The Cruise finds Sunny, an elderly Japanese woman in hospice, and her daughter Gina discussing old family recipes and what it means to die.

Anna Esaki-Smith is a playwright based in Chappaqua, New York. Trained in journalism, Anna was a reporter for Reuters in Tokyo and New York, and for Newsweek in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Her first novel, MEETING LUCIANO, was published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill in 1999. She currently works as an education researcher, advising universities and education organizations on their internationalization strategies, and as a contributor to Forbes.

Featuring the talents of (L-R) Veronica Dang, Nancy Eng, Rebecca Hoodwin, and Sky Smith

Veronica Dang (Gina) is an actress/writer/director and the creator of globally acclaimed webseries "Subway: The Series" (www.SubwaytheSeries.com). She also founded NYC's premier Asian American sketch comedy team Model Majority (www.ModelMajority.com) which has been featured in the New York Times and more. Theater: Harper’s Ferry 2019 (World Premiere), 4000 Miles, McCourt, Romeo & Juliet, Richard III, Midsummer Night's Dream. TV: “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Last O.G.,”” “The Following,” “"Hostages,” “Saturday Night Live.”

Nancy Eng (Sunny) is a playwright/performer and an alumna of New York’s High School of Performing Arts where, as a sophomore, she made her on-screen debut in "Fame," the film inspired by that school. Among her screen credits: the recurring role of Iris on Comedy Central’s "Awkwafina is Nora From Queens;" "30 Rock;" "Broad City;" "Law & Order: SVU;" "Saturday Night Live;" and film roles in "White Girl;" "People, Places Things;" "God’s Land;" "Premium Rush;" and "Tu-Na House," a nine-minute narrative she wrote and co-produced which was selected for entry at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Stage credits include roles in the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre’s production of We Are and Best of Hollywood Fringe 2012 at Theatre Asylum. Nancy is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is currently seeking a new agent.

Rebecca Hoodwin (Barbara) began her professional career as 21-year-old ‘mom’ Mrs. Eggleston to Harvey Korman in Little Me, continuing this ‘motherly’ tradition as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, including productions with Theodore Bikel and Harvey Fierstein. Favorites include Driving Miss Daisy; Cabaret; Pajama Game with Hal Linden; Lorelei with Carol Channing; and a memorable day as Guenevere opposite Rock Hudson; She most recently played Coral in the World Premier of Doublewide at Vermont Stages, Ouiser in Stomping Ground’s Steel Magnolias in NYC and Guys and Dolls at ACT of CT. On camera: “Nurse Jackie,” “ESPN w/David Ortiz;” “As the World Turns;” and “Arthur” with Dudley Moore.

Sky Smith (Director) has worked on the directing team of the "ABC Discovers: Talent Showcase," served as assistant director on A Play is a Poem (Mark Taper Forum), and has worked as a director at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His acting credits include: Off-Broadway: The Lucky Star (59E59 Theaters). Regional: The Chinese Lady (Denver Center); Twelfth Night, The Book of Will (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival); Love’s Labour’s Lost (The Acting Company, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis). TV: “The Blacklist” (NBC). Sky was a performer in the ABC Discovers: Talent Showcase. BFA NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Atlantic Theater Company. @sky.smi

Star Quality is about two people who barely knew each other thirteen years ago and now, on a rainy night inside an old diner, find themselves on the cusp of discovering an unlikely connection.

Evelyn Mertens has had plays produced through WCT; Axial Theatre; the 20/20 Aery Festival where she was a finalist several times; the Ariane Festival; Irvington Arts and Irvington Theatre’s Stage Door series; Glass Ceiling Breakers; the Library series; and Manhattan Rep. Evelyn studied acting through the master level in Howard Meyer’s Acting Program, at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Circle in the Square. She is a member of Honor Roll! and the Dramatists Guild. A Broadway World review said, “Mertens is more than a writer -- her mastery of imagery, story and the human condition casts her as a portrait artist whose palette is words, each of which she chooses with utmost precision and affection.”

Featuring the talents of (L-R) Lukas Arbogast, Michelle Concha, Michael Pennacchio, and Susan Ward

Lukas Arbogast (Videographer) is a filmmaker and musician based in NYC. He studied film at NYU Tisch, during which he directed, shot & edited 10 music videos for world-renowned a capella group, Penn Masala. He currently works as a freelance post-production sound mixer for independent films and as an editor of video essays by "The Take" on YouTube. In his spare time, he enjoys working on graphic design & artwork.

Michelle Concha (Cheryl) was recently with River's Edge for Two Truths and a Lie! She lives in Ossining. She recently shot an episode for a new series on Amazon Films. You can catch her on Lifetime movie club in "Malicious Minds." In the last year, she has been on "A Good Cop," "Blue Bloods," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Dr. Death." She is Click the Camera in "Go, Diego, Go!" Video Games (Nickelodeon), various voices on "Dora the Explorer" Education Series, Burlington Coat Factory, and the spokesperson for Carmax. Michelle was a guest host on QVC, a cooking host on ragu.com, and featured on the series "Friday w/ Friends" on Facebook, spotlighting female entrepreneurs. She is Artistic Director of State of Play Productions, Executive Director of the Ossining Jazz Festival, former chair of the Ossining Arts Project and a graduate of the Juilliard School.

Michael Pennacchio (Tom) is an actor, multi-instrumentalist, composer and writer. He has starred in two feature length films, "The Graduates" and "Drinking Games;" was an original cast member in the award-winning play, Youth Dance by Wayne Paul Mattingly; and in several Off-Broadway shows including, Grease, directed by Sammy Dallas Bayes. He studied acting at the Howard Meyer Acting program and appeared in Axial Theatre full-length and short play fests. Michael is also a composer for Warner Music subsidiary, Indie Chameleon and has released two albums worth of original material. He has also toured the country with artists Ryan Martin and Alex Cano. He graduated with a BA in Literature and Theatre from SUNY Oneonta and holds a MM from SUNY Purchase for Music Composition. 

Susan Ward (Director) is an actress/director/playwright. She has directed numerous productions in the Hudson Valley for Westchester Collaborative Theater, Axial Theatre, the Aery Festival and Irvington Arts. She is so happy to be working with Evelyn Mertens and the cast and crew of Star Quality.

An up-and-coming painter in New York faces an ultimatum from his agent while coping with the tragic loss of his girlfriend.

Brian Leahy Doyle earned his MFA in Theatre with emphases in Directing and Dramaturgy and has had his plays produced in NYC, Chicago, Wisconsin, and California. The Architecture of Desire (Secret Theatre), is featured in The Best New Ten-Minute Plays 2021. Also, Light from the Pleiades (English Theatre Düsseldorf), Dead End Kids (Chain Theatre), and The Weeping Woman, an opera with composer Michael Dilthey (MASS MoCA). He is also the author of “Encore! The Renaissance of Wisconsin Opera Houses,” an award-winning book on the restoration of historic theaters in Wisconsin.

Featuring the talents of (L-R) Lauren Dudley, Anne Glickman, and Tristan Schaffer-Goldman

Lauren Dudley (Zoey) is delighted to be participating in this festival of new work. As a performer, she has worked with Robert Wilson (Skin Meat Bone at The Watermill Center), Okwui Okpokwasili (Sitting on a Man’s Head at UNC-Chapel Hill), and Tino Seghal (This Situation at the University of Rochester). Recent film credits include: "Scrambled Eggs" (dir. Lyncis Niu) and "The Third Act" (dir. Salvatore Gullotta). She holds a BA from Vassar College and a PhD from the University of Rochester. She is a native of Albany, NY and now lives in New York City. Find her online @iamlaurendudley.

Anne Glickman (Eve) has been acting in and around Westchester for the last few years. She loves collaborating with the many talented writers and actors who live in the area. She has performed in plays with WCT, Glass Ceiling Breakers, Aery Theater & New York Theatre Festival. Thank you, Brian, for trusting me with your words. 

Tristan Schaffer-Goldman (Adam) is an actor/comedian based in NYC. He holds an MFA in Physical Theatre from the Accademia dell’Arte and an MA in Classical Acting from LAMDA. When he’s not collecting fancy pieces of paper, he can be seen doing his best post-pandemic. Recent work: getting certified as a personal trainer so he doesn’t have to work in restaurants anymore. Stay up to date with his hustle on IG @tristan.sg.

A modern folk adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Story of a Mother — with a change of perspective.

Matthew Nassida is a writer, composer, music director, and performer currently stationed in Brooklyn, NY. He received his BFA in musical theatre performance at Northern Kentucky University and is currently attending New York University for his graduate degree in musical theatre writing. His works have been accepted into the Cincinnati Fringe Festival (Scouts: A New Musical) and have been performed through Footlighters Inc. Theater on tour to small theaters in the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana tri-state area (Precipice: What Took Us Over The Edge). He served on Footlighter Inc.’s play selection committee prior to the pandemic, received the ASCAP Fredrick Loewe award, and has music directed and directed several productions prior to moving to NY. He is currently working on two shows for his thesis at NYU and he will complete his degree in 2023.

Zoe Howard is a lyricist and librettist based in New York City. She is a current graduate student at New York University, earning an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing. Her work has appeared in The Onyx Review, the Voices & Visions literary journal, and fresh.ink. In 2016, her one-act play Obsessive Compulsive Destruction was a finalist in the Georgia-wide 44th Annual Writers’ Festival Contest, and in 2022, her short play Midnight Mirage was performed in DUAF’s 20th season.

Featuring the talents of (L-R) Theresa Alexander, Caroline Game, Matt Graham, Addison Herndon, Gina Morgigno, and Nico Raimont

Theresa Alexander (Lily) is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts (2017, Seattle WA) with a BFA in Dance Performance. Theresa is currently a New York based actor, dancer, and educator. Recent credits include: Ladies’ Lady (swing/fight captain, The Vino, 2023), Flashdance (Ballet Mistress, Arizona Broadway Theater, 2022), Curtains (Assoc. Choreographer, Mac-Haydn Theater 2019), as well as developmental workshops/ showcases at 54 Below, 92Y, Rockwood Music Hall, and The Tank NYC.

Caroline Game (Tallulah) is a musical theatre performer and writer based in New York City. She received her BA in Musical Theatre from the University of Alabama and is now pursuing her MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch. Past professional credits include Ghost (Molly), Mamma Mia (Lisa, u/s Sophie), Significant Other (Laura), and Newsies (Hannah/Ensemble). Her writing has been featured in the New York Theatre Festival and the Druid City Pride Festival.

Matt Graham (Music Director) is a Canadian Musical Theatre artist currently living in NYC! Matt is currently pursuing an MFA in musical theatre writing at NYU Tisch, and as a performer, writer, teacher, composer and musical director he has been working in musical theatre for over ten years. Favourite credits include music direction of Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Bat Boy the Musical, and RENT, performing in Calvin Berger, [title of show] and Spring Awakening, as well as producing runs of his two original musicals, Almost Heroes and Marnie Day, at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival. (Check out the original cast album for Almost Heroes at bandcamp.com) Most recently, Matt and his collaborator Sophie Boyce had their 20-minute musical The Talk nominated for best of fest at New York Theatre Festival! Enjoy the show and thanks for supporting new musicals!

Addison Herndon (Stage Manager) is a dedicated stage manager with 5+ years of experience in the industry. Some of her recent credits include Jose Rivera’s Imperfect/Lovesong; and Miranda from Stormville, directed by Jennifer Sandella. She works with teen music theater students as well. Addison is extremely excited to work on this reading of The Story of a Daughter!

Gina Morgigno (Death) is a NYC based actress most recently seen as Princess in the Emojiland Non-Union National Tour. Previous credits also include Lily in Hi-Tops The Musical, Christina in the concert and reading of Two Thousand Miles, as well as popping up in cabaret performances at various venues throughout the city. When not performing on stage, she can also be found co-hosting "Strat Chat: A Reality TV Podcast" on streaming and audio platforms. (@gina_morgigno)

Nico Raimont (Director) Yo! Nico is a Latin director, writer, performer, rapper, and actor from South Florida. Directing credits include Meeting Mrs. Morris (Broke People Play Fest), Shadow Infenety: Volumes 1 & 2 (Stage 2 Productions | Playwright), and A Stye Of The Eye (Stage 2 Productions). Writing credits include Como Correr: A Hip-Pop Musical (Book, Music, Lyrics | O'Neill NMTC FINALIST 2022) and Romeo y Julieta; LIMEÑO (Score, Dramaturgy). On screen, he’s provided music for the films "Artist In Residence" and "Mantequilla" (the latter he co-wrote with J.L. Glasthal). In performance, he's been seen as Phil in Dennis Kelly’s DNA, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, St. Jimmy in American Idiot, and in concert everywhere from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to being the Two-Time Co-Host of the Shark Talent Showcase. His album POPSTAR features CupcakKe, Mrs. Kasha Davis, and more! Nico is currently studying at NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program as a recipient of ASCAP's Max Dreyfus Scholarship. Love to Cami, Matt, Zoe, the cast and crew. Enjoy the show!