FRIENDS LOVERS AND OTHERS

Friends & Lovers & Others written by Matt M. had its premier at the Tank in NYC, December 2023

Friends & Lovers & Others is a play written by Matt M. It follows six people as they strive to break out of their sterile bubbles and re-learn intimacy. People have forgotten how to communicate, touch, and (most importantly?) have sex. Was it like riding a bike, was it a wrestling match, did it involve Gregorian chanting? Who's to say? Join us in this delightful, heartfelt, and queer world where no matter how much these characters face heartbreak they're still ready to dance it off.

Hayley Spivey (Bartender):

Hayley Spivey is an actor, screenwriter, and dramaturg with a B.F.A from Boston University.  Acting credits include Twelfth Night with Lyric Stage Company and Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Men in Boats with SpeakEasy Stage Company, Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures with Wheelock Family Theater, and Orlando with Lyric Stage Company.

Deniz Khateri (Babe):

Deniz is a multidisciplinary artist (actor, director, playwright, shadow puppetry artist and animator) based in New York. Her works experiment with form and focus on memory, grief, immigration and the concept of home. 

Deniz has performed extensively in Tehran, Boston and New York with companies including Speakeasy stage, Central Square Theatre, ArtsEmerson, Apollinaire Theatre, Gloucester, Puppet Showplace theatre, Center at West Park, Gardzienice, Boston University and Leev Sayeh Tehran. She has designed and directed international shows and shadow puppetry visuals for several contemporary classical composers and companies including OperFrankfurt, Guerilla Opera, Dinosaur Annex, and Long Beach Opera. Selected as a playwriting lab resident at NYC’s New Perspective Theatre, her plays have been performed in several national and international festivals. Holding an MA in Theatre from City University of New York,she has trained in master classes with prominent international artists including Peter Brook, Paul Zaloom and Gardzienice theatre company of Poland. She is an adjunct lecturer at Hunter college and Queens borough community college of CUNY.

Deniz is the recipient of the NYFA award for her Oscar-qualified documentary animated web series, “Diasporan”, for which she is the writer, director, animator and singer and explores the daily struggles of immigrants. (www.denizkhateri.com)

Emma Campbell (Doc):

Emma K. Campbell started studying the craft of performance at a young age. Her studies have led her to Tanglewood, Idyllwild Arts, Interlochen Arts, and Paul McCartney’s LIPA in Liverpool. She has performed in touring choirs and shows
throughout the country. Some of her favorite performances include “The Fool” in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and as a traveling pirate and various Murder Mysteries, most recently Murder In The First at The Soho Playhouse. You may also find her singing The National Anthem in the tri-state area for the NYRR and other sporting events. Although she has participated in many cabaret collaborations and solo shows in the city she is beyond excited to perform in The Groundling with Sonyo Theatre as Karen. Youmay follow her journey online: Instagram: emmacampbellmusic or Website: http://www.EmmaK.site

Ken Yotsukura (Kiddo):

Ken Yotsukura (he/him) is a Japanese-American actor and professional photographer. Originally from the DC area, Ken moved to Boston to attend drama school where he started his own business at 18 years old. Since then, he has balanced two careers as an actor and photographer full-time, often running back and forth between auditions and shoots. You can check out his work at the websites listed below. Recent credits include New Repertory Theatre: The Normal Heart (Craig/Hiram), Central Square Theatre: The Chinese Lady (Atung, u/s), PURE (Chris), The Theatre Offensive: SWAN (Brad), Wheelock Family Theatre: Make Way for Ducklings (Lack/ens) - 2020 workshop. Nominated for BroadwayWorld’s Best Performer in a Streaming Musical (2022 Regional Awards). Education: Boston University: BFA in Theatre Arts, ActorsStudio at Pinewood Studios London: Screen Acting Diploma. www.kenyotsukura.com / www.kbyphotos.com

Imogen Finlayson (Sweetheart):

Imogen Finlayson is an award winning British/New Zealand actress who trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (New York Company, 2019), and the Cours Florent (Paris). Some of her recent theater credits include: The Groundlings (Sonyo Theater), Murder In The First (Soho Playhouse), The Woman In Black (The Mckittrick Hotel, The McCarter Princeton, Festival Hall Charleston), The Art of Killin It (Future Proof), Nightmare Gothic (Teatro SEA), Which Way to The Ivy Covered Well (Rochester Fringe), Tamerlane (Poe Int.l Fest) and many more. She has also worked in film and physical theater productions.  Awards: ‘Best Actor’ Lovesick film festival, ‘Best Duo’ IndieFest International for ‘The Reunion'. You can find her resume at this link: https://app.spotlight.com/6296-7832-4257

Director: Siobhan Carroll

Siobhán Carroll is and Irish/American actor and writer who received her BFA in Acting from Boston University. She recently won Best Supporting Actor for her role in It’s A Free Country at the SheNYC festival this summer. On-stage credits include: The Thin Place (Gloucester Stage), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Blue Kettle & Here We Go (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company), Romeo & Juliet (New Repertory Theatre CRC tour), Red Velvet (OWI), My Fascination With Creepy Ladies and I, Snowflake (Anthem Theatre Company), Sing, Goddess (HERE Arts), It's A Free Country (SheNYC), and Macbeth (The Cutting Room), among others. Siobhán's solo show, Is This You, was part of DQT's American Women program and digital stage presentation. Find out more at: Siobhancarroll.com

Julia  Genoveva  (Mamma Bear):

Was born in Ecuador and raised in the Bronx. She  has been in the entertainment industry for over a decade--acting in  films, plays, and commercials.  She was last seen  in "Crossroads: An Anthology of Four Plays," which Julia acted in, produced and directed at the Producers Club. Recent performances this past summer were:  "Hide and Seek," written by Dena Levin and  directed  by Johnny Culver. Also,  Julia's play, "The Crossroad" was proudly part of  the Secret Theatre-One Act Festival.  Julia received her acting training from HB Studio, Weist-Barron and The Simon Studio.  To keep up with  Julia's  projects, you can find her on instagram: @juliagenie, or contact her directly by email: juliagenoveva@gmail.com. www.juliagenoveva.com