Meet the artists of Gayme Changers
The About Face Youth Theatre ensemble has been working hard over the past several months devising Gayme Changers, an immersive new comedy about climate change activism that blends reality TV with a dash of call to action. Meet the incredible people who have dedicated their creative talents to create this show. Learn more about the play…
ELENA AVILA (she/they)
Ensemble member, playing Emi
Elena is a Chicago based Latinx performing artist, originally from the Bay Area, CA! From theater, to opera, to dance, Elena is passionate about her creative work and artistry. Favorite performances have been in URINETOWN (Berkeley Playhouse), LUSIA MILLER (Berkeley Chamber Opera), and MARISOL (Fragmented Light Theatre). Check out their website www.Elena-Avila.com
KIRSTEN BAITY (they/them)
Green Room Collective member, Playwright
Kirsten is a multifaceted theatre hustler mainly focused on playwriting, devising, and teaching artistry. They love creating art that puts the audience on the spot to answer tough questions and invites them to dream of a future where everyone has their needs met. Kirsten’s work includes: THIS IS NORMAL (Quaransteam Play Festival), RAGE ISN’T FREE: A PARTICIPATORY PLAY (Youth Empowerment and Performance Project), and LOVE NAD NAPPINESS (Perceptions Theatre) They have developed theater-based workshops with The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, About Face Theatre, FYI (For Youth Inquiry) Goodman Theatre’s Playbuild Youth Intensive, and the Youth Empowerment and Performance Project. Kirsten is a proud member of the Intimacy Coordinators of Color cohort and About Face Theatre’s Green Room Collective. For more info, check out kirstenbaity.com
EDGAR FLORES (they/them)
Ensemble member, playing Cleo
Edgar is an interdisciplinary artist from Texas currently finishing their BA in Theater Directing at Columbia College Chicago. Edgar is also a drag performer known mononymously as Cleo and recently won Crash Landing at Berlin Nightclub. Past acting credits include THE RACE: 2020 (Ensemble) by Sojourn Theater, THE MOORS (Mastiff) by Jen Silverman, and THE WINTERS TALE (Clown) by William Shakespeare. Directing credits include ELEPHANT ANTONYMS by Colby Calhoun, THE DOOR by Paul Elliot, and REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN. by Alice Birch, currently in pre-production. Edgar would like to dedicate this performance to all the “girls, gays and theys” around the world.
WILBUR GREY (e/it/he)
Ensemble member, playing Storm
Wilber is an artist and a proud cat dad. This is eirs second year at AFYT. Other hobbies include painting, practicing karate, and cosplay. You can find eir on Instagram @adumbtransguy. “I’d like to see you try to find me anywhere else. I hope you enjoy the show!”
KARA PARTISANO (she/her)
Ensemble member, playing Elizabeth
Kara is a passionate dancer, actor, youth facilitator She is proud to be a part of the wonderful community she has found at AFYT. She was in MARY POPPINS for Vero Beach High School and Dance Festivals for her studio. She loves creating art through movement. She loves to choreograph, paint, and adores teaching and working with children. She’s thankful to her mother and her family for all their support.
SHARON PASIA (they/she)
Green Room Collective member, Producer
Sharon is an artist with many hats, which include acting, voiceover, facilitating, and producing. They’re currently a part of About Face Theatre’s Green Room Collective and is a teaching artist and producer for GAYME CHANGERS. Recent projects they’ve co-produced include G.L.O.W: A QUEER OPEN MIC w/ K.J. Whitehead and AFYT’s KINSHIP: An All-Ages Queer Variety Show. As an artist and facilitator, Sharon strives to create warm and empowering spaces where artists of all backgrounds and experiences can share work while connecting through community and wholesome fun.
LILY RUBIN (they/them)
Ensemble member, playing Z
Lily is a musician, actor, and performer from Highland Park, IL. They previously attended Columbia College Chicago but will be transferring to Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, NY, in the fall. With AFYT, they’ve performed in 20/20, WHODUNNIT? A GROOVY QUEER MURDER MYSTERY, and KINSHIP: AN ALL-AGES QUEER VARIETY SHOW. They’re so sad this is their last project with AFYT, but is so proud of their ensemble for putting queer stories on the stage and being truly their authentic self!
NORA TALAGA (she/her)
Ensemble member, playing Sam
Nora is thrilled to be back in person in a real life theatre and not on a computer screen. She received her degree in theatre at Seattle University in 2021, and is currently based in her hometown of Chicago. She is SO grateful to About Face Theatre for bringing this cool, queer, creative ensemble into her life. A million thank you’s to the entire team and to her friends and fam for their love and support. Find more at noratalaga.com.
THEO WAMPUSZYC (he/they)
Ensemble member, playing Ratt
Theo is a trans actor, podcaster, and entertainer with a special focus on audio, activism, and joy. In addition to his usual day job as a children’s swim instructor and his various evening rehearsals, he works as a company clown for Vaudeville Chicago where he brings wild characters and variety acts to senior living facilities with a high concentration of dementia and Alzheimers. He also dabbles in standup comedy, and his voice can be heard on several podcasts including the queer comedy coffee talkshow PETTY THEFT AND KINDNESS, the actual play podcast ONCE UPON A MONSTER OF THE WEEK, and half a dozen other audio serials.
SOPHRONIA VOWELS (she/they)
Ensemble member, playing Louise
A recent graduate from Boston University’s Theatre Arts BFA Program, Sophronia loves both performing and directing. They are grateful to this ensemble for encouraging and inspiring them on their gender journey. What an honor to create in such a queer space. Check out their website for credits and pictures: www.sophroniav.com
HANNAH WEISS (she/they)
Ensemble member, Stage Manager
Hannah is a 2021 graduate of Columbia College Chicago earning her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre concentrating in Stage Management. She is beyond excited to be working with About Face Theatre for the first time. Past credits include RELENTLESS (Assistant Stage Manager; TimeLine Theatre Company/Goodman Theatre), THE SNOW QUEEN (Assistant Stage Manager; The House Theatre of Chicago), TALES OF BERLIN (Production Stage Manager; CCC), MR. BURNS: A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY (Production Stage Manager; CCC), THE 33RD ANNUAL YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL (Assistant Stage Manager; Pegasus Theatre Chicago).
PEN WILDER (they/them)
Ensemble member, playing Phoenix
Pen is a native Illinoisan writer and artist with a focus in queer theatre. They are a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago and Their credits include their full-length play FIELDS OF CLOVER and various smaller works in the Playwrights Aloud reading series. They also contribute regularly to literary publications. They are so excited to be involved in their first AFYT performance and are so happy to be a part of such a welcoming community. They are currently working on their next full-length play.
VIC WYNTER (they/them)
Director
Vic shapeshifts through space discovering where and how they can contribute. Their main practice is performance art but explores different practices depending on what needs to be processed (movement, writing, assistant directing). They are making their directorial debut with GAYME CHANGERS after assistant directing ROAN @ THE GATES at American Blues Theater. They recently made their TV debut as Travis on WORK IN PROGRESS. In the summer of 2019, this baby bee buzzed with the hive at THE FLY HONEY SHOW for the first time at The Den Theater and they are now a producer for the show. Vic has premiered original work at KINSHIP, About Face Theater’s All-Ages Queer Variety Show; AFT’s touring show POWER IN PRIDE; and has been on the Goodman stage in the I AM…Fest performance of THE INTERROGATION OF SANDRA BLAND. They performed on the Neo-Futurists stage in THE ARROW – ONE NIGHT ONLY and assistant directed THE ARROW TAKES A LEAP and THE ARROW CLEANS HOUSE. Vic was an FYI (For Youth Inquiry) actor teaching youth sexual health through immersive and interactive plays. They love the worlds of performance, writing, and dance. Those worlds give birth to communities all while connecting folks with and to themselves. These are all ways of communicating in a world that tries to stifle our voices.