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the cast

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Analía Piloto (she/her) ​

JAMIE (Lovestruck)​​

Analía is overjoyed to be part of this production as an avid reality television connoisseur! She just graduated from LIU Post with a BFA in musical theater #finsup and was recently spotted as a heroic zombie in the 54 Below concert “Death of the Living Club” by Matt Demaria. Gracias a mis padres, mi hermana, and my pals who always support me. @analiapiloto analiapiloto.com

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Samantha Joy Pearlman* (she/her) ​

MAREESA (Wealthy Wives of Los Angeles)​​

Samantha is an actor and singer/songwriter based in NYC. She is a chameleon with a passion for developing new work and is so grateful to collaborate with her Besties on this show. Favorite credits include: Mary Jane Gumm in Chasing Rainbows (Paper Mill), Woman in Marry Me a Little (Arc Stages) and Louise in Devotedly Sincerely Yours (Forestburgh Playhouse/Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts), which she wrote and starred in. Her band Joy and the Wildfire has toured the Northeast, including performing as the pre-show party for Heart at the historic Bethel Woods, and her original songs have been featured on the BMI #MusicMonday Playlist. Next up: Deb in The Art Tour at Theatre Row. @samanthajoyprl @joyandthewildfire

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Emily Lynne Miller* (she/her) ​

VICKY (Wealthy Wives of Scottsdale)​​

Fresh off the waves of rehearsal and ready to make a splash, Emily Lynne Miller is happy as a clam to debut Vicky IRL in the World Premiere of Bestie Island, the Musical! LONDON WEST END: Savage (Ilse Paulsen, Arts Theatre), An Evening With Webborn & Finn (Featured Soloist, The Other Palace). LONDON OFF-WEST END: She Loves Me (Ilona), Vote For Me (Janet), Ordinary Days (Claire) REGIONAL w/ PCLO, PMT, Merry-Go-Round: Children of Eden (Eve/Mama), Shrek (Fiona), Seussical (Gertrude), RENT (Maureen), Beehive (Wanda), Godspell (Turn Back). Performer and Session Leader with Sing For Your Seniors. BFA: PSU ❤. Special thanks to new manager, Lisa, at Inspire Talent Management. Wholehearted gratitude to
Mom (biggest fan) and Jon (trophy husband/Adora & Sheba whisperer/2nd biggest fan). @emilylynnemiller

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Luke Hamilton* (he/him) ​

MATT / JAMIE'S MOM / FOLLOWER 3​​

National Tours:  Something Rotten (1st National), USO Showtroupe (Guam, Japan). Regional Highlights: Saturday Night Fever (Tony Manero) at Ogunquit Playhouse; Kinky Boots (Charlie Price) at North Shore Music Theatre,  Legally Blonde (Warner Huntington III) at KC Starlight; Theatre By the Sea, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Arvada Center, Gateway Playhouse, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Adrienne Arsht Center. TV/Film: "Breaking Girl Code" (Lifetime), "The Tonight Show" (NBC). For Mom, Dad, Tony, Amandina, and all of Bestie Nation. lukehamiltonactor.com @looqhamilton

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Taylor Simon (she/her) ​

TAYLOR / ASHLEY / JJ / FOLLOWER 2​​

Taylor is so excited to be a part of this reality fever dream of a show! As a die-hard bravo-holic, her only wish is that Andy Cohen will give this show his seal of approval or a shot of tequila in the clubhouse! Favorite roles include: Emma Goldman (Assassins & Ragtime), Woman 2 (Songs for a New World), Susan Blackwell (title of show), and Marie Curie (Ghost Girls). Thanks to Colby and SC for taking a chance on a fellow Bruin, and to her family, friends, and Josh for their unwavering support! @taylorsimonsings

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Jessica Morilak (she/her) ​

JENNIFER (Wealthy Wives of Park City) / FOLLOWER 1
(VICKY understudy)
​​

Hey Besties! Jess is thrilled to be a part of this cast, and double thrilled that you're all here too! Her previous credits include SAW: The Unauthorized Parody Musical (Off-Broadway), Spirits Speakeasy, Dirty Legal Secrets (Saltland Theater Festival), Fulcrum (San Diego Fringe Festival, Death at the Disco (Broadway Murder Mysteries & Quiet Events), A Sketch of New York (The Producers Club).
@jess_morilak

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Jillian Paige (she/her) ​

BECCA K. (Lovestruck) / FOLLOWER 4​​

Jillian Paige (she/her) is a reality TV addict who auditioned for The Bachelor no less than three times. While she never got cast, the opportunity to do this show has helped fill the leaky holes in her heart from that unfulfilled dating show dream. Favorite baddie roles include Madame DeFarge in A Tale of Two Cities (Village Light Opera Group), Kira in Xanadu (Boiler Room Theatre), and Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music (Repertory Company Theatre). Alongside performing, Jillian is a passionate second generation Meisner teacher and Founder of Meisner in Music, the premier class to infuse the Meisner technique with singing. Many thanks to SC, Colby, and the whole Bestie Island team for this experience! www.JillianPaige.com

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Mychal Phillips* (she/her) ​

BLAIRE (Wealthy Wives of NYC) / FOLLOWER 6
(MAREESA understudy)
​​

Mychal is so excited to be on the island with her besties! You can currently catch her performing off-broadway in Nothing Like Broadway on W 64th St! Touring: Anything Goes (Erma), Legally Blonde (Paulette). Regional: Gypsy (Tessie Tura), Singin’ In The Rain (Lina Lamont), Damn Yankees (Gloria), Elf (Deb). @girlnamedmych 

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Brianna Paradiso (she/her) ​

TIFFANY (Lovestruck) / FOLLOWER 7​​

Brianna Zhen Paradiso is an Asian American multi-hyphenate artist based in New York City. She trained at NYU's New Studio on Broadway, Stonestreet Studios, and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, showcasing her versatile talent on both stage and screen. She has performed at notable venues, delivering the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden and MetLife Stadium, as well as gracing the stage in productions like "Cabaret" with Tisch New Theatre, "As You Like It" as Celia at New Studio on Broadway, and "Gypsy" at Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She looks forward to making her mark in the entertainment industry and pursuing her passions in film, TV, acting, and musical theater with dedication and flair.  

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Kierlan Denninger (she/her) ​

JILLIAN (Lovestruck) / FOLLOWER 5
(JAMIE understudy)​​

Kierlan is thrilled to be a part of the premiere of Bestie Island! A graduate of AMDA, she was most recently seen in Pinkalicious at The Argyle Theatre. Other favorite credits include Liesl (The Sound of Music), Lucy (You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown), and Ariel (Footloose). She enjoys songwriting in her free time and is so happy to be a part of new, original work here in the city. She would like to thank the entire cast and creative team for this opportunity, and her family and friends for their continuous support.

She dedicates this and every performance to her father.

Equity Approved Showcase

Samantha Joy Pearlman*, Mychal Phillips*, Luke Hamilton*, Dailee Morrone*, and Emily Lynne Miller* are Equity Members appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association without benefit of an Equity contract in this Off-Off Broadway production.

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Actors' Equity Association (AEA), founded in 1913, represents more than 50,000 actors
and stage managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster
the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions, providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. AEA is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark of excellence.
www.actorsequity.org

the crew

Dailee Morrone* (she/her)
Production Stage Manager / Light Board Operator

Dailee is so excited to be on Bestie Island! Dailee's most recent shows include: The Matchmaker (Hudson Valley Shakespeare, ASM), Comedy of Errors (Hudson Valley Shakespeare, ASM), Beauty and the Beast (STONC, ASM) Gi-60:
International One Minute Play Festival (The Tank, SM), Rosie: The Musical (Workshop,
SM). She has her BA in Theater from Brooklyn College. Fo da boiz! Instagram: @thedaileenews

Emerson Wachnik (he/they)
Production FOH Audio Engineer / Audio & Video Programmer
Emerson Wachnik is a sound designer and audio engineer based out east on Long Island, NY. Recent and most beloved projects: “Creditors” (Minetta Lane, A1), “Golem Owned A Tropical Smoothie” (The Tank, A1), “The Porch on Windy Hill” (Weston Theater Co. and People’s Light, Assistant Sound Design).
Tell me about your favorite bird at @emerson_wachnik on Instagram.
 

Helena Magee(she/her)
Lighting Designer
Helena Magee is a Jersey City-based lighting designer, assistant, draftsperson, and electrician working across the country in several industries, including theater, dance, opera, fashion, luxury brand events and installations, and corporate performance. Recent and favorite works include: Assistant Lighting Designer of Pirates! The Penzance Musical (Broadway); multiple productions as Assistant Lighting Designer at The Juilliard School; Lighting Supervisor at American Repertory Ballet; Assistant Lighting Designer at The Metropolitan Opera; Studio Assistant of The Lion King Worldwide; and Technical Supervisor at Astetyx Events. Helena is excited and grateful to be collaborating with such a great team on the development of this new work! BFA in Lighting Design, Rutgers University MGSA.

the creatives

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Colby Lapolla,
music and lyrics / track production and mixing

Colby Lapolla (she/her) is a producer, vocal producer, engineer, and songwriter in Los Angeles known for her meticulous ear and expertise in pop, R&B, indie, and alternative music. With a gift for bringing out career-defining vocal performances effortlessly, she’s earned praise from artists and fellow producers alike for her ability to create “magic” in the studio—an ability shaped in part by mentorship from vocal production legends. Colby’s diverse discography is represented by a variety of major licensors, and the tracks she’s contributed to have garnered millions of streams. Described as a future “global hitmaker” by several prominent creators, she is focused on living up to that title. Colby is a breath of fresh air in the studio, thrives in new environments, and is dedicated to empowering the next generation of women and gender-expansive folks in music creation. Her recent collaborations include work with Madame Gandhi, AGNEZ MO, Diane Warren, Disney, and Hasbro, among many others. She is a full-scholarship alum of Mix with the Masters and actively collaborates with organizations like She Is the Music, We Are Moving the Needle, and SongWriteClub. She also serves as a mentor with GirlsMakeBeats and is a voting member of the Producers and Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy. https://www.colbylapolla.com/

Sarah Caroline Billings,
book / direction

Sarah Caroline (SC, she/her) Billings is a playwright, bookwriter, and lyricist from West Texas and has lived in Queens since 2016. Her work has been staged in NYC at the Barrow Group, Cherry Lane Theater, and Club Cumming, as well as at institutions including American University in DC and Belmont University in Nashville. She's been a finalist for the Terrence McNally New Works Incubator lab, Premiere Stages’ Play Festival, and DGF Fellows program. SC is a founding member of Fight Club (a writer’s group for women in theater and film in NYC), a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Advanced Bookwriting Workshop, and is mentored by Jenny Rachel Weiner. 

HUGE shoutout to all the pals who contributed their time, car mileage, and/or sweat to this production (without them there would be no show). Love also to the Billings/Calverts, and all Texan theatre educators.

https://www.sarahcaroline.net/

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the songs and trigger warnings

  • Bestie Island

  • Never Work Again

  • Girl Who Plays the Game

  • Save a Life

  • Truth

  • Trigger Warning

  • God Complex

  • Save a Life (Reprise)

    • 15 minute intermission

  • We Won't Be Led by Fear

  • Never Work Again (Reprise)

  • All That

  • Be Good for Mommy

  • Solo

  • God Complex (Reprise)

  • Just a Game

  • Stick Around to Get Your Crown

thank you

Production would like the thank the numerous individuals who have made BESTIE ISLAND possible.

Opening Night Sponsors

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Opening Night Committee

Sophie Rogers

Hayden Withers

Candice DiLavore

​Thomas Rogers

Sarah Shelton

Strategic Board of Directors

Candice DiLavore

Sophie Rogers

Lane Billings

Hayden Withers

Zoe Sonneberg

Sydney Crutcher

Isto Barton

Monica Rodrigues

Kallen Prosterman

Donors

Sarah Kraemer
Anna Mazarakis
Danielle Cummings
Kathryn Squitieri
Ann and Wave Graham
Lisa Pantaleo
Lindsay Brillson
Jenny Wolfe
Abbey Hendrix
Shikha Nayar
Casey Gilbert
Anna Shelkin
Sarah Rosenblatt

Additional Thanks To

Jenny Weiner

Allysun Marshall 

Jordan Eagle

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