Deshja Driggs (Lea)
Deshja is thrilled to be joining the cast of Unpretty and the chance to work with Randomly Specific Theatre again after appearing in Must Win. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t feel gratitude for being a working actress for over 20 years. Some of her favorite roles have been Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray, Brooke in the nationally released feature film, 'The Dissection of Thanksgiving' and Toni Lafayette in the stage production of 'Appropriate' - for which she won Broadway Worlds 2019 Best Actress award in NJ Regional Theatre. Her voice can be heard on countless commercials; including PNC Bank, Airwick and Friskies to name a few. As fortunate as she feels in her work life, her true accomplishment are her two daughters, Mareau and Thaura- to whom give her life true meaning and fills it with love.
Linda Blackstock (Frances)
Linda is a proud native New Yorker, born and bred in The Bronx and a retired NYCDOE educator/ administrator. She is delighted to be appearing once again on the stage at the Chain Theatre, her last time being the summer of 2003 in their One Act Play Festival. Over the years she performed in a variety of venues throughout NYC, including Metropolitan Playhouse, The Kraine Theatre, The Secret Theatre, Irish Art Center, Prospect Theatre, The Point, and The Brick. Much love to the talented artists in this space.
Jakob Martinez Cooper (Wes)
Jakob is a New York City based actor. FILM: The Woods (Lucas). THEATRE: Spring Awakening (Otto), Imaginary Invalid (Cleante). Jakob holds a BA from Emerson College and is a recent alum of The Neighborhood Playhouse.
Larry Phillips (Aaron) and Playwright
Larry has written and appeared in: Must Win; Good Night, Baby Girl; The Weekend Will End; Koalas are Dicks; Arbuckle Syndrome; Talent is Sexy; The Rise of Mediocrity; Plan G; Secondary Pitch; The Ladies of Glen Ross; The Other Harvey; Learning to Skip; Last Chance for Mama; Fistful of Cake, Pocketful of Miracles; This is Mark/c; The Art of Acting: A Master Class with Fozzie Bear. www.larryphillipsnyc.com
Marisa Gonzales (Celia)
Marisa is a Texas born actress who is excited and grateful to be making her debut with Randomly Specific Theatre company in this production of Unpretty! She earned her BFA from NYU Tisch, where she studied at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting, as well as The Stonestreet Studio for Film & Television. She also earned a BA in English from NYU. Some of her favorite credits include Agave (Dæmon), Eurydice (Ovid’s Metamorphoses) and Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors). I would like to thank my cast mates and director for all their hard work and collaboration on this production, and for allowing me to be a part of it. Finally, thank you so much to my mom and dad, for always encouraging me to believe in myself and work hard for my dreams. This wouldn’t be possible without you. I love you lots! @marisavgonzales
Iain McLellan (Sam)
Iain is a Brooklyn based theatre actor who has performed regionally in New England and in The Big Apple. He is excited to join the cast as Sam in Unpretty. Adept in Shakespeare, Iain has performed off-Broadway in Henry V and regionally in Hamlet and The Tempest. Iain's latest contemporary productions include, Generations @ Vino Theater; The Resurrectionist @ The Tank; Chekhov's Cherry Orchard; The Burial at Thebes; Bull; and Perfect Arrangement. Iain graduated from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting after a career as an emergency response specialist with the United Nations. IG:@McLellan.iain
Amanda Briskin-Wallace (Paige)
Amanda (she/her) is an NYC based Singer, Actor, Dancer and Teaching Artist. This is Amanda’s third time working with Larry Phillips: previously as a Stage Manager for The Art of Acting: A Master Class with Fozzie Bear and as an Assistant Director on The Ladies of Glen Ross. She’s so excited to get to share the stage with him and the stellar Unpretty cast! Some of Amanda’s recent credits include Wild Party (Kate), Into The Woods (Milky White), and Cinderella (Fairy Godmother). She is grateful to her girlfriend, Mom and Dad for their immense love and support! Instagram: @amanda_bdubs Website: www.amanda-bw.com
Gregg Pica, Director
Gregg is a Brooklyn-based director, actor, and producer. He most recently directed Randomly Specific Theatre's productions of Good Night Baby Girl and This is Mark/c, and appeared as Jeff in Randomly Specific's Arbuckle Syndrome. Other directorial credits include John Guerra’s The Last, Best Small Town with T. Schreiber Studio, The Donor Class with Nylon Fusion Theatre Company, A Conversation Before in FringeNYC, Tales with Teeth: Humpty Dumpty in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, Madame Égalité with TheatreMakers Studio, Dolores with Hi-Excellent Productions, The Flying Dutchman Boards the Staten Island Ferry at the Players Theatre NYC, and The Carpenter, The Flood, and The Fart in the Rogue Theater Festival. Thanks to Megan, without whom he wouldn’t be doing any of this. www.greggpica.com
Maile Binion, Stage Manager
Maile Binion is an actor, writer, director, and queer “Gal Friday”, originally from New Orleans. She most recently originated a lead role in the new play Sisterhood at the Tank (Pigeon Theatre Company), in addition to designing lights for All American Sex Addict/Woke AF at the ATA (Randomly Specific Theatre) and stage managed an update of No Exit directed by Michael Hagins at St. Marks Theatre. Follow @smailes1 on Instagram to stay tuned for more upcoming projects or to enquire about booking.
Dominique Jakowec, Scenic Designer
Dominique (they/them) is a Brooklyn based scenic and props designer and a freelance theatrical technician. Raised in Los Angeles, they graduated with a degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of Southern California where they were also a designer and board member of Aeneid Theatre Company. They recently made their New York debut with Houses at the Tank Theater. Website: dominiquejakowec.myportfolio.com
Hayley Garcia Parnell, Lighting Designer
Hayley (she/they) is a Chicana Lighting Designer from Colorado, currently based in NYC. This is their third production with Randomly Specific Theatre, including Good Night Baby Girl and Must Win. Other credits include New York: Keen Teens Festival of New York (Keen Company at Theatre Row), Valley of the Shadow, (WP Theatre), Gidion's Knot (the Chain), and Friends With Amenities (59E59). Regional: Sanctuary City, Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson #2B(Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble), Dracula, The Last Five Years (Princeton Summer Theatre). hayleygarciaparnell.com
UNPRETTY
By Larry Phillips
Directed by Gregg Pica
Featuring: Deshja Driggs, Linda Blackstock, Jakob Martinez Cooper,
Larry Phillips, Marisa Gonzales, Iain McLellan
& Amanda Briskin-Wallace
Stage Manager Maile Binion
Scenic Design: Dominique Jakowec
Lighting Design: Hayley Garcia Parnell
In the early 2000's Lea was a teenage sitcom star and pop culture sex symbol. Now she’s retreated from the public spotlight and struggles with her Hollywood dreams and scars. Unpretty is a look at what happens to one’s spirit once an industry is done with you.
August 15th - 25th, 2024
The Chain Theater
312 W36th St
4th Floor
Content Warning: This play contains themes about body dysmorphia.