Playlets & Poetry Festival 2024

Meet the cast

Berkeley Rousseau ((Frankie Steinway, Peter, Zero):  Berkeley is very excited to make his Northeast Stage and Long Island theatre debut. Originally from California, Berkeley has worked in the theatre for the majority of his life in a variety of positions. Some of his favorite roles include Mark in Rent, George Banks in Mary Poppins, Ben and others in The Laramie Project. 10 Years Later, and Ringmaster in Elephant’s Graveyard. Berkeley spends most of his time in the theatre working as a music director and director, so he is very excited to get back on stage for the first time in five years! 

Suzette Delia Reiss (Luna Tickle, Goblin, Melissa, Woman #1): Suzette is happy to be one of the performers in the Playlets and Poetry Festival!  Recently she played the role of Mother in a premier reading of Lessons from Hollywood written by James A. Pritchard. She has appeared in numerous Northeast Stage’s productions- most recently as Witch #3 in Macbeth. Theatre is an important part of Suzette’s life- both as a performer and as a spectator! She is honored to be a part of this ensemble under Nicholas Auletti’s direction with this awesome cast and crew. In addition to Suzette’s involvement in theater, she is an international fine artist, practices real estate on the North Fork. and serves as a board member of Northeast Stage.

Laura Pearsall (Hazy Shade, Jeanie, Woman #4): Laura is happy to perform in Northeast Stage’s Playlets & Poetry Festival. For 16 years she has enjoyed working with theater groups on the North Fork. Most recently, she participated in The Corchaug Repertory Theatre’s 2nd Annual One-Act Play Festival as Edie in The Art of Letting Go, by local playwright, Cindy Clifford. Earlier this year, she portrayed Stella Deems in Sondheim’s Follies at North Fork Community Theatre. At Northeast Stage, she played King Duncan and Hecate in Macbeth. With Riverhead Faculty & Community Theatre, Laura portrayed Anne Marie in A Doll’s House, Part 2. Her favorite roles include Old Lady in Sunday in the Park with George, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, the Musical, Drowsy in The Drowsy Chaperone, Marge Murray in The Laramie Project and Nat in Rabbit Hole. Laura lives in Wading River with her husband, Jim, and their baby, Navi, a Mini Australian Sheperd. Thanks to Nick for sharing his magic with a magical cast. She hopes you enjoy the show, and thanks you for supporting live theater.

AD Newcomer (Wanda Wail, Wendy, Lizzie, Fear, Woman #2): is an actor, director, and teaching artist. She trained at Shakespeare & Co in Lenox, MA where she also served on the faculty of their Education Dept, including a residency as one of the Shakespeare in the Courts directors, an NE A program that won a Coming Up Taller award. She was also a Fall Festival director at the company for several years-, a program Harvard’s Project Zero report recommended should be replicated in every high school in the country- as well as several other residencies in MA and NY, including the Heyground School. AD is also the program director for HSF’s Camp Shakespeare, a performer and teaching artist for Neopolitical Cowgirls, and the recently named Education Director of Corchaug Repertory Theatre. she has acted, directed and taught with Northeast Stage for over 20 years, most recently doing all three with this past summer’s Hamlet. Thanks to Nick for this excellent good journey.

Esmeralda Cabrera (Gory Garland, Constanze, Jane, Laura, Fear, Woman #3): Esmeralda is excited to be working with Northeast Stage. She was last seen in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Hampton Theater Company) and The Chalk Garden (Boots on the Ground Theater). She recently appeared in the short film I Appreciate your Concern by Jim Morrison. She would like to thank Nick, the cast and the crew for all their hard work and support during this process. Instagram: @ezmerara

Michael Colt (Count Shockula, The Poet, Goblin, Fear, The Narrator, The Man): ​​Michael would like to thank Northeast Stage and the theatre-going community of the Northfork for its continued support of live theatre in the area.  Over the last couple of years Michael has appeared in The Laramie Project, A Dolls house Part 2, The Tempest and this summer’s production of Hamlet.  He greatly appreciates his cast member’s and director’s faith and encouragement throughout this production.

Lee Meyer (Boo Dacious, Mozart, Goblin, Fear, Bryan): Lee  is thrilled to make his Northeast Stage debut. Previous credits include Jacob Marley’s A Christmas Carol (multiple roles), Fat Pig (Tom), Much Ado About Nothing (Borachio), Good People (Stevie) and Play It Again, Sam (Allan). Lee has also directed, including The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Good People, A View from the Bridge and the world premiere of Fred Stroppel’s Dead of Night. Many thanks to Nick and the Northeast Stage for the opportunity to get onstage again, and much love to Mom, Rina and Brandon for all the support and encouragement.

Alex Sguazzin (Drac O’Lantern, Nana, Goblin, Fear, Sammy):  Alex is an actor who is grateful to be a part of this wonderfully weird production. Alex participated in all 4 plays when he was in high school (Westhampton Beach High School) and went straight off to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Having been all done with school after graduating NYCDA in May 2023, Alex has been in constant pursuit of his dreams as a performer. Alex is currently a part of the sketch comedy troupe This Might Make Sense which performs sketch comedy all over NYC. Alex would like to thank his friends family for being supportive of his dreams, as he continues his journey towards the crazy wild life of a performer! Alex would like to once more express his gratitude and how happy he is to be living the life he had previously dreamt of.

Steven Lepore (Mort Decay, The Gray Steward, Goblin, Fear)  is known mainly for his work in Philadelphia at the Allen's Lane Art Center in Talk Radio, Northeast Stage’s productions of Hamlet and Macbeth. He is excited to dive into poetry on stage amongst friends.

Crew

Nicholas Auletti  (Director) is an actor, director, and playwright from East Quogue, NY. He graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from Lycoming College. Most recently he was a part of Corchaug Repertory Theatre’s ‘One-Act Festival’ in The Dispatchment Society. Nicholas has previously directed Act Without Words I (Lycoming College), FAM and YAM (Lycoming College), One Christmas at Evergreen Mall (NFCT), and his own play, Over and Under the Wings of Vultures (Corchaug Rep.). Nick is grateful for the friendly cast and crew for the  camaraderie throughout this process of mirth and madness. Nick would also like to thank his friends, family, and Esme for all their support.

Versha Gupta  (Stage Manager) Their role in the Playlets and Poetry Festival involves backstage logistics and ensuring transitions between performances. With an interest in supporting live theater Versha has worked on a variety of theatrical performances at NFCT, Northeast Stage, and Boots on the Ground Theater. She is happy to be included in this creative production and thanks her partner Kevin Shea for his constant support.