Dramatists Guild Foundation Hosts Presentation Of New Works By DGF Fellows Jay Adana and Zeniba Now, Rae Binstock, Erika Dickerson-Despenza, Mathilde Dratwa, Aryanna Garber and Benjamin Velez, Charles Gershman, Nambi E. Kelley, Melissa Li and Kit Yan, and Zack Zadek

The 2018-2019 class of Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows presented excerpts of full length works at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center on October 28.

Lynnette Freeman and Lizan Mitchell in Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s shadow/land. Photo by Lia Chang

This presentation caps off a year spent working under the tutelage of Michael Korie (Grey Gardens), Laurence O’ Keefe (Heathers), and Diana Son (Stop Kiss).

Tessa Raden Gregory hosted the evening which featured the work of the 2018-2019 class, including Jay Adana and Zeniba Now, Rae Binstock, Erika Dickerson-Despenza, Mathilde Dratwa, Aryanna Garber and Benjamin Velez, Charles Gershman, Nambi E. Kelley, Melissa Li and Kit Yan, and Zack Zadek.

1st row: Allison Gold, Benjamin Velez, Jay Adana, Kit Yan. 2nd Row: Michael Korie, Charles Gershman, Melissa Li, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Aryanna Garber, Nambi E. Kelley, Zeniba Now, Rae Binstock, Zack Zadek, Mathilde Dratwa, Laurence O’Keefe, Tess Raden Gregory. Photo by Lia Chang

Directed by Candis C. Jones with Music Direction by Josh Kight, the Presentation featured performances by Cathy Ang, Cole Bullock, Al Bundonis, Kiet Tai Cao, Lincoln Clauss, John Coons, Cherrye J. Davis, Lynnette Freeman, Mark Andrew Garner, Allison Gold, Michael Hartung, Antwayn Hopper, Ashley D. Kelley, Kevin Kilner, Teddi Milan, Lizan Mitchell, Zeniba Now, Margaret Odette, Sushma Saha, Stacey Sargeant, Mary VanArsdel, Jason Veasey, Aviva Winick.

Melissa Li, Cole Bullock, Kiet Tai Cao, Sushma Saha, Ashley D. Kelley, Cathy Ang and Kit Yan. Photo by Lia Chang

Antwayn Hopper, Lizan Mitchell, Lynnette R. Freeman, Nambi E. Kelley, Candis C. Jones, Margarette Odette, Jason Veasey and Cherrye J. Davis. Photo by Lia Chang

1st Row: Cherrye J. Davis, Jay Adana. 2nd Row: Ashley D. Kelley, Cole Bullock, Zeniba Now, Jason Veasey, Candis C. Jones, Antwayn Hopper. Photo by Lia Chang

Rae Binstock and Cathy Ang. Photo by Lia Chang

Associate Director Signe V. Harriday, Director Candis C. Jones and Music Director Josh Kight. Photo by Lia ChangThe Fellows program is a selective, year-long intensive for playwrights, composers, lyricists, and bookwriters. The program pairs talented writers with accomplished professional mentors, who help them hone their process, and find their unique voice.

Stephen Flaherty, Gretchen Cryer and Lynn Ahrens. Photo by Lia Chang

This program increases the likelihood that Fellows will be able to turn their passion and talent into a successful career, impacting audiences around the globe. The Fellows program, currently headed by Michael Korie (Grey Gardens), Laurence O’Keefe (Heathers), and Diana Son (Stop Kiss), is highly sought after for its uniquely successful format of partnering playwrights and musical theater writers together in the learning process. In addition, Fellows receive a stipend and the opportunity to partner with several arts organizations for Fellows-specific development opportunities.

Michael Korie and Laurence O’Keefe. Photo by Lia Chang

Former Fellows include Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen), Lauren Yee (Cambodian Rock Band), Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) Antoinette Nwandu (Pass Over), Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen), and many more.

Gretchen Cryer. Photo by Lia Chang

Gretchen Cryer, Lynn Ahrens. Photo by Lia Chang

Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, Randy Adams. Photo by Lia Chang

Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens. Photo by Lia Chang

Benjamin Velez, Aryanna Garber. Photo by Lia Chang

Erika Dickerson-Despenza. Photo by Lia Chang

Rae Binstock. Photo by Lia Chang

Zack Zadek and Rae Binstock. Photo by Lia Chang

Nambi E. Kelley. Photo by Lia Chang

1st Row: Michael Korie, Benjamin Velez, Jay Adana, Kit Yan. 2nd Row: Michael Korie, Charles Gershman, Melissa Li, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Aryanna Garber, Nambi E. Kelley, Zeniba Now, Rae Binstock, Zack Zadek, Mathilde Dratwa, Laurence O’Keefe. Photo by Lia Chang

1st Row: Michael Korie, Benjamin Velez, Jay Adana, Kit Yan. 2nd Row: Michael Korie, Charles Gershman, Melissa Li, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Aryanna Garber, Nambi E. Kelley, Zeniba Now, Rae Binstock, Zack Zadek, Mathilde Dratwa, Laurence O’Keefe. Photo by Lia Chang

Michael Korie, Benjamin Velez, Melissa Li, Aryanna Garber, Jay Adana, Zeniba Now, Zack Zadek, Kit Yan and Laurence O’Keefe. Photo by Lia Chang

Charles Gershman, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Nambi E. Kelley, Mathilde Dratwa and Rae Binstock. Photo by Lia Chang

Charles Gershman, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Nambi E. Kelley, Mathilde Dratwa and Rae Binstock. Photo by Lia Chang

Nambi E. Kelley and Mathilde Dratwa. Photo by Lia Chang

Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Nambi E. Kelley and Zeniba Now. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan, Melissa Li and Jay Adana. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan, Melissa Li and Jay Adana. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan, Melissa Li and Jay Adana. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan and Melissa Li. Photo by Lia Chang

Zeniba Now and Jay Adana. Photo by Lia Chang

Zeniba Now and Jay Adana. Photo by Lia Chang

Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Nambi E. Kelley. Photo by Lia Chang

Benjamin Velez and Rae Binstock. Photo by Lia Chang

Jay Adana. Photo by Lia Chang

1st Row: Benjamin Velez, Rae Binstock, Kit Yan and Melissa Li. 2nd Row: Signe V. Harriday, Allison Gold, Charles Gershman, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Candis C. Jones, Zeniba Now, Zack Zadek, Nambi E. Kelley, Jay Adana, Aryanna Garber, Josh Kight, Mathilde Dratwa. Photo by Lia Chang

Candis C. Jones. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan and Rae Binstock. Photo by Lia Chang

Mathilde Dratwa. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan, Zeniba Now, Rae Binstock, Benjamin Velez, Melissa Li, Charles Gershman and Signe V. Harriday. Photo by Lia Chang

1st Row: Kit Yan, Benjamin Velez and Melissa Li. 2nd Row: Zeniba Now, Rae Binstock, Signe V. Harriday and Charles Gershman. Photo by Lia Chang

Ericka Dickerson-Despenza and Candis C. Jones. Photo by Lia Chang

Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Candis C. Jones, Zeniba Now and Nambi E. Kelley. Photo by Lia Chang

Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Candis C. Jones, Zeniba Now and Nambi E. Kelley. Photo by Lia Chang

Mathilde Dratwa, Rae Binstock, Candis C. Jones, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Zeniba Now, Nambi E. Kelley, Jay Adana, Melissa Li, Aryanna Garber and Signe V. Harriday. Photo by Lia Chang

Joey Stocks and Tari Stratton. Photo by Lia Chang

Nambi E. Kelley and Daniel Carlton. Photo by Lia Chang

Kyoung H. Park, Nikhil Mahapatra. Photo by Lia Chang

Lizann Mitchell, Lynnette R. Freeman, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Candis C. Jones. Photo by Lia Chang

Lizann Mitchell, Lynnette R. Freeman, Ericka Dickerson-Despenza, Candis C. Jones. Photo by Lia Chang

Nambi E. Kelley and Lynnette R. Freeman. Photo by Lia Chang

Cole Bullock with his grandmother. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan, Paulo Tiról, Melissa Li, Kyoung H. Park and Nikhil Mahapatra. Photo by Lia Chang

Kit Yan and Paulo K. Tiról. Photo by Lia Chang

Melissa Li, Kit Yan and Paulo Tiról. Photo by Lia Chang

Jason Veasey, Lynnette R. Freeman and Margaret Odette. Photo by Lia Chang

Mathilde Dratwa, Signe V. Harriday. Photo by Lia Chang

Ashley D. Kelley and Antwayn Hopper. Photo by Lia Chang

Allison Gold and Tessa Raden Gregory. Photo by Lia Chang

Ashley D. Kelley and Kit Yan. Photo by Lia Chang

Signe V. Harriday and Candis C. Jones. Photo by Lia Chang

Kiet Tai Cao and Lia Chang

Nambi E. Kelley and Lia Chang

Antwayn Hopper and Lia Chang

Rachel Routh and Lia Chang

Lia Chang and Paulo K Tiról

Tessa Raden Gregory. Photo by Lia Chang

Benjamin Velez, Mathilde Dratwa. Photo by Lia Chang

The DFG Fellows Class of 2019-2020 includes Melis Aker, Nolan Doran, Avi Amon, Kate Douglas, Elliah Heifetz, Jessica Kahkoska, Nikhil Mahapatra, Kyoung H. Park, Andrew Rincón, Andy Robinson and Paulo K Tiról.

Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows, Class of 2019-2020- 1st Row: Elliah Heifetz, Andrew Rincón, Nolan Doran. 2nd Row: Andy Roninson, Jessica Kahkoska, Paulo K Tiról, Nikhil Mahapatra, Kyoung H. Park. Photo by Lia Chang

Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows, Class of 2019-2020- Andy Roninson, Elliah Heifetz, Jessica Kahkoska, Paulo K Tiról and Nolan Doran. Photo by Lia Chang

Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellows, Class of 2019-2020-Nikhil Mahapatra, Andrew Rincón and Kyoung H. Park. Photo by Lia Chang

For more information on the Fellows program, visit dgf.org/programs/fellows

Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers,  musicians and corporations. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.

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