12—15 Sept 2024

Stop Kiss
by Diana Son

ABOUT

An unlikely meeting. The aftermath of a tragic event. The quieter moments in between. Diana Son’s STOP KISS is an exploration on how quickly and subtly lives can change. The story follows two women, Callie and Sara, while they question and embrace what lies in their hearts, revealing the many forms love can take along the way.

Meet the Cast

  • Amy Finkbeiner (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist whose repertoire includes acting, filmmaking, performance art, and visual art. She has produced challenging work exploring sexuality, religion, and identity at numerous art venues in the US and internationally. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Finkbeiner began her acting training at HB Studio and recently completed the William Esper Studio Two Year Meisner Training Program. She has appeared in short films, plays, and new play readings, and will begin filming her first screenplay collaboration, SHE, later this year. For more please her website.

  • Andrew Gilliland (he/him) is a different kind of triple threat as an actor, writer, and financial planner. He loves the intersection of storytelling and real world problem solving, as well as how empathy deepens our work across mediums. Recent credits include The Velvet Rage (The Tank), Cabaret (Lenfest), and At the End of Eight (Beyond Star Films). His training includes his BFA in Acting from Abilene Christian University and the William Esper Studio’s Acting Program. He’s thrilled to join such incredible colleagues who he’s had the privilege to grow beside for this project!

  • April Qi (she/her) is a Meisner trained actor who is currently based in Brooklyn. Since graduating from the William Esper Studio, April has had the opportunity to work on Lanford Wilson’s The Great Nebula of Orion and starred in the short film Buzzkiller. She is extremely proud to be part of this production as an actor and first-time producer and is even prouder to do it alongside her friends.

  • Jenna Cavrich (she/her) is a New York City-based actor. A graduate of the Johns Hopkins University Theatre Department and the William Esper Studio, she is excited to make her NYC theater debut. Thank you to all the teachers, friends, and family that have helped me along the way. Beyond grateful to the team that made this production possible.

  • John Gionis (he/him) is an actor, writer, and recovering lawyer. After leasing his soul to a corporate law firm for five years, he found himself sneaking away from his desk several nights a week to pursue a secret love affair with improv comedy, which eventually inspired him to become an actor. A graduate of the conservatory program at William Esper Studio, he is best known for his roles in TV and film including Law & Order: Organized Crime, New Amsterdam, and several award-winning independent films. His role as Detective Cole represents his theatrical debut.

  • Kyle Gale (he/him) is a Vermont-born, Manhattan-based writer and actor. A recent graduate from the William Esper Studio, Kyle just completed a production of The Seagull where he played the role of Dorn and can be seen in Netflix's upcoming Zero Day. He is exhilarated to be creating theater with some of his favorite collaborators and is proud to be a part of this piece. Kyle would like to extend gratitude towards his friends, family and loved ones, especially those who have helped him maintain sanity and supported his winding road into the arts. @KyleGale802 

Meet the Crew

  • Lola Basiliere (she/her) is a New York-based sound designer for theater and music. As part of her commitment to producing new works, recent credits include: Where Women Go (HERE Arts), anxiety is the dizziness of freedom (Tisch Drama Stage), Joan of Arc in a Supermarket in California (The Tank), Weasel Festival (The Brick), in lucem (Tisch Drama Stage). BFA: NYU; BA: NYU.

  • Lucy Bonin (she/they) is a NYC-based Stage Manager who loves working in live theatre. Credits include Deaf Broadway Presents: Once on This Island (Production Assistant), MISTRESSES (Assistant Stage Manager), and SNOW IN MIDSUMMER (Production Assistant). She is currently a Senior at NYU-Tisch studying Stage Management in the Production and Design Studio.

  • Josh Healing (he/him) is a lighting designer, projection designer & composer for theater from Chicago. Josh strives to tell and design for stories that lie at the intersection of curiosity and community-building. Some recent/upcoming* designs include A LIE OF THE MIND* (The American Theater Company), THE WIZARD OF OZ (LREI School), BLACKOUT SONGS, EDEN (Playwrights Horizons Downtown), ANXIETY IS THE DIZZINESS OF FREEDOM (NYU). Josh also recently programmed PRESENCIA with the Bushwick Starr. He is currently a 4th year in NYU’s Undergraduate Drama program. WEB: joshhealing.com | INSTA: @joshhealingdesign

  • Micah Dominguez-Schatz (they/them) is a freelance lighting designer and technician, and is beyond excited to be working on Stop Kiss! Previous technical credits include L'Orfeo - Head Deck Electrician (Santa Fe Opera), La Traviata - Lead Followspot (Santa Fe Opera), Rent - Asst. Head Electrician (Iris Cantor Theatre), and Head Electrician for various Gucci and Chloe pop-ups (Studio RRD).