Boy Small

“Boy Small” originated in the 2012 Citizens Play Festival at Fine Print, where it was one of four finalists in the competition. The play went on to further development in Fine Print’s Fresh Ink series, before being featured in the Saturday Series at Chicago Dramatists. Russ Tutterow, artistic director at Chicago Dramatists said of the play; “BOY SMALL is one of the most provocative and scary plays we have seen at 
Chicago Dramatists in our 35-year history.”

“Boy Small” was inspired by the tragic events surrounding the disappearance and death of Christian Choate, a boy whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in May 2011. On January 11, 2013, his father Riley Choate was convicted for neglect and abuse. At his sentencing, Riley said, “All my actions will haunt me forever. I loved my son.” The paradox of family love and intolerance, within the dysfunctional environment of American culture, is explored in Cozzola’s fictional play.

“Boy Small” features actors Malcolm Callan, Stephen Cefalu*, Cat Dean, Deanna Moffitt and Taryn Wood*. (*Fine Print associate artist)

Stephen Cefalu

Stephen hails from New Orleans, Louisiana. He has worked with Griffin Theatre, MPAACT, and Fine Print Theatre and on a number of short films and features. Stephen is honored and humbled to have been a part of the “Boy Small”process since its first reading at the Citizens Play Festival last summer.

Taryn Wood

Originally from Omaha, NE Taryn is thrilled to have been a part of “Boy Small” since its first reading as part of Fine Print’s Citizens Play Festival. She has worked in a few webseries, with Brain Surgeon Theatre, and is an Associate Artist with The Fine Print Theatre Co.

Malcolm Callan

Malcolm recently performed with Trap Door Theatre’s production of The Word Progress On My Mother’s Lips Doesn’t Ring True at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Romania. In Chicago, he has worked with TimeLine, Steppenwolf, Eclipse, Stage Left, LiveWire Chicago, The Artistic Home and 16th Street Theater where he is an Artistic Associate.

Cat Dean

Cat has worked on countless new plays around town: in private and public readings, workshops, new play festivals, as well as full productions; including, most recently, in Will Dunne’s “Love & Drowning” at 16th Street Theatre. She is an associate artist with Chicago Dramatists, an original ensemble actor for Small Fish Radio Theatre & Thespinarium, and a longtime ensemble member at Stage Left Theatre.

Deanna Moffitt

Deanna has previously performed with Second City Theatricals, iO Theater, and ComedySportz. She is a VO artist who can be heard in commercials and as a narrator for several audio books and is the host of one of Chicago’s best story-telling shows, “Story Sessions.”

The production team includes Fine Print production manager Jarrod Bainter, Dave Belden*, Emmi Hilger*, Steve Labedz, Mark Penzien*, Sydney Ray, John Gleason Teske and Ashley Ann Woods. (*Fine Print associate artist)

Recommended by Time Out Chicago, Chicago Artists Resource & More

Time Out Chicago - 4-stars - ‘The cast of MT Cozzola’s new play about a boy whose father keeps him in a cage makes remarkable use of physicality.’

Chicago Artists Resource - Top 5 Pick for September - listed as one of the ‘not-to-be-missed events for September.’

Recommended by Chicago Stage Review & Chicago Theatre Review.

Photos by Gretchen Kelley
Set & lights - Jarrod Bainter
Costumes - Ashley Ann Woods
Props - John Gleason Teske