8x10 Glossy Shorts Playwright: Kimberly Shelby-Szyszko

Kimberly Shelby-Szyszko is a writer, educator and voiceover/actress whose plays have been seen in theatres and cultural centers throughout NYC. Her new play, “Grimke’s Shadow,” commissioned and produced by Xoregos Performing Company, premieres at The Producer’s Club this month. Others include Placebos Dress for Comfort (developed through Paul Zimmerman’s Writing Workshop), Trip to My Lou (concert reading, S&J Productions), and Zorah’s Magic Carpet (produced by Trilok Fusion Arts). Kimberly earned her B.A. in Creative Writing from Hofstra University, studying theatre with Royston Coppenger. She studied voice at Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts and has appeared in film, television, radio and stage productions. She teaches playwriting, acting, reading, writing, and writing evaluation for private and public organizations. Her lesson plans and articles dealing with education, health, and the arts have been published in MetroParent Magazine, The Big Idea, The Drive, and on numerous websites. Her work has been recognized with a Gold Award from Parenting Publications of America.

8x10 Glossy Shorts: Music

Left Hip Productions is proud to use the recordings of local musicians in our shows.

Check out the musicians we featured in "8x10 Glossy Shorts: Plays from the Left Hip."

Dan Costello

Neeley Bridges

Daredevil Squadron

Listen to their music, check out their live shows, buy their CDs.

8x10 Glossy Shorts: Cast and Crew

"The Crossing" by Ann Gillespie
Directed by Cindy Kawasaki
featuring Luciana Faulhaber and Diamando Stratakos

"Last Encounters" by Jennifer Marvel
Directed by Diamando Stratakos
featuring Joshua Paul Johnson, Coleen Sciacca, Michael Schoenfeld, and Allison Ungar

"For Your Amusement" by Katharine Henner
Directed by Bob Teague
featuring Colleen B. McGloin, Ava Mihaljevich, Suzanne Mooney, and Kevin Russo

"Dirty Darlings" by Corey Williams
Directed by Jason Lord-Surratt
featuring Katherine Gordon, Leo Mendoza, and Sarah Jacobs

"Very Very" by Rebecca Jane Stokes
Directed by David Platt
featuring Bobby Brower, Jamie Rosler, and Nancy Upton

"Caroline Too" by David Potashnik
Directed by C. Abeydeera
featuring Chas Bruns, Tim Dowd, Avra Friedman, Amanda Holland, Nicolene Katsilometes, and Heather Refvem

"Willoughby" by Megan Lohne
Directed by David Platt
featuring Frank Cruz and Elisa Pupko

"The Elephant in the Room is Feeding the Ducks" by Kimberly Shelby-Szyszko
Directed by Bob Teague
featuring Laura Baron, Seneca Black, Michael Chenevert, Kazim Qutab, Evangeline Reilly, and Allison Ungar

8x10 Glossy Shorts Playwright: Megan Lohne

8x10 Glossy Shorts Playwright: Ann Gillespie

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Heather Refvem

Heather Refvem (Caroline 4) is honored and excited to be part of "8x10 Glossy Shorts"! New York credits include: Anita in West Side Story (Gerald W. Lynch Theatre), Fuchsia in Poodle with Guitar and Dark Glasses (Under St. Marks), Bard at the Bar (dir. Roger Hendricks Simon, The Simon Studio). Regional: Chicago, The Last Five Years, Into the Woods, Urinetown. BFA from The College of Santa Fe. Love to family, and her New York "family".

8x10 Glossy Shorts Playwright: David Potashnik

David Potashnik was born in Ukraine, but raised on the slightly mean streets of Brooklyn, NY. After a brief career as a stand-up comic and the extremely mild success of his first play "Loving Susan," he went on to write three feature length screenplays, the latest of which, "4Chosen," is currently in pre-production; set to be filmed in 2011. He is currently working on developing a feature film based on the Dostoevsky short story, “The Double,” as well as a pilot for a series based on historical icon Giacomo Casanova. This is his second time working with Left Hip Productions and he would like to thank them once again for providing the means to bring his stories to life. David currently resides in Englishtown, New Jersey...although not by choice.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Director: Cindy N. Kawasaki

Cindy N. Kawasaki is an actor and sometimes director, technician, designer, writer, general artistic-type. She's a proud alumnus of the epic outdoor drama Blue Jacket and the equally epic Acting Apprentice program at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Some favorite past roles include Chloe in the world premiere of Neon Mirage at the 2006 Humana Festival of New American Plays and in the NY Fringe Festival remount, A Doll in Mir Production's How To Be A Doll, Mo Shin in T.A.B., Deborah in Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and an extra in Alan Cumming's F-word PSA for GLAAD.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Playwright: Katharine Henner

Katharine Henner is a writer based in Brooklyn, New York. She received her Masters degree in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Plays performed over the pond for various UK festivals and theatre companies include: Walk in the Would, Transito, M.A.R.Z.I.P.A.N., and also a staged reading of For Your Amusement directed by BAFTA-award winning director, Kfir Yefet. Recent plays performed in New York include two productions by Left Hip Productions: The Ubi and also a new version of For Your Amusement. She is the resident writer of the film collective, the Goddamn Cobras, and a co-founder of Boomslang Theatre Company. Katharine’s method is collaborative and purposefully invites techniques of skilled theatre and film practitioners as well as other artists to create new, engaging spectacle and thought-provoking discourse.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Director: C. Abeydeera

C. Abeydeera - Native Californian. C. has been all over the world as a director, playwright and actress. While working on BA in Acting, studied at Tribhuvan University in Nepal. Attended Carnegie Mellon University’s MFA Playwriting program, headed by Arthur Giron. There she studied directing with Marshall Mason, Mel Shapiro and William Ball. She went onto direct new works with San Francisco Playwrights Center, Oakland Ensemble Theatre, Women’s Theatre in Studio City, classics with San Francisco Shakespeare Company, and TV with TCI Studios. Studied for Ph.D. in Film in Switzerland, with Chantal Akerman, Catherine Breillat, and Jean Baudrillard. Has been associated with NY Shakespeare Festival, NY Musical Theatre Festival, American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco Mime Troupe, El Teatro Campesino, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Magic Theatre, La Cuadra de Seville (Spain), Jordcirkus (Sweden), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland), Courtyard Theatre (London). Last year collaborated on DEATH IN MOZAMBIQUE at The Cherry Pit.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Nikalene Katsilometes

Nikaline Katsilometes received her MFA in Acting from the New School for Drama. Born and raised in Pocatello Idaho, she then traveled "west" and obtain her BA from The University of Oregon. Recent roles in New York include Cecilia in What She Found There, Michelle in Death and the Maiden and Deven in Rough Cut. Special Thanks to all my family in Idaho, Oregon, and Greece for their unconditional love and support. Also thanks to my “ New York” family for providing me with strength, courage and grace whenever I need it.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Coleen Sciacca

Coleen Sciacca moved to New York over four years ago from Hamburg/Germany to study and pursue an acting career. Over the past several years she has performed at various New York and Regional Theatres such as the Nuyorican Poets Café, the Turtle Shell Theatre, and the Millbrook Playhouse to name a few. Despite her love for Theater, Coleen has also appeared in numerous independent short and feature length films, one of her most prominent film credits is the feature film “Honeysuckle” in which she starred alongside other well established actors. After completion of the film in March 2009 Coleen started shooting one movie after the next for the remainder of 2009, working non-stop not only in the US but also internationally in Mexico and soon in Germany. She is excited about a brilliant new decade and the experiences it will bring.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Nancy Upton

Nancy Upton is very excited to be working with Left Hip on this production. After studying acting at Tulane University and Circle in the Square Theater School, she is now a Resident Actor and Company Member with Everywhere Theatre Group (most recently appearing in their original show “Pale Horse” at the Ontological-Hysteric Theater). She will be traveling to New Orleans in March to portray Ben Affleck in Theatre 13’s regional premiere of “Matt and Ben.” Love and thanks to the cast and crew, Mom and Max. http://everywheretheatre.org/

8x10 Glossy Shorts Playwright: Jennifer Marvel

Jennifer Marvel is a playwright/actress from a wee little town in New Jersey. She has been studying theater at The Actor’s Training Institute under John Eyd for over three years. Most recent was her performance in Jake's Women (2009 Perry Award Nominee for Outstanding Actress), a commercial for Linenplace.com and a pilot for MTV. Besides acting, Jennifer has been writing since she picked up a No. 2 pencil in the first grade. She was taken under the effervescent wing of Karen Haefelein whom of which she studied under for several years. During this time, she was Editor-in-Chief of The Crow’s Nest, an art and literary magazine that allowed innovative artists and writers to showcase their work. Jennifer has produced three original one acts; Fanatic and Death by Psychology (2009 Finalist) as part of the Shotgun Theatre Festival at Gene Frankel Theatre, NYC and Odd Jobs at the 45^th Street Theatre in NYC. She is currently in the final writing stages of her short film which will be going into production in the spring.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Luciana Faulhaber

Luciana Faulhaber – Is flattered to have a chance o work with the amazing cast and crew of 8X10 Glossy Shorts. A native of Brazil, she has been pursuing acting in New Your City where she just completed a two-year Meisner training with Bill Esper and the LAByrinth Theatre Master Class. Some of her theatre off and off-off Broadway credits include: Maria in Liberal White Female and Sarah in Don’t hold the Doors at the Bleecker Street Theatre, Tracy in Seascape with Sharks and Dancer at The Tank, Jill in One at Nic’s Spoon Theatre, Joleen in B.F.F. finalist at the From the Hip: Horror festival, Jenny in The Goose is Getting at the Richmond Shepard Theatre andTammy Hays and Friar in Romeo and Juliet Together and Alive at Last! at the Long Beach Playhouse, CA. Luciana is a member of the 13^th Street Repertory Company, NewGround Theater Collective and founder of World Players, Inc. Luciana is a member of SAG and recently played a Van Hunt basketball player in the upcoming movie The Winning Season. Luciana has a currently running national AT&T commercial. She would like to thank her mother and sister for believing in her.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Colleen McGloin

Recently worked on the indie feature "I'm not me." In the past, performed in the Strawberry one-act, POP, and Fringe festivals. Attended Circle in the Square this past year. Happy to be part of the 8x10 Glossy Shorts! Yeah!

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Chas Bruns

Chas Bruns is originally from Bangor, Maine. As a young child, his mother helped him land roles in commercials and local theater. During high school, Chas developed a love for cinematography and began working behind the camera. In 2001, he decided to take the plunge and moved out to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. After graduating from California State University at Northridge with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts, Chas quickly began working in nearly every aspect of film and television production. His career includes work on such shows as Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, to list a few. In the past year, Chas decided to branch out from the production world and return to his roots in acting. Being raised in Maine, Chas had always wanted to eventually move back east. After finishing his job as a producer on season 7 of Extreme Makeover, Chas decided to move to New York. He currently lives in Brooklyn and is pursuing a career in acting. In less than six months, he has been featured alongside Steve Guttenburg and Shannon Elizabeth in the romantic comedy It's Not You and can also be seen in a special two-hour episode of Extreme Makeover performing comedic improv alongside Tyler Perry and Paul Dimeo. Hoping to expand his talent as an actor, Chas knew it was time to return to the world of theater. Playing the role of Kevin in Caroline Too will be Chas’ first theater performance since high school.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Jamie Rosler

Jamie Rosler is always excited to work on a Left Hip production, and is happy to call herself a member of the Left Hip Productions company. She has recently been seen in The Vagina Monologues at New World Stages and played the role of Paula in the first staging of 'Very, Very'. As a member of The Poisonous Ladies she has danced in various locations around New York State. Her most current role is as producer for the event ISRAMERICA, as well as Left Hip's upcoming Valentine's Day Battle of Burlesque. Many thanks to those who love and put up with her.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Ava Mihaljevich

Since receiving her degree from The American Musical And Dramatic Academy in NYC, Ava has enjoyed working with some of the most exciting emerging talent in the city. Some of her favorite roles include: Olivia in Twelfth Night, Yelena in Uncle Vanya, Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Hunyak in Chicago. Ava is also proud to make up half of the hot new cabaret duo "The Coquettes". She is terribly pleased to once again be working with the talented Mr. Teague and thrilled to be working with such a lovely cast. Ava would very much like to thank You, (yes, you), for coming out today to see the play!

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Kazim Qutab

Kazim (pronounced like the “cosm” in the word “microcosm”) was proudly born and raised in Massachusetts, the son of multicultural parents. His theatrical background started somewhat indirectly with a passion for Psychology. He later learned that theatre training provided him with an opportunity to actively study individual people through their motivations and emotions. This led to pursuing an Acting BFA (with a Psychology minor, of course) from Adelphi University, from which he graduated cum laude in ’08. Since then, Kazim has appeared in several small film and theatre projects, including most recently The Actor's Project NYC's "Short Stories." He is extremely grateful to be working with Left Hip Productions and thanks Bob for his guidance during this fast-paced process.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Laura Baron

"Laura Baron is a fearless actor," says NY Indie director Ian Fischer. Laura recently starred in the film "Hard Business" and was featured in the music video "Stoned On The Range" (a song featured in the Ang Lee film "Taking Woodstock"). Laura has originated a number of stage roles, including Ally in "Shubert’s Ally". Also a classically trained vocalist, she's sung with such celebrated musicians as Bobby McFerrin and Sir David Willcocks. In her spare time she races motorcycles and practices yoga. Laura is ecstatic to finally get to work with Bob Teague! :)

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Evangeline Reilly

Evangeline Reilly is a California-raised actress and singer-songwriter currently living in Brooklyn. She co-produces and performs with the Giddy Multitude Vaudeville Co, a bi-monthly cabaret where the circus meets the stage. Her other ongoing collaborative project, Tricycle Theater, is a magical melange of music, dance, storytelling and drama that unfolds seasonally however the fates deem appropriate. Favorite passtimes include obsession, discussion, and watching time-lapse flimography of plants.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Kevin Russo

Kevin Russo is a BFA-wielding graduate of Adelphi University as of this past May, as well as an SAFD-certified Actor-Combatant. This is his second Left Hip performance; he appeared as Brainy Smurf in the "From the Hip" 48-hour 10-minute-play festival in Central Park this past autumn. (ach! too many numbers! english no more gooding!) Favorite credits include Walter in The Rimers of Eldritch, Dr. Randall in Stage Door, and Rapunzel's Prince in Into the Woods. Special thanks to Bob and Katharine for giving him the opportunity to play Echo in this excellent script.

8x10 Glossy Shorts Actor: Avra Friedman

Avra Friedman is currently braving her first winter in New York City after moving from San Francisco this past fall. She has studied at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, UCLA School of Theater Film and Television and Stonestreet Studios at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is a proud member of Cherub Improv. Avra would like to thank her family, Corina, and Left Hip Productions.