The Firebird Project presents 

ROSSUM’S UNIVERSAL ROBOTS

Script by Karel Čapek, adapted by Leo Lion
Directed by Leo Lion and Zoe Senese-Grossberg
Produced by Katie Devin Orenstein and Victoria Provost

STARRING (in alphabetical order)

HARRY - Adam Burby
ALQUIST - Hendryck Empole
BUSMAN - Sophie Falvey
SULLA - Neva Gentleman
HELENA - Isabelle Pflanz
DR GALL - Benny Rendell
FABRY - Juli Worth

Also Featuring:
VOICE OF SENATOR — Joe Burby
VOICE OF NANA — Karen Case Cook

Production Team

Stage Management, Lighting Design by Thomas Pflanz
Costume Design by Katie Homer-Drummond
Set/Props Design by Isabelle Pflanz
Video Design by Jonah Verdon
Promotional Images by Hendryck Empole & Sunless City Studio
Production Assistant/Front of House - Gilad Avrahami
Production Assistant/Front of House - Olivia Wohlgemuth

Presented at Alchemical Studios 6/9/23-6/17-23

COMPANY BIOS

ADAM BURBY (Harry)
Adam is a New York born and raised actor and creative. He began acting in youth programs such as Pied Piper Theater (Romeo and Juliet - Mercutio, Into the Woods - Baker) and Different Directions, where he played Dromio of Syracuse opposite Leo Lion in William Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. More recently he was featured in Up Theater's A Barn Play, and works to develop new plays with The Workshop Theater. He's excited to be reconnecting with old friends, and participating in his first productions with The Firebird Project.

SOPHIE FALVEY (Busman)
Sophie Falvey is a New York-based stage and film actor originally from Takoma Park, Maryland. Recent stage credits include The Dream (Columbia University), Low Stakes (We are Actors), Horsegirls (Homemade Jean Shorts), and Comedy of Errors (Gallery Players). Oberlin College credits include The Moors, At the End of the World, Hamlet, and Orlando. Film credits include Interlace (Dir. Trillium Bentley), Airbnb Host from Hell (Dir. Maisa Chiang), and Wolfgirl (Dir. Katie Homer-Drummond).

NEVA GENTLEMAN (Sulla)
Neva Gentleman (musician name Neva Insidious, drag performer name Toxic Waste), is a 24 year old artist and performer born, raised, and currently living in NYC. Neva's first time performing in a Firebird Theater production was in 2013, for "Down the Chocolate River," as Mrs. Gloop. Although this production will only be her second time participating in a Firebird production, it still means a lot to be here ten years later. Neva's hobbies include playing Minecraft, watching game playthroughs on Youtube, and making press-on nails for her small business, Nails by Neva. She hopes you enjoy the show!

ISABELLE PFLANZ (Helena, Set/Props Designer)
Isabelle is a performer and experimental theater artist. They are a rising senior Dance and Theater student at Oberlin College. During breaks, Isabelle has worked as co-adaptor, performer, and/or choreographer for numerous theater projects in New York. Affiliated performance credits include: Yeast Nation, Mermaid’s Legs, and Animal Farm with The Theater of the Apes. A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest with Stephen DeRosa. eXpresso, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Our Town with Firebird. The Death of Midas, Ode to The Arboretum, and Oberlin Dance Company Spring ‘23 with Oberlin College.

LEO LION (Director)
Leo is a director/writer/teaching artist from Brooklyn, and the founding Artistic Director of The Firebird Project. Having directed 10 youth productions under the Firebird banner, Leo is so proud to present R.U.R. as the start of a new era for this wonderful creative community. Leo also serves as the Associate Artistic Director of Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, and heads their PlayCoop New Works Incubator, a home for new storytelling forms like ARG and RPG. As a teaching artist, Leo leads workshops in improv, playwriting, and RPG storytelling. Thank you Zoe, Thomas, and the loving village that made this show possible. | leolion.com

THOMAS M. PFLANZ (Production Stage Manager, Lighting Design)
Thomas M. Pflanz is stage manager, lighting designer, TTRPG artist, and a recent graduate of Rutgers University - New Brunswick, where he double majored in Religious Studies and Theater Arts and minored in Archaeology. His prior experience has included work with The Firebird Project (Resident Technical Director, Resident Production Stage Manager), Theater of the Apes (Lighting Technician, Stage Manager), and Rutgers's Cabaret Theatre (Producer, Lighting Coordinator). He is currently the TaleKeeper on the actual play podcast, Tales from Grevelon. Many thanks to my family, friends, and to my mentor Joanna Lodin. Find me at thomasmp.com or follow me in Instagram @thomasmpflanz

VICTORIA PROVOST (Producer)
Victoria Provost (she/her) is a Filipina-Irish-American playwright, performer, and producer. She attended New York University (Class of 2020) where she received an honors research degree in English Literature and Anthropology. Victoria’s first play STARRY FRIENDSHIP was produced for Imaginarium Theatre Company’s Leave the Lights On Festival. Her play I’M STILL HERE was produced by the Tank in May 2022. Victoria has previously contributed to theatrical productions at the Public Theater, Little Island, the TEAM Plays, Irish Arts Center, and Paper Kraine, and is thrilled to join the Firebird team. She is interested in autofiction, trauma theory, and long-form stories. She is based in New York.

BENNY RENDELL (Dr. Gall)
Benny is thrilled to be back with the Firebird crew once again. Benny played Romeo in Firebird’s award-winning production of Romeo + Juliet, as well as Doc Gibbs in Firebird’s Our Town and Dr. Livesey in Treasure Island. He has trained at Lee Strasberg and H.B Studio, and with the Shakespeare company New Genesis Productions, he has performed various roles, including Hamlet, Brutus, and Benedick. Benny co-teaches Firebird’s Movie-Masters class and is currently studying Filmmaking and Cinema Studies at Tisch NYU.

ZOE SENESE-GROSSBERG (Director)
Zoe Senese-Grossberg is a NY based director, playwright, dramaturg, and teaching artist. She has been the literary director of Firebird since Romeo and Juliet and is thrilled to be back to tackle RUR again. Past directing credits include: At The End Of The World, Hamlet, Sarah Ruhl’s Orlando, and Twelve Ophelias. Zoe’s play Lay The Bent to the Bonny Broom was a 2023 semi-finalist for the National Playwright’s Conference. Currently, Zoe is writing a solo show/pop music cabaret about the life of Bosie Douglas. If you know who that is please talk to her. Zoesenesegrossberg.com.

JULI WORTH (Fabry)
Juli (they/them/theirs) is a recent Oberlin College graduate from Alexandria, VA. They have worked as a composer and recording artist on films (Redwood, Wolf Girl, Designing Desire, Boys Who Fly); plays (The Moors, Orlando, The Tempest); and musical projects (Hotspur Johnny, SCAD Mom, The BruhMoans, South Professor.) They completed a semester at the British American Drama Academy, and have appeared in several plays at Oberlin (The Moors, Hamlet, Dr. Faustus, Orlando, 12 Ophelias). They would like to thank the Firebird team and their friends (including family) for their support during this process.