by Aaron Gordon
Braden River High School, Bradenton

Jim tries to find something good to watch on TV during his lunch break.

Director: Lindsey Nickel

Jim—Eric Henry
Netflix, Reporter, Detective, Dad—Charlie Agurcia
Reporter 2, Jane, Mom, Alice—Sarah Haun
HBO, Commissioner, Judge—Dylan Jones
Amazon, John, Businessman, Son, Voice—Anuj Naidu
Taylor, Witness, Sister, Judge—Allie Walker

Eric Henry (Jim) has been a community-theater set designer, master carpenter and on-stage performer for two decades. On-stage roles have ranged from Shakespeare to Stoppard; recent credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, The Diary of Anne Frank, Dial M for Murder and The Miracle Worker. This is his fifth appearance in Theatre Odyssey’s student and professional ten-minute competitions.

Charlie Agurcia (Netflix, Reporter, Detective, Dad) is an actor with notable roles in productions such as The Spitfire Grill (Venice Theatre), The Graduate (The Players Centre), and Death of a Salesman (Manatee Performing Arts Center). Internationally, Charlie has performed in Snow and Troilus & Cressida with the Brussels Shakespeare Society.

Sarah Haun (Reporter 2, Jane, Mom, Alice) is Florida based actor and theatre educator with a BA in theatre performance. She is delighted to work with Theatre Odyssey for the first time. Sarah was most recently seen in WBTT’s production of Ruby and returned for the show’s regional tour at the Detroit Music Hall. As an educator, she loves working with future artists and giving them the opportunity to shine and build confidence.

Dylan Jones (HBO, Commissioner, Judge) has been acting and directing in the Sarasota area for thirty years. He was the author of the 2017 Ten Minute Play Festival winner, The Best Ten Minutes Ever. He owns Little Grey Hat Productions, producing award-winning shows including The Last 5 Years, Copenhagen, and The Remnant: A Vietnam Survivor’s Story. He is glad to be a part of the festival again and gives thanks for the support of his family and Rylie.

Anuj Naidu (Amazon, John, Businessman, Son, Voice) is honored to be performing again at Theatre Odyssey. Anuj was most recently a part of The Modern Works Festival at Urbanite Theatre. Anuj has also performed in local productions at The Sarasota Players, The Island Players, and The Howard Studio Theatre. He is always inspired by the talented students who write these wonderful plays. He would like to thank his family, friends, and the community for supporting his on-stage adventures.

Allie Walker (Taylor, Witness, Sister, Judge) is a 16-year-old junior at Manatee School for the Arts. With a lifelong passion for theater, she has been performing since the age of six. Some of her recent credits include Peter and the Starcatcher (Molly Aster) and Off Peak (Sarita). Allie would like to thank her loved ones for all of their support

Lindsey Nickel (director) has no time for TV when she is busy directing Channel Surfing! A 30+ year stage veteran, this is her first time in the director’s chair for Theatre Odyssey’s student playwriting festival. After acting in five other Theatre Odyssey festivals, she remains inspired by the deeply insightful and laughter-inducing works of these young, brilliant minds. She is grateful to her family for their incredible support of her theatre passion.

Aaron Gordon (playwright) is a junior at Braden River High School and has been obsessed with theatre and comedy from a young age. He recently was one of the winners of FST’s Write-A-Play contest for his short play Insert Play Name Here, and his thespian troupe recently competed with his original one act play Remember the Darlings! at a district competition. After high school, Aaron wants to study creative writing and theatre. He’s so grateful to Theatre Odyssey for this opportunity and would also like to thank his friends, family, and teachers for always supporting him!

by Liam Adeney
Harrison School for the Arts, Lakeland

A pair of proficient artists want to stop their daughter from following her rebellious dream — becoming an accountant. Her determination forces them to recognize the error of their ways, and they let her submit her application to business college.

Director: Aden Russell

Jamie—Evangeline De La O
Kelly—Carrie Greenberg
Marty—Scott Ehrenpreis
Postal Worker—Paul Mullen

Evangeline De La O (Jamie) is excited to be a part of Theatre Odyssey’s Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival! She has most recently been seen in The Lighting Thief, Little Shop of Horrors, The Addams Family as Wednesday, and in other Theater Odyssey festivals. Her favorite past performances include Kathy/Fann in Scrooge’d, Bruce in Matilda Jr., Cheerleader/ Charlotte understudy 13 and Pepper in Annie. Evie is so grateful to the wonderful directors, cast, and crew of this show and hopes that they all break a leg! She is also thankful to her family and friends for their support!

Carrie Greenberg (Kelly) is thrilled to make her Theatre Odyssey debut! Sarasota credits include two seasons at Carlisle Inn Sarasota (Half-Stitched, The Best of Me, and Güt Life Christmas), two seasons as the stage manager for The Hat Theatre Collective (Ballad of Old Manatee), and the Sarasota Players’ production of Candide. Outside the Sunshine State, Carrie’s favorite roles include Sister Mary Downy (Disaster!), Gertrude (Seussical), Ernestina (Hello, Dolly!), Big Jule (Guys and Dolls), and Miss Fleming (Heathers).

Scott Ehrenpreis (Marty) is no stranger to Theatre Odyssey. He has performed in numerous plays and is thrilled to be returning again. He was last seen as Eddie Kurnitz in Lost In Yonkers at the Sarasota Jewish Theatre. Scott’s one-man show, Clowns Like Me, had its world premiere back in May of 2023 to sold out audiences and rave reviews. The play then transferred to Off-Broadway at the DR2 Theatre in NYC where over 1500 people saw it. Many people have been impacted and touched by Scott’s lived experience with mental health afflictions.

Paul Mullen (Postal Worker) is back at Theatre Odyssey, having recently played an alien and previously played eight others. He has appeared at many local theaters, having appeared in such shows as Singin’ in the Rain, Run for Your Wife, Joseph, The Fantasticks, and Val Balfour’s Passion Play. He just celebrated his 25th anniversary at FCCI Insurance in Sarasota. He lives in Englewood and enjoys nature and puzzles. Thanks to my brother Bill. Enjoy the show, Mom—you’ve got a great view! 

Aden Russell (director) earned her membership in the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, and Actors’ Equity Association years ago in Detroit. Now residing in Sarasota, she’s returned to the theater performing with Theatre Odyssey, Players, Sarasota Jewish Theater, Gothic Library, Tree Fort Productions, to name a few. In 2024, Aden directed The Jar for Theatre Odyssey’s 19th Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival and is grateful they showcase burgeoning new playwrights in these inspiring Festivals.

Liam Adeney (playwright) is a junior attending Harrison School for the Arts’ Creative Writing department. He enjoys poetry, scripts — plays, comics, and otherwise — and creating interesting characters in fun, original worlds, which are usually composed of last-minute shower thoughts and internal debate. He also aspires to participate in game design, as a writer and/or concept artist. Filing Errors is his first play to be produced by Theatre Odyssey, and he can’t wait to see how it turns out.

by Norah Courtright
East River High School, Orlando

Genevieve visits a shady psychic for her weekly session, stressed about her boyfriend, but Madam Katrina cares more about holding on to a loyal client. How far will she go to keep her oldest customer?

Director: Yinoelle Colon

Madame Katrina—Terry Occhiogrosso
Genevieve—Ruby Daines
Ian—Manuel Gaspar

Terry Occhiogrosso (Madame Katrina) has lived in Sarasota for four years and this is Terry’s second time playing with Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festival. She has worked in New York and in Nashville as an actor and teaching artist. Terry is also an actor for The Sarasota Area Playwrights’ Society.

Ruby Daines (Genevieve) is an award-winning actor and Delta Psi Omega member. Ruby played in Outcasts and Rebels (Cassie) in Theater Odyssey’s Twentieth Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival. She also played in the State College of Florida’s productions of They Promised Her the Moon (Jerrie Cobb), Almost, Maine (Gayle/Deena), and One Slight Hitch (P.B. Coleman). Ruby’s film credits include Killer Grannies (Juror), Egg (Bryce), and Maya (Maya). Ruby loves kombucha and being outside.

Manuel Gaspar (Ian) is currently a sophomore and a member of the Manatee School for the Arts Chamber Choir; he can also be seen performing with their ballroom dance team. Some previous credits include: Seussical Kids (Horton), The Little Mermaid Jr. (Prince Eric), at Manatee Performing Arts Center and Sponge Bob SquarePants (Larry) at the Straz Center. The Gift is his first show with Theatre Odyssey.

Yinoelle Colon (director) is a theatre, television, and film actor and coach. She has participated as an actress in plays including Twelfth Night (Viola), Bash (Sue), Hysteria(Jessica), Wit (Susie), A Chorus Line (Diana Morales)and Water by the Spoonful (Yazmin) at the LATC Festival in Los Angeles, California. Her last credit as a director is the musical Hairfor the Manship Theater in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Norah Courtright (playwright) is a 15-year-old theatre student at East River High School. As a junior, she channels her passion for storytelling into creating meaningful works that inspire and bring joy to others. She has written a full-length fiction novel and several other plays as well. A dedicated leader both onstage and off, Norah values collaboration and community, striving to connect with others through her art and leave a lasting impact on those around her.

by Rafael Faraci
St. Petersburg High School, St Petersburg

A grandmother with dementia, fully dependent on an intelligent robot, finds herself in conflict with her daughter-in-law because of her alienation with the struggles of the rest of her family. The story explores patriotism, loyalty, family, and the growing influence of technology.

Director: Lee Gundersheimer

Meredith—Jenny Aldrich Walker
MXU-80—Anuj Naidu
April—Jill Schroeder
Quinn—Declan Moyer

Jenny Aldrich Walker (Meredith) is not quite 90 and not quite senile but is quite elated to be back on the Theatre Odyssey stage with this superb cast, crew and director. Previously, she’s been honored to walk these very boards with the Banyan Theatre and The Asolo Conservatory. She regrets it’s been almost a year since she’s appeared onstage with her brilliant and dashing husband, Don Walker. And, she wishes playwrights would write more plays about grandmas!

Anuj Naidu (MXU-80) is honored to be performing again at Theatre Odyssey. Anuj was most recently a part of The Modern Works Festival at Urbanite Theatre. He has also performed in local productions at The Sarasota Players, The Island Players, and The Howard Studio Theatre. Anuj is always inspired by the talented students who write these wonderful plays. He would like to thank his family, friends, and the community for supporting his on-stage adventures.

Jill Schroeder (April) has performed in Southwest Florida, throughout the Midwest, and toured with the National Theatre for Children out of Minneapolis. Recent shows include Lost in Yonkers, Original Sin, The Glass Menagerie, Winter Flowers, and several roles in four of Theatre Odyssey’s Ten-Minute Play Festivals. Much love and light to this talented, playwright, cast, and director!

Declan Moyer (Quinn) is a 17-year-old actor and singer, with a passion for theater that has grown over the past six years while performing with Spark ALC’s musical theater troupe and Sarasota Jewish Theatre. As a homeschooled and dual-enrolled high school student, he’s had the opportunity to pursue his love of performance across a variety of roles, including Prince/Wolf in Into the Woods, Pinocchio in Shrek: The Musical, and Arty in Lost in Yonkers.

Lee Gundersheimer (director) — A multi-faceted theatre professional, Lee has worked as an actor, director, playwright, producer, administrator and designer. He has built and run two separate theater spaces in Manhattan, managed many new play workshops, directed over seventy-five plays, performed in countless theaters in NYC, and worked as a professor teaching acting, directing and playwriting for five major universities.

Rafael Faraci (playwright) is a junior in the St. Petersburg High School IB Program and a proud thespian. As an actor, director, and playwright with over four years of experience, he has authored Revelation, The King’s Play, The Gunpowder Plot, Paloma y Pedro, and other works, many of which have been produced. To him, art is a medium through which we can examine the systems that act around us and reflect on the complex human experience.

by Patricia Brady
Lake Gibson High School, Lakeland

Months after a school shooting, a mother and daughter grow farther apart as they struggle to find their own peace. When grief holds them back, can they come to terms with the truth and move away from the past?

Director: Nicol Moeller

Elenore—Ali Wasmund
Dawn—Yinoelle Colon
Emma—Evangeline De La O
Stephen—Steven Butler

Ali Wasmund (Elenore) — I am a tenth grade student at Suncoast Polytechnical High School in Sarasota and am truly ecstatic to be a part of Theatre Odyssey’s 2025 Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival. Heartfelt thanks to Nicol and Lucinda for casting me in two amazing plays.  I am honored and very grateful. 

Yinoelle Colon (Dawn) is a theatre, television, and film actor and coach. She has participated as an actress in plays including Twelfth Night (Viola), Bash (Sue), Hysteria (Jessica), Wit (Susie), A Chorus Line (Diana Morales) and Water by the Spoonful (Yazmin) at the LATC Festival in Los Angeles, California. Her last credit as a director is the musical Hair for the Manship Theater in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Steven Butler (Stephen)—Some of his favorite acting roles include My Way: The Music of Frank Sinatra, Bank Job, How I Learned What I Learned, Cabaret, La Cage Aux Folles, Joseph…Technicolor Dreamcoat, RENT, and Anything Goes just to name a few. One of Steven’s biggest honors was representing the United States at the 2017 Mondial Du Théâtre Monaco, with the South African production of Tshepang. A Memory Away marks his debut with Theatre Odyssey.

Nicol Moeller (director) is thrilled to direct with Theatre Odyssey. A recent NYC transplant, Nicol is an award winning SAG actress, producer, director, and former professional dancer. She’s directed both film and theater, produced sold-out runs Off-Broadway, appeared on Letterman, and sung live with Cyndi Lauper—cause “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”! Recently, she’s performed in The Mousetrap and the Learned Ladies at Venice Theatre, Twelfth Night with Sarasota Players.

Patricia Brady (playwright) — “I’m a senior at Lake Gibson High School. I’ve has taken a playwriting class for two years with my teacher, Greg Burdick, who has taught me all I’ve needed to know to get where I am now. I made it to county and superlatives for my play A Memory Away, the first play I’ve ever written. I thrive to be a writer who impacts others with my work.”

STAY WILD, MOON CHILD by Delaney Lockwood
Venice High School, Venice

As they read together, a young woman finds herself challenged by a child’s vivid and outside-the-box interpretation of fairy tales. Through storytelling, they discover more about each other and how to stay true to yourself amid the pressures and expectations of society.

Director: Glenn Schudel

Young Adult—Ruby Daines
Child—Thiana Machado
Mother—Cristina Bickerstaff
Actor 1—Charles Agurcia
Actor 2—Cristina Bickerstaff

Ruby Daines (Young Adult) is an award-winning actor and Delta Psi Omega member. Ruby played in Outcasts and Rebels (Cassie) in Theater Odyssey’s Twentieth Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival. She also played in the State College of Florida’s productions of They Promised Her the Moon (Jerrie Cobb), Almost, Maine (Gayle/Deena), and One Slight Hitch (P.B. Coleman). Ruby’s film credits include Killer Grannies (Juror), Egg (Bryce), and Maya (Maya). Ruby loves kombucha and being outside.

Thiana Machado (Child) is 11 years old and loves being in front of a live audience. She played the role of Susan Walker in Miracle on 34^th Street as well as doing school plays. She wants to thank her Stay Wild, Moon Child cast and family for all their love and support.

Cristina Bickerstaff (Mother / Actor 2) Originally hailing from Atlanta, Cristina has lived in Florida for most of her life, having performed in cities all over the Sunshine State, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota to name a few. A brief list includes: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; Woman in White; Much Ado About Nothing; Hymen; Anything Goes. It is a source of pride being able to enrich our community through being an Entertainer and Board member of the emprise Sarasota Rising / Living Arts Festival. It is with much anticipation and excitement that this year will be Cristina‘s premiere adventure with Theater Odyssey!

Charlie Agurcia (Actor 1) is an actor with notable roles in productions such as The Spitfire Grill (Venice Theatre), The Graduate (The Players Centre), and Death of a Salesman (Manatee Performing Arts Center). Internationally, Charlie has performed in Snow and Troilus & Cressida with the Brussels Shakespeare Society.

Glenn Schudel (director) — Glenn’s twenty-plus years in theatre include directing and managing credits with Love Creek Productions/Samuel French Short Play Festival and three national tours with the American Shakespeare Center. Local credits include Venice Theatre, the Players Center, the SaraSolo Festival, the Asolo, and multiple Theatre Odyssey festivals. He teaches Creative Writing at Ringling College and works as a freelance script and text coach. He is thrilled to be directing for Theatre Odyssey again. Hi, Mom!

Delaney Lockwood (playwright) is a sophomore at Venice High School and honored to have a play selected again. She was the recipient of last year’s Verna Safran Prize. Delaney also performs in community and school theatre. Favorite Roles: Beth in Little Women: The Broadway Musical (The Sarasota Players), Dainty June in Gypsy: A Musical Fable (Venice Theatre) and Emily Webb in Our Town (VHS). She especially thanks Theatre Odyssey for providing opportunities for young playwrights. 

by Seamus Kehoe
Homeschooled, Venice

There is a mystery in the palace and the distinguished Wilbert Holmes is determined to get to the bottom of it. A Princess, a Pirate, and a Pastry Chef have fallen under suspicion for committing an egregious act against the King. What do these Three P’s in a Pod have to say for themselves?

Director: Lucinda Schlotterback

Princess Penelope—Ali Washmund
Pirate Captain Patrick—Eric Henry
Pastry Chef Arnold—Nick Schroeder
Royal Servant Margie—Tami Vaughan
Dectective Wilbur Holmes—Paul Mullen

Ali Washmund (Princess Penelope) — I am a tenth grade student at Suncoast Polytechnical High School in Sarasota and am truly ecstatic to be a part of Theatre Odyssey’s 2025 Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival. Heartfelt thanks to Nicol and Lucinda for casting me in two amazing plays.  I am honored and very grateful. 

Eric Henry (Staff Member) has been a community-theater set designer, master carpenter and on-stage performer for two decades. On-stage roles have ranged from Shakespeare to Stoppard; recent credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, The Diary of Anne Frank, Dial M for Murder and The Miracle Worker. This is his fifth appearance in Odyssey Theatre’s student and professional ten-minute competitions.

Nick Schroeder (Pastry Chef Arnold) has loved acting ever since he was a child. As an adult, that fact is still just as true. He has been in several plays as well as the documentary The Sarasota Experience as an extra. Some of the plays he has appeared in are: The Case of the Hopeless Diamond, Bells are Ringing, No Entry, as well as many others. He looks forward to many more in the future!

Tami Vaughan (Royal Servant Marjorie) graduated from MJC & USF with a BA in Fine Arts. She moved to NYC and appeared in several Gilbert and Sullivan musicals with the Village Light Opera Group. But she couldn’t stay away. You may have seen her in many productions at Theatre Odyssey, the Manatee Performing Arts Center and the Island Players. She has been on the TO board for over 20 years. Tami is delighted to be working once again on the stage with Theatre Odyssey.

Paul Mullen  (Detective Wilbur Holmes) is back at Theatre Odyssey, having recently played an alien and previously played eight others. He has appeared at many local theaters, having appeared in such shows as Singin’ in the Rain, Run for Your Wife, Joseph, The Fantasticks, and Val Balfour’s Passion Play. He just celebrated his 25th anniversary at FCCI Insurance in Sarasota. He lives in Englewood and enjoys nature and puzzles. Thanks to my brother Bill. Enjoy the show, Mom—you’ve got a great view! 

Lucinda Schlotterback is especially grateful to make her Theatre Odyssey directing debut with Three P’s in a Pod, having performed as Athena in this talented playwright’s previous two plays. During the day, you can find her teaching Engineering at Suncoast Polytechnical HS. Outside the classroom, her many offstage roles include spotlight, stage manager, improv, tech, and audience member. Favorite onstage roles include Annie in Calendar Girls, Ousier in Steel Magnolias, and Roz in Moon Over Buffalo. Thank you to this wonderful cast and playwright!

Seamus Kehoe (playwright) is a Junior unschooled playwright with a passion for humor and storytelling. This marks his third consecutive selection for Theatre Odyssey, where he placed as runner-up once before. He is grateful to Preston Boyd for encouraging him to write plays, to Venice Theatre for a decade of fun classes, to his family and friends for their support, to his mom for helping him stay on track with deadlines and goals, and everyone at Theatre Odyssey for their enthusiasm and for making all of this possible. He is honored to see Three P’s in a Pod performed and can’t wait to see what the clever actors, wise director, and resourceful backstage helpers do to bring it to life.

by Ashley Black
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal High School, Bradenton

Struggling because her husband left her after multiple failed IVF treatments, Clara is consoled by her best friend, realizing that a better future without him does not mean that she is alone.

Director: Susana Falcon

Clara—Carrie Greenbeg
Maya—Sarah Haun

Carrie Greenberg (Clara) is thrilled to make her Theatre Odyssey debut! Sarasota credits include two seasons at Carlisle Inn Sarasota (Half-Stitched, The Best of Me, and Güt Life Christmas), two seasons as the stage manager for The Hat Theatre Collective (Ballad of Old Manatee), and the Sarasota Players’ production of Candide. Outside the Sunshine State, Carrie’s favorite roles include Sister Mary Downy (Disaster!), Gertrude (Seussical), Ernestina (Hello, Dolly!), Big Jule (Guys and Dolls), and Miss Fleming (Heathers).

Sarah Haun (Maya) is Florida based actor and theatre educator with a BA in theatre performance. She is delighted to work with Theatre Odyssey for the first time. Sarah was most recently seen in WBTT’s production of Ruby and returned for the show’s regional tour at the Detroit Music Hall. As an educator, she loves working with future artists and giving them the opportunity to shine and build confidence.

Ashley Black (playwright) is a senior in high school who loves theater, storytelling, and performing. She was super excited when a play she wrote for school was chosen to be performed at a professional theater. Along with her love for the arts, she’s the captain of her school’s Olympic weightlifting team. She also loves spending time with her family and her amazing friend group, the Cabin Crew. Whether on stage, in the gym, or with loved ones, Ashley enjoys every moment.