James Anthony Tyler (Photo Courtesy of the Artist)
Tickets
Members: $10
General Ticket: $15
Yusuf studies philosophy. Xiomara is ambitious. Isabel keeps it real. Come and learn about these complex characters and more in a live reading of Dolphins and Sharks, a play written by playwright James Anthony Tyler. Tyler returns to The Church after his residency in October, to present a dramatic reading for the community of a play that speaks to our current working conditions. Featuring an outstanding cast of actors including Joshua Echebiri as Yusuf, Tina Fabrique as Amenze Amen, Samuel María Gómez as Danilo, Angela Reynoso as Xiomara, Pernell Walker as Isabel, among others.
Yusuf, Xiomara, Isabel are employees of Harlem Office, a neighborhood copy shop, where promotions are rare, and raises are even rarer. Tensions suddenly rise when one employee is given the chance to move up, putting friendships to the test and realizing that loyalty turns out to be less valuable than cold hard cash. Soon cutbacks and office politics have everyone fighting to keep their jobs and their sanity in this searing play about clocking in, clocking out and rising up.
The program has been generously supported by Alex McNear & Robby Stein.
ABOUT THE ACTORS
JOSHUA ECHEBIRI
Joshua Echebiri most recently starred as Fawcett in the American premiere of “Partnership” by Elizabeth Baker at the Mint Theater Company. During his M.F.A. training at NYU Grad Acting, Echebiri starred as Asagai in Williamstown Theater Festival’s 60th Anniversary production of “A Raisin in the Sun.” After graduating, he then starred in the Shakespeare in the Park adaptation of “Merry Wives,” which was the first large-scale theater production in New York City after the pandemic-induced shutdown. In addition to some regional theater credits, Echebiri has also made several appearances on television series including “The Good Fight,” “Bob Hearts Abishola,” and “Dear Edward.” (Photo Courtesy of Stan Demidoff)
TINA FABRIQUE
Tina Fabrique’s, personal dedication, talent and determination have guided her and helped her to reach her goals. From growing up in Harlem, or the responsibilities of young motherhood, to midtown recording studios and New York City Cabarets, Tina has built a career as an actress and singer respected by her peers and in demand by playwrights, producers, and directors alike.
Equally at home in musicals on Broadway: ”Gospel at Colonus”, “Bring In The Noise Bring In The Funk”, “Ragtime”, and others…or straight dramatic roles such as: “Trouble In Mind”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Glass Menagerie”. She was honored to have received the Kevin KlienAward and Florida’s, Carbonell Award for her performance as Ella Fitzgerald in “ELLA”, a show which has taken Tina to countless regional theaters, and which was cited by Variety as the top grossing Regional show of this decade. Tina’s television experience is just as varied; from the drama of “BLUE BLOODS” and “NEW AMSTERDAM”, to singing the original theme for “READING RAINBOW”, and much in between. She is also pleased to have been chosen to sing the title song for the Award-Winning film “Mad Hot Ballroom.” (Photo Courtesy of the Artist)
SAMUEL MARÍA GÓMEZ
Samuel María Gómez is a first generation American Actor, Writer and Producer hailing from New York City. He is most recently known for his work on ABC/Netflix “The Beauty and The Baker,” Marvel’s “The Punisher” Season Two and his lead series regular appearance on the original web-series, “The Bodega.” He has appeared in popular shows such as “Madam Secretary,” “Elementary,” “Law & Order SVU,” and FOX’s “Prodigal Son” and most recently, “Blue Bloods” and “FBI.” Samuel is also credited with writing and producing the shorts “Lucid” and “The Spectacular Tito Garcia” as well as being the creative mind behind the actor platform, “Monovlogs.” Most recently Samuel was seen starring in Lynne Nottage’s acclaimed “Clyde’s” at the Hartford Theaterworks. (Photo Courtesy of the Artist)
ANGELA REYNOSO
Angela recently starred in her first regional production of "La Gringa" as Maria in American Stage Theatre. Previously, she starred as Yoira in the Off-Broadway world-premiere of "Vámonos" at INTAR Theatre. She also performed in Chain Theatre's One Act Festival of "One Act of Kindness" as Amila, voted as an Audience Favorite. She also starred in the awarded Best Bronx Film as Jada in "Alone With My Demons" by Juan Ramirez, Jr, selected for the 2021 Naked Angels Film Festival, 2020 NYC Quarantine Film Festival,Concourse Film Festival, and Mott Haven Film Festival. (Photo Courtesy of the Artist)
PERNELL WALKER
Pernell Walker is a Bronx born Actress with a M.F.A in acting from Actors Studio Drama School, formerly at The New School. Ms. Walker seamlessly navigates and brings life to roles in Film, television and theater.
Ms. Walker looks forward to adding more collaborators to the growing extensive exquisite list of great directors, writers, executive producers and show runners she has worked with such as
Dee Rees, Ava Duvernay, David Simon, Tom Fontana, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Kevin Bacon, George Peleconos, Michelle Maclaren, Marti Noxon, Stephen Adly Gurgis, John Ortiz,Liesl Tommy, Jane Rosenthal, Berry Welsh, Amy J.Kaufman, Ernest Dickerson, James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Uta Brieswitz, Richard Price, Nina Noble, Dick Wolf, Allison Interieri, Richard Sweren, Jody Foster, Alex Hall, Steve Zailian, Radha Blank, Oprah Winfrey, Carl Franklin, Lee Daniels, Tim Van Patten, Martin Scorcese, Craig Nobel, Fred Berner and Steven Soderbergh. (Photo Courtesy of the Artist)
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
JAMES ANTHONY TYLER
James Anthony Tyler is the recipient of the 3rd Annual Horton Foote Playwriting Award, an inaugural playwright to receive a commission from Audible, and a 2016 Theatre Masters Visionary Playwrights Award recipient. He is currently a Playwrights Center Core Writer, and most recently was the recipient of The Playwrights Center’s McKnight National Residency and Commission and a member of Circle X Theatre Company’s Evolving Playwrights Group. (Photo Courtesy of the Artist)