blueprint
series B
Questions? Email us at events@windmillarts.org
As it is on earth
The village was small, and now it's even smaller; only four houses still standing and a street. There is no one around. Nobody to say "hi" to, no one to whine about the heat to. The earthquake didn't even spare the sound of breathing. The story of two souls trying to mend a wound in a torn town.
Pier Lorenzo Pisano
FILMMAKER
Pier Lorenzo Pisano is an award-winning writer and director, working across theatre and film. He graduated in directing from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, Italy’s National Film School. His debut short film "Così in terra" premiered in competition at the 71st Cannes Film Festival and was selected in more than 50 international festivals. His second short film, "Antiorario", was produced and premiered at the 72nd Locarno Film Festival. In theatre, he has been a playwright in residency at the New York Theater Workshop and the Royal Court Theatre, and an associate artist at Piccolo Teatro di Milano.
His plays have been translated into 15 languages and staged worldwide at major theatres and festivals, including the Festival d’Avignon and FIBA (Buenos Aires). He is currently Junior Artistic Director of Teatro di Napoli – Teatro Nazionale.
A Night On The Town
Newlyweds, Raymond and Tasha, enjoy a fun date night together but the evening takes a turn when unsettling truths are revealed.
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Sydni Michelle Perry
PLAYWRIGHT & DIRECTOR
Sydni Michelle Perry is a multidisciplinary creative artist and performer based in Atlanta. Her work spans across theater, film, TV, voice over and other media. From directing, acting, and singing to writing, she is a storyteller who values truth, collaboration, fun and heart. @thelegendarysydniperry
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Contessa Grant
ACTOR
Contessa Grant is a blossoming artist, originally from Illinois. She had always had a passion for superb storytelling, that translates into film, television, and theatre. In her early years, her favorite experiences were going to the movies with her mom, dad, and sister, as well as watching tv, until her parents told her to turn it off, and stop running up the electric bill. When she moved to Georgia, she began taking acting classes in high school, college, and now improv. Contessa has landed several roles in independent films, plays, and she is currently apart of an improv troupe called Direct Depozit.
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Durrell Lyons
ACTOR
With a background in both spoken word poetry and stand up comedy, Durrell Lyons has become a leading man for stage, TV, and film. Working with the likes of Kenny Leon and Tyler Perry, his most recent work includes a recurring role on the Apple+ series "Bad Monkey," led by Vince Vaughn. 10 years in corporate America has made this proud father of two great with technology lingo and business jargon as well as passive aggressive dry witty humor.
A Ring is Round it has no End…?
Alice is shopping for the perfect engagement ring, but her criteria for perfection are not quite what you would expect from a blushing bride to be.
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Lindsey Brown
PLAYWRIGHT
Lindsey Brown is an award-winning New Zealand playwright whose plays have been performed on five different continents. Accolades for her work include winning the Mixing It Up Productions New York Competition 2022, the Dominion Stage 2024 Playwright Competition and being named a finalist in the International Beverly Prize for Literature 2025. Currently, Lindsey is alternating between playwriting, teaching high school students and studying for her PhD, which focuses on the role of women in theatre. Lindsey often favours comedy in her writing, believing that when we laugh, we are most open to learn. It’s also more fun to write!
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Tyonté Williams
DIRECTOR
Tyonté Williams is an Atlanta-based actor, director, educator, and multidisciplinary artist with a B.A. in Theater and Performance from Morehouse College and a minor in Music. His performance credits include Seven Spools of Thread, What About Jesus?, and appearances at the Valdez Theatre Conference. Tyonté has also written and directed original works, including Beyond The Mask. A passionate arts educator, he currently teaches theater and performing arts while continuing to create work rooted in storytelling, culture, and transformative expression.
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Imari K Welcher
ACTOR
Imari K Welcher is a Junior Theatre and Perfoming Arts Major at Morehouse College. He has been acting for 7 years now. He’s played the Tin Man in the Wiz, U.S. for Young John Lewis at the Theatrical Outfit and most recently played Mister in’s Spelman College’s ‘The Color Purple’. He seeks to continue to grow his acting talents and is looking forward to hit the stage once again.
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Shelby Woolridge
ACTOR
Shelby has a degree in theatre and performance from Spelman college and has studied theatre in Ecuador and Cuba respectively. Today she works as a creative local to Atlanta, with a passion for live music and serving the community.
The Upside Down Table
When Zee’s aunt passes away leaving her to deal with what’s left, she must solve the problem of what to do with a very strange object left in the middle of the house. The movers are nearly finished clearing out the house, but Zee just can’t seem to figure out the “puzzle” her aunt left her.
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Darren V Michael
PLAYWRIGHT
Darren has been a professional actor/director for nearly thirty years. He is a Professor of Acting/Directing at Austin Peay State University and a member of the Dramatists Guild. His full-length play Scarecrows Will Never See The Sunset is available for purchase or production through Stage Rights and his new book Brief Encounters was published in January 2023 by Waveland Press. Darren’s work has been produced across the country from New York City to his latest work The Consequences of Madison Mumbry in 2024 in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Sage Floyd
DIRECTOR
Sage Floyd (they/them) is an actor and educator from Valley, AL. They recently moved to Atlanta after completing an MFA in Acting at Southern Methodist University. Apart from their work in Georgia, Sage has been seen regionally in South Dakota, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama. Notable credits include Othello (Othello), The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay), The Servant of Two Masters (Pantalone), The Seagull (Konstantin), and In Arabia We’d All be Kings (Greer). They are grateful for the opportunity and thank you for supporting local theatre.
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Ashaki "Nzingha" Thompson-Hall
ACTOR
Nzingha Hall is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Saint Louis, MO. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA. She is a journalist, voice-actress, and improvisational actress. She currently performs as a fellow at Dad's Garage in a year-long training program with Blackground.
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Sara Gonzales
ACTOR
Sara is actor, writer, and artist currently based in Atlanta, GA. She is a recent graduate of Florida State University with a dual degree in theatre and creative writing. She is the cofounder of Thomasina Lit Mag with her girlfriend Antonia Pack-Brown. She is honored to be a part of this show/festival and she cannot wait for you to see this production!
Tree Bathing
An emotionally distraught young woman is having trouble coming to terms with a breakup. Her ex-boyfriend recommends a therapist to help her cope and even pays for it, but she soon discovers that this therapist has an unconventional treatment plan that she is unsure about after he takes her deep into the woods for a “nature meditation”. Is this therapist really there to help her with her anxiety . . . or has her ex paid for something else?
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Connie Dinkler
PLAYWRIGHT
Connie Dinkler has published three short plays, several poems and short stories and won two local literary awards. She has had twenty-six play productions of sixteen short plays including stage productions, podcasts and film productions. Her plays have been performed in eight states as well as England.
Her full-length play Happy Couples was included in the New Works Virtual Festival in 2020 performed by an all-star cast and has had a fully staged production in 2025. Her short play, Not a Dark and Stormy Night was third runner up in the AMAZE short play competition in 2020.
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Cailin Cassorla
DIRECTOR
Cailin Cassorla is a director and actor from East TN. After graduating from MTSU with a Bachelors of Theatre, she moved to Atlanta and began working in theatre and film. Past notable projects include the role of Berenger in Rhinoceros at Windmill Arts, Home Court at Synchronicity Theatre, and a panelist for Kick the Ladder at the Atlanta Film Festival. She is honored to be asked to come back as a director for the second year for the blueprint Festival. She sent her love to her friends, family, and bean boys. Thank you for the support!
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Abigail Hovey
ACTOR
Abby is an Atlanta-based performer with a background in live entertainment, film, and music. She has appeared in local productions and is an active member of the indie film community. Passionate about storytelling, Abby brings emotional depth and authenticity to every role she takes on. When she’s not performing, she works in event hosting and creative production and is currently developing original music and pursuing opportunities in acting and directing.
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Jaan Luna Dadi
ACTOR
Jaan is an Actor, improviser, and teacher of a weekly Meisner intensive. After graduating with his BFA in Acting from Santa Fe University of Art and Design, his move to Atlanta has been fulfilling with his consistent work in the film industry with appearances in television, movies, and commercials. Stage has always been a foundation of his training, and he is very happy to exercise his craft in this medium today.
Meet the Directors
Jonna Leanne >> Festival Director
Jonna Leanne is the Artistic Director and creator of blueprint. After returning to Atlanta seven years ago, she immersed herself in professional TV/Film acting and began her improv journey. She fell in love with the festival world while volunteering at the Toronto International Film Festival and has a deep connection to Windmill Arts, where she stage-managed Closer the Play and worked with Sam. It was fate when she brought the idea of a shorts festival to engage local directors and actors to Sam 3 years later. Fast forward to present day, where together they read over 800+ play and film submissions and made the impossible decision of choosing 10 for the 2026 festival. It truly is a dream to watch blueprint thrive in its second year, and we can't wait to see it continue to grow!
Jonna is a graduate of the Second City Training Center’s Toronto Conservatory Program and holds a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Professional Counseling from the University of West Georgia. Jonna will graduate in May 2026 with a MS in international business from Georgia State University. With a passion for production management, problem-solving, and creating memorable experiences, she thrives on bringing ideas to life — whether through festivals, film, or travel.
Sam R Ross >> Windmill Arts Production, Executive Director
A member of both Actors' Equity Association and Screen Actor's Guild, Sam has over fifty years of experience in theatre including Off Broadway, Regional Theaters and other professional theaters from New York to Los Angeles. Sam has been seen in over 110 productions including many world and regional premieres. Sam has also appeared in over a dozen film and TV shows. As a playwright his adaptations and co-adaptations with VanguardRep have been seen across the country. Sam is also an award-winning director and lighting designer of over .
As an artistic director, Sam has been integral in the foundation of multiple successful companies including Down Right Theatre in Atlanta, GA, Kudzu Productions and Vanguard Repertory Company - both in Los Angeles, CA. He is the founder and Executive Director of Windmill Arts.
Sam has a B.S. from the college of Charleston and an M.P.A. from Georgia State University and has done graduate work in acting at the prestigious Trinity Repertory Conservatory in Rhode Island.
photo by Emily Lambert Photography