AT MARIST UNIVERSITY & THE BARDAVON
A CHEEKY ORIGIN STORY TO OTHELLO.
UNMOORED
Written by Betty Shamieh
Directed by Ian Belknap, S&F's Artistic Director
Full of murder, sexual intrigue, and betrayal, UNMOORED is a prequel to OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE. The teenage Othello, born into a royal household in his native country of Morocco, must learn to navigate a court full of ruthless power players, including his mother. This cheeky origin story explores the connection between jealousy, violence towards women, and war though the lens of one of Shakespeare’s most controversial tragic heroes.
Sunday, July 12
Symphonic Hall at Marist University
1:00pm
UNMOORED was developed at the Classical Theatre of Harlem with support from the Mellon Foundation Playwright-in-Residence program.
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 Viñas, 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 NYSAF. 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).
CAST
Jasmine Aiyana Garvin | Fariha + Servant/Dancer
JASMINE AIYANA GARVIN (she/her) is a New York based actor. She is a recipient of the 2021 Warner Brother’s 'Top 10 Actors in Training’ casting initiative. Jasmine loves stories that push boundaries, provide opportunities for underrepresented voices and encourage distinctive conversations. Television: CRY WOLF (FX, Becca), POKER FACE (S1 Ep 7, Katy Owens). Theatre Credits: SUNKEN CATHEDRAL (New York Theatre Barn / Fipap), SHE KILLS MONSTERS (Art Lab Productions / Theatre Row), and WINNER (New York Theatre Barn). Insta: @jasgarvin
Lawrence Gilliard. Jr. | Malik
LAWRENCE GILLIARD, JR. is an acclaimed television, film, and theatre actor best known for portraying D’Angelo Barksdale in HBO’s THE WIRE, Bob Stookey in AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, and Derrick Wallace in THE WATERBOY. He was also a series regular in HBO’s THE DEUCE. His television credits include POWER BOOK III, CHICAGO P.D., THAT DAMN MICHAEL CHE, BULL, GOD FRIENDED ME, ELEMENTARY, LONGMIRE, ARMY WIVES, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT, CSI: NY, HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET, and LAW & ORDER. Feature film credits include BIG GEORGE FOREMAN, ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, THE MACHINIST, GANGS OF NEW YORK, STRAIGHT OUT OF BROOKLYN, BROTHER TO BROTHER, and CECIL B. DEMENTED. A classically trained stage actor, Gilliard has performed with productions at Atlantic Theater Company, Playwrights Horizons, Long Wharf Theatre, and Mark Taper Forum, where he received a Beverly Hills NAACP Award for Best Ensemble in TOPDOG/UNDERDOG. Gilliard trained at the Stella Adler Conservatory, The Acting Studio, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Juilliard, and the Baltimore School for the Arts.
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Amanda Morrow | Dahlia/Suhaila
Amanda Morrow is a California raised, New York based actor. She is a recent graduate of NYU Grad Acting (‘25), and has since been cast as 'Dashana Trainor' in the revival of the hit TV show SCRUBS, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2, and MIRRORLAND (an original comedy series developed as part of the Disney Discovers Talent Showcase). Thank you New York Stage & Film!
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Roslyn Ruff | Rashida
Roslyn Ruff is an OBIE and Lucille Lortel Award-winning actress with a career spanning Broadway, film, and television. A graduate of Harvard’s Institute for Advanced Theatre Training, her Broadway credits include THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, ALL THE WAY, ROMEO AND JULIET, and FENCES. Recognized for her work in the canon of August Wilson, she has earned honors for her performances in THE PIANO LESSON and SEVEN GUITARS. Her stage repertoire also includes the Pulitzer Prize-winning FAIRVIEW and Ivo van Hove’s SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE. Most recently appearing in KYOTO at Lincoln Center and Coriolanus at TFANA. Ms. Ruff’s screen presence includes recurring roles on BLUE BLOODS, GODFATHER OF HARLEM, and MADAM SECRETARY, with film appearances in MARRIAGE STORY, THE HELP, and SALT. In 2022, she received the Joe A. Callaway Award from The Actors Equity Foundation and was recently inducted into the Plaza of the Stars in her native Buffalo, NY.
Daniel Saunders | Othello
I'm born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After an unfortunate injury playing football. I found my love for the theatre around my junior year of high school in 2014. I was participating in a high school theatre conference called Texas Thespians. I was in a brief 4 person scene playing the role of Sly Scavenger in a play called A GOLDEN FLEECING. After that, I dedicated myself to becoming a full time actor. I continued to do plays throughout the rest of high school into undergrad at Texas Lutheran University. There, I also my love for Shakespeare playing as, Othello in 2018. I also acted in a number of student lead films and short plays. After graduating with my BFA in Dramatic Media, I took about two off from school and was a freelance actor in Dallas. I then decided to move to New York, to try and become a stand-up comedian. FAILED miserably, and was talked into auditioning for Juilliard. I've been there for the past 3 three years now on my way to getting my master's degree in 2027.
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David Ryan Smith | Bashir
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.
Chris Thorn | Iano
Broadway: DEATH OF A SALESMAN (2022), BERNHARDT/HAMLET (Roundabout) Off-Broadway: I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES (TBTB), GREATER CLEMENTS (Lincoln Center),PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (Primary Stages), TWELFTH NIGHT (Pig Iron), MISS LILY GETS BONED (Studio 42) Regional: Most recently FRANKLIN'S KEY for Pig Iron, Other theaters: American Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Chautauqua, Opera HouseArts, Merrimack Rep. The Guthrie, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, CATF, Barrington Stage, Theaterworks Hartford, Boston Playwright’s. Film/TV: MADAM SECRETARY, EVIL, THE GOOD FIGHT, GIRLS ON THE BUS. Education: Boston University BFA.University of Idaho MFA.
Lucy Whitehead | Stage Directions/Producing Intern
Lucy Whitehead is thrilled to be joining the S&F team! Lucy is a rising fourth-year at the University of Chicago studying Theater and Performance Studies and English with a primary focus on directing. On campus Lucy directs plays, acts as the managing director of a small performing arts student group, performs improv with a student improv group, and works in the theater department as an administrative assistant. Most recently, she served as the assistant director for the world premiere of UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY at Lookingglass Theater. She is currently serving as the directing apprentice at Definition Theater for their 2026 Season. She is excited to engage with the vibrant artistic community at S&F this summer!