Re/Generation Studio (2023-2024) playbill
| Artistic Producers | MIKAEL BURKE & CATHERINE MILLER |
| Co-curators | MEGAN CARNEY & PEN WILDER |
| Stage Manager | THEO WAMPUSZYC |
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Workshop Artists
COURTNEY ABBOTT (they/she)
“Intimacy Skills for Performance & Rehearsal” Workshop
Courtney Abbott loves to talk about touching. Courtney works as an Intimacy Professional, actor, and director. They are a stakeholder in the Back Room Shakespeare Project. Her work directing Intimacy and Fights has spanned this beautiful city, from Garfield Park to Glencoe, and from the Morton Arboretum to Navy Pier. Courtney is passionate about non-violent communication, and making our industry and this nation safer for Queer & NB2ST folx of all ages. CourtneyAbbott.com
DIONNE ADDAI (they/she)
“S.L.A.Y. (Space for Leaders and Artistic Youth)” & “Level Up” workshops
Dionne is a performer, writer, director, teaching artist, and About Face Theatre’s Education Manager. They’re a passionate advocate for reproductive rights, racial justice, and free comprehensive sex education. Their artistic practice centers on educating in order to encourage sociopolitical action and mutual aid. As a performer, Dionne has multiple on-camera credits and has worked with over 20 renowned theatre companies in the US (Merrimack Repertory, Raven Theatre, Filament Theatre, etc). She’s worked with AFT previously as an actor, director, and writer (KICKBACK, Power in Pride, Re/Generation Studio).
Mikael Burke (he/him)
“DnD: Directors in Development” workshop
Mikael Burke is a Chicago-based director and educator. A Princess Grace Award-winner in Theatre and Jeff Award-nominated director, Mikael has worked with Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Northlight Theatre, Raven Theatre, Jackalope Theatre Company, First Floor Theater, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, The Story Theatre, Refracted Theatre Company, and Windy City Playhouse in Chicago, and regionally with Yale Repertory Theatre, Theatreworks Hartford, Forward Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, Theatreworks Colorado Springs, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis, and Third Avenue Playworks. Mikael previously served as AFT’s Associate Artistic Director and has taught at DePaul, Roosevelt, and Butler Universities. Recent directing credits include Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage; the Chicago premiere of Tambo & Bones by Dave Harris; Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage; The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest (2022 Jeff Award – Production, Short Run); Fireflies by Donna R. Love (Black Theatre Alliance Award – Best Direction of an Ensemble). MFA, The Theatre School at DePaul University | mklburke.com
Megan Carney (she/her)
“Level Up: Skill Building for Emerging Creatives” workshops
Megan is the Artistic Director of About Face Theater, a company dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. Her work as a director, deviser, and educator is recognized with theatre industry awards, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, APA Presidential Citation, and induction in Chicago’s LGBT Hall of Fame. She directed the world premieres of Danielle Pinnock’s Body Courage and Lisa Dillman’s The Walls with Rivendell Ensemble, among other notable productions. Megan has an MFA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech with a focus on Directing and Public Dialogue. She served as the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at UIC where she created and produced cultural programming and advanced affirming policies. Megan continues to teach in a variety of settings and has volunteered with the Chicago Foundation for Women’s LGBT Giving Council, the Chicago Restroom Access Project of Pride Action Tank, and other queer organizations.
Terry Guest (he/him)
“Writing for the Me in You” workshops
Terry is a Chicago-based playwright, actor, and teaching artist. He wrote and starred in The Magnolia Ballet at About Face, which won Jeff Awards for Short Run Production and Principle Performer. He also wrote 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. Other work includes: A Ghost In Satin (The Williamstown Theatre Festival), 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) and Andy Warhol Presents: The Cocaine Play. terrycguest.com
Alyssa Vera Ramos (she/her/ella)
“Level Up” workshop special guest
Alyssa is a theatre director, devising artist, cultural strategist, and blossoming intimacy director dedicated to dreaming—and living into—a liberated world. Her always-collaborative artistic work explores themes of bodily autonomy and delight, racial justice and decolonization, collective learning, and her Boricua heritage. Directing and lead developer credits include: Epic Tales From the Land of Melanin (FEMelanin at Latinx Theatre Commons’ International TYA Festival and Free Street Theater), Expectation (For Youth Inquiry), Meeting Our Desires (Night Out In the Parks – also a podcast!), and You Can’t Cover the Sky With Your Hand (Pivot Arts’ The Memory Place), in-development with her mother, novelist Marisel Vera. For many years, she served as the Artistic Director of For Youth Inquiry Performance Company at the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH), where she also co-facilitated the youth organizing cohort and helped win major legislation for abortion access. Alyssa is a practitioner of Theatre of the Oppressed, Creative Drama, and Participatory Theatre. She co-authored The Sex Ed Playbook: Participatory Theatre for Health Education and is a contributor to the upcoming volumes Applied Theatre and Gender Justice and Into Abolitionist Theatre: A Guidebook for Liberatory Theatre-making. She is also a proud curator of Swarm Artist Residency and a dedicated student at La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón — two of her cultural homes. Learn a little more at alyssaincolor.com.
Omer Abbas Salem (he/they)
“Writing for the Me in You” workshops
Omer Abbas Salem is an actor and playwright. As an actor, they’ve worked at Roundabout Theatre, Atlantic Theatre, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Goodman, Steep Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, Silk Road Rising, First Floor Theatre, The New Coordinates, About Face Theatre, Griffin Theatre, and The Second City. As a playwright, their work has been produced at The Goodman, Steppenwolf Theatre, About Face Theatre, First Floor Theatre, Jackalope Theatre, The New Coordinates, Actors Theatre of Louisville, National Queer Theatre, Definition Theatre, and The Theatre School of DePaul. They are a member of the 2021/22 Goodman Playwrights Unit and had a play developed in The Goodman’s New Stages Festival in 2022. They are the winner of the 2022 Blueprint Commission winner from First Floor recipient of the 2021 Cunningham Commission from DePaul University. They were given an Emerging Playwright commission from Audible Theater and are also the most recent recipient of the Edergton Commission at Steppenwolf Theater. They also won the 2022 3Arts Award in Theater. They are an ensemble member of Steep Theatre, First Floor Theater, Jackalope Theatre, and The New Coordinates. They graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and the University of Chicago. They are represented by Gray Talent and the Gersh Agency. Find out more at www.omerabbassalem.com
Quyen Tran (she/her)
“Transformation” performance
Quyen Tran is a Vietnamese refugee who has been regaling audiences for the last 18+ years as her drag king alter ego, Jayden Jamison. Jayden has performed nationally and internationally, earned a national title as Mr. Gay United States Male Illusionist 2016, has a drag documentary called Kings, Queens and In Betweens, and has taught over 56 new drag kings through his drag king workshops. Quyen’s drag numbers are influenced by a life impacted by racism, homophobia, parental death, and intersectionality. It is these elements that Quyen brings to the stage that illustrate the greater life experiences of those in the queer community.
Will Wilhelm (they/them)
“Shaping Your Story: An Intro to Creating a Solo Show” workshop
Will is a Chicago-based actor, writer, and educator. They premiered Gender Play, or what you Will at About Face Theatre earlier this year, which received Jeff Award nominations for Best New Work and Best Solo Performance. Select Chicago credits also include Mr. Burns (Theater Wit), Straight White Men (Steppenwolf Theatre), Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci (Goodman Theatre), and My Wonderful Birthday Suit (Chicago Children’s Theatre). Regional credits include Rent (Portland Center Stage); Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci (Shakespeare Theatre Company); and Oklahoma!, As You Like It, and Macbeth (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), where they were the first openly non-binary company member in the festival’s history. With Erin Murray, they are also the co-creator and host of the video podcast series Teacakes & Tarot, produced by Island Shakespeare Festival in association with HowlRound Theatre Commons. A proud Northwestern graduate, Will is represented by Gray Talent Group. www.WillWilhelm.com
Reading Workshop Artists
Yūgen Workshop Artists
Mikael Burke (he/him)
Director
Mikael Burke is a Chicago-based director and educator. A Princess Grace Award-winner in Theatre and Jeff Award-nominated director, Mikael has worked with Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Northlight Theatre, Raven Theatre, Jackalope Theatre Company, First Floor Theater, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, The Story Theatre, Refracted Theatre Company, and Windy City Playhouse in Chicago, and regionally with Yale Repertory Theatre, Theatreworks Hartford, Forward Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, Theatreworks Colorado Springs, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis, and Third Avenue Playworks. Mikael previously served as AFT’s Associate Artistic Director and has taught at DePaul, Roosevelt, and Butler Universities. Recent directing credits include Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage; the Chicago premiere of Tambo & Bones by Dave Harris; Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage; The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest (2022 Jeff Award – Production, Short Run); Fireflies by Donna R. Love (Black Theatre Alliance Award – Best Direction of an Ensemble). MFA, The Theatre School at DePaul University | mklburke.com
Elana Elyce (she/her)
“Vanessa”
Elana has been acting, writing, coaching, and directing in the Chicagoland area since 2007. After completing the critically acclaimed play for Zoom, The Spin by Spenser Davis in 2020, Elana has laid low, performing in readings occasionally and directing short plays. She co-hosts You’re on in Five! The Art of Understudying which can be heard everywhere any podcast can be heard. Elana is also the Business Manager of The Chicago Inclusion Project. www.elanaelyce.net
Siiri Scott
Noh Drama Specialist
Siiri Scott is the head of acting and directing at the University of Notre Dame in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre. Currently in her 25th year with the department, she teaches advanced acting, voice, dialect, and movement. Siiri lives in Chicago and continues to work as an actor/director and commutes back to Notre Dame to teach. A graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul, she has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, and hosted the KidsWB TV Network for WCIU. Regional work includes a stint in Los Angeles where she appeared on City of Angels; Milwaukee, where she performed in The Kentucky Cycle and co-directed Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry; and in Seattle she worked with Theatre Babylon, Book-it Repertory Theatre, and Seattle Children’s Theatre. An award-winning audiobook narrator, Siiri is also a company member with the international Japanese Noh theatre, Theatre Nohgaku, and Irish Theatre of Chicago. She directed both the Jeff-nominated production of My Brilliant Divorce, the 2018 remount of The Weir, and Pineapple in 2020.
Emilio Williams (he/him)
Playwright
Emilio Williams is a bilingual award-winning writer and educator. Emilio’s latest world premiere is an adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba, produced by Teatro Vista and performed at Steppenwolf 1700. His other critically acclaimed plays have been produced in Argentina, Estonia, France, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. His experimental queer essays have appeared most recently in JBMCS, Brevity Magazine, Writing Disorder, Hinterland Magazine, Imagined Theatres, and the anthology Beyond Queer Words 2021. He teaches at The Theater School at DePaul University and at Columbia College Chicago. Emilio holds an MFA in Writing. www.emiliowilliams.com
Aurora Adachi-Winter (she/they)
“Karin”
Aurora is excited to return to About Face after appearing as Pearl in Bull In A China Shop. Other credits include: Lucy & Charlie’s Honeymoon (Lookingglass Theatre); Lottery Day, Nightwatch (Goodman); Red Rex (Steep Theatre); Put Your House In Order (The Roustabouts); Vietgone (Writers Theatre); The Burials (Steppenwolf); peerless, Edith Can… (First Floor Theater). TV/Film: Chicago Med, Amazon’s Electric Dreams, Deep Woods. Aurora is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Why Are Graham Crackers Hard? Workshop Artists
Landree Fleming (she/her)
Director
Landree is a Chicago-based director and actor. Directing credits include: Marriott Theatre: Snow Queen; Paramount Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors, Fun Home co-directed with Jim Corti (Jeff Nom – Best Director); Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Once Upon a Mattress (Jeff Nom – Best Director) at Theo Ubique; Associate Director: Beauty and the Beast (Paramount Theatre); Assistant Directing credits include Noises Off at Windy City Playhouse and First Lady Suite with Circle Theatre. Central to her process is the commitment to view every piece through a lens that includes all while fostering a supportive, joyful, and thoughtfully challenging community within rehearsal walls that spills into and represents the richly diverse audiences our shows serve.
August Forman (they/them)
Playwright
August is an actor and playwright based in Chicago. Voice over credits include Disney’s The Owl House. Acting credits include: Charlie and the Cholocate Factory, Little Shop of Horrors, and Hand to God (Paramount Theatre); Tiny Beautiful Things (Victory Gardens Theater and TheatreSquared); Rutherford and Son (TimeLine Theatre); Elizabeth Rex and The Fair Maid of the West (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Once Upon a Mattress (Theo Ubique); Plot Points In Our Sexual Development and A Kind of Weather (Diversionary Theatre); Twelfth Night (Midsommer Flight); The Lady Demands Satisfaction (Babes with Blades); Les Innocents ((re)discover theatre); and Girl In the Red Corner (Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Supporting Actor – Broken Nose Theatre). As a playwright their works have been produced across the country. August is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Jodi Gage (she/her)
“Anne”
As a Chicago-based actor, Jodi has worked with Raven Theatre, Steep Theatre, Blank Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Milwaukee Rep, Theater Wit, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Chicago Physical Theater Festival, among others. Before relocating to Chicago, she worked extensively in the Pittsburgh area with Pittsburgh CLO, PICT Classic Theatre, The REP Pittsburgh Playhouse, among others. She toured internationally with Theatre Lumina, where she is also a company member, in their production of Song of Home. TELEVISION: Chicago Med (NBC) EDUCATION: MFA in Theatre, Point Park University; BM in Opera Performance, Oberlin Conservatory. She is represented by Gray Talent. jodigage.com
Maya Lou Hlava
“Olive”
Maya Lou is thrilled to be making her About Face Theatre debut. Other Chicago credits include A Christmas Carol, Shrek, White Christmas, and Bye Bye Birdie (Drury Lane Theatre); Dory Fantasmagory (YPPT/Greenhouse Theater); Spring Awakening (Porchlight Theater); Act 5, The Killing Game, and The Nether (A Red Orchid Theatre); Zurich (Steep Theatre); Oklahoma (Marriott Theatre); Violet (Griffin Theater); Trevor (Writers Theatre); Jake’s Women (Spartan Theatre Company); The Secret Garden (Court Theatre); The Talking Cure (Idle Muse Theatre Company); Jane Eyre (Lifeline Theatre); The Wheel (Steppenwolf Theatre); Film and Television Credits include The Perpetrator, Chicago Med, The Chi, and The Big Leap.
Milla Liss (she/her)
“Penelope”
Milla is honored to be included in the reading of Why Are Graham Crackers Hard? Other Chicago credits include: Gypsy (Marriott Theatre), The Sound of Music (Paramount Theatre), Fun Home (Paramount Theatre), The Sound of Music (Marriott Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), The Music Man (Goodman Theatre). Love to my Moms! Represented by Gray Talent Group. @MillaParkerLiss
Emily Marso (she/her)
“Becca”
Emily is an actor, motion capture performer, and voiceover artist based in Chicago. Her theatre credits include work with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Goodman, Northlight, Writers, TimeLine, The Gift, Silk Road Rising, and more. You can also catch her in a recurring role as Nurse Susie on Chicago Med and Chicago Fire (NBC), in the film An Exquisite Meal (Cinequest Film Festival, now streaming), or in video games doing motion capture for Call of Duty (Raven Software) and Mortal Kombat (NetherRealm Studios). For more, visit emilymarso.com. @missmarso
Jack Seijo (they/he)
“Ryan”
Jack is an actor and teaching artist based here in Chicago. Jack has had the pleasure of working with theatres like A Red Orchid Theatre, The New Coordinates, and Redtwist Theatre where they received their Jeff nomination. He has appeared on screen in Chicago P.D. and plays Paramedic Jackie on Chicago Med. Jack teaches on-camera classes at The Forge and will be teaching the Spring Semester of the Acting Institute at Paramount School of the Arts. They are happily repped by DDO Chicago and you can stay up to date on them at www.jackieseijo.com.
A Home Education Workshop Artists
Liz Haas (they/them, she/her)
Playwright
Liz is a queer, multiracial playwright of Taiwanese, Chinese, and German descent based in the Chicago area. Liz is deeply invested in building community with people who experience intersecting oppressions and uplifting their narratives. Liz was in the devising ensemble for Still/Here at Free Street Theater in 2019 and is a member of the Western Massachusetts-based collective Theater Between Addresses. Liz holds a bachelor of arts in history from Smith College, where they also spent a great deal of time in the theater department in a variety of roles on- and off-stage. Outside of the theater, Liz can be found writing grants to support voting rights, reading speculative fiction, and spending far too much time on deckbuilding games.
Veronique Le
“Claire”
Veronique is a Vietnamese-American artist originally from Minneapolis, MN. This past fall, they made their Chicago theatre debut in Seagulls (Masha) with Oak Park Festival Theatre. They are also a recent graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University with a BFA in Acting; credits include Do You Feel Anger? (Sofia), Peerless (L), A Wrinkle in Time (Mrs. Whatsit), and Much Ado About Nothing (Margaret/Seacole). Along with acting, Veronique loves to write stories and create music and especially loves to collaborate with friends when doing so. They are passionate about exploring untold stories and hopes to bring more light to what it means to be Vietnamese in America. Veronique is proudly represented by Gray Talent Group. veroniquele.com
Denise Yvette Serna (she/ella)
Director
Denise is a multifaceted theatre practitioner, celebrated for her visionary directing and commitment to innovative, meaningful storytelling. With a keen eye for detail and dedication to authentic expression, Denise brings vibrant perspectives to classic and world premiere productions, creating thought-provoking experiences that linger in the minds of all who experience them. As a vocal advocate for diversity, inclusion, and access in the performing arts, she nurtures the next generation of artists to embrace their unique perspectives. Denise’s journey exemplifies the liberatory power of the arts for queer people of the global majority to inspire change and spark meaningful coalitions. For inquiries and to learn more about her work, visit deniseyvetteserna.com.
L. Yumi Tallud
“Amelia”
L. Yumi Tallud is a Korean-Filipino theatre artist born and raised in Chicago, IL. She is currently pursuing her BS in Journalism (Medill) with a minor in Theatre (SoC) from Northwestern University. Yumi is passionate about building community, exploring personal growth through collaboration, and uplifting underrepresented voices. Recent notable credits include The Prom (Emma Nolan) and Tuck Everlasting (Dance ensemble). Yumi is honored to be making art with the incredible people at About Face Theatre and is so excited to be a part of Re/Generation Studio!
Re/Generation Staff
Mikael Burke (he/him)
Re/Generation Studio Artistic Producer
Mikael Burke is a Chicago-based director and educator. A Princess Grace Award-winner in Theatre and Jeff Award-nominated director, Mikael has worked with Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Northlight Theatre, Raven Theatre, Jackalope Theatre Company, First Floor Theater, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, The Story Theatre, Refracted Theatre Company, and Windy City Playhouse in Chicago, and regionally with Yale Repertory Theatre, Theatreworks Hartford, Forward Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, Theatreworks Colorado Springs, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis, and Third Avenue Playworks. Mikael previously served as AFT’s Associate Artistic Director and has taught at DePaul, Roosevelt, and Butler Universities. Recent directing credits include Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage; the Chicago premiere of Tambo & Bones by Dave Harris; Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage; The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest (2022 Jeff Award – Production, Short Run); Fireflies by Donna R. Love (Black Theatre Alliance Award – Best Direction of an Ensemble). MFA, The Theatre School at DePaul University | mklburke.com
Megan Carney (she/her)
Re/Generation Studio Co-curator
Megan is the Artistic Director of About Face Theater, a company dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. Her work as a director, deviser, and educator is recognized with theatre industry awards, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, APA Presidential Citation, and induction in Chicago’s LGBT Hall of Fame. She directed the world premieres of Danielle Pinnock’s Body Courage and Lisa Dillman’s The Walls with Rivendell Ensemble, among other notable productions. Megan has an MFA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech with a focus on Directing and Public Dialogue. She served as the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at UIC where she created and produced cultural programming and advanced affirming policies. Megan continues to teach in a variety of settings and has volunteered with the Chicago Foundation for Women’s LGBT Giving Council, the Chicago Restroom Access Project of Pride Action Tank, and other queer organizations.
LOGAN JONES (he/they)
AFT Managing Director
Logan is a Chicago-based artist, administrator, and consultant. He has frequently collaborated with multiple theatre companies while utilizing his artistic and technical skills, organizational capabilities, and highly-collaborative working style. Logan has worked with Ensemble Consulting as Facilitator and Project Manager on various leadership transitions and organizational development projects since 2015. As a stage manager and production manager, he has helmed multiple productions for About Face Theatre, American Theater Company, The House Theatre of Chicago, Windy City Playhouse, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 13Exp, and the American Music Theatre Project, among others. Logan holds a BA in Theatre and BA in Modern Languages from Kansas State University, a certificate in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from University of South Florida, and is a graduate of the Axelson Center Bootcamp for Nonprofit CEOs at North Park University.
Catherine Miller (they/them)
Re/Generation Studio Artistic Producer
Dramaturgy credits include: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins ’21 and ’22 (Strawdog Theatre), Fun Home, Hand to God, Kinky Boots (Paramount Theatre), The Wolves (Actors Theatre of Louisville/ACLU fundraiser), House of Audacity (First Floor Theater), Love in the Time of Jonestown, Untitled Queer Romance (The New Coordinates), the West Coast Premiere of [Title of Show] (Diversionary Theatre), Assassins, Sweeney Todd & The History Boys (Cygnet Theatre), Passion (Ion Theatre), Breath Boom, Our Lady of 121st Street (Eclipse Theatre). Catherine also works in casting with many theatres around Chicago, including About Face Theatre. Catherine was a 2021 3Arts Make A Wave recipient and was recently featured in American Theatre Magazine‘s Role Call. They also were on NewCity Magazine’s 2020 + 2019 “Players: The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago” and the Windy City Times’ “30 Under 30” list. Catherine has a BFA in Dramaturgy/Criticism from The Theatre School at DePaul.
Theo Wampuszyc (he/they)
Re/Generation Studio Stage Manager
An alumnus of About FaceYouth Theatre, Theo is a trans-masc performer and theatre artist. By day, he works as a company clown for Vaudeville Chicago, a nonprofit that brings music, comedy, and circus entertainment to senior living facilities with a focus on dementia and memory care. By night, he performs as a queer standup, an actor, and a novice drag king. They are in love with the theatre both on stage and off, working not only in performance but also in production, a skill they’ve been able to hone during their time in About Face’s Green Room Collective.
Pen Wilder (they/them)
Re/Generation Studio Co-curator
Pen Wilder is a writer, dramaturg, musician, and teaching artist based in Chicago. Their work has been seen in publications Apple News, Mulberry Literary, The Chillfiltr Review, Nebo Literary Journal, and more.
Our Mission
About Face Theatre advances LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance.
Our Vision
About Face Theatre envisions an affirming and equitable world in which all LGBTQ+ individuals are thriving and free from prejudice and discrimination.
Anti-racism Statement
About Face Theatre is dedicated to being an intentionally and increasingly anti-racist organization. Due to the intersectionality of our identities, we understand our work to advance LGBTQ+ equity as directly connected to movements for racial justice.
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