MANAKIN
Written by DAVE HARRIS
Directed by TAYLOR REYNOLDS
MANAKIN is a wedding story. But not just any wedding—this one brings together four generations for the union of Son and Daughter. Oh, this wedding is also a Satanic invocation. A raw, lyrical, darkly hilarious piece about intergenerational trauma, love in all its forms, ancient traditions and sacred rituals.
MANAKIN was awarded the 2024 Relentless Award by the American Playwriting Foundation (APF), which was founded in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman's relentless support of truth in theater; MANAKIN was featured in APF's 2025 Relentless Reading Series.
MANAKIN was commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven CT. James Bundy, Artistic Director, Florie Seery, Managing Director with support from the Peter Shaffer Charitable Foundation.
Supported in partnership with the American Playwriting Foundation (Artistic Director, David Bar Katz).
Saturday, July 26 at 6pm
Marist University, Poughkeepsie NY
DAVE HARRIS (Playwright) is a poet and playwright from West Philly. Selected plays include TAMBO & BONES (LA Drama Critics Award "Best New Play", TimeOut London "Best Plays of 2023,"), EXCEPTION TO THE RULE (Roundabout Theatre Company, 2022), and INCENDIARY (Woolly Mammoth, 2023). His first feature film, SUMMERTIME premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was released in 2021. Honors include: the 2024 Relentless Award, the 2023 Horton Foote Prize, the Ollie Award, The Lorraine Hansberry Award and Mark Twain Award from The Kennedy Center, The International Commendation for The Bruntwood Prize, the Venturous Fellowship, and a Cave Canem poetry fellowship amongst others. Dave has written feature and television projects for AMC (INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE), Netflix, Apple (WIDOW'S BAY), Amazon (THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE), and FX amongst others. His first full-length collection of poetry, PATRICIDE, was published by Button Poetry.
TAYLOR REYNOLDS (Director) is an OBIE-award winning director based in New York, originally from Chicago. Her work centers around joyful collaboration and new play development. Selected directing credits: PRIMARY TRUST (Signature Theatre), THE SENSATIONAL SEA MINK-ETTES (Woolly Mammoth), FAT HAM (Studio Theatre, Helen Hayes nomination for Best Director), THIS LAND WAS MADE (Vineyard Theatre), Clyde's (Berkeley Rep/Huntington Theatre), LA RACE (Page 73/Working Theater), TAMBO & BONES (Playwrights Horizons/CTG), MAN CAVE (Page 73), THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, New York Times Critic's Pick), RICHARD & JANE & DICK & SALLY (Baltimore Center Stage/Playwrights Realm),and PLANO (Clubbed Thumb, Drama Desk nomination for Best Director). Taylor has also worked as a director and collaborator with companies including The Movement Theatre Company, Playwrights Center, Ojai Playwrights Conference, MCC, EST, New Georges, and The 24 Hour Plays. She is a New Georges Affiliated Artist, 2021 LPTW Lucille Lortel Award recipient, 2017-2018 Clubbed Thumb Directing Fellow, and Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab alum. Member of SDC.
KASSI WILSON (Stage Manager) (She/Her) Past credits include Broadway: SIX: THE MUSICAL, HAMILTON, HELL’S KITCHEN, SUNSET BLVD and SMASH. Off Broadway: HELL’S KITCHEN (The Public Theater), Public Works’ THE TEMPEST (The Public Theater), KING JAMES (Manhattan Theater Club), THE HARDER THEY COME (The Public Theater), RAISIN IN THE SUN (The Public Theater), FAT HAM (The Public Theater), OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD (WP Theater). Regional: THE SCARLET LETTER (Two River Theater Company). Other past live event credits include Broadway Bares, The Tony Awards and Afropunk. She is thankful to join NYSAF in supporting this process!
ALEX GARCIA (Production Assistant) (They/Them) is a rising senior at Middlebury College majoring in Theatrical Design and Stage Management. They're thrilled to be joining NYSAF this season to explore the world that is theatrical new works. Professional credits include the 2024 season of Dogteam Theatre Project (Associate Master Electrician). Educational stage management credits include: RHINOCEROS, AND BABY MAKES SEVEN, DESTROYING ANGELS, POLAROID STORIES, WORST MOTHER IN THE WORLD, and KING LEAR. Educational light design credits include STORM STILL and GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES. They're a proud recipient of the Posse Foundation Full Tuition Leadership Scholarship and the Wentcher Scholarship.
CAST
BARZIN AKHAVAN (Great Grandfather)* Broadway: NETWORK, THE KITE RUNNER. Off Broadway: MACBETH (CSC), FUENTE OVEJUNA (TFANA), HAMLET (Waterwell), Richard II (WNYC/Public). Regional: The Old Globe, Seattle Rep, Arena Stage, Guthrie, ACT SF, Berkeley Rep, Huntington, Lookingglass, Folger, Merrimack Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Center Stage, CATF, San Jose Rep, Marin Theatre, Arizona Theatre, Pioneer Theatre, Colorado Shakes, four seasons with Lake Tahoe Shakes, five seasons with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where his solo show BEHFARMAHEEN (IF YOU PLEASE) will made him the first Iranian American playwright to have a play performed there. Film: EZRA, FUNNY FACE, THE JEW OF MALTA, JOYFUL. Television: LAW & ORDER: CI, SMASH, THE BLACKLIST, GIRLS5EVA, CHICAGO MED. Education: M.F.A. from University of Washington’s PATP
BRITTANY BRADFORD (Mother)* Broadway: BERNHARDT/ HAMLET. Off-Broadway: THE COMEUPPANCE (Obie Award, Signature Theater), BUSINESS IDEAS (Clubbed Thumb), WEDDING BAND (Obie Award, TFANA), FEFU AND HER FRIENDS (TFANA), MAC BETH (Hunter Theatre Project), MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Roundabout/Fiasco Theater). Regional: LEROY & LUCY (Steppenwolf). TV: JULIA (HBO Max), THE WATCHER (Netflix), THE GILDED AGE (HBO Max), DEAD RINGERS (Amazon), FIRE COUNTRY (CBS), FEAR THE WALKING DEAD (AMC), NEW AMSTERDAM (NBC), THE TERROR (AMC, upcoming). FILM THE SAME STORM (dir. Peter Hedges). Classix member and HomeBase Theater Collective co-founder. Training: Juilliard.
ANNIE FANG (Stage Directions/Satan/Godmother)* most recently appeared in LOBSTER (The Tank). Off-Broadway: CYMBELINE (NAATCO), YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXEGESIS (LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater), SHHHH (Atlantic Theater Company). Also in NY: A WOMAN AMONG WOMEN (Bushwick Starr/New Georges), USUS; CHAIRS (Clubbed Thumb). Select regional: JENNIFER WHO IS LEAVING (Round House Theatre), THRIVE, OR WHAT YOU WILL; TWELFTH NIGHT (American Shakespeare Center), SHIP (Azuka Theatre), MAN OF GOD (InterAct Theatre). fang-annie.com @thefatpecan
TONEY GOINS (Son)*, a Philadelphia native, made a name for himself by winning local theater awards for Best Choreographer in 2012, '13, and '14. In 2018, he graduated from The Juilliard School for Drama where he received the Career Advancement Grant upon graduation. He made his New York theatre acting debut in the Off-Broadway production of TONI STONE at the Roundabout followed by a starring role in the off-Broadway production of EXCEPTION TO THE RULE directed by Miranda Haymon. Goins transitioned into the film and television world becoming a recurring regular on the ABC series FOR LIFE then working with the Russo Brothers in their film, CHERRY, before becoming a series regular on BILLIONS. Goins plays the piano and drums, speaks Spanish, raps and writes.
AMARA GRANDERSON (Daughter)* is a native New Yorker and multi-hyphenate. Recent select credits include: TWO STOP [MoCA], YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE END OF THE WORLD [2nd Stage], MANAKIN [Playwrights Horizons, Theater Row], (PRAY) [National Black Theatre/ Ars Nova], FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENOUGH [Broadway revival]. Awards: Outstanding Ensemble Lucille Lortel 2024, Outstanding Ensemble Chita Rivera 2022. Education: UCSD MFA 2020, Oberlin College BA 2017. She is honored to be a part of the NYSAF debut of this brilliant piece.
LIZAN MITCHELL (Great Grandmother)* Broadway: OHIO STATE MURDERS, ELECTRA, HAVING OUR SAY, SO LONG ON LONELY STREET. Off-Broadway: ON SUGARLAND, CULLUD WATTAH, PASSAGE, BROWNSVILLE SONG, TROJAN WOMEN, and A’INT SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH. Regional: OUR DAUGHTERS, LIKE PILLARS, SKELETON CREW, RAISIN IN THE SUN, RICHARD III, THE TEMPEST, and GEM OF THE OCEAN. Film/TV: DETROIT, UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT, THE GOOD WIFE, THE PREACHER’S WIFE, THE WIRE, HUMAN STAIN, and LAW & ORDER.
GENESIS OLIVER (Father)* Broadway: ANGELS IN AMERICA (Best Revival Tony 2018). Off-Bway: THE WHITE CHIP (59E59); EMPATHITRAX, How To Live On Earth (Colt Coeur); Primal Play (New Georges). Regional: One Night In Miami…(Baltimore CS), We Are Proud To Present...(Playmaker's Rep) & various others. TV: FBI: MOST WANTED, THE BLACKLIST, THE OTHER TWO, LITTLE AMERICA, NOS4A2, Commercials: SNICKERS, KIA, AT&T, CHEERIOS & various others. National Theatre Conservatory (MFA) Insta: @gogenesisgo
DAVID SHIH (Grandfather)* Previously at NYSAF: THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN (Jessica Huang), THE GREAT LEAP (Lauren Yee), and THE LIGHT YEARS (The Debate Society). Recently: BUS STOP at Classic Stage and SUMO at The Public. Broadway: LIFE OF PI. Off-Broadway: WILL ENO’S GNIT (TFANA), KPOP (Ars Nova), AWAKE AND SING! (The Public/NAATCO). Regional: THE FAR COUNTRY (Yale Rep), KIM’S CONVENIENCE (Westport Country Playhouse), THE GREAT WAVE (Berkeley Rep). TV: LAW & ORDER, BILLIONS, THE PATH, HUNTERS, CITY ON A HILL, IRON FIST. Film: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, EIGHTH GARDE, SAVING FACE. Voice of Eddie Toh in GRAND THEFT AUTO V.
JULYANA SOELISTYO (Grandmother) Broadway: GOLDEN CHILD (Tony nomination, Drama League, Clarence Derwent Award), THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, THE GLORIOUS ONES (Lincoln Center). Other theaters include ORPHAN OF ZHAO with BD Wong, CYMBELINE, HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA (NAATCO). Internationally, Ariel in THE TEMPEST with Christopher Plummer (Stratford), HERACLES (Paris, Rome, Bottrop, Cambridge), WILD SWANS (The Young Vic, London). TV: LAW & ORDER, BLUE BLOODS, HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Film: BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, EARTHLY POSSESSIONS. MFA from A.C.T. and member of the Actors' Center. Born in Indonesia, Julyana is a U.S citizen and lives in Brooklyn with her family.