Strangers With Benefits
Strangers With Benefits
Embedded Files
Edinburgh Fringe 2025
Paradise in Augustines, Studio (Venue 152)
Edinburgh Fringe 2025
Paradise in Augustines, Studio (Venue 152)
Preview: 1st August, 22:20
2nd – 9th August, 16:50
By Shadia A. Hafiz
By Shadia A. Hafiz
Directed By Christina A. Coakley
Directed By Christina A. Coakley
Two strangers meet for casual sex – a lot. What started out as just sex turns into something more intimate as they unwrap the layers of their lives outside the hotel door in this funny and moving play.
Named by the Washington DC City Paper as one of five women-created shows to see at the D.C. Capital Fringe Festival in 2022!
“A riveting relationship drama, a remarkably moving parable about the components of human connection” –DC Theater Arts
RUNTIME 1 hour 20 minutes
THE CAST
Shadia A. Hafiz
SHE/HER
Shadia A. Hafiz
SHE/HER
Shadia A. Hafiz has spent the last 20 years developing her voice at the Keegan Theatre in Washington, D.C. as an actor, costume designer, and now playwright. With no formal training or degree in the dramatic arts, Shadia has unabashedly, and unapologetically, carved her own path. She is the co-founder of beSPOKE Artist Collective and is passionate about creating intimate, character-driven work. Her debut play, Strangers with Benefits, was featured in SigWorks at Signature Theatre, produced at the Capital Fringe Festival, and submitted for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Shadia loves to laugh, and dedicates everything to her daughter, Lailani.
Jonathan Blansfield
HE/HIM
Jonathan Blansfield
HE/HIM
Jonathan Blansfield (HE/HIM) is beyond thrilled to make his Fringe debut in Strangers With Benefits. Plumbing the depths of human connection at the world’s largest theater fest—with some of the coolest folx he’s ever worked with—is a wild dream. Shadia and Christina deserve all the flowers for their bold vision and have Jonathan’s eternal gratitude. He trained at the Studio Acting Conservatory in Washington, DC, where most of his regional credits originate. Soon-to-be NYC-based, he’s also (deep breath) a lawyer, realtor, hospitality pro, and avid outdoorsman—just in case this whole acting thing doesn’t pan out.
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
PLAYWRIGHT
Shadia A. Hafiz
Shadia A. Hafiz has spent the last 20 years developing her voice at the Keegan Theatre in Washington, D.C. as an actor, costume designer, and now playwright. With no formal training or degree in the dramatic arts, Shadia has unabashedly, and unapologetically, carved her own path. She is the co-founder of beSPOKE Artist Collective and is passionate about creating intimate, character-driven work. Her debut play, Strangers with Benefits, was featured in SigWorks at Signature Theatre, produced at the Capital Fringe Festival, and submitted for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Shadia loves to laugh, and dedicates everything to her daughter, Lailani.
DIRECTOR
Christina A. Coakley
Christina A. Coakley is a founding member of beSPOKE Artist Collective and Sojourn Program Director. She previously served as Director of Administration and Casting Director at The Keegan Theatre. She is a graduate of George Mason University with a B.A. in Theater Studies and a Minor in Arts Administration. Christina has more than 30 professional credits as a director, producer, and stage manager. Favorite directing projects at Keegan include Merrily We Roll Along (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production in a Musical), Airness, Parade (Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Production and Direction in a Musical), Dogfight, Cabaret (Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Production in a Musical), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and A Man of No Importance. Christina has filled the role of director for Strangers With Benefits from its inception, including BoilerRoom at Keegan, Capital Fringe, and SigWorks at Signature Theatre. She also worked with Source Theatre, Studio Theatre, Theater of the First Amendment, and 59E59 in Manhattan.
FIGHT & INTIMACY
Sierra Young
Sierra Young is a Helen Hayes nominated violence & intimacy director working in the DC/Baltimore area. Sierra is the resident fight and intimacy director for Baltimore Center Stage and Mosaic Theater Company. She is an active member of the SAFD, IDC, and SDC. Sierra’s work can be seen in theaters in the area such as Arena Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Ford’s Theater, Keegan Theater, Mosaic Theater Company, Olney Theater Center, Round House Theater, The Shakespeare Theater, The Kennedy Center and Washington National Opera et. al. Website: sierrayoung.org.
PRODUCTION
Megan Thrift
Megan Thrift is a multidisciplinary theatre artist with over 40 productions across DC regional stages, including Keegan Theatre, Theatre Alliance, Arts on the Horizon, and Capital Fringe, along with four international touring shows. She has taught with ISTA, Roundhouse, Arena Stage, and the Shakespeare Theatre Company, and spent a decade leading Robinson Secondary’s award-winning Rambunctious Theatre Company, where she directed and produced 47 student productions.
PRODUCTION
Dan Deiter
Dan Deiter teaches high school by day, but spends his nights, weekends, and summers in the theatre as a sound designer and stage manager. Sound design credits include: Monsters of the American Cinema, World Builders (Prologue Theatre); Yoga Play, Good People, Bridges of Madison County, The Ice Child, Stones in His Pockets, The Dealer of Ballynafeigh, Dogfight, A Midsummer Night’s Riot, Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight, The Best Man, The Sunshine Boys (Keegan Theatre); Black Nativity (Theater Alliance); All the Way Live! (Kennedy Center); Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens, Proper Care of the Peace Lily, The 27 Club (Capital Fringe). He would especially like to thank his wife Megan Thrift for never getting tired of working on shows together and always being close to spectacular.
MARKETING
Mary Doebel
Mary Doebel is a professional graphic designer and social media connoisseur. Mary Doebel began her career in theater as a stage manager for Keegan Theatre, Solas Nua and Adventure Theatre. Mary’s transition from theater to the graphic and social media world has been nothing short of a rollercoaster of good times. Mary has become the go to graphic designer for Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and is currently working as the Creative Assistant for Nonagon Productions. Working with beSPOKE Artist Collective is just the start of Mary’s social media marketing career and she looks forward to continuing to contribute to projects that inspire and challenge her.
PHOTOS
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