Kingfisher by Rodney Brazil
Staged Reading
June 8, 2026
6:30 PM
Hosted at Literati Press Bookshop and Community
When evidence of an old shooting surfaces, Ethan and Ryan find themselves caught between big-city ideals and small-town instincts in a dark comedy about memory, legacy, and the cost of accountability.
Bios
Rob Sturma
STAGE DIRECTIONS
Rob Sturma (he/him): Nerd. Poet. Editor. Wrestling mark. Superhero enthusiast. Secret lounge singer. Lloyd Dobler. Write Bloody and Moon Tide Press author. FreezeRay Poetry’s J.Jonah Jameson. Extreme Championship Poetry’s Paul E. Dangerously. Still writes hot 16s in his composition notebook. Getting into Lego. Plays Paul Simon’s “Hearts and Bones” on repeat. Will host your open mic for a root beer and some Cheez-Its. Is thrilled to be working with Whatever Works!
Joseph Kelley
ETHAN CARTER
Joseph Kelley (he/him) had been acting for most of his life. Some recent credits include roles at Third Act Theatre Company in Alcoholidays, and The Bad Seed. Other credits include Making Sweet Tea and Other Secrets at Carpenter Square Theatre, and On Golden Pond at Jewel Box Theatre. He is very grateful to Whatever Works, and to Rodney Brazil for this opportunity. Joe currently is getting his bachelors degrees in creative writing, and marketing at Arizona State University. The thanks his parents for believing in him.
Brendan Moore
RYAN KELLY
Brendan Moore (he/they) has recently graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. You may have seen him in OCU or Theatre Crude productions such as Nick in Phone Tag, The Designer in The Aurora Project, or the Landlord in She Stoops to Conquer. Brendan wants to thank his friends from Whatever Works for inviting him to be a part of this production.
Rainey Denison
MAGGIE CARTER
Rainey Denison (she/her) is a local Oklahoma City theater & film actress. She received a Bachelors in Fine Arts Acting in 2024. With her time there she served as the Vice President of the theatre arts honor society, Alpha Psi Omega. At UCO, she also acted in a total of 9 shows, her most known roles being Violet, in “August: Osage County”, Naomi Cartwright in Rooster, and Huldey in “The Moors.” Rainey now uses her artistic career by acting in community theater roles as well as local film performances. She has been seen in Carpenter Square Production of “Silent Sky” as Annie, & “She Kills Monsters” as Narrator/Tina. In the Okc film industry you can find her playing MaryJane Watson in Infinity Entertainment’s “Web of Spider-Man.” Rainey has also recently been seen on the Malvie Digital Magazine cover for the issue “The Joy Of Winter” In December, 2025. Rainey would like to thank her friends, family, & her boyfriend for all the love and support they show her.
Joe DiBello
UNCLE WALTER CARTER
Joe DiBello (he/him) has been acting and directing for over 28 years throughout Oklahoma in productions at Lyric, OKC Rep, OK Shakespeare, Jewel Box, Carpenter Square, 3rd Act, Storyteller, Poteet, Sooner Theatre, and Ardmore Little Theatre. Favorite roles include Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Jack in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Felix in Mistakes Were Made, and Tony in Something Intangible. Joe wishes to thank Rodney for this opportunity to perform his work, and his best friend and wife Courtney and their (far too grown) kids for indulging his passion for the stage.
La Blankenship
GRANDMA VELMA CARTER
La Blankenship (she/her) is plum tickled to play with Whatever Works! She adores trodding the boards with friends – brand‑new, well‑worn, and delightfully eccentric. She’s showcased her multiple personalities in Alcoholidays, Silent Sky, Making Sweet Tea and Other Secrets, 12 Angry Jurors, Holmes and Watson, Secrets of the Buttermilk Hotel, and Exit Laughing. Hugs and kisses to her husband and sons for supporting her and her crazy schedule! And heartfelt thanks to you for supporting Whatever Works and the Arts in Oklahoma, because without audiences, we’re just talking to ourselves out loud.
Rodney Brazil
PLAYWRIGHT
Rodney Brazil (he/him) is an Oklahoma City-based playwright and performer whose work includes full-length plays, solo shows, parodies, and short pieces. His recent cabaret Presley Tweed: Fancy AF, co-written with Benjamin Farha, won both Staff Pick and Audience Choice Awards at NYC Fringe. Other full-length credits include Pricks! The Vaccine Musical (Denver Fringe), The Ultra-Conservative Theatre Summit, Naked Brunch (Theatre Crude Fringe Festival), and Thank You, Places, which debuted at The District Theatre in Indianapolis. Earlier works include Worthy Causes and All My Ex-Boyfriends are Gay, as well as Clipped! and The Hit of Pinch City, co-written with Rebecca McCauley. His short works include Two of Cups, Rng Rr, and This Is Your Chance, and he has also written parody adaptations of The First Wives Club and multiple episodes of The Golden Girls for The Boom.
Emily Comisar
DIRECTOR
Emily Comisar (she/her) is a playwright, producer, and now sometimes a director of new play readings. Her short plays have appeared in series produced by Lone Star Theatre Co., The PlayGround Experiment, aWe Creative Group, New York Madness, and Shiyr Productions. Emily’s recent full-length work includes The Family Business (Formerly Weird, But Good), The Campaign (Theatre Crude Fringe Festival), and Dumpster Fire (She NYC Festival). Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, with specialties in critical studies, adaptation of narrative for the stage, and multimedia performance. She also holds a Master of Arts in Italian Language and Media from Middlebury College and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Management & Producing from Columbia University. She is currently the Executive Artistic Director of Oklahoma City Repertory Theater.
Zachary Scalzo
TABLE BUDDY
Zachary Scalzo (he/they) is a queer theatremaker, writer, and translator whose theatrical work has been developed and performed both in the United States and in Canada. They can be found at their website azachofalltrades.com, on Instagram at @zjscalzo and on New Play Exchange, as well as on most major podcasting platforms with his co-host Derek on Two-Player Theory.
David Pilchman
PRODUCER
David Pilchman (any/all) was born and mostly raised in OKC. He has worn many hats in his career: Production Stage Manager for The Crown Uptown Professional Dinner Theater (Wichita, KS) and Norwegian Cruise Line. NYC Production Manager on World Premieres such as The View Upstairs, Small Mouth Sounds, Mike Birbiglia’s Thank God For Jokes, and Clinton the Musical. OKC Production Manager / Producer with many local organizations, including OKC Rep and OCAC. Collaborator with Whatever Works, creating opportunities for local writers and performers to produce new plays. David recently ran as the Independent candidate for OK-State Senate District 46. He wants to encourage you to VOTE at every chance you get. Not just “the big ones.” Thanks to everyone creating and supporting theater in his hometown. You can check your Voter Registration and Sample Ballots at okvoterportal.okelections.gov
Whatever Works 