About Face Theatre’s Board of Directors is a group of dynamic and dedicated volunteers who collaborate with the staff to fulfill the mission. If you would like to learn about joining our team through board service, please send your resume and letter of interest to boardprospect@aboutfacetheatre.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Board of Directors
LISA BOWDEN (she/her)
Vice-chair
With a commitment to equity, Lisa is a professional in the fields of business consulting and public service. She has served in leadership capacities managing finances, grants, and marketing. She has established new companies in competitive marketplaces, implemented successful marketing strategies, and improved employee performance and development through training programs. Lisa is an educator, mentor, and longtime advocate for people living with disabilities, those without a permanent address, and those experiencing food insecurity. She holds a Master of Business Administration from University of Illinois, a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College School of Public Affairs, City University of New York, and a Bachelor of Arts from Daemen College. Affiliations include the Winnemac Dog Friendly Area committee; Girl Scouts, USA; and initiatives addressing the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, supporting her elders, and mentoring the next generation.
ADITHI CHANDRASHEKAR (she/her)
Artist Representative
Adithi Chandrashekar is a Chicago-based actor and writer. She is also the co-founder and creative director of Queer In(n), a digital arts gallery that commissions Chicago queer artists to interpret an assigned interview of a queer elder or youth and make a brand new work in their own medium based on that interview. Recent theater credits include Theatre for One: Here We Are (Court Theatre), Dance Nation (Steppenwolf), Bull in a China Shop (About Face Theatre), We’re Gonna Be Okay (American Theater Company), and Wit (The Hypocrites). TV credits include Amazon’s Night Sky, NBC’s Chicago Med, FOX’s neXt and Empire, and ABC’s Betrayal. Adithi’s solo performance piece Open Season was written and produced as part of The Gift Theatre’s inaugural 4802 residency. She is a proud 2015 graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and is represented by Stewart Talent Agency.
AMY HUTCHISON (she/her)
Amy Hutchison is proud to return to the About Face board of directors, having served from 2013 to 2016. Her awe and enthusiasm for the company was first ignited by Patricia Kane’s delicious comedy PULP in 2007, and her esteem for AFT and Youth Theatre artists has continued to grow year over year. Amy is a theatre and opera director who stages works across the USA and internationally. Her work with local companies includes Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theatre, Chicago Fringe Opera, South Shore Opera, and Folk Operetta. She has served on the music faculty of Northwestern University and has directed for DePaul University, as well. She is on the Advisory Board of Kia Smith’s fabulous South Chicago Dance Theatre. Amy is on the finance team of the elite law firm Jenner & Block and is a member of its LGBTQ Forum. She flat-out loves life in Chicago and can’t wait to see you at The Den for the next About Face show!
SARAH POWERS (she/her)
Sarah is the founder and Principal of Powers Creative Group. She has worked for over 15 years with communities in Atlanta, Detroit, Rwanda, Washington (DC), rural Alabama, upstate New York, Richmond (VA), and now Chicago to build their capacity, gain partnerships and power, and achieve social impact. She is proud and grateful for her education: a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Public Health and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan. She also created Outburst: A Pride Sketch Revue at Coalition Theater in Richmond, and moved to Chicago to find even more gays who love sketch comedy.
JOHN ROONEY (they/he)
Secretary
John is honored to return to About Face Theatre, where they got started as an artistic intern and a stage manager for five About Face Youth Theatre productions (and a Wonka Ball or two!). John has spent over 15 years as a facilitator, project manager, educator, and artist for organizations such as artEquity, FARSIGHT Agency, Nicole Brewer’s Anti-Racist Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Red Tape Theatre, and of course About Face Theatre. Currently, John is the Manager of People and Culture at Chicago Humanities. They are driven to create enriching, equitable, and healing spaces for staff, volunteers, and communities connected to nonprofits and public service organizations who are providing vital services and offerings. In their spare time, they are proud to be singing and dancing in the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC). They look forward to supporting About Face Theatre and connecting to all those in the About Face community!
AMANDA SUCKOW (they/them)
Amanda’s deep appreciation for About Face Theatre is grounded in the value of Queer people telling Queer stories. Amanda supports arts educators in Chicago Public Schools as the Music Content Specialist for the Department of Arts Education. They hold an MMEd from VanderCook College of Music and an MBA in Arts Innovation from the Global Leaders Institute. As an interdisciplinary artist, Amanda blends narrative storytelling and sound design to reveal unexpected connections. Their expertise in educational best practices, identity, and leadership has been showcased at the National Association for Music Education, Northwestern University’s TEACHx, and the Luigiani International Music Festival. Amanda’s artistic expressions can be found in Stillpoint Magazine, Beyond Queer Words Journal, and their mother’s living room. Amanda lives in Chicago with their partner, three cats, and shelves of books organized by color.
ED TALIDEH (he/him)
Chair, Treasurer
Ed Talideh has a silly British accent and a love for the performing arts (literally – his husband is a theatre director). He moved to Chicago from the UK many years ago (as part of his career in biotech business management) and fell in love with About Face Theatre’s shows. He recommends you do the same. Having subsequently learned a lot more about the organization behind the shows, Ed fell in love with AFT’s vision and mission (not least the awesome Youth Theatre program!) and is now hono(u)red to bring his business experience to AFT’s board in a fundraising and networking function. Indeed, if you’re reading this, he’ll probably ask you for money at some point. When not writing sardonic biographies, he can be found making questionable design choices, rehearsing karaoke duets, and talking lovingly to his houseplants.
Honorary Board
Rob Abernathy
Jim Andrews
Pat Ewert
Ted Grady
William W. Greaves
Chris Landgraff
Michael Leppen
Dwight A. McBride
William J. Michel
Mary Morten
Mike Sullivan