SUMMER SHORTS 2025
Our 28th Season
PRT is now the third longest-established theatre company in Orlando, behind the Orlando Shakespeare Theater and the Orlando Family Stage. Not bad for a volunteer-led theatre founded by four folks who just wanted a place to develop their craft!
Please join us this year as we create new plays and new memories!
Summer Shorts: Transitions — August 1-3, 8-10, 2025
at Imagine Performing Arts Center
Native Voices: Gator Bites —- November 7-9, 14-16, 2025
at Imagine Performing Arts Center
Launch: Promises, Promises —- January 2026
at the Santos Dantin Studio Theatre in the Orlando Shakespeare Center
Premiere 2025— April 2026
at the Santos Dantin Studio Theatre in the Orlando Shakespeare Center
NEW! An original musical!
June 2025
at the Santos Dantin Studio Theatre in the Orlando Shakespeare Center
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ACT 1
CATACLYSM
by James Kelsey Nelson
directed by Lara Baker
Blake: Kenny Robinson Nyra: Hannah Rollins
MIA’S PROM DRESS
by William Newkirk
directed by Nishit Tailor
James: Chuck Dent Sarah: Sue Jordan
Mason: Bryan Bindman Emma: Trinity Soos
POWERLESS
by Dana Leslie Goldstein
directed by Joe Llorens
Saul: Robert Ward Amy: Shanna Stoker Henson Joan: Kelsey Hernandez
THE WAITING ROOM by Ken Preuss
directed by David Strauss
Quade: Rob Del Medico Sami: Kat Stevens
ACT 2
THE LIVING WAKE
by Katherine Stevens
directed by Alex Penfield
Olivia: Chelsea Buck
Michelle: Kelsey Hernandez
Alyssa: Emma Boyle Prof. Long: Robert Ward
JIMMY’S RETURN
by Alexander Wilkie
directed by Chuck Dent
Jimmy: Anthony Marando
Tory: Ilana Rothman
Stan: Chuck Dent
TAKE OFF THE BLINDERS
by John Kelly
directed by Roswell Strauss
Beth: Sue Jordan
Allie: Rachael Russell CJ: Jackie Costliow
BLOOD MOON
By Joel Trinidad
directed by Spencer LaBelle
Greg: Bryan Bindman Cathy: Lia Harland
PRODUCTION CREW
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Chuck Dent
LIGHT/SOUND OPERATOR Aaron Babcock, Emerson Short
RUN CREW Lara Baker, Tom Baker, and Chris Bowen
SPECIAL THANKS TO
The PRT Board of Directors, the PRT Reading Committee, Imagine Performing Arts Center, everyone who donated rehearsal space and set pieces and props, Elyse Jardine and all at United Arts of Central Florida, Sam Litchman our apprentice director, the Jaeke Foundation, the Kitty Beautiful, Dobbs Funeral Home, New Generation Theatrical, Tulsi Patel, Ed Anthony, the Brownell Family, Roger Collins, William Newkirk, the Friends of PRT, and YOU, our audience.
Our Creative Team
Aaron Babcock is a longtime board member of PRT and has teched many shows with the organization over the years. He previously served on the Board of Directors for Theatre Downtown.
Lara Baker has worked in several PRT productions and is thrilled to be directing again. She most recently directed “Something Is Rotting On the Stage of Glenmark.” Lara has done voiceover work for AAA, Starwood, and multiple other Central Florida businesses. Thanks to PRT for providing the opportunity and space for new works!
Tom Baker who is also known as “Trivia Tom” for his over 14 years of hosting live team trivia, has worked in several PRT productions. He played the silent role of The Worst Bartender Ever in PRT’s Control of the Dirt and has been part of the run crew for numerous shows. Tom enjoys attending local theatre with his wife Lara and is always happy to go along with her crazy ideas, many of which involve building, painting, or moving sets.
Bryan Bindman is a puppeteer and performer at Universal Orlando resort. His recent credits include “Dreamworks Imagination Celebration” and “The Untrainable Dragon.” He’s excited to step out of his comfort zone here at the Playwrights’ Round Table.
Chris Bowen is an aspiring young actor who has already made his big screen debut in a short movie with Organization of Independent Filmmakers #OIF. This is his second PRT production. Chris’s next big role will be obtaining his learner’s permit so he can drive his parents to shows.
Emma Boyle is excited to share her Central Florida debut with us. Her prior roles include Amanita in The Quest and Statistic 1 in Wait … You Too? She’s thrilled to make people laugh to deal with their trauma and hopes you’re ready to laugh, too!
Chelsea Buck is thrilled to breathe life into Olivia! She has taken the stage in local productions as Vibrata in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which she also choreographed, and as a Chorus Girl in 42nd Street. As a cast member of History Bluffs, Chelsea enjoys showcasing her love of pop culture and finding creative ways to bring up Britney Spears in any conversation.
Jackie Costliow is honored to be part of the Summer Shorts. She was in numerous productions in Northern Illinois and is very grateful to be continuing her passion of performing down in Central Florida. She would like to thank her family, friends, and her beloved cats for supporting her journey. She is also grateful to be representing the LGBTQ community.
Chuck Dent is the Executive Director of Playwrights’ Round Table and general theatrical roustabout. He stays pretty busy with shows all year-round. By this point, he has produced more 10-minute plays than anyone else in America.
Dana Leslie Goldstein is a playwright who has won the New England New Play Competition, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Playwriting Prize, Different Voices New Play Award, ACTF New Play Award and numerous development grants. She is part of the BMI Musical Theater Workshop and PlayGroundNY.
Lia Harland has grown up on the stage competing as a dancer from 6th-12th grade, and since graduating has been acting for events such as Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Holiday Parade, and Orlando Fringe. In High School, she also went behind the scenes as a technician and is now an entertainment technician, trainer, and lead for “The Untrainable Dragon Show” at Epic Universe.
Shanna Stoker Henson is an Orlando-based actress/singer with 25 years of performance experience and a deep passion for story-telling. She’s been grateful to take on roles such as Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein, Sibella Hallward in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Mina Harker in Dracula, Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, and Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
Kelsey Hernandez is a PRT veteran. She studied the Meisner technique and went on to be part of the conservatory programs at Truthful Acting for several years. She’d like to thank her parents and everyone who she’s acted with throughout her years of living in Orlando.
Sue Jordan joins us for her second season of Summer Shorts. She is grateful for a chance to play these two strong and vulnerable female characters! Most recently Sue was seen on stage at the Ritz Theater in Sanford as Mrs. Richard Warrick in Agatha Christie’s Unexpected Guest, Mrs. Hubbard in Murder on the Orient Express and Ms. Lynch in Grease.
John Kelly is an emeritus professor of theatre from Elmira College in New York. He is also a playwright whose works have been published, anthologized, and performed by theatres across the country and around the world. Since returning to Florida several years ago, dozens of short plays and several of his full-length works have made their way to the stage.
Spencer LaBelle is a multidisciplinary actor, technician and dramaturg. This is their third production with PRT, having appeared previously as a performer. Spencer previously trained in Louisiana’s LSU School of Theatre. They directed short plays, original one acts, and AD’d in regional equity theatre.
Joe Llorens is thrilled for the opportunity to bring “Powerless” to life. His previous directing projects include The Vast of Darkness, which was awarded Best Drama at the 2023 Orlando Fringe Festival. He would like to thank Playwrights’ Round Table for continuing to highlight new, unproduced works and for allowing him the chance to help interpret this piece. Thank you to Dana Leslie Goldstein for her words, Shanna, Kelsey, and Robert for their talents, devotion, positive energy, and engagement, and to Brenna and Jeremy for their help and support during this process. Joe draws constant strength, energy, and inspiration from the Love in his life, which he cherishes above all else.
James Kelsey Nelson is a director and playwright based in Chicago. His full-length plays include Henchmen, Kirschgarten and Cambriolag. Many of his short plays have been performed around the country. James received his BA from UMKC in Kansas City and his MFA from Indiana University.
William Newkirk has written thirty-six plays, and is best known for the award-winning play [Miss] which received the Charles M. Getchell New Play Prize. His most recent play, Rijksmuseum, was a winner in the Respect Diversity International Playwriting Competition. He lives in Celebration, where he teaches playwriting.
Emma Oliver is a long-time multi-hyphenate creative — singing, dancing, and storytelling on stage and behind the scenes since 2008. Career highlights include leading roles in musicals and short films—her favorite being Christine in The Phantom of the Opera—as well as serving as a stage manager, tech, and a cappella director. She has studied under greats like Julie Taymor and Sir Patrick Stewart.
Alex Penfield has been an active performer since her childhood – whether modeling, dancing, singing, or acting. Alex received a bachelor’s degree in music education from FSU and a Master of Arts from UCF and has been teaching voice lessons since 2006. She has performed with several groups in the area, including Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Festival Singers of Florida, Opera Orlando, Central Florida Vocal Arts, Opera del Sol, Phoenix Tears, and Little Radicals Theatrics.
Ken Preuss is a Florida-based writer who became a teacher to guarantee an audience five days a week. His plays have been produced in Australia, Canada, China, England, Germany, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Thailand, and all 50 States. He thanks PRT for producing his first ever short play and for their continued support.
Kenny Robinson is so glad to be back with PRT. Kenny was most recently seen in the hit Orlando Fringe show Get a Clue and will appear soon in Little Radicals production of Sister Act. Thank you PRT for harboring a fun place for creation.
Hannah Rollins is thrilled to be making her PRT debut! Originally hailing from Chattanooga, TN, she holds a BFA in musical theatre from Wright State University. She’s been seen around Orlando in Hello, Dolly! with Encore, various roles with Legoland Florida Resort, and the recent opening of Epic Universe. She thanks everyone for their continued support for the arts and new works!
Rachael Russell has been performing since 1997 and with PRT since 2018. Last month, she played Gertrude in Hamlet with other Young Company alumni at The Orlando Shakes. She would like to thank her partner for being so supportive and her pets for their love.
Trinity Soos is very excited to be a part of Playwrights’ Round Table again with so many talented people. She is an award-winning actress best known for her role as Caroline in HBO’s You Were My First Boyfriend. She’s earned two “Best Actress” awards, a “Best Original Story” honor, and a 2025 Applause Award for her scene-stealing turn as Ursula in The Little Mermaid. She is headed to NYC this fall to pursue a BFA in Acting at Pace University.
Katherine Stevens is blessed to be involved in another Summer Shorts production. She is the current President of PRT, in addition to being the playwright for “The Living Wake” and playing Sami in “The Waiting Room.” During the day, she is the resident Art Integration Specialist with UCP of Central Florida, where she is dedicated to making theatre accessible to children and young adults with disabilities. She is also the Artistic Director of Kat’s Meow Productions. Follow her on instagram at @kat_stevens93 to keep up with her creative journey at PRT!
David Strauss has been a part of the PRT circle for over 15 years. He has been 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, and two named among the Best Short Plays of the Year by Smith and Kraus. He is co-owner of The Kitty Beautiful, downtown Orlando’s cat cafe.
Roswell Strauss has been involved with PRT on-and-off in some capacity for roughly a decade and a half now, and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon. As usual, they send much love to their cat Brie, who was not involved in the rehearsal process in any way, shape, or form.
Nishit Tailor is making his directing debut with PRT and couldn’t be more excited. Drawn to stories that are vulnerable, joyful, and human, Nishit believes theatre should reflect the beauty and chaos of real life. When he’s not in rehearsal, you can find him dancing garba at full energy, working in his lab, and perfecting the art of making the best chai. He hopes this story of “Mia’s Prom Dress” moves you.
Joel Trinidad is a Filipino writer who has been granted a Permanent Residency in the US based on his “extraordinary ability and achievement.” He has written multiple librettos and over 100 short plays, many of which have been produced in the Philippines and in NYC. His latest piece, A Tale of Two, a madcap musical version of A Tale of Two Cities featuring two actors playing all the roles, premiered in London in July 2024.
Robert Ward was born in London. Stage work includes two seasons with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, leading roles with the Tower Theatre in London, a tour of Germany with White Horse Theatre, numerous Fringe shows, as well as featured roles in film and television productions. He is now resident in Orlando, and thrilled to be participating in the lively theatre scene here and working with Playwright’s Round Table.
Alexander Wilkie has written the two-act comedy Heathens on the Beach, which received full production at the Ritz Theatre in Oaklyn, NJ in 2023 and Big Bear Lake, staged during the Heartland Theatre Company’s 10-Minute Play Festival in Normal, IL, in 2022. This July, Exit Theater of Eureka, CA, produced his short play, “Harken to Me” as part of their Short Play Festival. He lives in Moorestown, NJ.
This production is ©2025 by Playwrights’ Round Table.
Each play is the intellectual property of its playwright.
The opinions expressed in these plays are solely those of the playwrights.
Playwrights’ Round Table is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.
We welcome your artistic and tax-deductible financial support.
This project is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, home of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com.
PRT is proud to partner with these organizations.