Meet the cast of The Magnolia Ballet
Rehearsals began this week for our haunting production of The Magnolia Ballet. AFT Associate Artistic Director Mikael Burke, fresh from directing the world premiere of this show in Indianapolis, has assembled an inspiring team of artists for our Chicago premiere. Please join us in welcoming this incredible cast into the rehearsal room! Learn more about the play…
TERRY GUEST (he/him)
Playwright & playing Ezekiel “Z” Mitchell VI
Terry is a Chicago-based playwright, actor, and teaching artist. He wrote and starred in At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen, which was the recipient of the 2018 Out Front Spectrum Series Grant and had its World Premiere in Chicago at The Story Theatre (directed by Mikael Burke). Other work includes: A Ghost in Satin (The Williamstown Theatre Festival, directed by Wardell Julius Clark), Marie Antionette and the Magical Negros (The Story Theatre), The Madness of Mary Todd (Goodman Theatre Playwrights Unit Commission), Michael Jackson and the Devil’s Book (Jackalope).
WARDELL JULIUS CLARK (he/him)
Playing Ezekiel Mitchell V
Wardell is an award-winning actor, director, producer, and activist. He is a Company Member with TimeLine Theatre and an Ensemble Member at Sideshow Theatre. Select acting credits include Gem of the Ocean (Goodman Theatre), Flyin’ West (American Blues), Suddenly Last Summer (Raven), Silent Sky (First Folio), and The Gospel According to James (Victory Gardens). Select Chicago directing credits include Kill Move Paradise (Timeline Theatre), Sheepdog (Shattered Globe), His Shadow (16th Street), The Shipment (Red Tape), and Dutch Masters (Jackalope). Wardell was the Newcity Magazine 2020 Player of the Moment and a recipient of the 2021 3Arts Foundation Make A Wave grant!
SHELDON D. BROWN (he/him)
Playing Apparition
Sheldon is overjoyed to return to About Face where he previously performed in This Bitter Earth and Time is on Our Side. His other credits include the Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice, Oedipus Rex, and Man in the Ring (Court Theatre); A Wonder in My Soul (Victory Gardens Theatre), The Shipment (Red Tape Theatre); 1980 (Jackalope Theatre) and more. His film/screenwriting credits include Cicada (Spirit Award Nominated, Best First Screenplay), The Canyonlands, and My Name is Alex. Sheldon is also a queer educator having taught with Steppenwolf, Northlight Theatre, and The League of Chicago Theatres.
BEN SULZBERGER (he/him)
Playing Danny Mitchell
Ben is thrilled to be making his Chicago theatre debut in The Magnolia Ballet. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020 with a degree in Theatre Arts and Cinema. Some of his favorite roles have included Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Flute in A Midusmmer Night’s Dream and Jason in Sweat.
