Icebreaker - playreading at Conch Shell Productions

Conch Shell Productions’(CSP) is proud to present the live online reading of ICEBREAKER, a new one-act play written & directed by Magaly Colimon-Christopher. The reading will take place on Conch Shell Productions’ Youtube page on Monday, November 7th, 2022 at 8pm.

Admission is pay-what-you-can. Eventbrite reservations are required.

ICEBREAKER is loosely based on personal pandemic stories shared by audience members who attended 2022 community screenings of Conch Shell Productions’ smartphone film AFTERSHOCKS: A TETRALOGY OF OUR TIMES. This online play reading is the final part of a three-part project - AFTERSHOCKS: WATCH & SHARE - funded by Flushing Town Hall’s Queens Artist Grant which was awarded to CSP Founder/Artistic Director Magaly Colimon-Christopher.

Cast members include: Brittney Akpobiyeri, Amy Finkbeiner, Joshua Josey, Sarah Marable, and Natasha Mehra.

Play summary:

When three financially strapped strangers come together to take part in a paid focus group, their coronavirus pandemic-influenced anxieties turn the session into a battle ground as they struggle with the challenges of redefining social interaction and identity. Can they overcome their pandemic traumas in order to “go back to normal” and form new human connections?

Content warnings: Pandemic experiences of isolation; adult humor and content

About Playwright/Director & Conch Shell Productions:

Magaly Colimon-Christopher - is a first-generation Haitian American actress/playwright/director/producer as well as the Artistic Director/Founder of Conch Shell Productions. A native New Yorker, Magaly founded Conch Shell Productions to infuse new Caribbean Diaspora & Caribbean voices in the American theater and film industry by developing, showcasing and producing new plays and screenplays that inspire social change. To learn more about Magaly go to www.magalycolimon.com. IG: @magaly_colimon1

To learn more about Conch Shell Productions, go to www.conchshellproductions.com.

IG @conchshellproductions FB @conchshellprod Tiktok @conch_shell_prod

About Cast Members:

Brittney Akpobiyeri is a southern native who relocated to NYC in 2019. She has always enjoyed story telling in all its forms and is excited to work with Conch Shell Productions for the first time. She has taken on camera classes with Magaly Colimon and Victor Cruz at HB Studios and has trained at T. Schreiber and The Barrow Group. In her spare time Brittney enjoys reading, playing violin and exploring the city. IG: @akpobiyeri

Amy Finkbeiner is an interdisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn. She received a MFA from The School of Visual Arts in New York and has an extensive exhibition record of challenging visual and performance art. Finkbeiner has studied at HB Studio and is currently in The William Esper Studio acting program. IG: @amylfinkbeiner

Joshua Josey is a Miami native, trained in acting for stage and film. Mr. Josey is a performer, writer, entrepreneur, model, public advocate, and current law student. His notable roles include Scapino (Scapino), Midsummer Night's Dream (Oberon/Theseus), and Everyman (Everyman). IG:@joshuawjosey

Sarah Marable has appeared in the television series Gossip Girl and has been featured in several television commercials and internet promos. She studied at SUNY Purchase and HB Studio. Sarah is excited to be taking part in Conch Shell Productions' New Works Reading Series 2022! IG:@Misssarahmarable

Natasha Mehra is a South Asian actor born and raised in New Jersey. At an early age, she developed an affinity for the arts, primarily training in Indian classical dance, Kathak. In addition to acting, Natasha continues to dance, is a trained 1st degree black belt, enjoys traveling, photography, and deep-sea diving. IG:@Natashme

About Funders:

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program , a program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered by Flushing Town Hall.