SLOW BURN

written by Lee Melillo
directed by Alexandra Haddad
produced by Personal Pizza Party

JANUARY 26 @ 7:00PM

THE TANK
312 W 36 ST, NEW YORK, NY

A young woman enters her freshman year of college with an atypical side hustle: secretly writing commissioned fanfics online about world-famous YA fantasy series, The Court of Copperfield. The Writer pens magical adventures and pulse-quickening romances with the series’ dreamy male leads, who operate as her personal Greek chorus on her journey from adolescence to adulthood. But no amount of writing can prepare her for when she falls for a real, live 18-year-old guy - one who won’t follow the storylines she’s made up in her mind. Meanwhile, her Roommate reads fanfics to explore his gender identity, and finds a writer who reminds him of someone he knows – if only he could put his finger on just who it is…

Slow Burn runs approximately 95 minutes.

CAST

  • Alex Ramirez Cannon (Her Love Interest) is very excited to be working with 3P again! After working with 3P last year for the staged reading of Love Interest at the Tank, he is happy to be back as the Love Interest for Slow Burn. Recent credits include Into the Woods (Male Swing; Cinderella’s Father), Rent (Steve; u/s Mark), and Love Interest (James Sloan). IG: alex.ramirez.cannon

  • Alyssa James (The Writer) is a queer, mixed-race artist based in Brooklyn. She is a lover of all things game-related, whether it be bowling, Rummy, or walking faster than Google Maps says she can. She is constantly seeking the humor in the darkness of daily life and strives to make art that reflects that absurd contradiction. Her recent credits include Stormé and the Punch at Playwrights Downtown and poolsides with The Pebble Collective. UNCSA Drama '23

  • James Kenna (His Rival) is an actor, writer, and dramaturg whose work has been seen at institutions such as Steppenwolf, the Hangar Theatre, the New Jersey Play Lab (resident dramaturg), Vivid Stage (resident playwright), the 52nd Street Project, and more. He’s thrilled to join 3P for the first time! Connect with him on Instagram at @jimmykenna9 or at jameskenna.com, or read select writing on New Play Exchange.

  • Laurel Mora (Her Roommate) is a senior playwriting major at Fordham University. Laurel is ecstatic to come out of acting retirement to take part in Lee’s funny, awkward, and heartfelt world about fanfiction. Some past Fordham credits include: This House Is Haunted (Playwright/Producer), Merry Go Round (Playwright/Producer), Night and Daedalus (Props Design), and We’re Still Here (Playwright). Past fandoms include: Marvel, Percy Jackson, and Danny Phantom.

  • Unfortunately, Cade Parker (His Sidekick) does not have a real British accent. That being said, he'd like to thank the Personal Pizza Party for giving him the chance to pretend he IS British, even for a second. He hopes that you enjoy this incredible staged reading of Slow Burn, written by the magnificent Lee Melillo. Cheers, love! @cadeparkeryall

  • Linnea Scott (Your Name) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist who was born and raised in Denver, CO. New York: Love Interest (3P @ The Tank - represent!!), Variations on a Blueprint (Lincoln Center: Education), Orbiting Something (24 Hour Plays @ Classic Stage), mother / land (Theater Row), The Program (Falconworks Theater). Regional: The 39 Steps (Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre). Training: University of North Carolina School of the Arts. linneascott.com

  • Lynn (Stage Directions) is an actor and director from New Jersey, currently pursuing a BA in theater from Fordham University. A chronic crocheter and cat lady, it’s a wonder they’re 18 and not 80. She’s so excited to work with 3P for the first time! Recent credits: This House is Haunted (Assistant Director, Spirit)

    IG: @lynnmasako

CREATIVE

  • Lee Melillo (Playwright) is a writer, director, and self-proclaimed “teehee machine,” whose work explores mental illness and neurodiversity, gender and sexuality, and classism and educational privilege - but, like, with jokes? Their writing has been developed with the Tank, the Chain, Theaterlab, Breaking & Entering Theatre Co., and Fordham University; and has directed at Theaterlab, with the Makers’ Ensemble, and as a guest artist at Fordham. Lee is a co-founder and the Executive Artistic Director of the production company Personal Pizza Party. IG: @leemelillo | leemelillo.com.

  • Alex (she/her) is a director and artist of new work, comedy, & postcolonial interpretation of classics centering those who are not wholly represented, including women, the queer community, & people of the Global Majority.

    Select directing: A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER with Penn Singers Light Opera, THE BROKEN BRAIN BREAKUP GAME with Breaking & Entering Theatre Co., BARD OVERBOARD at the SoHo Playhouse, THE PENELOPIAD at Barnard, ALMOST, MAINE at Columbia, BEACH WEEK at Round House Theatre (Teen Performance Company Sarah Play).

    She is an intimacy and fight choreographer affiliated with Theatrical Intimacy Education. She was McCarter Theatre Centre’s Artistic Assistant/BOLD Fellow from 2021-2023 and was also the first intimacy professional to choreograph on McCarter’s stages. She is a member of the 2021 cohort with Directors Lab North, and a member of the Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists. With her mixed cultural heritage, Alex identifies as a “Third Culture Kid.” She graduated from Barnard with a major in theatre, concentrating in directing, and a minor in English, focusing on classics. alexandradarcyhaddad.com

  • Ethan Peña Mock (Assistant Director)

SPECIAL THANKS TO…

Anna Mayo

Aiden Castillo

Brian Tong

Catherine Otero

Celeste Samson

Damon Diaz

Emma Noelani

Francesca Pinilla

Harris Solomon

Jacqueline McKenna

Max Carlson

Ryann Murphy

Steven Weatherbee

Tian Yi Cheung

For providing feedback, performances, and more during the development of this script.