Event Archive
The playwright during a talkback with WTF Artistic Director Charis Watler
The cast during a rehearsal! From L-R, Gian Arellano, J. Marie Bailey, Weston Kemp
April 13th, 2024
Distillery Series: Staged Reading of Max Pinsky’s COMBINED
In the Spring of 2024, Whiskey Theatre Factory was thrilled to bring Central Florida playwright Max Pinsky’s play to Orlando Family Stage in an activated staged reading. The reading was rehearsed and performed in just one week!
Directed by James Blaisdell
Stage Management and Graphic Design by Sara Jacobson
Produced by Bethany Dickens Assaf
Cast: Gian Arellano, J. Marie Bailey, Jenn Gannon, and Weston Kemp
March 7th, 2024
WTF’s fourth annual one-minute playwriting competition!
We gave 12 playwrights just 10 minutes to write a 1 minute play, which would then be performed by a LIVE audience! This was our fourth year producing this competition, which as always, was full of thrills, drinking games, wonderful life music, and all kinds of shenanigans. A HUGE thank you to Fringe ArtSpace, the playwrights, and the actors for making it possible!
1st Place Winner: Andy Haynes
2nd Place Winner: Aimee LeCours
3rd Place Winner: Ricky Rodriguez-Rios
January 12th and 14th, 2024
The Vast of Darkness at Orlando Fringe’s FestN4!
WTF was honored to be selected for 2024’s FestN4: an exciting four day festival in downtown Orlando! Our amazing cast and creative team brought our spooky space-zombie play, “The Vast of Darkness” to enthusiastic audiences and had a great time producing this weird and wonderful show for a third time!
Photos by: Gontran Durocher: Instagram @ipsophoto, ipsophoto.com
Melissa Manrique and May Baum Evans in Vince Gatton’s “Protocols,” directed by Tay Lane.
November 17th & 18th, 2023
“Still on Zoom: A night of short plays set in the virtual world!”
What can we say? We missed virtual shows! “Still on Zoom” gave WTF an opportunity to work with some of our favorite directors, actors, and playwrights from around the world - including local actors who maybe weren’t in a season of life where in-person rehearsals were a good fit. And this wasn’t just one of those tired old Zoom readings - all six of these EXCELLENT plays were specifically written for the virtual setting and included music, sound effects, LIVE cooking, an alien visitation, not one but TWO apocalypses, and more!! Thanks to everyone who ‘came out’ (stayed in?) to see it!
September 2nd, 2023
“What’s in the Basement, Honey? Seven Short Plays on Marriage, Feminism, and Zombies”
One year after our first night of short plays by a local playwright, we made it a tradition and produced seven plays by WTF’s own Bethany Dickens Assaf! In one outrageous night of theatre, a collection of nerds, angels, strident feminists, aching artists, and Lovecraftian monstrosities took to the stage. Thanks to everyone who came out and made this a sold-out, raucous, exciting event!
Ruby Dickerson and Dani Lehuye navigate relationship challenges during their weekly tennis sesh in “Love-All.”
“Honey, I’m home!" Charis Watler and Jason Porrata in “What’s in the Basement, Honey?”
The playwright with the cast!
Promotional postcard for the show
May 20th-28th & July 22nd-23rd, 2023
The Vast of Darkness
Whiskey Theatre Factory brought the eeriness of space to Orlando Fringe in this sci-fi/horror/drama by Bethany Dickens Assaf.
After winning the Critics’ Choice for “Best Play - Drama” we decided to bring it back for a special Encore in July!
From the review in the Orlando Sentinel: (Click HERE to read the whole thing) “That initial tension ramps up throughout the drama, thanks in part to director Joe Llorens and his fine cast, Charis Walter and Manuel Solis-Bauza, who all have the sense not to let things get too over-the-top too fast. Instead, there’s a delicious slow burn of nerves and an ending that cleverly lets you interpret what you’ve just seen.”
February 8th, 2023
Cheers to two years!
On February 8th, WTF celebrated two years with our Third Annual One-Minute Play Competition & Birthday Bash!
10 playwrights had just 10 minutes to write 1 minute plays that were then presented LIVE. The evening also featured special encore performances from 2022, drinking games, and other shennanigans.
THANK YOU to everyone who came out and to Fringe ArtSpace for hosting us.
Playwrights: Nico Allen, Billie Jane Aubertin, Liz Bernstein, Andy Haynes, Clark Levi, Megan Markham, Kimberly Murray Patel (Competition Winner!), Max Pinsky, Jason Porrata, and Irene L. Pynn!
September 10th, 2022
The Meeting of the Muses
The Whiskey Theatre Factory presented “The Meeting of the Muses: A Night of Short Plays by Nancy Rose Ostinato” on September 10th at the John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Our first in-person production showcased 6 plays written by Artistic Associate Nancy Rose Ostinato:
The Meeting of the Muses
Would You Rather…?
The Hallmark of a Good Relationship
Checked Baggage
Picking Something Up at the Market
Who's Grace Kelly?
Click here to see the program and learn more about the production!
Tbe Muses with the director and the playwright!
From L-R: Bethany Dickens Assaf, Christina Griffith, Gabriella Headley (Director), Nancy Rose Ostinato (Playwright), Charis Watler, Juliana Lind, & Emily Lupfer.
August 19, 2022
Romeo and Her Sister
On August 19th, Whiskey Theatre Factory brought a reading of playwright Jillian Blevins’ exciting brand-new play, Romeo and Her Sister, to the Black Box Theatre at the Orlando Repertory Theatre! The reading was part of a development series, which included dramaturgy, a Zoom workshop, and rehearsals with the playwright.
Click here to see the program and learn more about the play!
The cast and director at the Orlando REP! From L-R: Liz Bernstein (Director), Joe Llorens, Ashleigh Ann Gardner, Krystal Glover, James Blaisdell, Ghina Fawaz, Charis Watler, Kate O’Claire, and Taylor Byerly.
WTF members (L-R in back) Charis Watler, Bethany Dickens Assaf, and Liz Bernstein with actor Manuel Solis-Bauza (left) and playwright R. Graham Rogers (right).
June 16th-19th, 2022
In June of 2023, WTF brought Las Vegas-based playwright R. Graham Rogers to Orlando for a series of workshops and readings to develop his new play, Tampa Bay Triumph: Toothless Men and Timeless Connection.
Over the course of four days, the playwright heard eight actors read the play, received feedback from twelve local playwright and theatre artists, and met with WTF members to discuss future plans for the play.
From R. Graham Rogers:
“I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Whiskey Theatre Factory! Working with WTF helped me turn a story that I toyed with in multiple mediums into a fully realized theatre piece. The support WTF offered, the many tremendous collaborators that they introduced me to, and the numerous different voices they brought together offered me really thoughtful, nuanced, detailed feedback. I LOVE working with Whiskey Theatre Factory and I can’t wait to continue growing into this tremendous community!”
April 15, 2022
Whiskey Theatre Factory was honored to host the Florida Midpoint Check-In for the Dramatist Guild’s “End of Play” initiative in April of 2022. It was a wonderful hour of writing prompts and discussion to support playwrights who were halfway through writing a play in just ONE month!
Read the program and walk through the writing prompts for yourself! :)
February 6, 2022
Cheers to Everyone Who Came Out!
Our one-year anniversary / one-minute play festival competition was a success! Thank you to all of the amazing playwrights, performers, and audience members who made it happen. Your support means the world to us and we can’t wait to see what’s next for 2022!
November 19th & 20th
Cyrano on the Moon
By Monica Cross
For Monica Cross’ gorgeous sequel to “Cyrano de Bergerac,” Whiskey Theatre Factory teamed up with Fragmented Theatre Festival and film editor Carlee Coulehan to deliver a high-quality, speculative staged reading about the titular characters’ lunar adventures in the afterlife.
THE CAST (from left to right, top to bottom): R. Graham Rogers as Cyrano, Arius West as Christian, Ghina Fawaz as Roxanne/Cynthia, Logan Turner as Sister Claire, and Kate Murray as Sister Marthe.
The creative team was comprised of Jodi Antenor (dramaturg/poet/digital director), Bethany Dickens Assaf (director), Carlee Coulehan (editor), Kate Murray (Q&A host), Angela Flynn (designer), and Logan Turner (producer).
R. Graham Rogers and Ghina Fawaz
Playwright talkback with Kate Murray (upper left) and Monica Cross
September 30th
The Saints of West Orange County
During the week of September 23rd-30th, local Florida playwright Kimberly Murray-Patel received table readings, feedback sessions, and one-on-one dramaturgy on her play, The Saints of West Orange County. This process culminated in a staged reading and audience feedback at Penguin Pointe Productions.
Staged Reading Director - Charis Watler
Stage Manager - Meghan Pratt
Dramaturg and Facilitator - Bethany Dickens Assaf
Facilitator - Kate Murray
Additional actors for virtual table reading - Faith Dickens-Liles, Colleen Dunne, Jessica Fernando, and Tay Lane
With Support and Feedback from: Liz Coley, Chuck Dent, Monciella Elder, Teri Foltz, Tracey Jane, Nancy Rose Ostinato
Special thanks to: Central Florida Community Arts and Penguin Pointe Productions
Credit for photos: Kimberly Murray-Patel
The Saints of West Orange County cast (from l-r): Emily Lupfer, Liz Bernstein, Christi Griffith, Brianna Barrett, Logan Turner, Kelli Pierre-Louis, Kristin Pringle-Marksbury, Taylor Byerly, and Jodi Antenor
Our wonderful director, Charis Watler, leading the audience talkback
Kelli Pierre-Louis
Taylor Byerly
Postcard for the event
Bi, Bi, Bi!
August 8th-9th
An evening of 10-minute staged readings celebrating and exploring bisexual and pansexual perspectives.
Our first in-person gathering was a HUGE success! A cool venue (stardust video and coffee) + 5 outstanding plays + 10 insanely skilled actors + 1 amazing poet flown in from Cincinnati + drinking games (!) + fantastic stage management, direction, producing and artistic direction = a seriously fun night that gave voice to perspectives too commonly ignored or left out, both on and off the stage.
Promo for the event!
May-June, 2021:
WTF at Orlando Fringe!
For select dates in May and June of 2021, WTF brought salacious fan-fiction, hysterically funny storytelling, strange science fiction, and even some historical hijinks to the Orlando Fringe Festival.
Click to see the #HEADCANON program!
Click to see the Tombmates program!
Poster for "You'll Figure it Out...Eventually"
Poster for The Consciousness
A rehearsal for "The Consciousness," with (L-R) Casey Casteel and Manual Solis-Bauza
Jessica Fernando Performing in Ian Gadapee's "You'll Figure it Out...Eventually"
Jess in "You'll Figure It Out...Eventually." Isn't she the cutest burrito??
More of Jess!
#HEADCANON - Velvet O'Claire reads smutty fan fiction during a burlesque performance
Katie Thayer - aka "Bikini Katie" - rocking the WTF logo!
2021: Theatre RX
From April to December of 2021, Whiskey Theatre Factory led a script-reading club for works by modern women writers. Discussions featured special guest actors and dramaturgs, all with the intention of celebrating, discussing, and discovering some of the greatest plays of the last fifty years.
March 20, 2021:
Broad Strokes: Staged Readings Honoring Women’s History Month
Berry Ayers performing "I'm Not Exactly Sure What You're Hoping to Hear" by CK Thompson
Liz Bernstein and Joe Llorens performing "Quiver" by Bethany Dickens Assaf
Jane Soliman performing "Belonging" by Dina Najjar
(L-R) Ghina Fawaz, Kristin Marksbury, and Amy Barnickel performing "Ending the Streak" by Debra A. Cole
Jodi Antenor performing her work, "A Woman's World"
Joe Llorens and Melina Kay performing "Curbed" by Rachael Carnes
February 6, 2021:
1-minute play competition
(L-R) Zach Lane, BeeJay Aubertin-Clinton, Kristin Marksbury, Liz Bernstein
18 playwrights. 4 actors. 10 minutes to write a 1-minute play, performed live just a few minutes later. We mixed in some drinking games, awesome prizes, special performances, live cocktail demonstrations for a one-of-a-kind evening of WTF entertainment!
Actors: BeeJay Aubertin-Clinton, Zach Lane, Kristin Marksbury, Liz Bernstein
Special Performances: Josh Cartee, Laila (World Dance Orlando)
Playwrights: John Bavoso, Liz Coley (competition winner), Ghina Fawaz, Sarah Knott, Dina Najjar, Nancy Rose Ostinato, Leonard Peterson (Dandelion V.), Jason Porrata, R. Graham Rogers, Tobi Sigona, Cole Simon, Derek Snow, Ryan Steffen, Katie Thayer, CK Thompson, Stephen Woosley
