The One Act Plays

Matthew McConaughey Sucks by A.J. DeLauder, directed by Angel Mullen
Couch by Shannon Murdoch, directed by Melissa Ryan
Sock Puppet Fetish Noir by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos, directed by Thomas Ian Lyall
Darkest Waters by Alan Stolzer, directed by Paul Holcomb
Gary the Bold by Ron Burch, directed by Mindy Renae Salango

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Matthew McConaughey Sucks 
​by A.J. DeLauder

A short comedy about a young couple, Ryan and Dahlia, watching the World Series together. A TV sighting of McConaughey sets Ryan on a tangent about how Matthew McConaughey sucks—Dahlia digs into why.

Angel Mullen
​(Director)

This is Angel’s second time participating in the M.T. Pockets One Act Festival and her first time directing for the festival.  Angel went to Hedgesville High School and was her thespian troupe’s president her senior year.  At WVU, Angel received her BA in Political Science with minors in Women & Gender Studies and Theatre.  Angel would like to thank her family, her boyfriend Tom, his parents, and her friends for their unconditional love and support.

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Lindsey Elaine (Dahlia)

Lindsey Elaine was born in Herndon, Virginia. Lindsey spent most of her years there and grew up singing on stage in various musicals most known for Fiddler on the Roof, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and best known for her role in Shrek the Musical on stage, which she performed in Utah. She started singing opera at age 9 and was a gymnast from age 7 to 16 and later figure skated for 10 years. She now practices Yoga, as part of her ayurvedic approach to medicine. She studies the oldest holistic medicine and wants to help people all over the world with her knowledge and experience. Something has been whispering to her to come back to theater, only this time, more on the acting side rather than the musical theatre side.

Thomas Lyall (Ryan

Check out Thomas's bio as director of Sock Puppet Fetish Noir!

Couch 
​by Shannon Murdoch

Couch by Shannon Murdoch dives deep into the world of addiction. Through a satirical lens, we meet Edie and her son Jakob. When all she has left is a couch, yarn and knitting needles Jakob is still asking, pleading for more support. Jakob is desperately trying to solve his problems. Edie is resolute to keep her meager belongings; but will she cave? 

Melissa Ryan
​(Director)

​Melissa graduated Sum Cum Laude with a BA in theatre and minor in education from Fairmont State University (FSU), where she especially enjoyed her role as Marjory Pinchwife in The Country Wife. She has worked with Fairmont State University, MT Pockets Theatre Company, The Fairmont Town and Gown Players, Rusted Mechanicals, and Dancing Elephant Production Co. Melissa currently teaches visual arts and art education when not pursuing her true passion: her family entertainment business, Entertainment by Miss Pockets. Her company offers character visits with princesses, superheroes and specialty characters, face painting, balloon twisting, educational entertainment, magic, and paint/craft party services. She is proud to support local performers support themselves through paid performance opportunities.

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Mona Bapat (Edie)

Mona started acting as a kid and has been on stages in various parts of the U.S. A few of her favorite comedic roles include Mrs. Peacock in Clue and Actor 4 in 44 Plays for 44 Presidents. She also played Countess Bathory in Hungary Hearts here at MT Pockets in 2020. A psychologist by profession, Mona is also proud to have been part of shows that address social justice and dig deep into the human psyche. These include playing Sandy in 8, Jessie in 'night Mother, and various roles in The Laramie Project. She is thrilled to be on the MT Pockets stage again and wholeheartedly thanks the talented Melissa for casting her in such a poignant role. Mona also thanks her husband Dan and their dog Bean (aka "turdbreath") for their unwavering support! 

Schy Pudsell (Jacob)

Schy Pudsell grew up here in Morgantown and is thrilled to get back on the stage for the first time in over two years. She first got involved with MT Pockets as a stagehand in 2013 and went on to perform and direct in 2015 during her short time at Fairmont State University. Outside of the theatre, Schy enjoys her work with children at The Shack Neighborhood House in their before/after school and summer programs. She also enjoys her seasonal work with Miss Pockets bringing joy to kids of all ages through beloved characters at events. She sadly will be leaving us this fall to pursue new work as an Elementary Reading Specialist in Delaware with Americorp but is dedicating her remaining performances here to all of the friends made and lessons learned surrounding this stage. Oh, and Go Pens!!!

Sock Puppet Fetish Noir 
by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos

Jane needs help finding something precious to her. This leads her to Inspector Darrell, but everything isn't as expected. Jane will find that the methods Darrell uses are quite...peculiar.

Thomas Ian Lyall
​(Director)

Thomas Lyall has been with M.T. Pockets since 2013 and has missed it terribly during the pandemic. A local, Thomas is a graduate of Morgantown High, as well as West Virginia University where he earned a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree. Thomas would like to thank his girlfriend Angel Mullen as well as his parents Jan and Diana Lyall for their love and support of him and MT Pockets through the years.

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Angel Mullen (Jane)

​See Angel's bio as director of Matthew McConaughey Sucks!

Melissa Ryan (Melvin)

See Melissa's bio as director of Couch!

Darkest Waters 
by Alan Stolzer

An inebriated man and mysterious woman have a chance meeting on a cruise ship. Each have something missing; can the other fill it? Sometimes, it isn’t the darkness outside that should concern us.

Paul Holcomb
​(Director &
One Acts Managing Director)

Paul Holcomb is from Morgantown, WV, where he works as an environmental scientist. He has previously performed with M.T. Pockets as Geoffrey in The Lion in Winter, the 2019 One Act festival and in many shows with Kanawha Players, Charleston Stage Company, CYAC, and Vanderbilt Theatre. When not on stage or saving the environment, Paul enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, three kids, and beagle puppy Kylo, as well as playing Magic, video games, and programming

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LeeAna Hudson (Vivian)

LeeAna Hudson moved to Morgantown, WV in 2009 with her family. She enjoyed her time in theater at Morgantown High School and was an actively involved Thespian officer at the school and state level. She earned a BA in Elementary Education and is currently teaching 5th grade. When she is not teaching, LeeAna also enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two dogs. She is ready for her first M.T. Pockets show after a 7-year hiatus from the stage!

Vishal Verma (Riz)

Vishal is a PhD student at WVU. This is his first play with MT Pockets. He took a film and theatre acting course at Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares and has trained with director and actor Om Prakash at CLAY School for Actors. This is his first English play.
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Gary the Bold 
by Ron Burch

​Gary has been called into HR....AGAIN.  Mandy has been tasked to deal with his workplace "issues".  Can Mandy calmly work things out, or will Gary go medieval?

Mindy Salango
​(Director)

​Mindy Salango is from Morgantown, where she works as a Program Manager.  She obtained her BFA in Acting and Directing from Marshall University.  Mindy has worked as a professional stage manager in New York, Florida, and California. She has previously appeared in several M.T. Pockets productions, her favorite being in the role of Luella in "Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them".  She also serves as the stage manager for Dancing Elephant Productions burlesque troupe.  In her free time, Mindy is a mom to 3 and a furbaby, partner to Paul Holcomb, advocates for the Type 1 diabetes community, and fights for affordable insulin.

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Haley Hillen (Mandy)

Haley Hillen is a Morgantown local and is thrilled to be a part of her first production with M.T. Pockets! She graduated from WVU in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Theatre, and from WVU College of Law in 2014. Recently Haley has been keeping on stage through pageantry and is the current reigning Mrs. Sutton Fall Festival. However, she can’t wait to get back on stage as an actress to bring theatre back after the long hiatus during the pandemic.

Rachel Mohr (Gary)

Originally from Texas, Rachel has a background as a scientist rather than acting. But the stage beckoned, so she began performing with M.T. Pockets in 2019, often seeking roles with the most ridiculous costume and/or accent options possible.  Offstage, she is a champion needlewoman and karaoke enthusiast. She is very happy to be back in front of a human audience instead of just the cats.