AT MARIST UNIVERSITY & THE BARDAVON
DETECTIVE SAM SPADE IS ENSNARLED IN A WEB OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINALS HUNTING FOR AN ELUSIVE AND PRICELESS ARTIFACT.
ONE-NIGHT-ONLY BENEFIT READING
THE MALTESE FALCON
Written by Betty Shamieh
Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett
Directed by Ian Belknap, S&F's Artistic Director
THE MALTESE FALCON is a stage adaptation by Betty Shamieh, based on the classic noir novel by Dashiell Hammett, that illuminates a gritty tale of murder, deception, and greed set in San Francisco at the height of the Great Depression. Detective Sam Spade’s ambiguous moral code threatens to bring disaster to the women ensnared in a web of international criminals hunting for an elusive and priceless artifact.
Friday, July 10
The Bardavon
8:00pm
Featuring Obie Award Winner Reg Rogers (Merrily We Roll Along), "The Gilded Age" star Kelley Curran , and Eddie Cahill (CSI: NY, Friends) with Barzin Akhavan (Coriolanus), Tony Macht (Oh, Mary!), Liv Rooth (Venus in Fur), David Ryan Smith (Malvolio), Matthew Sullivan (New Amsterdam), Lori Wilner (Prayer for the French Republic).
Betty Shamieh | Playwright
Betty Shamieh (she/her) is the author of sixteen plays. Her off-Broadway premieres include ROAR and MALVOLIO, a sequel to TWELFTH NIGHT, which were both New York Times Critics’ Picks. Her debut novel, TOO SOON, was selected as a PEOPLE Magazine's Book of the Week, NPR Book of the Day, and named as one of the Best Books of 2025 by The New Yorker and Oprah Daily. TOO SOON is a winner of a Golden Poppy Award, an Indie Next Pick, and a finalist for the California Book Award. Shamieh is the Mellon Playwright-in-Residence at the Classical Theatre of Harlem and currently working on her next novel, THE MASQUERADERS, and a tv pilot based on ROAR. www.bettyshamieh.com
Ian Belknap | Director
Ian Belknap became the Artistic Director of New York Stage & Film in 2024. He has directed, developed, or produced new theatre by many leading dramatists and composers, including Heather Christian, Nambi E. Kelley, Dave Harris, Crystal Monee Hall, Marcus Gardley, Rebecca Gilman, John Guare, Beth Henley, Hansol Jung, Betty Shamieh, John Patrick Shanley, Noelle Vinas, among many others.He has directed significant revivals of plays by Sean O’Casey, John Steinbeck, William Shakespeare (15 productions), George Bernard Shaw, Tom Stoppard, Tennessee Williams, and Lanford Wilson. His work has been seen at most of the major resident theatres and in small towns and large US cities, on tour with the Tony Award-winning itinerant theatre The Acting Company, where he served as Artistic Director from 2010 - 2021. He has taught and directed at The Juilliard School and Grad Acting at New York University. In addition to his work in theatre, he is actively writing for film and television.
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Jessica Forella | Stage Manager
Jessica Forella (she/her) is delighted to be back for a second summer season at S&F. Favorite past credits include: SHELTER, NONE: A PRACTICAL BREVIARY (S&F); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, TWELFTH NIGHT, MALVOLIO (The Classical Theatre of Harlem); TWELFTH NIGHT, RICHARD III (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); FUN HOME, MIES JULIE (Victory Gardens Theater); THE POLAR EXPRESS (Rail Events Productions); THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH (Theatre-Hikes); NUMBERS NERDS (CPA Theatricals); MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET (Barter Theatre); BURN THE FLOOR (Norwegian Cruise Lines); THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (RWCMD); A SMALL OAK TREE RUNS RED (Congo Square Theatre); and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM (Porchlight Music Theatre).
Nina Schatell | Assistant Stage Manager
Nina Schatell (Assistant Stage Manager) is a New York based Stage Manager. Broadway: MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Off-Broadway: AS YOU LIKE IT (The Public Mobile Unit), THE WATERFALL (WP Theater), PRACTICE (Playwrights Horizons), HOUSE OF MCQUEEN (The Mansion), LOWCOUNTRY (Atlantic Theater Company), TEETH, SCHOOL PICTURES, AMUSEMENTS (Playwrights Horizons), H.M.S. PINAFORE (NYGASP), STRAIGHT FORWARD (Theatre Row). She has also worked on projects with the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, NAMT, New York Stage and Film, The Public, Dramatist Guild Foundation, BCEFA, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The National Asian American Theatre Company. BFA from SUNY Purchase College.
Kaia Merrell | Lighting Designer
Kaia L. Merrell (she/they) is a New York based Lighting Designer for theatre, dance, and opera. Recent design work: THE MONSTERS (Portland Theatre Festival); SOMETHING ROTTEN (Cap21 & Molloy University); NEW YORK AERIAL DANCE FESTIVAL (Fly By Night Dance), CONTAINED (NYU Tisch Dance - MFA); MINI ME (The Chain); FUTURE CAME AND WENT (Wild Project); AARON (Vulcan Theatre); FROZEN JR., PETER PAN JR. (Rock Rising). Recent assistant/associate work: SLEEPERS AWAKE (Opera Philadelphia), BALUSTERS (MTC), ARCHDUKE (Roundabout), AND THEN WE WERE NO MORE (La Mama), as well as multiple projects at San Francisco Opera, Barrington Stage Company, New York Stage and Film, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. MFA: NYU Tisch. @kaiamerrelldesign
CAST
Barzin Akhavan | Joel Cairo
Broadway way: Network, The Kite Runner. NYC: Macbeth (CSC), Coriolanus and Fuente Ovejuna (TFNA), Richard II (The Public/WYNC), Meet the Cartozian's (2nd Stage), Hamlet (Waterwell). Regional theater credits include productions at: Seattle Rep, Arena Stage, The Guthrie, Baltimore Centerstage, CATF, Cincinnati Playhouse, ACT SF, Old Globe, Virginia Stage, Mixed Blood, Marin Theater Co, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, 4 seasons with the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, and 6 seasons with the Oregon Shakespeare where he performes his one man show Behfarmaheen, (If You Please....), about his immigrant experience in coming to America directed by Desdemona Chiang. Film credits include the up coming blockbuster F.A.S.T. and the indie darling Zugzwang, Ezra, The Meeting Spot and The Jew of Malta. TV credits include: Chicago Med, The Blacklist, Girls5Eva, SMASH, and Law and Order CI. A proud graduate of the University of Washington PATP program.
Eddie Cahill | Tom Polhaus
EDDIE is delighted to return to S&F, where his career began in Toni Ann Johnson's GRAMERCY PARK IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. Additional stage credits include the Off-Broadway premiere of Nicky Silver's THE ALTRUISTS at the Vineyard Theatre and David Adjmi's 3C at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. On screen, he is best known as Tag Jones on FRIENDS, Detective Don Flack on CSI: NY — a role he played for nine seasons — and as Jim Craig, goaltender of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, in Disney's MIRACLE. Other credits include SEX AND THE CITY, UNDER THE DOME, CONVICTION, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, BLUE BLOODS, HAWAII FIVE-0, LORDS OF DOGTOWN, and most recently Celine Song's MATERIALISTS for A24.
Kelley Curran | Brigid O’Shaughnassy/Miss Wonderly
Kelley Curran can be seen in Julian Fellowes' THE GILDED AGE for HBO, for which she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. Most recently seen off-Broadway in THE MEETING: THE INTERPRETER and HALF GOD OF RAINFALL at New York Theater Workshop. She was seen opposite Glenn Close in MOTHER OF THE MAID at The Public Theater. Prior to that she was Clytemnestra in Ellen McLaughlin’s world premiere of THE ORESTEIA at The Shakespeare Theatre Company of DC. Kelley has appeared on Broadway in PRESENT LAUGHTER with Kevin Kline, at Tanglewood as Juliet in ROMEO & JULIET, and at The Signature Theatre, Classic Stage Company, TFANA, and LAByrinth Theatre Company, among others. She made her network television debut on NBC’s THE BLACKLIST, and her feature film debut in THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT. Kelley has won The Callaway Award, Emery Battis Award, NTC Emerging Professional Award, and been nominated for a Drama League, Helen Hayes, and Princess Grace Award.
Tony Macht | Wilbur
TONY MACHT is delighted to make his NYS&F debut. Film/TV credits include: the upcoming miniseries THE OFF-WEEKS (Apple TV+), BLACK RABBIT (Netflix), as well as THE COMEBACK (HBO), DYING FOR SEX (FX on Hulu), AT HOME WITH AMY SEDARIS (truTV), and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (Prime Video). Theatre credits include: OH MARY! (Lyceum Theater), MALVOLIO (The Classical Theatre of Harlem), THE SASQUATCH RITUALS (The Kitchen), THE ALCESTIAD (Magis Theatre Company), and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Mister Rogers). Tony holds a B.A. from Fordham University and an M.F.A. from NYU.
Reg Rogers | Sam Spade
Recent New York Theatre: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Lucille Lortel Nomination), TOOTSIE, THE ICEMAN COMETH, PRESENT LAUGHTER. Not So Recent: PRIVACY, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, THE ROYAL FAMILY, THE DAZZLE (OBIE and Lucille Lortel Awards), HOLIDAY (Tony Nomination). Film and TV Include: PRIMAL FEAR, RUNAWAY BRIDE, IGBY GOES DOWN, I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, FRIENDS, THE AMERICANS, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, YOU, THE KNICK.
Liv Rooth | Effie Perinne
Broadway: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD; VENUS IN FUR; BORN YESTERDAY; IS HE DEAD? Off-Broadway: GHOSTS (LCT); DESIRE (The Acting Company); NICE GIRL (LAByrinth); ALL IN THE TIMING (Primary Stages; LIVES OF THE SAINTS (Primary Stages); BEYOND THERAPY (TACT); BLOOD AND GIFTS (LCT); WIFE TO JAMES WHELAN (Mint Theatre Company); WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN (Red Bull); JANE EYRE (The Acting Company). Regional: DESCRIBE THE NIGHT (Alley Theatre); THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING (Williamstown); CRY IT OUT (Actors Theatre of Louisville/Humana); OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY (Long Wharf); VENUS IN FUR (TheaterWorks Hartford); NORA (Westport Country Playhouse); LOOT (Westport Country Playhouse); BOEING BOEING (Dorset Theater Festival); SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER (Westport Country Playhouse); BOEING BOEING (Old Globe); NOISES OFF (Hartford Stage). National Tour: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Film/TV: CHUCK; PERSON OF INTEREST; THE GOOD WIFE; ELEMENTARY. MFA: NYU Graduate Acting Program.
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David Ryan Smith | Mr. Gutman
Broadway: YELLOW FACE, ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS, PASSING STRANGE. Off Broadway: AS YOU LIKE, IT, THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS, MERRY WIVES, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, HENRY V, TWELFTH NIGHT, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, PERICLES (Public Theater/NYSF); EURYDICE, THE DEATH OF THE LAST BLACK MAN IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD (Signature Theater Company); MERRY ME (NYTW); MALVOLIO (Classical Theater of Harlem); EPIPHANY (Lincoln Center); WHERE WE STAND (Women's Project); PASSAGE (Soho Rep); MANKIND (Playwrights Horizons); GONE MISSING (City Center Encores!); THE GLORY OF THE WORLD (BAM); ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM (Red Bull Theater) Regional: Pittsburgh Public, Baltimore Center Stage, Berkeley Rep, Repertory Theater of Saint Louis, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Barrington Stage Company, American Conservatory Theater, Dallas Theater Center, California Shakespeare Theater, among others. Film: RELAY, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, MEDAL OF VICTORY, BEE SEASON. Additional credits: Faculty, Playwrights Horizons Theater School/NYU
Matt Sullivan | Miles Archer
Matt recently played Michael in Table Read Podcast’s production of QUESSA by Victor Bumbalo. Four seasons with The Acting Company. The Juilliard School.
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Lori Wilner | Iva Archer
Broadway: PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, PICTURES FROM HOME, THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES, ON A CLEAR DAY..., DOMESTICATED, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (2005 & 2015), A CATERED AFFAIR, BEAUTIFUL, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, AWAKE AND SING!, Drama Desk nomination for HANNAH SENESH (one woman show), Regional: THE RESERVOIR, INDECENT, CABARET, OTHER DESERT CITIES, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, BROADWAY BOUND, RELATIVITY, GIANT, BROKEN GLASS, A GLASS MENAGERIE, CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG, THE IMMIGRANT, THE FOREIGNER, LOST IN YONKERS. TV/Film: SUCCESSION, NEW AMSTERDAM, GRAVE MATTERS, YOUR LIPS NEVER LEFT MINE, DO NOTHINGS, SECOND GUESSING GRANDMA.
Leslie Gauthier | Stage Directions
Leslie Gauthier (she/her) is an actress and writer. She has performed in numerous plays, readings and short films including STOP THE VIRGENS (St. Ann’s Warehouse), THE TURN OF THE SCREW (Lincoln Center-reading), MADAME DE SADE (Columbia Grad), and as Pace in THE TRESTLE AT POPE LICK CREEK (Hartford, CT). She has also performed with Target Margin & Clubbed Thumb. She’s appeared in the web series WHAT NEXT (dir. by Chris Raddatz) and TALES OF TOVERUD (Amsterdam Film Festival & LA Comedy Festival). Her short film, THE ASTRONAUT HOUR, was recognized by the International Independent Film Awards in 2019 and won numerous awards in 2021 including “Best Screenplay” and “Best Actress” from Manhattan Rep’s Stories Film Festival. Leslie majored in Acting & Directing at Fordham, and graduated with honors. Most recently she did a workshop of Kate Cortesi's TEN GRAND with Woolly Mammoth.
Prose in the New York Times, Modern Love.
BA Fordham, MFA-Playwriting, Brooklyn College. Love to C.A.