AFT News

MIKAEL BURKE (he/him) 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) is the Producing Artistic Director of About Face Theater in Chicago, a company dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. She has worked extensively as a teaching artist and was one of the founding directors of AFT’s education programs which grew into a year round intergenerational program. She earned her MFA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech with a focus on Directing and Public Dialogue and teaches in various settings for people of all ages. Megan’s work as a director and playwright has premiered in Chicago, New York, and through touring productions around the country including Audrey Cefaly’s The Gulf (About Face Theatre) Lisa Dillman’s The Walls (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble at Steppenwolf) Danielle Pinnock’s Body/Courage (Rivendell), and Holly Hughes’ Let Them Eat Cake (Dixon Place, NYC) among many others. She has published case studies and articles about models for community-based performance and been recognized with theatre industry awards, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, an APA Presidential Citation, and induction in Chicago’s LGBT Hall of Fame.

JAYNE DEELY (they/them) is a Queens, NY born and bred boricua playwright and performer. Selected works: Legacy, When Pluto was a planet, I never asked for a gofundme, Walter Mercado Presents: A Queer Puerto Rican (Not Just) Christmxs Spectacular, and unqle play. Their plays have been developed with Seattle Public Theatre, the New Harmony Project, Breaking the Binary, Fresh Ground Pepper, theatre b, American Stage, Renaissance Theaterworks, and others. They were recently named to the Kilroy’s Web 25-26 (for I never asked for a gofundme) and are currently under commission with a Sloan grant from EST. Jayne is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and the Dramatists Guild, and is based in Queens, NY. The rolling world premiere of I never asked for a gofundme begins at Actor’s Express in Atlanta in October 2026. MFA, IU Bloomington.

MICHAEL R. JACKSON (he/him) A Strange Loop won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. It was also the recipient of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He is also the author of White Girl in Danger, produced by the Vineyard Theatre in co-production with Second Stage Theater, and the co-author of Teeth, produced by Playwrights Horizons. Michael is the recipient of an Obie Award, Drama Desk Award, Jonathan Larson Grant, Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award, ASCAP Foundation Harold Adamson Award, Whiting Award, and Helen Merrill Award for Playwriting. Jackson holds a BFA and MFA in playwriting and Musical Theatre Writing from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

ABOUT FACE THEATRE advances LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. Since our founding in 1995, we’ve been a national leader in producing groundbreaking theatre that centers people who identify as LGBTQ+ and other intersecting identities. Working with nationally recognized and emerging artists of all ages, our programs include award-winning productions, touring shows, a Youth Ensemble, and new work development through Re/Generation Studio.

RAVEN THEATRE is proud to be a cultural cornerstone of Chicago’s north side, where its artistic excellence is known among theatergoers and artists alike. Long acclaimed for its revivals of classic plays, Raven also gives voice to emerging playwrights whose work will help to shape the theatrical canon for years to come. Founded in 1983, Raven moved into its current home in 2002 with its 85-seat Johnson Stage and its 56-seat Schwartz Stage.