Three-time Emmy Award winner Cady McClain stars in explosive new drama by Jake Shore.
November 29 - December 21 at The Chain Theatre
“At least one critic has compared his previous work to Beckett. In my case, both Harold Pinter and the young David Mamet spring to mind... You should definitely go see this new work by Jake Shore. You will be catching a rising star." -- Charles Kruger, Stage and Cinema (on Shore's “A Groundbreaking Achievement...”)
Axial Theatre and JCS Theater Company in association with the Oberon Theatre Ensemble, Fortify.Space, Michael Howard Studios and Good Juju Industries present the world premiere of Jake Shore's THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE at The Chain Theatre as part of the Factory Series. Directed by Paul Smithyman, a 30-year theater veteran who has worked on over 150 plays at Lincoln Center Theater
Following the critical success of A Groundbreaking Achievement of Outrageous Importance That People Scroll By, Barely Impacted—hailed for Jake Shore's mastery of language and "wild acrobatic riffs"—the rising star playwright returns with THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE, a compelling new work exploring sex, friendship, addiction, and the cost of ambition.
When a photographer betrays her closest friend by displaying an intimate, revealing photograph in a prestigious Chelsea gallery, the fallout spirals into a deadly web of infidelity and violence. THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE is a thrilling and urgent exploration of art, consent, and the price of privacy—asking whether wealth and power grant license to destroy lives without consequence.
THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE stars three-time Emmy Award winner Cady McClain (All My Children, As the World Turns, Days of Our Lives), Brad Fryman (Orson’s Shadow) and Ryan Tramont (Christopher Stetson Boal’s Crazy for the Dog) and Sophie Moshofsky (Scarlet Winter on Apple+ and cult hit The Hunted: NYCSS). The production features costumes by Tony Award nominee Emily Rebholz (Dear Evan Hansen, Indecent, If/Then, Jagged Little Pill), lighting by Yang Yu (Cracked Open), sound design by Zoe Stanton-Savitz (Con), set by Paul Smithyman, intimacy and fight direction by Judi Lewis Ockler (Hot Wing King, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord) and stage management by Samantha L. Robbins (Jimmy Fallon's Tonightmares).
THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE runs November 29 – December 21 with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM with additional performances Wed 12/17 at 7:30pm & Fri 12/19 at 2pm. The Chain Theatre is located at 312 West 36th Street 4th floor NY, NY 10018 Tickets are $38.50 general admission, $25.00 senior and $20 students, available at www.jcstheater.com/slide.
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Jake Shore's (Writer) play Holy Moly premiered at The Flea Theater in 2016 and was simultaneously released with its tandem novel, A Country for Fibbing. His 2017 play The Devil Is on the Loose With an Axe in Marshalltown was selected as one of Playbill's "13 Shows Not to Miss Off-Broadway." His 2013 play Down the Mountain and Across the Stream won the Overall Excellence in Playwriting Award at the New York International Fringe Festival. His plays have also been presented at Theaterlab, The Connelly Theater, Brooklyn Art Haus, The Kraine Theater and others. His short stories have been published in Denver Quarterly, Hobart, Litro Magazine and others. He is currently the Executive Director for Student Services at St. Joseph's University in Brooklyn, where he also teaches.
Paul Smithyman (Director/Scenic Designer) is an almost 30 year veteran of Off-Off, Off Broadway and Broadway. Paul has worked the full range of NYC’s theaters in most roles… from La Mama to Lincoln Center as a performer, director, designer, writer, production manager and producer. He has worked on over 150 plays at Lincoln Center Theater, where he is currently the Production Manager.
Cady McClain (“Kelly”) a history making three-time Emmy© award-winning actress, taking home the gold for her roles on All My Children (Best Juvenile, 1990), As the World Turns (Best Supporting Actress, 2004), and Days of Our Lives (Best Guest Performer, 2021). According to Deadline, she made history as the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy© for three different characters on three different daytime series. She now playing the role of “Pamela Curtis” on Beyond the Gates - airing on CBS, BET, and Paramount Plus. Beyond the Gates was recently named one of the best TV shows of 2025 by Entertainment Weekly. Recently, she played the role of “Joan Plowright” in Orson’s Shadow by Austin Pendleton (dir. Austin Pendleton and David Schweizer) at Theatre for the New City, “Shirley” in the iconic Shirley Valentine (dir. Roy Steinberg) at Cape May Stage, and “Carole” in What Happened Was (dir. Austin Pendleton) at The Chain Summer One Act Festival 2025. Other memorable theatrical productions McClain has performed in include David Ives’ The Red Address (dir. Pam Berlin) at Second Stage Theater, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at Lincoln Center Theater, A Comedy of Errors at the Hudson Guild Theater, and Barefoot in the Park at the Westbury and Valley Forge Music Fair theaters. She has also performed in two one-woman performance art pieces: Mona7 and Inventions of Farewell (HERE Theatre). Television credits include multiple episodes of Law and Order SVU (opposite Amanda Seyfried, Mariska Hargitay and Michael O’Keefe, and again opposite Ice T and Kevin Kane).
Brad Fryman (“Barry”) rejoins Jake Shore after their successful run of his Groundbreaking Achievement... last fall. Brad recently played Orson Welles in the Off-Broadway run of Austin Pendleton’s Orson's Shadow (dir. Mr. Pendleton and David Schweizer.) He starred in The New York Times Critic's Pick The Drawer Boy (dir. Alex Dinelaris.) Other Favorite NY credits include American Rapture (dir. Mr. Dinelaris) Order By Christopher Stetson Boal (dir. Austin Pendleton) and Pimm’s Mission also by Mr. Boal (dir. Terrence O’Brien.) At Strindberg Rep, Fryman played Adolph in The Creditors, Lovborg in Hedda Gabler, The Captain in The Father and The Dead in The Isle of The Dead (dir. Robert Greer.) He played Theo Van Gogh in Committed (dir. Brock Harris), Occasionally Nothing (dir. Ivette Dumeng) and Hiroshi (dir. Roger Hendricks Simon,) all written by Natalie Menna. A Wilder Christmas by Thornton Wilder (dir. Dan Wackerman) and Einstein (dir. Randy Curtis Rand) are also Off Broadway favorites. You might have seen him in Snakes and Arrows, Blue Bloods or the short films Behind Bars, Seeking Man, or Overdue. Fryman is the Artistic Director of the Oberon Theatre Ensemble currently celebrating its 28th season.
Ryan Tramont's (“Joe”) NYC and Regional highlights include Orson’s Shadow (dir. Austin Pendleton) also World Premieres of Pimm’s Mission (59E59/Oberon), 23 Knives (dir. Eric Parness), Order 9 dir. Austin Pendleton), Crazy for the Dog (NY Times Critic’s Pick), all written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Christopher Stetson Boal, A Life in the Theater, American Buffalo, Hurlyburly, and 27 Shakespeare plays, including the title role in Hamlet, Iago in Othello and Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet at The Abington Theater. TV/Film: The Hurt Locker (dir. Kathryn Bigelow), In This, Our Time, Narcos, Hack, and others.
Sophie Moshofsky’s (“Anne/S.J.”) theatrical credits include Desdemona in Othello (Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park), Sally Bowles in Cabaret (Wolfbane Productions), and Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Broadway Rose Theatre), among others. On screen credits include Naomi in Scarlet Winter (Apple TV, Best Supporting Actress-Girona Film Festival), Willow Davis in Also With You (Best Romantic Comedy, Women’s Comedy Film Festival) and Kendra in The Hunted: NYCSS, an award-winning YouTube series about sword-fighting vampire slayers. Stay tuned for the release of her latest feature, Goetic. She has voiced national campaigns for Maybelline, Primark, and more, and can be heard on Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle and Cartoon Network’s I, Elvis Riboldi. She is also the writer of (S)ex-Vangelical, a new play that explores growing up in purity culture.
Axial Theater (Producer) is a Westchester based non-profit theater company currently in its 25th season. Supported by an Advisory Board made up of Pulitzer, Tony, Obie, and lifetime achievement award recipients, Axial’s mission is focused on the professional development of playwrights through staged workshops, development readings, and full productions that speak to issues relevant to today’s world. Audience participation is encouraged through the opportunity to discuss the themes in each production after the play. axialtheatre.org
Founded in 1997, Oberon Theatre Ensemble (Producer) is a NYC based non-profit independent theatre company. Now in its 28th season Oberon has produced more than 60 full-length plays and over 100 staged readings of original works. Oberon has a dozen active members and many more regular collaborators, including award-winning actors, playwrights, directors and designers. oberontheatre.org
Founded in 2012, JCS Theater Company (Producer) is Brooklyn-based and committed to cutting-edge work. We've presented work at The Connelly Theater, The Flea, Theaterlab, Brooklyn Art Haus, The Kraine Theater, Under St. Marks, The Red Room, Franklin Electric, The Vino Theater and several other basements, roofs, backrooms, backyards, living rooms and garages throughout New York City. jcstheater.com
Michael Howard Studios (Producer) is the premier acting studio in New York City, renowned for training some of the industry’s most celebrated talents. Founded in 1953 by Michael Howard, a respected Broadway actor and director, the studio has cultivated a legacy of artistic excellence. With individual training that includes scene study, on-camera acting, voice, and movement, MHS offers actors a robust foundation in both classical and modern techniques. The studio's faculty consists of seasoned professionals and industry experts, providing hands-on mentorship from working actors, writers, directors, casting directors, agents, and managers. Known for fostering a creative and supportive learning environment, the studio emphasizes both personal and artistic growth, helping actors develop the emotional depth and authenticity necessary for compelling performances. For over seven decades, MHS has shaped the careers of numerous Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Tony winners, with alumni gracing major films, television series, Broadway stages, and beyond. Whether pursuing conservatory programs, master classes, or private coaching, actors benefit from the studio’s unique blend of artistic rigor and practical industry insights. Michael Howard Studios continues to be a launching pad for actors seeking to excel in competitive entertainment industries across stage and screen. michaelhowardstudios.com
Fortify.Space (Producer) is redefining the future of storytelling by offering independent creators the tools, guidance, and platform they need to thrive in a highly competitive media landscape. This dynamic venue empowers artists, podcasters, and storytellers to transform their ideas into professional-grade content. From up-and-coming podcasts or vodcasts and audio dramas or comedies, to thought-provoking narrative series, Fortify.Space is designed to bridge the gap between creativity and visibility. Creators benefit from an all-in-one hub that provides technical resources like production tools and hosting services. Beyond the tech, Fortify.Space offers artistic consulting, connecting creators with seasoned mentors in fields such as film and audio production, branding, storytelling, and marketing. These collaborative opportunities ensure that even the most ambitious projects receive the polish and support they need to shine. What truly sets Fortify.Space apart is its emphasis on community building. The platform actively seeks out entertaining, educational, and uplifting storytelling, ensuring creators from all backgrounds can connect with new audiences. Whether you’re producing a niche podcast or building a multimedia empire, Fortify.Space offers creators the chance to monetize their work through subscription models, sponsorships, and exclusive content offerings, opening new pathways to sustainable careers in media. Fortify.Space is more than just content--it’s a platform that fosters deeper human connections.
Good Juju Industries (Producer) Good Energy. Great Content. At Good Juju, our name is our mission, we believe the most powerful stories carry an undeniable energy. As an independent producer, we partner with visionary creators to make exceptional art that doesn’t just capture attention, but leaves audiences feeling inspired and connected.
THE SLIDE IS THE NEGATIVE is presented as part of The Chain Theatre’s The Factory Series, which provides renters with production support which may include subsidized space, rehearsal studios, and equipment and the overarching marketing, publicity, and technology enhancements for the theater.