Launch 2025
ACT 1
TOFU AIN’T ROCK AND ROLL
by David Strauss
directed by Katherine Stevens
MAXINE: Chloe McElroy
SAMMY: Gordon W. Brown DEL: Chuck Dent
THAT GOOD NIGHT
by Michael Adams
directed by Jac LeDoux
CASEY: Christie Duffer
ELIZABETH: Francie Moon
TRY AS I MIGHT by Trent Clifford
directed by Chuck Dent
MARTIN: Jessie Ehrenberg
JAMES: Benjamin Mainville
A FLICKER
by Guy Newsham
directed by David Strauss
ZOE: Marcie Schwalm
AMBER: Nicole Creston
ACT 2
THIS FLAG
by Cherielyn Ferguson
directed by Mark Graham
EVE: Jessica Womack
STAN: Gordon W. Brown
GOODBYE TOM
by Barry Wood
directed by Sally Green
TOM: Tom Stone
LOUISE: Chantal Watts
TWINSHIP
by Samara Siskind
directed by Roswell Strauss
TESS: Alexia Fernandez
SONDRA: Laura Powalisz
FRIENDLY SKIES
by Dana Leslie Goldstein
directed by Jonathan Chessor
MARION: Lynne Edinger
CHRISSY: Christie Duffer
PILOT: Kenny Robinson
Our Season
PRT is now the 3rd longest-established theater company in Orlando, behind the Shakespeare Center and the Orlando Family Theater. Not bad for a volunteer-led theater founded by 4 folks who just wanted a place to develop their craft!
Please join us this year as we create new plays and new memories!
Launch 2025 — January 10-12, 17-19; Festival of New Plays
Premiere 2025 — April 11-13, 18-20; featuring The Ghosts of Glencolumbkille by Robert Weibezahl
Juneteenth 2025 — June 20-22, 27-29; Festival of New Plays
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PRODUCTION CREW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR…Chuck Dent
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/LIGHT/OPERATOR…Aaron Babcock
ACCENT COACH…Amy Pastoor
RUN CREW…Lara and Tom Baker, Kristin Buhring
SPECIAL THANKS
The PRT Board of Directors, the PRT Reading Committee, Sarah and Steven at IPAC, everyone who donated rehearsal space and set pieces and props, all at United Arts of Central Florida, the Jaeke Foundation, the Kitty Beautiful, Ed Anthony, the Brownell Family, Roger Collins, William Newkirk, Kelsey Hernandez, and YOU, our audience.
Our Team
Michael Adams is an award-winning writer from the Los Angeles area. His plays have been produced in New York, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Memphis, Spokane, and Tucson, among others. Michael is a member of the Playground-LA writers’ pool, where his short play “Love Language of Origin” was selected as the best of the 2023-24 season and received a commission to be developed into a full-length play. He is a graduate of the MFA program at San Jose State University.
Aaron Babcock is a longtime Board member of PRT, and has teched numerous shows for us. He recently retired from Daytona State College, and has previously served on the Board of Theatre Downtown.
Lara Baker has worked in several PRT productions over the past year. She has done voice over work for AAA, Starwood, and several other businesses and also hosts live team trivia. In her free time Lara and her amazing husband Tom are avid supporters of local theater and enjoy attending productions throughout Central Florida.
Gordon W. Brown is glad to be back with PRT, this time acting. Credits include The Diary of Anne Frank, Waiting for Godot, Frankenstein (as the Creature), Peer Gynt, and Clarence Darrow: A One Man Play. He is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Jonathan Chessor— An Indiana native, Jonathan has studied acting and improv theatre at the New York Film Academy and the American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York, the Second City Theatre in Chicago, and currently SAK Comedy Lab. He would like to thank the great people at PRT for the opportunity to direct, Dana Goldstein for writing a wonderful play, and especially the cast for all their hard work.
Trent Clifford currently serves as the Play wright-in-Residence for Heart of Texas Children's Theatre, and is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Epiphanies New Works Festival. Trent's plays have recently been performed by Wild Imaginings, OutCry Theatre, Richmond Triangle Players, Broken Arts Entertainment, Hope Rise Thrive, and Resolute Theatre Project.
Nicole Creston is a longtime radio personality on WMFE in Orlando, and has graced many a stage with her dynamic acting, including with PRT in such productions as Miss, one of the Orlando Sentinel’s Best Plays of 2017.
Chuck Dent is a playwright, director, actor, and now Executive Director of Playwrights’ Round Table. He stays pretty busy with shows all year-round, and by this point has produced more 10-minute plays than anyone else in America.
Christie Duffer is delighted to make her PRT debut! Favorite roles include Angie Dickinson (The Prom), Cindy (A Bad Romance, Orlando Fringe 2023 Patron’s Pick), Elsa Schraeder (The Sound of Music), and Marian (The Bridges of Madison County). An Illinois native with a Master’s in Vocal Performance from DePaul University, she also teaches elementary music and coaches strength classes at Urban Body Works.
Lynne Edinger is delighted to perform in her second PRT production, and to be working with such talented people. Favorite plays include Gladys in Wonderland, Trial of the Wicked Witch, A Very Fowl Thanksgiving; Applause ; Crimes of the Heart, Company, and Fiddler on the Roof.
Jessie Ehrenberg is thrilled to be perform ing with PRT again. He was most recently seen playing the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonder land. He is excited to be onstage alongside an excellent performer and friend, Ben. He’d most importantly like to thank his girlfriend Jamie for all her love and support.
Cherielyn Ferguson is a SF Bay Area playwright who’s pleased to be part of PRT’s Launch 2025. Her plays have been featured at PlayGround-SF, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, Adams State University, Monster Box Theatre, Quannapowitt Players, The Storefront Theatre, The Pear Theatre, Fusion Theatre Company, Australia’s Gemco Players, and at The Lantern Theatre in Sheffield, UK.
Alexia Fernandez is an actor based in Orlando, FL. She began her acting training at Truthful Acting Studios under the tutelage of Marco DiGeorge and Robb Maus where she had the pleasure of playing Calpurnia in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and as Claire in Proof. This is her debut with PRT.
Dana Leslie Goldstein is a playwright/ librettist/lyricist whose work has been seen at Manhattan Theatre Club, Cherry Lane, Culture Project, WP, York, Theatre80, New Dramatists, Ellis & Liberty Islands, the UN, across the US, in Canada, Singapore, the UK & Australia.
Mark Graham has directed over 125 plays and musicals including John O’Hern's Rooster in the Henhouse on Theater Row and Elizabeth Fuller's Me and Jezebel at The Actor's Play house. For ten years, Mark was a producing partner of Tony Award winning producer Lester Osterman. Mark was a founding member of the Downtown Cabaret Theater and co -artistic director of Playhouse on The Green. Mark has an MFA in directing from the University of Connecticut. Recently, Mark has been an adjunct professor and director at Polk State University and Associate Director at Theatreworks Florida.
Sally Green is beyond excited to make her directorial debut with PRT. Although she sees herself as an actress first, she has really spread her wings dabbling in producing, directing, and even writing her own plays. She cannot thank the local theater community enough for all the support and opportunities it has granted her since she first arrived on its scene several months ago.Jac LeDoux has been performing and directing for over 40 years throughout the Mid west and East. Jac has brought to life some memorable characters: Sonia in Vanya, Sonia, Masha & Spike (for which she won Best Actress in a Comedy), Grandma in Billy Elliot, Juanita in Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, and Hannah in The Spitfire Grill. Jac especially delights in collaborating with new writers. What an absolute joy working with Francie and Christie!
Benjamin Mainville is pleased to return to PRT as part of Launch 2025! In addition to his acting experiences on both stage and screen, Benjamin is a graduate of the Maile School's Professional Modeling and has worked as a model with a variety of companies- including Sport Clips and Simpson Performance Products.
Chloe A. McElroy is a graduate of UCF with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Studies and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Her most recent credits include Narrator for Jerro: Zorro’s Younger Brother with All The Line Studio & Incubator and House Management for the last two years at the Orlando Family Stage as well as the Orlando Shakes. She has directed David McElroy’s A One-Man Christmas Carol for several years. Chloe would like to thank her wonderful partner Alyssa, mother Marylin, father David, sister Caitlin, her dogs Wall•E & Zoe, and all her friends for all their constant support!
Francie Moon is thrilled to be making her PRT debut. Francie’s Central Florida credits include Helene in Significant Other, Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy, Barbara in August: Osage Count, and Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone, Francie can also be seen performing at the Universal Studios. Thanks to Jac and Christie for making this such a wonderful experience. Love and thanks to my family for all their support. And of course, thanks to Elina for being a superior being!
Guy Newsham spent a career working on making buildings more energy efficient and sustainable. His plays have been successful in multiple competitions and festivals, leading to more than 100 prizes and productions in five countries.
Laura Powalisz is a performer in Central Florida with credits at the Dr. Phillips Center, Central Florida Vocal Arts and Phoenix Tears Productions. She recently graduated from Rollins College with a Music Major and has since performed there as an alumni guest artist. Her recent credits include Ophelia in Ophelia: A New Musical, Cinderella in Into The Woods, and Odessa Ortiz/Haikumom in Water By The Spoonful.
Kenny Robinson is glad to once again be starting his year with PRT. He was recently seen in Out and Proud Production's Lightning Thief (Poseidon/Fight Director) and the Orlando Renaissance Faire's Pendragon fight show (Mallory). Here's to an amazing 2025!
Marcie Schwalm is thrilled to be working with PRT again, after having appeared in quite a few of their productions over the past 20 years. Other favorite local roles include Karen Weston in August: Osage County, Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Heidi Holland in The Heidi Chronicles. Marcie would like to thank her family for always being so supportive, and thank YOU, the audience, for support ing live theatre.
Samara Siskind has been produced across the globe and featured in various anthologies including Shorter, Faster, Funnier: Comic Plays and Monologues, Great Short Comedies Volumes 1 & 2, The Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2023, and The Best Ten-Minute Plays of 2024, The Best Men's Stage Monologues of 2024, and The Best Women's Stage Monologues of 2024 soon to be released by Smith & Kraus.
Katherine Stevens is the proud newly appointed President of PRT. She has been an actor, director and playwright in Central Florida for the last 8 years. She is also a theatre educator dedicated to making the arts accessible to children and young adults with disabilities. Catch her performing in All the Line Collective's production of Or Die Trying at Bynx Orlando on Monday, January 27th.
Tom Stone is excited to make his PRT debut in Launch 2025. He started in 2023 with Tavares Community Theater Company in Almost, Maine and has bounced around from stage to stage either helping build sets or acting on them. He is co-founder of Emerald Productions of Central Florida, a local theater company specializing in comedic, uplifting, family entertainment.
David Strauss has been part of the PRT circle for over a decade, involved in dozens of productions as a playwright, director, producer and actor. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and has had multiple short plays published and performed nationally, with two named among the Best Short Plays of the Year by Smith & Kraus. He is co-owner of The Kitty Beautiful, downtown Orlando's cat cafe.
Roswell Strauss is delighted (as always) to take another stab at directing for PRT, who have against all odds decided to take them back for another round. Still not back as an actor on the PRT stage, and safely contained within the director's chair, they'd like to give their thanks to Brie (their cat) for having absolutely zero relevance to the rehearsal process.
Chantal Watts is delighted to be making her debut with Playwrights' Round Table. Her favorite credits include Witchapalooza! with Breakthrough Theatre, Dearly Departed with University of Florida, and Whose Wives Are They Anyway? with Indian River State College. When she’s not on stage, Chantal is a television news producer and a college instructor.
Jessica Womack is thrilled and honored to be a part of “This Flag.” Jessica graduated with a BA in Theatre from East Tennessee State University, and for fun moonlights as a volunteer Jedi Master with Orlando’s charity group “Saber Guild”; performing choreographed lightsaber combat for younglings. She would like to thank her partner CJ for his encouragement as she slowly comes back to the stage and as always wants to dedicate her work to her Grandmother whose love and support transcends death.'
Barry Wood is an optometrist living in Lincolnshire, in the UK. He’s been obsessively writing plays for about 10 years, and has been fortunate to have had his short comedies per formed all over the world. When asked where the idea for this play came from, Barry said his wife thought of it.
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