The Second Coming is a new play in development by Erin Germaine Mahoney. The story follows an ex-gay public faith figure who is forced to reexamine her convictions when her 16-year-old son comes out. The play had its first off-broadway reading on November 28, 2023 at Theater555 with the following cast and team.
CAST AND TEAM BIOS
Katina Medina Mora (Director)
Katina Medina Mora (IMDb) is a TV, film and theater director based in New York City, known for directing hit television shows Emily in Paris, Firefly Lane and Selena: The Series.
As a filmmaker raised in Mexico City, her first film, LuTo, was selected in festivals in Mexico and US and streamed on Netflix worldwide. Her next film Sabrás que hacer conmigo was awarded a production fund from IMCINE and released to commercial theaters and distributed by Cinepolis in 2016 in Mexico. The film was nominated for several awards, including Best Director and Best Movie, and streamed on Netflix worldwide. Her third feature film Latido with Oscar-nominated Marina de Tavira (Roma) was just selected for the prestigious Morelia Film Festival in Mexico, as well as Mill Valley film festival. It was purchased by Amazon LATAM. Medina Mora has two features currently in development, to be shot in the US, including her first feature in English.
As a theater director, Medina Mora was awarded by the Efiteatro Fund for her production of Blackbird by David Harrower, which won Best Play in the Metro Awards in Mexico and was nominated for Best Direction and Best Actor. After the play’s successful first run in 2019, it won Best Actress for Casandra Ciangerotti for Press Theatre Prizes, and Best Play for Cartelera de Teatro. The play had its second run in 2022. Prior to Blackbird, Medina Mora directed two independent plays from Tennessee Williams and one from a Mexican Dramaturge in 2013 and 2014, respectively. This year, she debuted her first play in New York with her production of Poison by Lot Vekemans, starring Emma Ramos and Richard Carrillo and running until December 1st at Unit J, located at 338 Moffat Street in Bushwick. For tickets visit https://www.unitjbushwick.com/
Her international career in television began with her directing two episodes for Emily in Paris, season 2 (Netflix). She was asked to return for season 3. Medina Mora also directed the season finale for XO Kitty (Netflix), shot in Seoul, South Korea. She directed two episodes of Firefly Lane (Netflix), as well as 5 episodes for Selena: The Series (Netflix). Most recently, she directed the season finale for Swagger season 2 on Apple TV. Follow her on IG: @katinamedinamora
David Zayas (Chris)
David Zayas (IMDb) is a Tony-award nominated TV, film and theater actor and producer known for Skyline (2010), The Expendables (2010) and Dexter (2006). Born in Puerto Rico, Zayas is a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company and based in New York City.
His work includes creating such iconic roles as Enrique Morales on HBO's long-running prison-drama Oz, and Capt. Angel Batista in Dexter.
On stage, Zayas was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Cost of Living on Broadway (2022). Zayas originated the role of Valdez in Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train by Stephen Adly Giurgis. Other credits include: Our Lady of 121st Street (Union Square Theater), Anna in the Tropics (Royale Theater), The Little Flower of East Orange (Public Theater).
His work in film includes 16 Blocks (2006), Michael Clayton (2007) and the independent film Shadowboxing (2010). Additionally he appears in Sylvester Stallone's feature film The Expendables (2010) and The Brothers Strause's film Skyline (2010), as well as Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (2013) a television movie about the murder of Travis Alexander. Zayas portrays mob boss Don Salvatore Maroni in the Batman prequel, Gotham and appeared in Annie (2014) alongside Cameron Diaz.
Zayas has diversified with guest roles in such popular television series such as New York Undercover, Person of Interest, FBI (playing Mexican drug lord Antonio Vargas), and NYPD Blue. Follow him on IG: @zz_nyc
Erin Germaine Mahoney (Playwright, Brandi)
Erin Germaine Mahoney (IMDb) is a film and theater actress and internationally produced playwright based in New York City. She is a proud member of The Actors Gym.
As a playwright, her first play The Selkie Wife was produced in 2011 and went on to be produced by theater companies in Canada and the US. In New York, her short play Rich & Laci was produced at Cherry Lane Theater as part of the Daisy Collective, a group of female-identifying writers and actors born out of the LAByrinth 2014 winter ensemble.
As an actress, she performed on some of the leading stages in Vancouver. She starred in the short film “City Stars,” directed by award-winning director Jessica Siqueros. Most recently you might have caught her in Shakespeare in the Parking Lot’s production of Comedy of Errors (The Drilling Co). Follow her on IG: @eriingermaine
Nomxolisi Ndlangana (Julia)
Nomxolisi Ndlangana, commonly known as Nono The Poet, is a native of South Africa; she moved to New York for education, its cultural variety and artistic inclination. She received her BA in Media Studies at Hunter College. Nomxolisi formally began her career as a performer in New York in 2011 as a spoken word artist hitting low key stages in Harlem to slamming at the internationally acclaimed Nuyorican Poets Cafe, winning the Friday Night Grand Slam in 2023.
Nomxolisi has developed her artistry throughout the years, fusing her poetry with instrumentals and vocals, taking inspiration from blues, jazz and neo-soul which led to her first project, an EP titled Wet Paint. The year 2018 saw the release of her debut poetry book “Soul Vagina: In Between Sex and God, Who Am I?” She made her film debut in the Honeymoon Aljabari-directed Dodoma (2022). Follow her on IG: @nonothepoet
Michael Marc Friedman (Paul)
Michael Marc Friedman (IMDb) is a TV, film and theater actor, writer and independent filmmaker based in New York. He is proud to be a member of The Actor’s Gym and Lifetime Member of The Actor’s Studio.
Mike was born and raised in Philadelphia, and later moved to New York where he studied theatre and Classical languages at Fordham University. He then attended The Neighborhood Playhouse in Manhattan. Mike's working class roots in Philadelphia are his guiding influence in creating Scrappletown Films, where he created and starred in The Super Man, inspired by his real life experiences as a building manager in Los Angeles. The Super Man went on to win The Audience Award at The ITV Festival in Los Angeles. It's The Super Man that led to a meeting with Rob Mcelhenney, creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and landed him a series regular role on the Fox Pilot Living Loaded. Mike was unrepresented at the time.
Mike has created several shows in various phases of development, including Dirty Cops, which was Winner of The Best Web-Series in the 2016 HollyShorts Film Festival and 2018 Portland Comedy Film Festival. In 2019, he finished writing and starring in Kensington which is a dark comedy set in Philadelphia. This same year it won for Best Pilot at The Soho International Film Festival in NYC. It was also an Official Selection at The prestigious Newport Film Festival as well as The Beverly Hills Film Festival and Series Festival in Denver. Kensington recently screened in his hometown Philadelphia at The FirstGlance Film Festival and was well received, winning many awards including Best Ensemble, Best Shot in Philadelphia and the Audience Award for Best Short Film. He is in production on another Dark Comedy set in Philadelphia and set to shoot in 2021. He has appeared in over 50 national commercials in the last 20 years. And has voiced many products including Taco Bell and Toyota. Follow him on IG: @michaelmarcfriedman
Tyler Bey (Andy)
Tyler Isaiah Bey (IMDb) is an actor from Atlanta and a college senior at Fordham University Lincoln Center of which he's a recent recipient of the Denzel Washington Theatre Scholarship.
He recently starred in the feature indie film Outed which debuted this year at the Chelsea International Film Festival. His stage credits include: New York: The Survival with National Queer Theatre performed at Lincoln Center; Camp Mannupia (reading) with NQT. Regional: Alliance Theatre's Collision Project. Fordham Theatre: Everybody, The Drag, Fucking A, White Rabbit Red Rabbit, Tartuffe, Is God Is, and most recently A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Ryan Quinn where he played Nick Bottom.
His other training includes: LINK class 5, The Hangar Theatre Fellowship, The Shakespeare & Company Intensive, The Alliance Theatre Teen Ensemble, and the True Colors Theatre August Wilson Monologue Competition.
When he's not studying his craft, he's definitely writing poetry, eating Thai food, or listening to the new André 3000 album. Follow him on IG: @tyler.isaiah.bey
Meg Hennessy (Matty, Production Assistant )
Meg Hennessy (IMDb) is a film, TV and theater actress and and spoken word artist. Off-Broadway credits include; Lily in “The Dead”, Mollser in “Plough And The Stars,” Minnie Powell in “Shadow of a Gunman,” and Pert in “London Assurance” at the Irish Repertory Theater.
Jailers Daughter in ‘Two Noble Kinsman’ and Perdita in “Winters Tale” with The Drilling Company at Shakespeare in The Parking Lot.
Originated the role of Cathleen Mullin in the world premiere of “Thirst” at Dorset Theater Festival opposite company Member Kathy McCafferty, directed by Theresa Rebeck.
Film/TV Credits include; Rose in Archive 81, Ciara in The Parting Glass opposite Stephanie Kurtzuba and Jackie in the upcoming film Inappropriate Behavior opposite Bobby Cannavale and Robert Deniro.
Meg is currently stage managing for the play Poison at unit J directed by Katina Medina Mora
She is also an writer and spoken word artist and has had work published in Insight Magazine. She has performed her work with the American Irish Writers Association (for which she was given an Arts & Culture award by the Irish Echo), Restless open Mic, the Harlem Bomb Shelter and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. She is also a very proud member of the Actors Center.
Joseph Prestamo (Music Director)
Joseph Prestamo is an award-winning composer, pianist, and teacher living in New York. He recently defended his dissertation, an in-depth analysis of Variations, Op. 24 by Oliver Knussen, at The Graduate Center, CUNY, graduating with a PhD in Composition. At The Graduate Center, Joseph has also served as Director of the GC Composers, a student organization programing new music concerts throughout the academic year. He holds an M.Mus from the University of Michigan, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and a B.Mus from the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, CUNY. Joseph is an Adjunct Lecturer at Queens College.
Joseph’s solo piano piece, Ballade, received the Robert Starer Award in Composition, and has been recorded on pianist Jai Jeffryes' album of piano music, Amethyst. His piano piece, Sketches, was awarded the NFMC Student/Collegiate Composition Award as well as the first prize in music+culture's International Composition Competition. It has been recorded by pianist Brian Hanke and both pieces are commercially available to stream or for digital download. Other awards include the Evelyn Marin Memorial Scholarship, the Molly Weinstein Memorial Award, the Gabriel Frontier Memorial Award, the Karol Rathaus Award, and the Presser Foundation Scholarship Award. See more at https://www.josephprestamo.com
IG: @josephprestamo
Nicolas diPierro (Stage Directions)
Nicolas diPierro (IMDb) is an award winning actor and film producer, published playwright and professional bassist. Off-Broadway credits include “With a Little Help, It’s John Belushi” in NYC and a sold-out run of “Lighthouse, the Musical” at the Edinburgh Fringe. Graduate of NYU Tisch Department of Dramatic Writing, and The William Esper Studio where he studied with Bill Esper. Member of Bobby Moresco’s Actor’s Gym NY, Contributor at Naked Angels' Tuesdays@9. He currently lives in Brooklyn with the two senior cats he rescued and the one girlfriend he married. Instagram: @nicdnyc
Thank you
A play takes a long time, and is indebted to the people you came from, the people you hang out with, the people who listened for hours as you rambled out ideas and possibilities, the people who helped make it better, the people who helped put it on. Thank you:
Eric Krebs and Theater555 for your rich hospitality and for giving this story a springboard
Ylfa Edelstein and Dan Lauria, for your belief, advocacy and endless support; for creating opportunities for writers
Katina Medina Mora: my friend and collaborator, for understanding this play so well and for your endless talent and insight
My beautiful cast: David, Nono, Mikey, Tyler, Meg and Nic: I’m so grateful for your work, your time and your talent
Joseph Prestamo: my muse and dear friend, for your story, for the music, the truth and the courage
Bobby Moresco, for your mentorship, your example and for always pushing me to dig deeper towards revealing the human condition
Actors Gym NY/LA, for your feedback, your care, your passion, your witness
AMT Theater for being with us every Thursday as we develop new work and create possibilities together
Amanda Moresco, writingXstructure for helping me unblock after years of strained writing, and telling me not to give up on this play
Denise Cormier Mahoney, who sold a painting and generously donated it towards this production so I could pay my actors; for yours and Dad’s constant support and encouragement through the darker days of writing.
To the actors who lent their gifts, their voices, towards the creation of each of these characters: Julia: [Michaela Morton, Delissa Reynolds, Shareen Mitchell, Catherine Wadkins, Beverly Leech]; Brandi: [Jam Murphy, Betsy Beutler, Fig Chilcott]; Andy: [Dylan Blue, Jackson Moresco], Chris: [Vincent Piazza, Todd Waring, Brendan Patrick Connor], Paul: [Michael Marc Friedman, Chris Stack, Joe Taylor, Alfredo Diaz]
To the teachers and guides who’ve witnessed and supported various iterations of this play: Padraic Lillis, Lindsey Ferrentino, Emily Zemba
To my closest friends, for loving, listening and sending endless voice memos: Myra Cargo, Michaela Morton, Alex Balfour, Shareen Mitchell, Joey Prestamo, Liana Sonenclar, Rachel Ingram, Katie Riedesel