The Hive Presents PLEASE TURN YOUR CELLPHONES ON: A DIGITALLY INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE OF CHATROOM

Someone call Nick Silvestri, of Hand to God outlet hopping fame; at this upcoming production of Chatroom by Enda Walsh you will be asked to keep your phone out and turn it on! Enhanced by live chat room updates and live video sharing, this production will explore Walsh's harrowing narrative through the intersection of live performance and technology. Performances begin July 30 and run through August 15 at The Hive in Brooklyn.

Chatroom follows six teenagers who interact solely via an internet chat room as they explore what it means to grow up in the digital age. They discuss everything from Britney Spears to Harry Potter to depression and even suicide. When two of the teens decide to see how far they can push one of their new online friends, keyboards turn deadly and virtual reality becomes all too real.

Chatroom features Michael Axelrod (Jim), Ashley Hevey (Laura), Natalia Lopresti (Emily), Thomas Rene (Jack), Carli Rhoades (Eva), and Anthony Ritosa (William).

The Chatroom creative team consists of Colleen Hughes (director). Sarah Finkle (scenic designer), Dylan Amick (lighting designer), Drew Weinstein (sound designer), and Alyssa Quinn (web developer).

Chatroom

by Enda Walsh

at The Hive

20 Cook St., Brooklyn, NY

July 30-August 15, 2015

Thurs-Sat at 7:30pm

To purchase tickets: http://chatroombyendawalsh.bpt.me/

CAST:

Michael Axelrod (Jim) is a Brooklyn based actor and writer. New York: Restoration Comedy, The Shakes: Romeo and Juliet, The Blind, #serials@theflea (The Flea), Kapow-i GoGo (People's Improv Theater),New George's One Minute Play Festival (New York City Center), Vera or the Nihilists, Triptych (HERE Arts Center), A Girl Without Wings (IATI theater). He will be reprising his role as Hicc-up in Kapow-i GoGo, as well as premiering his new play with Dramatic Adventure Theater, this August. www.michaelaxelrod.com

Ashley Hevey (Laura) is delighted to be sharing the stage with such a great group of artists! She was last seen as Angela in How to Howl as part of a Directors Workshop with The Heights Players. Other recent credits include: Elizabeth Rowan in R.A. Confidential with Rhapsody Collective, and various roles in a workshop production of Hamlet with The Pearl Theatre Company. She holds a BA from Suffolk University and spent a brief (but lovely) time with the London School of Film Media and Performance. Ashley works in Administration at the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice while she goes after her dream of being a working actor. Many thanks to her family and friends for their unyielding support!

Natalia Lopresti (Emily) is an actor, singer and dancer from New York City. She is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College and an alum of the National Theater Institute. Recent credits include Let Them Eat Cake (TinyRhino), Stranger Strangers at the Young Playwrights Festival, Frankenstein and AFLIC at the Treehouse Theater and (If You Knew Him) and The Wendy Tale at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. She is currently in the process of writing a show with three of her best friends and collaborators.

Thomas René (Jack) is happy to be making his Brooklyn debut. Thomas has worked both locally and internationally with his most recent credits being in the Off-Broadway Productions of Little House on the Ferry, With Love in the Strawberry One-Act Festival (best actor nominee) as well as his work in the workshop of Sexyback: or what you will at the American Repertory Theatre's club OBERON. Thomas trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London and proudly teaches voice & speech, accents/dialects, movement and acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the College of Staten Island. His coaching credits include: The Bakkhai at CSI, Disco Pigs at the American Repertory Theatre's club OBERON, Dark Earth with the Eastern Angles Touring Theatre Company and The Witches of Eastwick at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Carli Rhoades (Eva) is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's Drama department and this is her first production in New York City. She has also studied theatre at The National Theatre Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, and in Bali, Indonesia. Her first ever AIM username was "princesscarli4."

Anthony Ritosa (William) is a graduate of NYU/Tisch School of the Arts and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and is a frequent flyer in trapeze class at the Circus Warehouse in Queens. Favorite credits include CampKappawanna (Chad Banks, Atlantic Theatre Company/Atlantic for Kids), Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Two Beans/Theatreworks USA, international tour), and the feature film For 20 (Nate, Blazur Films). Keep an eye out for Anthony on season 4 of Girl Code on MTV! All my love to Mom, Dad, and all my friends. Chat with Anthony (and join his cause) here: www.anthonyritosa.com

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