Mark your calendars, get your tickets. Heart Wrench Collective’s summer residency at Studio 8 continues with EXPENSIVE IMAGINATION: THE GOLIGHTLY STUDIES, a play directed by Kelsey Bennett and starring Chloe Margot.
The play runs July 24-28 at Studio 8, a new cultural hub and creative studio space located on St Marks.
Opening night (July 24) features a pre-show with Alexei Hay & Jeanette Hayes. Before curtains guests are invited to explore a unique experience with photographer and Jewelry Designer Alexei Hay. Alexei will showcase his collection of lab-grown diamonds, offering attendees an exclusive shopping experience. Icon and artist Jeanette Hayes will be premiering a video piece.
This one-act play honors the true essence of Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s as Truman Capote intended—a complex figure, an orphaned call girl far removed from the sanitized version seen in the 1961 film. Chloe Margot stars as Phina Hell, a young aspiring actor working as a showgirl and stripper who is offered the role of Holly. The play explores themes of ambition, identity, grief, and overcoming self-sabotage while daring to dream against all odds.
CAST
Sophia Lamar, NYC Icon and actress plays Elsa Von deVille. She’s Phina’s showgirl manager, with a maternal madame like energy.
Matt Street is Sebastian Fleet, Phina’s neighbor. The two have a cherished friendship that becomes threatened by their growing romantic love for each other.
Hayley Phelan plays Cassie Monroe, Phina’s acting manager and mentor.
CREW
Kelsey Bennett (director): With a background in photography, curation, and documentary
filmmaking. Kelsey is the founder of creative agency Heart Wrench Collective.
Chloe Margot (lead role): Trained at William Esper Studio Chloe Margot is an actor based in NYC. Her most recent work includes theater and dance performance Soho Salon Series: Persephone and short film Blood Ties.
Sophia Englesberg (producer): is an actor and theater producer based in NYC. She is a founder of the Brooklyn Center for Theater Research. Recent producing credits include INVASIVE SPECIES, and ZOOMERS.
To quote Tom Meglio in his article Actors Cut the Scene where he reflects on the current state of theater-making in New York City “The artists squarely positioned toward this reimagining are voraciously putting their work up on its feet, and filling its coterie with sharp, eager talent.”
Expensive Imagination is not to be missed!
