Pace University Sands College of Performing Arts Actors Studio Production

Jonah

Week 1: April 29–May 2

Jonah
by Rachel Bonds
directed by Alicia Lion Januzzi

Ana is on scholarship at a boarding school far from home, deeply and distinctly alone until she crosses paths with day student Jonah. They navigate the edges of this new relationship, tentative and heady, but something else is stirring, and what begins as an exploration of new, exultant desire shifts into more complex negotiations of intimacy and survival. A story of fracture and resilience, what bodies carry and what they can release, and the radical possibilities of trust.

Director

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Raised in Harrisburg, PA, Alicia Lion Januzzi’s love for theater began while watching her mother direct local productions from the pit orchestra where Alicia played trumpet. She is a recent MFA graduate from the Actor’s Studio Drama School. Recent acting credits include The Drowning Girls (ASDS Rep), Dead Air (Connelly Theater), and Intermission Play (The Players Theatre, SPF Winner). She also recently directed Hi My Name Is… (Denver Fringe, Minnesota Fringe, United Solo Festival), They Break up at the End (Denver Fringe), and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (ASDS). She also recently cofounded MindMeld Productions and directed their inaugural Reading Rager.

Actors

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Jordan Boone is an actor raised in Philadelphia, PA. He is a Montclair State University graduate, earning his BFA in Acting. Some of his credits include Anon(ymous) (MSU), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (MSU), and The Big Meal (MSU). Most notably, he made his New York City stage debut in Spring ‘22 at Teatro LATEA, performing the lead role, Jamie, in an original piece. Jordan would like to express deep gratitude to his family and friends for their tremendous support!
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Brianna Lucille Demmings is a New York City-based actor and singer of Afro-Caribbean descent, dedicated to storytelling that empowers and inspires empathy and change. Brianna received a BA in Theatre Arts and Political Science from Vanderbilt University, where her studies in performance and advocacy intertwined to shape her perspective as both an artist and citizen. Recent credits include Extinction (Theatre East/Powerhouse Theatre) and Women in Manhattan (Actors Studio Drama School). Brianna is endlessly grateful to her family, mentors, teachers, and friends for believing in her when she didn’t believe in herself. Their faith continues to inspire her to create with honesty, courage, and heart. Follow her on Instagram.
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Massimo Manfredini is an actor and singer from Chicago, Illinois who graduated from Carthage College with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre. He has been involved with the theatrical arts from a very young age, participating in a variety of different productions involving both musicals and plays. Some notable roles he has played recently are Borachio in Much Ado About Nothing, Mendel in Fiddler on the Roof, and Moris Brummel in No Way to Treat a Lady. He would like to thank his family and friends for their endless love and support of his passion for performing.
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Seung Jin Um is a Korean actor and photographer, born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. He earned his B.A. in Acting from Gachon University of Theatre & Film, where he began honing his craft through a variety of performances in short films and stage productions. Alongside his acting career, he dedicated himself to teaching high school students, nurturing young talents while deepening his own artistry as both a performer and educator. His unwavering commitment to the craft — and his deep desire to fully embrace and refine his intuitive abilities as an actor. Seung Jin is bilingual in Korean and English. He proudly completed his military service as a bus driver, where he mastered operating a wide range of vehicles including buses, cars, and motorcycles — skills that enhance his physical versatility and on-camera presence. He’s also an enthusiastic swimmer with strong physical discipline and focus. Seung Jin holds deep gratitude for the rigorous training and mentorship he received at the Actors Studio Drama School. He is especially thankful to his teachers, mentors, friends, and family for their unwavering support and belief in his journey as an artist.