Students from Pace University's Sands College of Performing Arts acting on stage.

The Altruists

Week 1: April 3–6

By Nicky Silver
Directed by Lauren Shields

The Altruists revolves around a dedicated, if disorganized and demented, group of young radicals. These are the kids who protest. They protest arts funding and arms funding. They protest school cutbacks and AIDS cutbacks and welfare cutbacks. They march for gay rights and children’s rights and Women Against Drunk Drivers. But their morality is put to the test one day when Sydney, a shallow, anorexic soap-opera actress, fires a gun into the hulking body of her sleeping boyfriend. This dark, absurdist comedy that delves into the complexities of altruism and the motivation behind seemingly selfless acts.

The Altruists received its world premiere at the Vineyard Theatre, New York City, February 2000.

Produced by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing.

Cast

Jacquie Bonnet
Blake Brundy
Anna Medley
Justin Schulsohn
Kelechi Udenkwo

Actors

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Jacquie Bonnet (she/her) was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Determined to pursue her passion for acting, she moved to Boston to complete a BA in Theatre and Performance Studies at Tufts University. Currently, she is finishing an MFA in Acting at the Actors Studio Drama School in NYC. Her recent works include Pañuelos at the Teatro LATEA and the American Theatre of Actors, New York Yoga at The Players Theatre, and Deliberate Destruction at The Tank. She also produced, directed, and acted in the short play 2 + 2 No Siempre Son 4 at Teatro en 15 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was nominated for a Victoria Espinosa Award as Best New Actress. In addition to her theater credits, she recently acted in the award-winning short film Between Stops. Jacquie is also the founder and executive producer of Marysol Productions LLC, which will release its first short film in 2024. She would like to thank her family and mentors for their support and unconditional love.

Learn more about Jacquie Bonnet (PDF)
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Blake Brundy, a native of Santa Barbara, California, graduated from Utah State University where he received a BFA before pursuing his MFA at The Actors Studio Drama School. Previous training also includes dance and musical theater at The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA). His latest appearances were in productions of Richard II and The Comedy of Errors with The Hip to Hip Theatre Company in NYC. Previous roles also include Stuart in Into the Breeches, Captain Hook in Peter Pan: The Musical, and Ronald in The Altruists.

Learn more about Blake Brundy (PDF)
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Anna Medley is a New York City based actor, dancer, singer, writer, and teacher originally from Louisville, KY. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Samford University in Birmingham, AL. She has worked in NYC at the American Theatre of Actors (Romance with Orion), Blank Page Theatre Company (Say Gay, Road Trip, There are No Diving Pools in Hell), New York Theatre Festival (Someone Has to Die, Reflection of a Shadow), and others. Favorite theatre credits include Theresa in Circle Mirror Transformation, Benjamin Franklin in 1776, and a self-produced Judy Garland Tribute Show. She is very thankful for her time at the Actors Studio Drama School, her teachers, mentors, friends, family, and parents. Enjoy the show and follow her on Instagram.

Learn more about Anna Medley (PDF)
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Justin Schulsohn (he/him) is thrilled to be a part of the 2024 Actors Studio Drama School’s Repertory Season. A native New York City actor and singer, he is a graduate of the University of Southern California having received a BA in Acting and is an alum of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. Recent credits include Daddy Long Legs (ASDS), Art (ASDS), The Cohens in Covid (New York Theater Festival), Trouble in Mind (USC), Secret Garden (USC), and Avenue Q (USC). He is extremely grateful to his friends and family for supporting his dream of passion.

Learn more about Justin Schulsohnn (PDF)
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Kelechi Udenkwo (he/him) was born in Dallas, Texas and was raised in Mesquite, Texas. He has hit the ground running with an unrelenting pursuit towards his dream of becoming an actor since he moved to New York almost three years ago. Currently, he is finishing an MFA in Acting at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City. His recent works include There Are No Diving Pools in Hell with Blank Page Theater, My Baby's First Existential Crisis (Tank Theater), Noel Coward’s Private Lives, The Lover (The Actors Studio Drama School), and An Offer You Can't Refuse (Teatro LATEA). His dedication, reverence, and joy for acting is what is pushing him to continue this journey. He would like to thank his family for supporting him on this ride.

Learn more about Kelechi Udenkwo (PDF)

Director

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Lauren Shields (she/her) is a New York-based director and multi-hyphenate artist. Her directing work has been seen all over New York in festivals and off-off Broadway spaces. Lauren's artistic endeavors center on amplifying underrepresented voices while challenging the audience's societal position, moral contradictions, and self-awareness, with the goal of expanding their perspective beyond their everyday lives. She is a founder of Blank Page Theatre Company, the founder of Audition Checkup (an acting and vocal coaching company), and a Co-Founder of film company 151st Productions. She received her undergraduate degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Musical Theatre and is currently completing her MFA in directing at The Actors Studio Drama School. Check out her previous work and what’s to come on Lauren's website and on Lauren's Instagram.