L.A. Book Launch & Theatrical Reading: The Sun Has Fallen by Tyler Neufeld

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

(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! https://tylerneufeldesign.myportfolio.com

(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. https://linktr.ee/ari_villalon

(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!

(Jack) - Joseph Rosales is a Latino actor, singer, dancer, voice actor, and fight choreographer of Mexican and Salvadorean descent. Originally from Sacramento, CA, Joseph graduated from the California School of the Arts San Gabriel Valley's Musical Theater Conservatory and later became a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television with a B.A. in Theater with an Acting Emphasis. Joseph has been seen on stage and on-camera and uses his wide range of skills to be a multi-faceted performer.

(Raysha) - L Siswanto (they/it) is an aroace genderqueer creature. They have just graduated with an education major at UCLA and are interested in working in crime scene investigation, escape rooms, and immersive theater. We'll see how life turns out…

(Dite) - Ryan Madariaga (she/her) is a musician and cartoonist based in LA who typically works under the Celestial Cyclops title. Her music can be found on bandcamp or any streaming service, and her zine “Strikeout’s First Pitches” can be purchased at Beyond Baroque, Stories Books & Cafe, or the Mystery Shop in Oxnard. She is also the keyboardist for the SFV’s surf punk band The Martian Sunset, whose music can be found anywhere.

(Stage Manager) - Jerry Dwyer (she/they) has been performing in productions both on camera and on stage since she was a child. She excelled in her High School’s Theater program in Boston, MA. In her 20’s she booked roles in commercials where she made Car Insurance, Life insurance, and furniture shopping “look easy”. In 2012 she booked the lead on a feature length Horror film and lived on a Haunted ship for a month while shooting. Her most recent performance was in a M**der Mystery Dinner Theater. Today she is returning to acting after 10 years of prioritizing her career as a Casting Director.

(Costume Designer) - Siavash Ford is an East Bay Area based costume designer. He is a 2025 graduate of UCLA's School of Theater, and most recently completed his fellowship role at Shotgun Players' production of The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? His experience in costumes overlaps with his exploration of wearables, puppetry, and other art utilizing soft goods. siavashford.com

(Costume & Props Assistant) - Clover Kustak (they/any) I’m currently double majoring in Art and Philosophy at California State University of Northridge. I work as an art educator and artist for various groups. Art is my life, I’m always involved in various projects and various mediums. I enjoy board games, reading, swimming, and meeting new people.

About Beyond Baroque:

Beyond Baroque is one of the United States' leading independent Literary | Arts Centers and public spaces dedicated to expanding the public's knowledge of poetry, literature and art through cultural events and community interaction. Founded in 1968 as an experimental literary magazine, Beyond Baroque is based out of the original City Hall building in Venice, California. The Center offers a diverse variety of literary and arts programming including readings and workshops. The building also houses a bookstore with a large collection of new poetry books for sale.

Livestream: If you can’t join us in person the event will be livestreamed on at the scheduled time of the event. If you are tuning in this way, no ticket purchase is necessary.

If you are attending in person, ticket purchase is required. Tickets will be available at the Beyond Baroque bookstore on the day of the event, but we recommend registering in advance through Eventbrite. Masks are encouraged while inside our center. Please arrive early.

Event attendees are expected to behave in a respectful and considerate manner while in our space. Beyond Baroque reserves the right to remove individuals from our events, virtual or otherwise, if they are not respecting the space, staff, fellow attendees, or performers.

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Host or Publisher Beyond Baroque Literary | Arts Center