Told entirely in rhyme, an ensemble of 10 actors will bring 24 characters to life in this staged reading

The Sun Has Fallen is an epic poem and Tyler Neufeld’s authorial debut. It follows a fateful tale of magic, ghosts, children, second chances, and a battle between good and evil across an abstracted chessboard fantasy map. Told entirely in rhyme, an ensemble of 10 actors will bring 24 characters to life in this staged reading accompanied by props, costumes, and animated background visual graphics.

Content advisory: This piece contains gun violence and suicide.

Prologue Excerpt

Heaven and hell are no longer.

They’ve left their stations and come to Earth,

the winters colder, the summers stronger,

the sun so hot that it melted the needle

atop the pointed cross on the highest steeple

of the church. The metal drip dropped down.

The young ones watch from the bottom ground.

It looked as though the needle ripped a hole in the sky.

The sun melted things now that it hung so nigh.

Off in the distance the ghosts sang and laughed.

It was heaven that made them laugh like that.

But the living, no, they were still facing the sun,

disease, and rot, and the devil’s gun,

and they knew there was only one escape –

off to the graveyard where ghosts await…

Join us on June 26th for this theatrical reading and book launch celebration!

Doors Open: 7:30 PM I Staged Reading: 8:00 PM

About the cast and creative team:

(Playwright / Director) – Tyler Neufeld (he/him) is a professional scenic artist, playwright, & immersive experience designer. He is a 2025 graduate of the UCLA School of Theater. His work often revolves around his queer identity, climate justice, science fiction, & fantasy. Tyler currently works in the escape room and theater industries wearing many hats. The Sun Has Fallen is his first book, and he is so excited to present this work with an amazing cast!

(The Mother) – Amanda Kang is an LA based actor working in theatre and film. Additional theater credits include Into the Woods (The Moonlight Stage), The Chinese Lady (Chance Theater), and The Addams Family (Berkeley Playhouse). Film Credits include Ladke (VC Film Fest, UK Asian Film Fest, San Diego Film Fest) and Call Earl (Overlook Film Fest, Grimm Fest, Final Girls Berlin). Amanda is a graduate of UCLA’s Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program. Keep up with her at amandakangofficial.com or follow her on Instagram @amandakang_.

(The Queen) – Noite is an actor, full‑time artist, and stilt‑walking beam of chaos who believes creativity should shake the world awake. Whether towering above crowds or creating from the ground up, she aims to spark imagination and reminds people that change begins with the brave, the curious, and the delightfully unhinged dreamers. She builds stories, characters, and vibrant worlds with one mission: to inspire others to believe they can transform their own. If you’re into big art, big energy, and someone who literally refuses to stay small, Noite is exactly who you’re looking for.

(The King) – Tristian Kinney, born in Cleveland, Ohio, cultivated his passion for the arts within a musical family. His journey reached a milestone during his senior year of high school, propelling him to pursue a career in the arts. This dedication guided him to UCLA, where he majored in Theater, Film, and Television, showcasing his commitment to mastering the diverse realms of storytelling and visual expression.

(Kam / The Advisor) – Ari Villalon (they/he) is a silly actor and a few other colors outside the lines. Although their background had primarily been in theatre, they’ve explored film, scaring, and voiceover in indie animation + games. On occasion, they enjoy sketching the world around them and within, and developing plays. He was last seen as Mary Shelley’s trans son Florence Percy Shelley, in the staged reading of Miss Godwin & The Monster Within, written by E.M. Lark / directed by Bi Muse Lee. They’d like to thank Tyler, everyone for having them onboard, and their friends and family.

(Cory / Torin) – Zayas Lanier is an Afro-Puerto Rican actor with a background in theatre, film, music, and graphic design. A classically trained tenor, Zayas has performed chorally at renowned venues including Carnegie Hall. Prior to focusing on theatre and film, Zayas spent six years working in live entertainment before pursuing further training and mentorship with industry professionals. Alongside performance, Zayas works as a graphic designer and business consultant, collaborating with artists and creatives throughout the entertainment industry. Outside of performing, Zayas enjoys video games, anime, yoga, and baking, and looks forward to continued growth through new creative collaborations.

(Amilie / Vareyr) – Haven Schneider, a 2020 USC Theater Arts graduate, moved to LA from NYC. They began their professional acting career at 14 in the television show Most Likely To and never looked back. Some of their most exciting roles have been Nikko in Disney’s Miraculous Ladybug: Stellar Force and Alice Worthington in Stardust. They enjoy long walks on the beach and candlelit dinners. Additional acting credits include a few roles in the Trails and Yakuza video game series, Ferrah/Evil Gabby in She Kills Monsters, Chris Parton in Signals, Vulcara in Reforged, and more. They are excited to be a part of the show, and you can follow their journey on instagram @haven.g.schneider.

(Renny / Mora) – Envy! (they/them) is an actor, writer, and clowning enthusiast from San Diego, California. In 2023, they graduated with their B.F.A in acting from AMDA. Since graduating they have been in a lot of fun projects. Including, starring in Last Call Theatre’s Reforged and voice acting for an upcoming project from Sandglass Studios. While not acting you can find Envy! crocheting with a ball of yarn and falling down while learning to ice skate! They are so grateful for this opportunity to work with such a fantastic team to bring to life Tyler’s amazing work!