Short King

Written by Larry Phillips

Directed by Nathan Hoffmann

Featuring: Anthony C. Jackson, Phoebe Leonard Dettmann, Andrew Boszhardt, Robby Alston, Michael Ernesto Navarro, Marisa Gonzales, Maile Binion & Larry Phillips
Lighting Designer: Hayley Garcia Parnell
Stage Manager: Emily Prior

June 5th-14th, 2026
Chain Theater
312 W. 36th Street, 4th Floor

​CAST & CREW

Anthony C. Jackson (Alex) 
Anthony is delighted to join Randomly Specific Theatre for their production of Short King at The Chain Theatre! Born and raised in Italy, he has a BFA in Screenwriting and he recently graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts' conservatory program of Performing Arts. Before crossing the ocean, he worked as an Assistant Director for film and television, proudly collaborating with Academy Awards winning directors Edward Berger (Conclave), Luca Guadagnino (Queer) and Paolo Sorrentino (Parthenope and The New Pope). Now a proud New York City local, Anthony has become a member of the Stag & Lion Theatre Company, joining them for their productions of Romeo and Juliet (Friar John) and Phryne, Queen of Athens (Terror). You can also hear his voice as Massimo in the second season of Martin Scorsese's The Saints. Anthony would like to thank his pediatrician, who correctly predicted he wouldn't grow taller than 5'4'', and Tom Holland for being busy with Christopher Nolan and not auditioning for this.  To his brother, Lorenzo, who tried to teach him how to nail an alley-oop.

Andrew Boszhardt  (Brad)
Andrew is an actor and writer known for his work in independent film and theater. His movie Breed of Greed (that he wrote, produced, and starred in alongside Gina Gershon) was released in theaters this past Fall by Vertical Entertainment and is now available on several of the major streaming platforms. Most recently he appeared in Fugitive Color alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Chukwudi Iwuji. Other feature film credits include Cutman (with Bill Fichtner) and Cape Carl in addition to over a dozen short films. Select New York theater credits include: Henry V (ATA), The Resurrection (ATA), Table (Chain Theater), etc. His original play, The House Warming, will premiere at The Players Theater in Greenwich Village later in June. He will also act in that production. 

Robby Alston (Connor)
Robby is a Wisconsin born and newly NYC based Actor, Singer and Cat Dad! Theatre:  Desert Animals, Confidence Course (Gallery Players), SpongeBob: The Musical!, Bat Boy, Heathers (Viterbo University), Next to Normal (La Crosse Theatre),  Guys and Dolls (Northern Sky Theatre) Film: 1000 Words, Bullsh*t, BFA Viterbo University ‘25
Endless love to my amazing family and beautiful fiancé! @robbyalston1

Michael Ernesto Navarro (Hunter) 
Michael is excited to be back at The Chain and honored to work with Larry once again! Recent/Favorite credits include: (THEATER) Naughty Bits: Ten Short Plays About Sex, Must Win - where he met Larry, Kelly Road: The Musical; (FILM) The Only Fan, Season of Change, Time Match. Michael is training at the Esper Studio, having just completed the first year of the two-year Conservatory program. He also works at Peak in Hudson Yards as a Junior Sommelier in case you need a wine recommendation. He thanks his wife, Melisa, his friends, family, and mentor, J. Marshall Evans, for their love and support. Instagram: @mikey_ernesto

Maile Binion (Heather)
Maile is an actor, writer, and director originally from New Orleans. She most recently appeared onstage in the premiere of Eve's Hollow, a new work she co-wrote with Jess Senie, as a part of the Chain’s 2025 One Act Festival. She is thrilled to be working with Randomly Specific Theatre for the third time, and to be making her stage debut with them on such a fun show. Follow @smailes1 on Instagram to stay tuned for more upcoming projects or to enquire about booking.

Phoebe Leonard Dettmann (Emily)

Phoebe is an Aussie New Yorker, actor, writer, director and founding member of Randomly Specific Theatre.
She has collaborated with Larry on and off stage in Ice Age, Secondary Pitch, Learning to Skip, Accumulated Heartbreak Disorder, Arbuckle Syndrome, Koalas Are Dicks and Fistful of Cake, Pocket Full of Miracles. She is very pleased to be treading the boards at The Chain once more!  This performance is dedicated to Nicole Kidman for all the years she spent wearing flat shoes for her short king. @pheebzleo

Marisa Gonzales (Zoe)
Marisa is a NYC based Latina actress who hails from San Antonio, Texas- is thrilled to be playing the role of Zoe in Short King. Marisa earned her BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch, where she studied at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting, as well as The Stonestreet Studio for Film & Television. In addition to her BFA, she also earned a BA in English Literature from NYU's College of Arts & Sciences. She currently attends Columbia University, and is pursuing her masters in Classical Studies, with an emphasis on Ancient Greek Theatre. Some of her favorite previous theatre credits include Daisy (Final Bell), Agave (Dæmon) and Eurydice (Ovid's Metamorphoses). She also recently performed as the Chorus Leader in Euripides Orestes in full Ancient Greek! Many thanks to my amazingly talented cast mates and crew for all their hard work and collaboration on this production, and for allowing me to be a part of it! Love and thanks to my amazingly supportive friends and boyfriend & most of all my mom and dad, for always encouraging me to believe in myself and work hard for my dreams! Find  me at @marisavgonzales & marisagonzales.com

Larry Phillips (Jeremy) & Playwright
Larry has written and appeared in: Unpretty; Must Win; Good Night, Baby Girl;The Weekend Will End; Koalas  are Dicks; Arbuckle Syndrome; Talent is Sexy; The Rise of Mediocrity; Fathers and Squirrels, Secondary Pitch; The Ladies of Glen Ross; Plan G;  The Other Harvey; Learning to Skip; Last Chance for Mama; Fistful of Cake, Pocketful of Miracles; This is Mark/c; The Art of Acting: A Master Class with Fozzie Bear.  www.larryphillipsnyc.com

Nathan Hoffman, Director
Nathan is a muliti hyphenate theater maker based in Sag Harbor.  He previously directed The Ladies of Glen Ross for Randomly Specific Theatre and is excited to be working at The Chain once more! Nathan would like to thank the cast, designers, stage management, and producers for their hard work and dedication.  

Hayley Garcia Parnell, Lighting Designer
Hayley (they/she) is a nonbinary, Chicana Lighting Designer from Colorado, currently based in NYC. This is their fifth production with Randomly Specific Theatre, including Fathers and Squirrels, Unpretty, Good Night Baby Girl, and Must Win. Credits include New York: This is Government, Friends With Amenities (59E59), Blood Orange (ART NY), The Passion According to Janair( Group.BR at HERE Arts Center), Touch (East Village Basement), Pass Over (14th St Y), Valley of the Shadow (WP Theatre); Regional: Dracula, The Last Five Years (Princeton Summer Theatre), Little Women, Misery, Sanctuary City, Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson #2B (Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble). hayleygarciaparnell.com

Emily Prior, Stage Manager

Emily (they/them)  is excited to be working on Short King. Credits include: An Outrageous Outcome, Savage in Limbo, CHOCOLATIER, Guilty! The Musical, and Queer Kismet. They would like to thank Larry for bringing them in on this show and for Bucky who patiently waited 'till they got home.

Alex is smart; Alex is charismatic; Alex is short…and he’d like you’d to stop pointing that last one out. The only thing Alex would change about his life is his height, even if it means going down some unconventional routes to make it happen. Short King is a comedy about a man willing to go to any length to reach his goal.