
HOW TO STEAL TIME & OTHER IMPORTANT POOR PEOPLE SKILLS
Written by Thalia Sablon
Synopsis:
Mille is working her first catering shift!...Or is it her 100th? We follow Millie as she works and learns all of the important rules of being a poor person navigating a soul-crushing service job. Her co-workers question her ability as they struggle to navigate a hostel work environment surrounded by entitl
Written by Thalia Sablon
Synopsis:
Mille is working her first catering shift!...Or is it her 100th? We follow Millie as she works and learns all of the important rules of being a poor person navigating a soul-crushing service job. Her co-workers question her ability as they struggle to navigate a hostel work environment surrounded by entitled eventgoers.
About playwright:
Thalia Sablon is Haitian American focused on creating work that challenges people's capacity for understanding. When she isn’t writing or producing she is trying not wreak havoc around New York.
Themes:
Destruction of Capitalism, Never ending work shift. Cycles.
Trigger warnings/Content Transparency: Adult language
Cast:
Anela Lia as "Mille"
Jerome Allen Smith as "Angel/V2"
Magaly Colimon as "Cher"
Amber Calderon as "Mer/V3"
Petron Brown as "Fer"
Simeon Buresch as "Mark"
Aubree Dixon as "V1"
Stage directions read by Sasha Manxetti
DEAD GIRL’S QUINCEAÑERA
HOW TO STEAL TIME & OTHER IMPORTANT POOR PEOPLE SKILLS
HOW TO STEAL TIME & OTHER IMPORTANT POOR PEOPLE SKILLS
Written by Phanésia Pharel
Synopsis:
Being 15 is even more complicated when your best friend goes missing. Maria's besties are in a race against the clock to find out what happened to her and bring her home alive. A dark comedy about secrets, female friendship, and crime solving, DEAD GIRLS QUINCEAÑERA asks what it means to come of age in a
Written by Phanésia Pharel
Synopsis:
Being 15 is even more complicated when your best friend goes missing. Maria's besties are in a race against the clock to find out what happened to her and bring her home alive. A dark comedy about secrets, female friendship, and crime solving, DEAD GIRLS QUINCEAÑERA asks what it means to come of age in a messed-up world and what you need to do to survive .
About playwright:
Phanésia Pharel is a Haitian-American playwright from a Dragon Fruit farm in Miami. Daughter of an immigrant teacher and farmer, she writes to honor people.
Themes:
Victimhood. Safety. Feminism. Coming of Age. Queerness.
Trigger warnings/Content Transparency: References to death, sexual assault of minor children, and adult language.
Cast:
Hannah Camille Carter as "Phoebe"
Savannah Ritz as "Maria"
Ana Luz Zambrana as "Salma"
Angelika Melendez as "Estefania"
Stage Directions read by Gretchen Suárez-Peña
1898
HOW TO STEAL TIME & OTHER IMPORTANT POOR PEOPLE SKILLS
1898
Written by Nelson Diaz Marcano
Synopsis:
When Puerto Rico becomes a US territory, the Suarez family is enticed by an American investor who appears with an opportunity that promises riches beyond their imaginations. But as soon as he arrives things start falling apart, and strange dreams haunt the family threatening their land, identity and
Written by Nelson Diaz Marcano
Synopsis:
When Puerto Rico becomes a US territory, the Suarez family is enticed by an American investor who appears with an opportunity that promises riches beyond their imaginations. But as soon as he arrives things start falling apart, and strange dreams haunt the family threatening their land, identity and sanity.
About playwright:
Nelson Diaz-Marcano is a Puerto Rican NYC-based theater maker, literary director, advocate, and community leader whose mission is to create work that challenges and builds connections.
Themes:
Colorism, Colonialism, Interracial love, Caribbean Santeria/Religion, Horror.
Cast members:
Ana Luz Zambrana as "Laura"
Xavier Pacheco as "Jacinto"
Ivan Vega as "Rafael"
Caro Zeller as "Viviana"
Yohanna Florentino as "Lucrecia"
Brandon Meeks as "Homer"
Stage Directions read by Lourdes Zamora
#Bluelight series online reading - friday march 29th, 2024
STEPPING ON HOLLY MISTLE'S TOE
Written by Diane De La Haye
Directed by Marissa Joyce Stamps
ABOUT THE PLAY
After failing in New York, a down-on-her-luck hip-hop dancer must help out at her quirky mother’s small town Christmas production, only to find her dreamboat ex and his new uptight girlfriend are part of the team.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
CSP Artist Collective Member, Diane De La Haye is a Jamaican-Canadian Screenwriter and Story Editor who studied at the Vancouver Film School.Over the last 10 years Diane has honed her skills in Script Development and collaborated with Directors from around the world on Feature screenplays, documentaries and TV series. She is currently Head Writer of the St Maarten-based project “The Wonderful Counsellor” as well as “Fab 4 and the Silent Retreat,” (on which she also serves as Co-Executive Producer and helped garner its 3 international Film Festival awards.) @Diane_canjam
Cast
Aja Downing ("Holly") is extremely pleased and excited to be apart of this project and ready for all the projects to come.Aja graduated from The American Musical Arts Academy in 2016. Some of Aja's previous roles were Annette in TjLovesSally4eva, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Jojo in Cher Chez Le Femme ,Aida in Aida and Ella Baker in Bayard: a new musical. Aja would like to thank her Mom and dad for all they’re support and love! And also thank the incredible cast and crew of this project!
Chris Davis ("Brian") is a South African born Australian actor and producer living in NYC. He specialises in horror development and is repped by Stevie Boothe and Ricki Olshan at Buchwald. @cold_drip_trent
Candice Jean-Jacques ("Carol") holds a B.A in Theatre from Towson University and attended Circle In The Square Theatre School. She is delighted to be part of CSP's Reading Series. Thanks to acting mentor John Anthony. www.candicejeanjacques.com
Nonye Brown-West ("Norah") @noneefizzle
Daniel Chicon-Ramirez ("Mike") is a Latino writer, actor, and director. Using his signature brand of comedy and surrealism, Danny enjoys telling stories that explore cultural identity, hypermasculinity, and familial relationships. @seriouslyLOUDdanny
Jacob (Jay) Lineberry ("Kevin") is a member of Sag/Aftra and AEA and is super excited to be working with Conch Shell Productions! @jay_lineberry
Sierra Leverett as "Cassandra"
MARCH 20TH - CSP WRITER'S WORKSHOP
SUBMISSION PLANNING & MANAGEMENT FOR THE WRITER
This workshop was led by award winning playwright, Gretchen Suárez-Peña.
This workshop provided participants with helpful tools to navigate the challenges of setting up metrics for success as well as navigating the submission process.
Topics covered:
- How and why to keep track of your submissions?
- Submission opportunities and where to find them
- Ways to develop a “winners approach” to submissions