TGD Presents
Second Chances monolgue FEStival
September 28th - 3 PM and 7PM
Theatre Row, NYC
The 2024 Second Chances Monologue Festival of original works brings together a collection of diverse and poignant monologues to reveal the intimate, and sometimes not so intimate, secrets, regrets, and joys in seeking a second chance in life.
Program
47
Beyond Chickamauga
A Longing
By Marina Chan
Directed by Valerie Donaldson
Actor, Jonathan Duran
A Longing
Beyond Chickamauga
A Longing
By Donna Coles
Directed by Valerie Donaldson
Actor, Kassi Kole
Beyond Chickamauga
Beyond Chickamauga
Beyond Chickamauga
By Alan Stolzer
Directed by Shelia Robinson
Actor, Moyram Espino
The Raid
The Raid
Beyond Chickamauga
By Anthony Roesch
Directed by Olgu Merandy
Actor, Olgu Merandy
Countup
The Raid
Countup
By Jaylan Turkkan
Directed by Adriana Alter
Actor, Charlotte Blacklock
ZIPLOC
The Raid
Countup
By Julie Kling
Directed by Julie Kling
Actor, Julie Kling
What Paul Said
What Paul Said
What Paul Said
By Sheila Robinson
Directed by Shelia Robinson
Actor, Michael Green
Step 1
What Paul Said
What Paul Said
By Valerie Donaldson
Directed by Brian Reese
Actor, Shelia Robinson
PDA/TMI
What Paul Said
PDA/TMI
By Jonathan Duran
Directed by Staxx Cordero
Actor, Charmaine Elizabeth
Playwrights, Directors & Actors
Valerie Donaldson
Valerie Donaldson
Valerie Donaldson
Playwright & Director, 47, Longing, Step1
Valerie, co-founder of TGD Productions, and is an actor, director, creative director, and company stage manager for several productions in New York. Valerie is also the director emeritus of the Jericho, Tragedy of Tupac or Who Shot Me.
Sheila Robinson
Valerie Donaldson
Valerie Donaldson
Playwright, What Paul Said
Director, Beyond Chickamauga
Sheila is an award-winning screenwriter who enjoys writing as a way to introduce new characters to audiences. She trained in New York and studied in the Fast Track program at the Acting Studio Inc in New York.
Joanathan Duran
Valerie Donaldson
Joanathan Duran
Playwright & Actor, PDA/TMI, 47
Jonathen is a filmmaking thespian from East New York, Brooklyn who began acting in his father's short films at the age of 18. He has established creative relationships with community theaters such as Black Spectrum Theater in Jamaica, Queens and Theater for the New City in the East Village.
Julie Kling
Jaylan Turkkan
Joanathan Duran
Playwright, Director, Actor, ZIPLOC
Julie is a comedic writer of personal essays, short humor, and scripted material. She is based in New York City, and her work has appeared in The New Yorker, McSweeney's, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, HuffPost, Scary Mommy, and on-stage at the Upright Citizens Brigade. juliekling.com
Jaylan Turkkan
Jaylan Turkkan
Jaylan Turkkan
Playwright, Countup
Jaylan is a playwright active in New York City. Through use of alternate reality and fantastical settings, her plays call out fascism and conformism in society — when she’s not writing comedies. Her plays have been staged by the Chelsea Repertory Co., The Complete Theatre Co., The Rogue Theater Festival
Alan Stolzer
Jaylan Turkkan
Jaylan Turkkan
Playwright, Beyond Chickamauga
Alan studied with playwright John Ford Noonan, dramaturg, St. Clements Theatre, New York. Productions: Bakers Union Theater Three, American Theater of Actors, Inner Space Theatre, Lovecreek Productions, South Camden Theatre, Scripts Up!, and many more.
Anthony Roesch
Anthony Roesch
Anthony Roesch
Playwright, The Raid
Anthony, co-founder of TGD Production, is from New York and is an architect, short story writer and playwright and has had several plays produced in New York, including TGD's Jericho, and With All Good Intentions
Donna Coles
Anthony Roesch
Anthony Roesch
Playwright, A Longing
Donna creates stories by combining authentic events and history. Her play “Widows and Warriors” is a conversation between Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz which was performed at Jamaica Cultural and Arts Learning Center and the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building Art Gallery
Marina Chan
Anthony Roesch
Marina Chan
Playwright, 47
Marina is a Brooklyn-based performer (AEA) and playwright (Dramatists Guild member). Her plays have been performed as staged readings, including at Columbia University, The Braid, Rachel Love’s AirPlay, Little & Fierce Theatre Company and Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. marinachan.com
Olgu Merandy
Adriana Alter
Adriana Alter
Director & Actor, The Raid
Born in Istanbul, Olgu is a bilingual, Turkish actor, writer, and comic based in NYC. She toured as a dancer across Turkey and made her first theater debut in 2 plays at the E-merging Artists Festival while studying at the Acting Studio in NY.
Adriana Alter
Adriana Alter
Adriana Alter
Director, Countup
Adriana is a director, novelist, and editor based in New York City. Her theatrical credits include work with Two Good Dogs Productions, the Secret Theatre, Hip to Hip Theatre Company, the Riant Theatre, Chelsea Rep/The Acting Studio, Identity Theater Company/Nicu’s Spoon Theater Company, Royal Family Productions, and Hartford Stage.
Staxx Cordero
Adriana Alter
Staxx Cordero
Director, PDA/TMI
Staxx is an Actor, Writer, Rapper, Director and On Air Radio Personality. She has been featured on Roku, Catch Cod, Amazon Prime, Starz and Tubi. She's also acted in over 20 off-Broadway productions including Audelco nominated “Circumstances," and most recently The #1 Urban Stage Play “Man of the House.”
Brian Reese
Charmaine Elizabeth
Staxx Cordero
Director, Step 1
Brian Reese is a New York based actor, writer, and director. "Alcoholism is a dark cloud that has affected many (if not all) families, including my own. Exploring STEP 1 has been incredibly cathartic and wonderfully rewarding; I hope that it has a similar effect on each of you. Love.".
Michael Green
Charmaine Elizabeth
Charmaine Elizabeth
Actor, What Paul Said
Michael, founder of Shades of Truth, has received critical praise for his ongoing performance as Dr. King in Jeff Stetson’s “The Meeting” at the Schomburg Center in Harlem and is committed to presenting a positive theatre that is both provocative and educational while illuminating the total Black Experience.
Charmaine Elizabeth
Charmaine Elizabeth
Charmaine Elizabeth
Actor, PDA/TMI
Charmine was in TGD’s production of Jericho, and since, she has toured and traveled the country performing. At Theater in North Carolina she directed six shows, including The Wizard of Oz, UpCycled Cinderella, Grease Lightning, along with Harriet Tubman, in Heroes of the Underground Railroad.
Charlotte Blacklock
Charlotte Blacklock
Charlotte Blacklock
Actor, Countup
A native-born New Yorker, Charlotte trained at the Tom Todoroff Conservatory in New York and works in voiceover, stage, and film. She has performed in regional theaters around the Washington, DC area – favorite roles include Luciana in The Comedy of Errors with Classical Theatre of Maryland, Phebe in As You Like it with Baltimore Shakespeare Factory.
Moyram Espino
Charlotte Blacklock
Charlotte Blacklock
Actor, Beyond Chickamauga
Moyram is a versatile actor, writer, and martial artist and debuted with the NYC Opera's Bartered Bride. In TV and film and he's been featured in numerous independent projects. Recent work includes Torn(festival-bound), The Rebound, a leading role in Word Is Bond, and a turn as a menacing villain in Baggage.
Kassie Kole
Charlotte Blacklock
Marcus McKoy
Actor, A Longing
Kassi a talented actress from New York, discovered her love for acting during a Youth Day event at her local church. Since her debut as a troubled girl, she has honed her skills by taking acting courses at The Acting Studio and attending workshops with Tasha Smith.
Marcus McKoy
Marcus McKoy
Marcus McKoy
Stage Manager & Tech
Marcus is an actor turned Stage Manager. He is most notably recognized for his work with The Negro Ensemble Company and Black Spectrum Theatre. McKoy returned to the world of theatre as an actor, training at the New Federal Theatre