A FRIEND Program Information, Creative Team & Actors

A FRIEND Written & Directed by Anika Benkov

Time:  The Present.                                       Place:  New York City.

 

                           Characters in order of appearance

Maya...............................................................................    Rachel Greenfeld

Cameron........................................................................    Rebecca Farley

Malcolm..........................................................................   Isaac Jiffar

Elizabeth.........................................................................   Kira Stern

 

Who’s Who . . .

 

Rebecca Farley (Cameron) is a Columbia University alumni and freelance writer. Find her work at rebeccafarleyblog.wordpress.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Rachel Greenfeld (Maya) is a current student at Barnard College. Recent credits include The 122nd Annual Varsity Show, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss Flannery), and Lend Me a tenor (Maria Merelli).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Isaac Jiffar (Malcolm) is an actor and a theatre major at Columbia University. He has recently performed in productions with the King’s Crown Shakespeare Troupe, including Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew) and Lulu (Dr. Goll/Rodrigo/Mr. Hopkins) and the Barnard Theatre Department, including The Crazy Locomotive (Guster/Cackleson). He will be appearing next month in the Glicker-Milstein Summer Theatre Festival in It Takes a Village (Shalom) as well as …and Silence Broke the house (Trevon).  He is looking forward to performing in the Strawberry One Act Festival and would like to thank Anika and Maddy for the opportunity! 

 

 Kira Stern (Elizabeth) is thrilled to be joining the brilliant cast of A Friend! She has participated in several shows throughout her high school career, including The Importance of Being Earnest (Lady Bracknell), Almost, Maine (Rhonda), and Footloose! (Betty Blast).  She has been fortunate enough to work behind the scenes as well, and was the Assistant Stage Manager for Second Stage’s production of the Nutcracker at Wesleyan University.  Special thanks to Maddy Cohen for the incredible opportunity to take part in this production.  Good luck to all the cast and crew!

 

Anika Benkov (Playwright/Director) received her BA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. Her original play A Friend has previously been staged at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre, and received a staged reading and workshop from Columbia University’s NOMADS (New and Original Material Authored and Directed by Students).  She has written several other shows for staging, including The Gift (staged and produced by NOMADS), and the musical 122nd Annual Varsity Show: A King’s College.  She would like to thank her incredibly talented cast and crew for making this show come to life, as well as her family for supporting her.

 Maddy Cohen (Stage Manager) is the Assistant to the Producing Artistic Director at the New York International Fringe Festival and a theatre major at Barnard College.  Recent production credits include A Friend (Manhattan Repertory Theatre), Macbeth (King’s Crown Shakespeare Troupe), Hillaryous (Columbia University NOMADS), and Bingo (Barnard Theatre Department).  She will be appearing next month as Sarah in It Takes a Village in the Glicker-Milstein Summer Festival at Barnard College.  She is the proud owner of the Kit doll used in this production. Thanks to Anika for keeping me involved with the show!

 Debbie Levine (Props) a recent graduate of Barnard College, is ecstatic that Anika asked her to do props for A Friend and has loved working with this very talented team.  Previous productions include the 122nd Annual Varsity Show and Columbia University Players’ production of Rapture, Blister, Burn.

 Jennifer Davidson (Sound Design) is a recent graduate from Virginia Tech with two degrees in theatre. She is studying the meisner technique at the William Esper Studio, and would like to thank George Ligon, Carter Gaylord, Ali Hall, and Scott Tusing, without whom she couldn’t function. Let’s go Hokies. 
 
 

Jessica Davidson (Sound Design) is a recent graduate from Virginia Tech with two degrees in theatre. She is studying the meisner technique at the William Esper Studio, and would like to thank George Ligon, Carter Gaylord, Ali Hall, and Scott Tusing, without whom she couldn’t function. Let’s go Hokies.

 Madeleine Ghillany-Lehar (Graphic Design) is a producer, designer, playwright and recent graduate of Columbia University.  She is looking forward to becoming an adult one day.

 Original Music Composed by Robert Fernandez