The Liminal at Chain Theatre
Dates: 7/31/2026 - 8/1/2026
📍 Theatre: Chain Theatre
312 West 36 Street Floor 3 & 4 New York, NY 10018
Manhattan, NY 10018
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Synopsis: A criminal, a Countess, a disgraced war general, and a disgraced physics professor have long sought refuge in The Liminal, a bar that exists outside of time. When a new face arrives and the very fabric of the bar begins to unravel, the patrons are forced to grapple with the lives they’ve been avoiding.
THE LIMINAL, a new one-act play written by Emerson Riter and directed by Bradly Valenzuela, debuts at the Chain Theatre Summer One-Act Festival! A 45-minute ensemble piece about purpose, perseverance, and the space-time continuum is part of Program #26, playing July 31st and August 1st on the 3rd floor of The Chain Theatre. Use code LIME26 for 20% off tickets, and join us in the time loop!
Playwright: Emerson Riter
Director: Bradly Valezuela
Featuring: Andy Ruggeri, Kacey Czosnowski, Max Viktus, Melanie Moreno, Ryan Hemstock, and Samantha Westervelt
Poster design by Owen Riter
Special thanks to The Lyons Lab at Colby College for their continued support of this project.
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The Liminal at Chain Theatre Schedule
8/1 at 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm
Cast and Creative Team for The Liminal at Chain Theatre
Cast
Samantha Westervelt
Jasper
Samantha Westervelt is a Brooklyn-based actor and writer. She is very excited to be making her first appearance at the Chain Theatre, and you can catch her as Gwen in her debut feature film Sour Party. She recently completed the two-year Meisner training program at the William Esper Studio. When not acting, Sammy moonlights as a bass player. While she mostly plays punk rock, she loves to listen to hip-hop. Her favorite films are Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Eraserhead, and Do The Right Thing. She loves to people watch and take long walks through the park. She tends to ramble. She forgot if this was for her online dating profile or her bio…
Ryan Hemstock
Lowell
Ryan Hemstock is an actor and writer originally from New Haven, CT. Recent credits include The Seagull with Solid Flesh Theatre Company. The Product (NY. Shorts International Select.) and CUT (Academy of Motion Picture Screening Select. LA, CA.)
Melanie Moreno
Isobel
Melanie moved to the city last August to escape the heat of Arizona and to learn what it takes to live the fast and glamorous life that is the city. She has hit the ground running, performing in cabarets in all kinds of venues since her first rent deposit went through. When she’s not on stage, she’s in front of a film camera or in the writer's room. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find her making latte art at the cafe she works at. insta & tiktok melnotsogr8
Andy Ruggeri
Elenora
Andy Ruggeri (They/Them) is an Australian born, Minnesota raised, and NYC based actor with a BFA from LIU Post. Recent credits include Carmilla (Carmilla), The Book Club (Molly), and The Oresteia (Cassandra). Thank you to YOU, the Rucrew, and the Crypt Keepers for their endless love. Upcoming: The Book Club at the Rogue Theater Festival. @tomatoplantandy
Max Viktus
Conroy
Max has recently moved to New York to follow his dreams of professional acting. He graduated from UCF with a BA in Theatre, and then studied on camera acting under Lauren O’Quinn for 4 years. He is excited to kickstart his journey in New York with The Liminal!
Kacey Czosnowski
Averys
After graduating from the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, Kacey Czosnowski auditioned and joined The Complete Theatre Company, a professional group of actors dedicated to producing various shows every year for both published and original works. Onstage, along with Annie Ward, she has worked with directors Elizabeth Rulas, David K. Branson, and Alexandra Scordato in various theatrical productions such as 'The Dinner From Hell', 'Outback', and 'Oh My God! It's Another Play!'
Most recently, Kacey has been in 'The Secret of Cuck Island' (Troma Productions), 'Clowns!' (Three Scoundrels Comedy), and starred in an episode of 'Diabolical' on Discovery ID. In her down time, she produces an Animorphs podcast called Morphin' Buddies with fellow film graduate Gianni Damaia and continues to pursue her second passion: pole dancing and lyra.
Creative Team
Emerson Riter
Playwright
Emerson Riter is a writer and performer from New York. She is currently pursuing an English degree with a Creative Writing concentration at Colby College in Maine, where she serves on the masthead of The Colby Review. She is a two-time playwright for The Chain Theatre, where she self-produced two ensemble pieces for their winter and summer one-act festivals. As for prose writing, Emerson enjoys focusing on folklore, myths, strange settings, and the ways in which magic appears in everyday life. On stage, Emerson has a penchant for classical theater, and has performed in Antigone, Romeo & Juliet, and Much Ado About Nothing, among others. When she’s not writing or in the rehearsal room, you can find Emerson outdoors, with her family and friends, or haunting the stacks of a local bookstore. @emerson.riter
Bradly Valenzuela
Director
Bradly Valenzuela is a director, playwright and producer based in New York City. He received his B.A. in Directing at California State University, Fullerton. He has produced and directed multiple original productions in the years throughout the city, including The Devil and the Playwright (Theater for the New City), I Have Friends! (The Attic), He’s Different (The Chain Theatre) and RIP Jabari (Audacious Owl Theatre Festival) among others. Bradly has also explored his desire to be a playwright, with Pieces of People: A Two-Sided Eulogy at the New York Theater Festival and How to Feel Without Touching debuting at the Chain Theatre. He most recently produced and wrote new work at the 2nd annual Audacious Owl Theatre Festival, of which he is founder. He is happy to be back at the Chain! Insta: @bradlygv
News About The Liminal at Chain Theatre
THE LIMINAL to Make Its Debut at Chain Theatre Summer One-Act Festival
July 07, 2026 The Liminal, a new one-act play by Emerson Riter, will be performed at the Chain Theatre Summer One-Act Festival, directed by Bradly Valenzuela and featuring a cast of six.About the Theatre
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What shows are coming up next at The Chain Theatre?
Where is The Chain Theatre located?
The Chain Theatre is at 312 West 36 Street Floor 3 & 4 New York, NY 10018, Manhattan, NY.
What shows have played recently at The Chain Theatre?
Fireflies & Fault Lines (06/30/26-07/01/26)
Matt & Ben (01/15/26-01/25/26)
OUT/PLAY PRESENTS: CAFFE CINO ONE ACTS (10/08/25-10/12/25)
Matt & Ben (01/15/26-01/25/26)
OUT/PLAY PRESENTS: CAFFE CINO ONE ACTS (10/08/25-10/12/25)
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