ROCK BOTTOM, BOTTOMS UP:
Scenes from Emerging Voices, 2025
TheaterLab

FIRST LOOK SERIES:
Kind Strangers Collective Presents:
Scenes written by Laura Winters, Jamie Gore Pawlik, Ayla Parsons, and Martyna Majok
Directed by David Zayas Jr., Derek Speedy, Jamie Gore Pawlik, and Wiley Basho Gorn
Conceived and produced by Jamie Gore Pawlik and Marjie Shrimpton
Rock Bottom, Bottoms Up is an evening of scenes from new works in development by three emerging female playwrights, alongside one scene by Pulitzer Prize–winner Martyna Majok. Whether women navigating a grotesque and taboo addiction, couples determining their futures, or individuals reckoning with the American dream, all scenes circle themes of survival, recovery, and resilience—in the many forms they take.
Presented works:
The Starters by Laura Winters
I EAT BOYS by Jamie Gore Pawlik
The Content by Ayla Parsons
Ironbound by Martyna Majok
Performed by Jill Zmolek, Hamid Tavakoli, Marjie Shrimpton*, Sheldon Shaw, Britian Seibert*, Naama Potok*, Ayla Parsons, Danny Hilt*, Barbara Hentschel*, Maliyah Gramata-Jones, and Talia Frank-Stempel
Co-produced by all Collective members
*Actors appearing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.
Content Advisory: This show contains mature themes, graphic language, and references to suicide and addiction.
Kind Strangers Collective is an ensemble of theatre artists dedicated to creating opportunities to amplify new talent, perform together, and share the work that excites and challenges us most with our community in New York City. Rock Bottom, Bottoms Up is our second production.

EXHUMED, 2024
TheaterLab

Kind Strangers Collective Presents in association with The Atelier @ Theaterlab
EXHUMED: Scenes of Revelation and Revival
Produced by Marjie Shrimpton
Featuring Tori Ernst*, Jeffrey Grover*, Gina Manziello*, Eli Neslund, Ayla Parsons, Jamie Gore Pawlik*, Naama Potok*, Marjie Shrimpton*, Derek Speedy*, and Hamid Tavakoli
EXHUMED was a collection of scenes and excerpts from different plays, all featuring pivotal moments in the characters’ lives—whether revealing something for the first time or bringing them back to life in some way. Or both.
Showcased works include:
The Thief of Tears
by Jeffrey Hatcher
And scenes from:
The Sound Inside by Adam Rapp
Hand to God by Robert Askins
In the Wake by Lisa Kron
People, Places and Things by Duncan Macmillan
Heisenberg by Simon Stephens
With direction by Andrew Dolan, Scott Freeman, Dan Hilt, Jamie Gore Pawlik, Derek Speedy, and Sammy Zeisel
Conceived and lead produced by Marjie Shrimpton
Co-produced by Jamie Gore Pawlik and the Kind Strangers Collective, including all cast members
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO





























