The Original Play Festival (OPF) is a festival comprised of multiple student-written one-act plays, directed and acted by students. The Original Play Festival is a tradition that celebrates new work and the importance of student theatre each year at Cabaret.
17th Annual Original Play Festival
march 2026
Coordinated by: Selenne Garcia
Plays:
"It’s Better When It’s Fictional" Written by Melly Merida, directed by Maksym LaRouche
"What Happens When I Close My Eyes" Written and directed by Quinn Hope Michaels
"Wait" Written by Mason Springer-Lipton, directed by Kelly Rosanno
"Adams Apple" Written by Grace Zanghi, directed by Pooja Talreja
"Clearance" Written and directed by Chiara Giacomelli
"Rewrite" Directed and written by Kristin Field
Cast:
Om-Ahsi Jackson
Olivia Aiere
Evy Baek
Aria Clarke
Ashton Jenkins
Ryan Kalin
JohnPatrick Kramer
Nox Lawton
Charlie Matas
Grace Mombo
Rebecca Rozenberg
Jinu Son
Ashley Tyson
Alisha Vohra
Colin Williams
Edith Zhao
16th Annual Original Play Festival
march 2025
Coordinated by: Selenne Garcia
Plays:
"Stompin at the Salon" by Micah Baraka, directed by Micah Baraka
"Cycle" by Quinn Hope, directed by Kayla Lewis
"What You Found in the Barn" by Mason Springer-Lipton, directed by Joe Galioto
"The Great Big Chair in the Sky" by Ashton Jenkins, dirdcted by Ashton Jenkins
"Five Nights at Freddy's the Unofficial Musical" by Kristin Field, directed by Kristin Field
Cast:
Maksym LaRouche
Alix Grossman
Om-Ahsi Jackson
Gracie Simpkins
Aria Clarke
Julia Cook
Marisa Landi
Rebecca Rozenberg
Kelly Rossano
Leo Tyler Eisenman
Mason Springer-Lipton
Sanjay Guiadeen
Ben Huebscher
Ryan Kalin
15th Annual Original Play Festival
November 2023
Coordinated by: Lauren Bromberg
“That’s Amore” by Astha Lakhankar, Directed by Elizabeth Carhart
Sabrina: Yasemin Goncu
Camden: Gianni Lewis
Karen: Chloe Anderson
Gary: Vaughn Battista
Matt: Dylan Freno
Sadie: Silvia Sherpa
“You’re a Man’s Man” by Michaela Schwab, Directed by Maiah Sterling
Gray: Matthew Gonzalez
Jeremy: Jazmine Antonucci
Liam: Gianni Lewis
“The Therapist Therapist” Written and Directed by Mason Springer-Lipton
Shame: Ashton Jenkins
Grief: Elizabeth Carhart
Dandruff/Narrator: Yasemin Goncu
“Alibis” by Dylan Freno, Directed by Vaughn Battista
Jonah: Ashton Jenkins
Patty: Gianni Lewis
14th Annual Original Play Festival
march 2023
Coordinated by: Lauren Bromberg
PLAYWRIGHTS:
Luna Ding (Community College)
Mason Springer-Lipton (Gaslighting Master’s Thesis Defense)
Felicity Winter (Unidentified Female)
Ashton Jenkins (The Tragedy of Margaret)
DIRECTORS:
Sofia Pasqua
Maddy Hettrick
Vaughn Batista
Astha Lakhankar
CAST:
Nia Abdullah
Mohammad Wahla
Yasmine Goncu
Sydney West
Patrick Joyner
Karen Falcones
Julia Marcato
Shannon Kathleen
Erika Lucas
Sander Mark
Alyssa Scott
13th Annual Original Play Festival
april 2022
Coordinated by: Izzy Bonvini
Inside, or a Journey Into a Struggling Bohemian Mind
Directed by Des Walker, Written by Sander Mark
Cast:
The Narrator - Alexandrea Manalo
Nolan - Maia Zaborowski
Cora/The Nightmare - Kirsten Bennett
Anna/Audition Voice - Des Walker
Dominick/Future Nolan - Amber Danae
Ari/The Calm - Felicity Howard
Things Fall Apart
Directed by Brittany Rojas, Written by Uchenna Agbu
Cast:
Ara - Shannon Kathleen
Dr. Bridges/Mom - Felicity Winter
Sage - Alexandrea Manalo
Doctor - Sean Coleman
What Are You Gonna Do About It?
Directed by Yiraldo Campos, Written by Des Walker
Cast:
M - Gillian Durante
Jax - Amber Danae
Meryl - Shannon Kathleen
Davis - Felicity Winter
John - Chantel Amissa
Adrien - Patrick Joyner
Franc - Maia Zaborowski
Stagehand - Sean Coleman
Sore Feet on the Double E
Directed by Em Lacognata, Written by Lauren Bromberg
Cast:
Daniel - John Baker
Jacob - Kirsten Bennett
Christina - Alyson Kumor
Ralph - Gillian Durante
Stranger - Patrick Joyner
Bus Driver - Yash Krishnan
2021 Original Play Festival
April 2021
Coordinated by: Sam Sobel
“The Dee Perrymore Show"
"Like Minded People”
"The Family Portrait"
"The Most Average White Dude"
"Trying Trying Trying”
*Note about the 2021 Original Play Festival: This production was rehearsed and presented virtually due to safety restrictions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. The recording is available below:
12th Annual Original Play Festival
november 2020
Coordinated by: Sabrina Caruso
“Above the Ground" by Jack Oliver, directed by Carson Cummins
Gwen: Hannah Vliet
Jeff: Amit Bachani
"Alpena" by Carson Cummins, directed by Kate Dobbs
Sarah: Nia Abdullah
Hannah: Catherine Hunt
"The Family Portrait" by Caleb Barron, directed by Thomas Pflanz
Sherry: Hayden Klein
Lily: Amani Alnababteh
Mason: Russell Soto
Brad: Michael Flynn
"Chai Love" by Maggie Kelly, directed by Maria Castro
Woman: Mary Klein
Man: Amit Bachani
"In The Sunlight" by Grace Hazen, directed by Mikayla Luchun
Bren: Hannah Vliet
Alex: Catherine Hunt
*Note about the 12th Annual Original Play Festival Going Home: This production was originally scheduled for spring 2020, however it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the fall of 2020, the show was presented virtually.
11th Annual Original Play Festival
April 2019
Coordinated by: Nina Tripodi
“Coming of Age” by Jack Oliver, directed by Sabrina Dunn
Allan: Oren Merhav
Jordan: Nicholas Efstatos
*This play was published by Lazy Bee Scripts*
“Key Lime Pie” by Madhu Murali, directed by Jack Oliver
Eliza: Paige Jarusiewicz
Grandpa: Emre Yenigun
Mom: Hayden Klein
Dad: John Lerman
Danny: Nicholas Efstatos
“Paradiso” by John Lerman, directed by Grace Hazen
Adam: John Hennessy
Eve: Hayden Klein
Olam: Nishika Bagchi
Nurse: Kaitlyn Toledo
“Small Acts” by Mohsin Sharif, directed by Diana Nosa
Erik: Emre Yenigun
Meira: Alexis Olsen
Rachel: Ayse Goncu
“Impasse” by Erin Bogert, directed by Sabrina Caruso
Jen: Paige Jarusiewicz
Taryn: Colee Bellmay
10th Annual Original Play Festival
April 2018
Coordinated by: Tatianah Demande
“The Circle Game” by Maya Mitterhoff, directed by Colee Bellmay:
SAM: Maeve Byrnes
Sister: Stephanie Bradli
Mother: Madhu Murali
Father: Larry Fried
David: Henry Strehlo
Friend: Kyle Higgins
“Blyat” by John Lerman, directed by Mohsin Sharif:
Richard: Larry Fried
Diane: Stephanie Bradli
Michael: Kyle Higgins
“Sam & Alex” by Celine Dirkes, directed by John Hennessy:
Sam: Emily Prestby
Alex: Sabrina Caruso
“How They Choose” by Jess Kerman, directed by Nishika Bagchi:
Logan: Jean-William Mackler
Reid: Grace Hazen
Percy: Henry Strehlo
Frankie: Nina Tripodi
Austin: Caroline Clark
“Sex Ed” by Emily Ezzo, directed by John Lerman:
Ebony: Grace Hazen
Liz: Aja Brown-Feliciano
Kate: Maeve Byrnes
Divya: Madhu Murali
Michael: Danny Hayes
9th Annual Original Play Festival
March 2017
Coordinated by: Elizabeth Alt
All About Jack by Kat Beliavski, Directed by Paolo Arceo
Peter - Oren Merhav
Dr. Reiner - Nate Olmeda
Debbie - Jess Munzial
Jack - Benji Sills
Kolaczki by Celine Dirkes, Directed by David Novis
Brenda - Emily Woods
Anna - Colee Bellmay
Stefan - Benji Sills
Syzygy by Hannah M'Lynn, Directed by Maya Mitterhoff
Lucinda - Jess Kerman
Xander - Oren Merhav
Com Down by Julianna Pica, Directed by Tatianah Demande
Angelica - Emily Woods
Joshua - Thomas Murrills
A Slice of Sunday by Connor Vasile, Directed by Larry Fried
Marty - Thomas Murrills
Ethel - Abby Weinick
Dennis - Nate Olmeda
8th Annual Original Play Festival
March 2016
Coordinated by: Emily Reineke
Stage Managed by: Amy Barenboim
Molly's Path by Shayna Carney
Directed by Alex Albanese
Cast:
Patrick - Jonathon Dawson
Younger Molly - Haley Trimpert
Older Molly/Connie - Emily Woods
Here Now, Maybe Later by Kenneth Laboy
Directed by Jacqueline Malzone
Cast:
Black Lotus - Jennifer Ngandu
Thickstallion81 - Ryan Morey
Dear Dashboard by Justice Hehir
Directed by Kelly McCarthy
Cast:
Nella - Toni Pollitt
Alex - Sean Ullmer
The Museum at Clifton Park by Cody Beltis
Directed by Dalton Zogleman
Cast:
Mandeville - Scott Mendenko
Garison - Colee Bellmay
Cecile -Katherine Freedman
Riley - Paige Grecco
Three Flowers by Kelly McCarthy
Directed by Kat Beliavski
Cast:
Alana - Emily Woods
Selina - Selina Garcia
Landon - Brian Nowak
Danny - Ryan Galvin
6th Annual Original Play festival
April 2014
Coordinated by: Justice Hehir
Coffee Cups by Megan Cherry
Directed by Thalia Peck
Cast:
Abid Hassan
Adaugo Anusionwu
Gino Branciforte
Sid Ceballos
Peter by Courtney King
Directed by Kate Thomas
Cast:
Cody Beltis
Kat Beliavski
Snow by Johnny Dellaluna
Directed by Courtney King
Cast:
Charlie Melman
Simone Mahoney
The Cosmo Diner by Justice Hehir
Directed by Johnny Dellaluna
Cast:
Andy Martinez
Leah Christians
Natasha Sydor
Zachary Sinkiewicz
UGLY by Constantina Scoullis
Directed by Kayla Votapek
Cast:
Abigail Nutter
Jackie Malzone
Natasha Sydor
Toni Lachelle
Victoria Disla
You're Mistaken, Love by Allie Kroeper
Directed by Christen Demnitz
Cast:
Adaugo Anusionwu
Alex Esposito
Andrea Parente
5th Annual Original Play Festival
Coordinated by: Erik Stratton
Stage Managed: G Tomsky & Lily Ann Foster
The Other-Town Railroad by Dominick Nero
Directed by Courtney King
Cast:
Nolan Maher
Justice Hehir
Shachar May
Natasha Sydor
Punch Drunk by Jordan Gochman
Directed by Bryton McGrath
Cast:
Johnny Walsh
Thalia Peck
Adam Cohen
Nolan Maher
Nick McNamara
Gunpoint: A Farce by Justice Hehir
Directed by Jordan Gochman
Cast:
Nick McNamara
Sara Mozersky
Sam Vargas
Adam Cohen
In(Separable) by Kate Barron and Justice Hehir
Directed by Melissa Gabilanes and Gina D'Angelo
Cast:
Stephen Hilger
Shachar May
Jasia Ries
The Loser by JJ Focaraccio
Directed by Allie Kroeper
Cast:
Nick Andre
Kate Barron
Leah Christians
Stephen Hilger
Johnny Walsh
Rob Piserchia
Dylan Lawrence
4th Annual Original Play Festival
April 2012
Coordinated by John Latona and Boris Van Der Ree
Stage Managed by Gabriela Slomicz
Nowhere, Nothing Fuckups by Stephen Hilger
Directed by Emily Lowinger
Cast:
Pete – Austin Moldow
Briana – Julia Barnett
Train – Nick McNamara
Joel – Matthew Leddin
Julie – Samantha Orner
Rose – Sara Mozersky
Carl – Nolan Maher
Slim – Allie Kroeper
Kat - Jaclyn Spoleti
Nella’s Periwinkle Heart by Dom Nero
Directed by Courtney King
Cast:
Clifford – Erik Stratton
Nella – Kate Barron
grey. by Thomas Young
Directed by Mary Gismonde
Musically Directed by Kate Levine
Accompanied by Patrick Wu
Cast:
Ethan – Zachary Frank
Sarah – Nicole Weaver
Caden – Jordan Gochman
Shauna – Melanie Waldman
The Exorcism of Jakob O’Donnell by Danny Cassidy
Directed by Meg King
Cast:
Jakob – Christopher Pasi
Mrs. O’Donnell – Jaclyn Spoleti
Emily – Alyssa Krompier
Christian – Nick Cartusciello
Peter – Vince Sarlo
Charlie – Matthew Leddin
