CAST
Connor McNelis
Connor McNelis (he/him) is an American actor, writer, and director born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA.
A graduate of Edinboro University, his film work includes four back-to-back award-winning films in the Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project, all receiving Best Film. His third effort, "The Young One-Two", which he was awarded Best Actor for, along with being both casting director and a story writer, would go on to receive multiple accolades at the international festival Filmapalooza, and be selected to screen in the Short Film Corner of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. His most recent 48 Hour film, "Dry Spell", which he also co-wrote and directed, would give him his second Best Actor award in a row.
Other film works include the lauded short film "A Funny Man", which he co-wrote and produced, and his directorial debut with the LGBTQ-film "Santorum", receiving Best Writing at the 2019 Indie Oaks Film Festival. His theatre work extends throughout the Pittsburgh region, including All Quiet on the Western Front with Prime Stage Theatre (U.S. Premiere), Steel with Pittsburgh CLO, and multiple award-winning productions with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival.
Ava Sforza Grace
Ava is a SAG-E actress, producer, writer, and violinist based in New York City.
Ava is the co-creator of the NYC-based independent production company, Uncle Cat Productions, alongside fellow creatives Chloë Roe and Jules Crespo. Together, they developed the nine-episode experimental comedy web-series, “Mask Girls”(2024). They are currently in production for the upcoming WEB-Series, “S.P.Y.D.H.E.R.S.”
Ava’s past film work includes “DETOX” (2026), “Twisted” (2025), “The Most Important Broadcast in the World” (2025), The award-winning short film, “Another Blue Monday” (2024), and “Zutant Party” (2024). She recently worked with the NYC-based theatre company, Open Road Stage (2025).
Ava trained as a classical violinist and expanded her range to folk, rock, and jazz. With 20+ years of experience, she recorded strings for D’Lourde’s, for their sophomore album, “You Get It Or You Don’t.”
Ava graduated from Hofstra University with a B.F.A. in Acting and Minor in Global Studies.
CREATIVE
Peter Marinaro
Director Peter Marinaro is a New York City–based director, casting professional, and producer working across television, live performance, and contemporary dance.As a director, this marks his second collaboration with Candice Fox, following their international debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Cheers, Mom! Eulogy for a Living Parent. Additional directing work includes musical projects developed in Chicago and Los Angeles, continuing an interest in music-driven storytelling.
Alongside his directing practice, Peter has led casting and talent management for large-scale productions including NBC's The Voice, Netflix's Black Rabbit, and Hulu's Up Here. His producing work spans projects with New York Botanical Garden, Bathtub Gin, Thistle Dance, and Reed Luplau Works, centering immersive, artist-led experiences that meet audiences off-center. @petermarinaro
WriterCandice Lynne Fox
Candice Fox is a New York City–based writer and performer. Her personal essays have been featured in two of Medium’s largest publications, where she’s built a reputation for unflinching honesty. In 2022, she released Mental Maps, a poetry collection that navigates memory, identity, and transformation.
Her debut play, Duality, was selected for the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2016, marking her early emergence as a bold theatrical voice. Most recently, she brought her deeply personal one-woman show, Cheers, Mom! Eulogy for a Living Parent, to the Edinburgh Fringe 2025, further cementing her reputation for fearless, intimate storytelling. Fox’s work consistently explores addiction, fractured family dynamics, and the complexity of being human. With a background as a professional dancer, she brings a visceral understanding of the body, particularly the female form, into her writing and performance.