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ART THAT AWAKENS
art that awakens by Caribbean Diaspora & Caribbean Writers
december 6 & 7th at hb Studio playwright theatre
About Event
Conch Shell Productions Inc presents our annual fundraiser - CSP New Works Fest 2024- featuring staged readings of new plays written by:Petron Brown, Magaly Colimon, AnJu Hyppolite, and Anthony Othello Pratt, Jr.
The stage is set, and the spotlight is on you! Don’t miss out on CSP New Works Fest—a groundbreaking event showcasing the freshest voices in theater. This festival celebrates the power of Caribbean diaspora storytelling, featuring four dynamic new works from CSP Artist Collective playwrights that will inspire, challenge, and captivate you.
✨ What’s In Store?
- Exciting Premieres: Be the first to witness original works from some of today’s most exciting playwrights.
- Diverse Stories: From gripping dramas to innovative comedies, these plays explore themes that matter right now—from exploring grief, forgiveness, individual rights, and hope.
- Intimate Performances: Experience these bold new works up close at HB Studio Playwrights Theatre in a setting that fosters deep connection between artists and audience.
🎭 Come for the Firsts, Stay for the Experience
Each performance is more than just a show—it’s an invitation into a world of new ideas, fresh perspectives, and untold stories. This is where tomorrow’s theater stars take their first steps, and you can say you saw it happen. Each reading will be followed by a Q&A session moderated by co-resident dramaturg Jasmeene Francois.
📅 Festival Dates/Times:
December 6th at 7pm
December 7th at 2pm
📍 Location: HB Playwrights Theatre 124 Bank Street NYC
🎟️ Get Your Tickets Now!
Tickets are selling fast—secure your spot to be part of this unforgettable event. Whether you’re a theater lover or new to the scene, there’s something for everyone at the CSP New Works Fest.
We are proud to share that HB Studio is once again our co-presenting partner. The event is made possible in part by ARTNY Small Theatre Fund Grant.
Funds from this event will support 2025 general operations costs associated with our new work development & workshop initiatives and productions.
Want to end your year making a larger contribution to support Conch Shell Productions mission to create a space for the diverse voices of artists from the 28 nations of the Caribbean?
Go to our GIVEBUTTER donation page and make a tax deductible donation.
PLUS
You can buy raffles and bid on silent auction prizes. Winners will be announced after each performance.
Co-producers: Magaly Colimon-Christopher, AnJu Hyppolite, and Rivka Rivera
Stage Manager: Joseph Flynn
CSP New Works Fest is presented in partnership with HB Studio.
BEGIN THE END
Synopsis: Set in a dystopian future, the survival of humanity above ground is dictated by genetic modifications overseen by artificial intelligence. Beneath the surface, an underground group of renegade humans, who possess the ability to self-procreate, wages war against the oppressive AI-controlled establishment. A genetically modified human Knower (played by Alyssa Carter), faces off against the formidable cis-female Queen of Bridge (played by Rachel Vasques) in a battle that will determine the fate of humanity.
This gripping narrative delves deep into the themes of AI vs. humanity and nature vs. nurture, posing critical questions about identity, survival, and the balance of power in a world on the brink.
Genre: Sci Fi, Drama
Themes: AI vs Humanity; nature vs. nurture
Writer: Magaly Colimon- Christopher
Director: Aixa Kendrick
Cast: Alyssa Carter as "Knower"
Rachel Vasques as "Queen of Bridge"
- Magaly Colimon-Christopher is a first-generation Haitian-American actress/playwright/director/Producing Artistic Director of Conch Shell Productions. www.magalycolimon.com
- Aixa Kendrick: Puerto Rican & African American heritage stage/screen actress, Lincoln Center Lab director; Jerome Foundation recipient for avant garde playwrights. Recently won Best Actress in the Hip Hop Film Festival 2020 for her role in Laura Fielder’s psychological thriller The Company You Keep. www.AixaKendrick.com
- Alyssa Carter is a Trinidadian born actress currently based in Westchester, NY. She is a graduate of Purchase College's BFA Acting Conservatory ('22). Many thanks to Conch Shell Productions for this opportunity!
- Rachel Vasquez -born & raised in NY and with credits in Film/TV & is currently enrolled at HB Studio. Lately, she has been in a few stage productions and looks forward to producing & acting in her short screenplay in the near future.
HEIR JONES
Synopsis: In HEIR JONES, the story of Brutus Jones continues through his son, Junior, who struggles to escape the shadow of his father’s legacy while navigating a life down on his luck. Exploring themes of ancestry, capitalism, and legacy, this thought-provoking drama asks: Are sons destined to fall into the same traps as their absent fathers?
A modern sequel to a classic, HEIR JONES delves into the complexities of generational cycles and the fight for identity amidst inherited burdens.
Genre: Drama
Themes: Ancestry, Capitalism, Legacy
Writer: Anthony Othello Pratt, Jr
Director: Danae Grandison
Cast: Julen Barini-Brown, Jerry Benzwick, and Hal Miers
- Anthony Othello Pratt Jr is a Writer, Actor, and Filmmaker from Harlem, NYC with roots in Nassau, Bahamas. Some credits include Twelfth Night at Classical Theatre of Harlem, Passover at The Spot, Alligator Man at National Black Theatre. Solo plays performed and written by Othello: Bo: A Billy Ocean story, Rush Hour on the A-Train, Trans-Frat, Heir Jones, Shakespeare’s Anonymous: OR a guide for Black Mens’ mental health. In film, he has been featured in The Story of Immeasurable Worth, Home, and Disrupted. Founding member of Black Art Night Group. Currently, a membeConch Shell Productions Artists Collective. Othello holds an MFA in Acting from Columbia University.
- Award-winning Jamaican born filmmaker, Danae Grandison writer / director creates narrative, commercial and shorts. Her films have screened in Oscar qualifying festivals, domestically and internationally. Danae explores themes of human empathy while masterfully encouraging critical dialogue about society.
- Julen Barini-Brown is an almuni of Pace University BFA Acting and the 24 Hour Plays Nationals. He would like to thank his family.
- Jerry Benzwick's stage credits include Single Entry, Uptown Bangarang, Feminine Justice, Against His Will, Concubine, To the Finish and God’s Will. Films The Last Britons, Nothing But Ghosts, Almost Heaven. Glory to Glorianna, Ring Games and Unspoken.
- Most recently, Hal Miers can be seen in the final season of Blue Bloods as Officer James. Hal holds an MFA from Columbia University. Thanks to his artistic collaborator Anthony!
LOR
Synopsis: LOR centers on Esperanza, a woman navigating the depths of grief and the struggle to reconnect with herself and her community. Set against the backdrop of a group therapy session, the story transitions from the chaos of Esperanza’s home to the structure and solace of a healing space. Anchored by the red chaise—a poignant symbol of transformation—Esperanza’s vulnerability opens the door to self-discovery and connection.
Through themes of grief, community, healing, and ritual, LOR invites audiences to reflect on the universal journey of processing loss and the power of collective support in fostering growth.
Genre: Drama
Themes: grief, community, healing, ritual
Writer: AnJu Hyppolite.
Director: Thalia Sablon
Cast members: Patrice Battey-Simon, Nikki Brown, Nancy Chidi, and Phylisha Nicole Phillips
- AnJu Hyppolite is a Haitian-American, award-winning actor, writer, and educator who works at the intersection of theater arts, technology, and social equity.
- Thalia Sablon is a Haiti-born, Queens-raised, NYC-based playwright, producer, and artistic administrator, earned her MFA in Playwriting from Rutgers University.
- Patrice Battey trained at American Academy of Dramatic Arts & NYU earning a BFA from Pace University. Appearing in TV & film, most recently the Amazon movie: A Good Thing.
- Nikki Brown is an aspiring artist with a passion for all things storytelling. She is currently a student at HB Studio, where she continues to study and develop her craft.
- Nancy Chidi is a Nigerian-British-American Actress and Filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY, and a student at HB Studio.
- Phylisha Nicole Phillips is a proud Caribbean-American-New Yorker. She has Bachelors in Fine Arts with emphasis in Fashion Design. She is a singer, actor, and aspiring fashion designer.
AUGUST WILSON IS RADICAL! OR BODIES!
Synopsis: The students of the Black Theatre Student Association at USM are gearing up for their final showcase of the year. Traditionally, the organization has always featured “A Night of August Wilson Monologues.” But this year, Daveed—a passionate and ambitious student—proposes something far more radical: an auction of their bodies to the white students on campus (and maybe the Black students, too).
AUGUST WILSON IS RADICAL! OR BODIES! is a play takes a hilarious yet hard-hitting look at the commodification of Black bodies, the limits of tradition, and what it means to be “radical” in a world that resists change.
Genre: Comedy
Theme: Intersections of power, performance, race, and art.
Writer: Petron B.
Director: Triza Cox
Cast: Alyssa Carter, Joshua W. Josey, Sandiana Mervil, Sadi Bimwala
- Petron B. s a playwright, performer, arts leader, and an intimacy director of Bahamian heritage. He is the recipient of the KCACTF Meritorious Achievement in Directing, the KCACTF Special Achievement in Performance Award, and the KCACTF ASPIRE John Cauble Award.
- Triza Cox is a producer, director, playwright, screenwriter, and actress. She holds an MFA from UofL. Directing credits include Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Miss Julie, Suppressed Desires, and more.
- Alyssa Carter is a Trinidadian born actress currently based in Westchester, NY. She is a graduate of Purchase College's BFA Acting Conservatory ('22). Many thanks to Conch Shell Productions for this opportunity!
- Joshua W. Josey is an actor, writer, entrepreneur and creative, and a current law student in his final year, integrating artistry and advocacy to promote justice.
- Sandiana Mervil is a Haitian American professional singer and actor. She received dual degrees in Literary Studies and Theatre Performance from USF and is in the upcoming feature film " A Complete Unknown".
- Sadi Bimwala started his acting journey at the Lola Louis Performing Arts Center in the Bronx. Then studied at William Esper Studio.
Join conch shell productions' actor list
We are thankful for the amazingly talented community of actors who have breathed life into the characters imagined and written by the CSP community playwrights of the years. If you would like to be considered for future readings and productions, click the link below and submit your info.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our upcoming events, or opportunities to support our mission, feel free to email us.
CONCH SHELL PRODUCTIONS INC
Queens, New York, New York 11367, United States
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