The Brightest Thing in the World playbill
A Warm Welcome from About Face Theatre’s Artistic Director
“Theatre is closer to poetry and music than it is to the novel.”
– Jose Rivera from “36 Assumptions About Playwriting”
The Brightest Thing in the World is poetry come to life. It dodges conventional form, slides between locations, and crashes through states of mind. Our production was created for you and your fierce imagination to take a journey with us.
The creative team on this show has been a true joy to work with. As you watch the show, you’ll notice the ways that the set, lighting, props, costumes, technical elements, and flow of performances and stage management cohesively come together to shape the unique world of the play. That elevated unity and synchronicity wouldn’t be possible without a supremely collaborative and insightful team on and offstage. With Keira Fromm’s gorgeous orchestration, this team found a collaborative higher ground to hold the play’s outsized joy, pain, beauty, celebration, and heartbreak.
At About Face we believe that art can shape understanding and inspire action. We hope this production, along with the efforts of our community partner organizations who are addressing the ongoing crisis of opioid overdoses in our city, can equip all of us to access the help we need in our own love stories.
On behalf of all of us, thank you for supporting About Face Theatre and our mission for advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. We’re so glad you’re here.
Megan Carney
About Face Theatre Artistic Director
Honoring the Bright Moments In Life
The pain that lives in my left shoulder started in 2009 but, having grown up without health insurance or doctors in my life, I didn’t really have the knowledge or vocabulary to address it. The pain kept getting worse in my mid-twenties and still without insurance, the best thing I thought I could do was to scrape together the little money I had to try things like acupuncture, hot yoga and hypnosis. At one point I had my blood cleansed by a healer. A lot of people said the pain was just in my head. I wish it was! Then I started working for a very rich lady. She had bottles of Percocet in her bathroom cabinet. I took one. My pain was somewhat dulled. And though it doesn’t completely work, I found myself taking one every day to get through the day. Eventually I built up a tolerance so it no longer worked at all and the pain came back ten fold. That made me finally go to the doctor. I am immediately prescribed another opioid: codeine.
All of this gave me the first hand knowledge of how easy it can be. How it can really happen to anyone. But what I noticed in narratives surrounding substance abuse disorder is that the characters suffering from it are more than often othered as fuck ups who messed up their lives and “not one of us.” The lowest points of someone struggling with this disease is often used as tragedy porn award season bait played by rich actors without an ounce of truth.
I think the truth is that anyone impacted by the crisis misses the person they lost. They relish and remember the good—not only the bad.
So I wanted to write a play where we see the good. I wanted to portray the bright life moments of a person struggling with the disease of addiction, instead of the darkest. I also wanted to honor their beauty instead of the ugly and show how much light people can leave behind even if they struggled. I believe that is often missing when we watch things about the crisis.
I’d also like to note that while play stems from personal experience and interviews of people affected by the disease of addiction, it’s not a true story, it’s not a transcription—it is a work of fiction with characters who aren’t real but have the blood of real people coursing through their veins. Hopefully you will leave the theater with a sense of missing them rather than pitying them.
Leah Nanako Winkler
The Brightest Thing in the World playwright
Learning About Addiction and Getting Help
Thank you so much for attending The Brightest Thing in the World. If you are like us, you might have a lot of questions after seeing a play like this and you may even feel compelled to want to do something about what you’ve just seen. Below are just some of the resources we currently have to help curb the Opioid Crisis and prevent even more deaths. Please check our website for other events we’ll have throughout the run of our show relating to the themes of this show.
Over the last quarter of a century, the opioid crisis has claimed at least 800,000 American lives with predictions of another million deaths by the end of the decade. Furthermore, an estimated 20% to 30% of the LGBTQ+ community deals with substance use disorder, compared to about 9% of the general population. But there are ways in which everyone can be a part of preventing more deaths, specifically by carrying naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan.
Places To Get Narcan And Fentanyl Testing Strips For Free, No Questions Asked
100% Free. Available to nearly everyone. No questions asked.
- All 81 Chicago Public Library branches
- CDPH Vending Machines. Get locations, PIN codes, and other information…
- CDPH STI Specialty Clinics. Get clinic hours and locations…
- Select Chicago Ward offices. Call first to confirm availability.
- The CDPH Office of Substance Use. Contact them at osu.cdph@cityofchicago.org
- Your health provider/clinic or pharmacist. The Illinois Naloxone Standing Order allows pharmacies and opioid overdose education/naloxone distribution programs to provide naloxone to anyone who intends to respond to a possible opioid overdose without a prescription.
What is currently happening in Chicago in terms of the opioid crisis?
How many opioid overdoses occur on the CTA? (Chicago Reader aricle)
Narcan Vending Machines Are Helping Those In Need, Advocates Say As CTA Eyes Expansion (Block Club Chicago article)
Local organizations working to reduce stigma around substance use disorder
H.A.S.
Healthcare Alternative Systems seeks to implement sustainable programs that benefit society by improving the well-being and recovery efforts of those individuals, families, and communities impacted by behavioral health problems.
Live4Lali
Live4Lali works to reduce stigma and prevent substance use disorder among individuals, families, and communities, and minimize the overall health, legal and social harms associated with substance use.
The Chicago Recovery Alliance (CRA)
The Chicago Recovery Alliance is a racially and ethnically diverse group composed of people living with HIV and drug use, working in addiction treatment, healthcare, education, law and other assorted areas. CRA is unique as an organization in that our work entails building one-on-one relationships with individuals affected by HIV and drug use and provide them with a wide array of options for achieving any positive change as they define it for themselves. CRA is an organization for those interested in directly serving, supporting, educating and advocating with others for reducing drug related harm.
About Face Theatre
| MEGAN CARNEY** | KATE WARNER** |
| Artistic Director | Interim Managing Director |
presents
Written by
LEAH NANAKO WINKLER
Directed by
Keira Fromm**
Cast
| Della | CYD BLAKEWELL* |
| Lane | CLAIRE KAPLAN |
| Steph | JOJO BROWN |
| u/s Della | JESS MAYNARD |
| u/s Lane | AMANDA GILES |
| u/s Steph | STEPHANIE FONGHEISER |
Production Team
| Asst. Director | AIMY TIEN |
| Dramaturg / Casting Director | Catherine Miller |
| Choreographer | JENN FREEMAN |
| Intimacy & Violence Designer | SHERYL WILLIAMS |
| Scenic Designer | SOTIRIOS LIVADITIS |
| Scenic Charge | TEA ROBERTS |
| Scenic Painter | CHARLIE DEWITT |
| Lighting Designer | CONCHITA AVITIA |
| Lead Electrician | HANNAH BOLSTAD |
| LED Illumination Technician | Collin Lindgren |
| Costume Designer | GREGORY GRAHAM |
| Wig Stylist | Megan Pirtle |
| Sound Designer & Composer | CHRISTOPHER KRIZ*** |
| Asst. Sound Designer | HANNAH KWAK |
| Properties Designer | AMANDA HERRMANN |
| Accessibility Coordinator | GIANNI CARCAGNO |
| Electric & Scenic Crew | Emma Bolton, Grace Dziedzic, Kyle Lewis, Sara Johnson, Kieran O’Connor |
| Technical Director | Becca Venable |
| Production Manager | AUDREY KLEINE |
| Production Stage Manager | JEAN E. COMPTON* |
| Asst. Stage Manager | B VALEK |
| Run Crew | Samuel Yu |
| Education Manager | Dionne Addai |
| Graphic Design & Illustration | Charles Riffenburg |
| Pre-Production Photography | Nathanael Filbert |
| Production Photography | Michael Brosilow |
| Videography | TIMMY SAMUEL/STARBELLY STUDIOS |
| Public Relations | Cathy Taylor Public Relations |
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers
**Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
***Member of United Scenic Artists 829
Special Thanks
About Face Theatre extends a special thank you to Mikael Burke, Damon Kiely, Tobi Mattingly, Karen Miller, Lisa Siciliano, Ed Talideh, and Chicago Scenic Studios, Inc.
Community Partners
Thank you to our Community Partners for providing community training and Narcan at this production.
UIC’s Community Outreach Intervention Projects
The Community Outreach Intervention Projects (“COIP”) at the School of Public Health at University of Illinois Chicago was founded in 1986 to address HIV/AIDS, particularly among people who use drugs. COIP operates from storefront sites in Austin, West Englewood, South Chicago, and Uptown, with other neighborhoods are served by COIP’s motorhome and mobile van units. COIP’s interventions are known for their use of the Indigenous Leader Outreach Model, which employs people from the populations they serve to deliver services and assist in conducting research. Through a collaboration with UIC’s Community Clinic Network, all COIP storefront sites provide free medical, mental health and pharmacy care for people living with HIV. Recently, we launched the first of its kind in Illinois, mobile Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program to provide low-barrier treatment initiation to increase access to care.
Healthcare Alternative Systems
Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) exists to provide a continuum of multicultural and bilingual behavioral care and social services that empower individuals, families, and communities. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, HAS offers a holistic and integrated approach to behavioral health, providing various services and programs designed to serve vulnerable communities. HAS’s roots in treatment for alcohol use disorder have grown to include a comprehensive array of behavioral and social services, including domestic violence prevention and intervention, substance use counseling and treatment, mental health counseling, and housing support services. The agency remains a premier provider of Spanish-language behavioral health services. All HAS programs collectively address the social determinants of health impacting underserved communities and include case management and wraparound services. In 2023, HAS touched the lives of 14,150 individuals; currently, HAS provides substance use disorder treatment to almost 1,700 Chicago-based participants.
Performer Bios
Cyd Blakewell (she/her): “Della”
Cyd was most recently seen in Northlight Theatre’s Birthday Candles. She is a proud ensemble member of The Gift Theatre. Gift Theatre Credits: The Locusts, Pillowman, Doubt, A Life Extra Ordinary, Good For Otto, Body + Blood, Broadsword, Mine, and TEN. Other Chicago credits: The Snare (Jackalope); Balm In Gilead and Port (Griffin); Buddy Cop 2, breaks & bikes, and Milk Milk Lemonade (Pavement Group); Sweet Confinement and Ivanov (SiNNERMAN Ensemble); Orange Flower Water (Interrobang); Lies & Liars and Mimesophobia (Theatre Seven); Rewind (The Side Project). Last summer she wrapped on a short film called Fairground and can also be seen in Jeri’s Grille. Next, you can see her in the World Premier of Obliterated by Andrew Hinderaker, co-starring Michael Patrick Thornton. Cyd got her BFA from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX and is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf. She is represented by Promote Talent Agency.
Jojo Brown (she/her): “Steph”
Jojo Brown is a stage & screen actor who was born and raised in Chicago. Off-Broadway credits include CHARM and 7 Minutes. Television credits include her recurring role as Mindy on Freeform’s Single Drunk Female and appearances on NBC, Showtime, Comedy Central, FX, and Paramount Plus.
Claire Kaplan (she/her): “Lane”
Claire is a theater-maker, actor, and teacher from Long Beach, CA. Regional credits include South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, and East West Players. Claire is co-artistic director of The West, an experimental theatre company formerly based in LA, now creating work in Chicago and Berlin. She is directing Theatre Unspeakable’s touring show introducing Shakespeare to kids and is teaching devised theater at UIC. She recently helped create the musical world for Backroom Shakes’ The Winter’s Tale.
Jess Maynard (she/her): u/s “Della”
Jess is thrilled to be working with About Face for the first time. Jess has appeared on stage at Remy Bumppo, Theatre Wit, Eclipse Theatre Company, and Prop Thtr among others. She has appeared on television on Chicago Med. Regionally she has worked with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and the Southern California Lyric Theatre. She graduated with an MFA in Acting from DePaul University and is currently pursuing her teaching certificate in the Michael Chekhov technique. Jess is also a headshot and portrait photographer in Chicago. Thank you to Josh and Mae for all their love and support.
Amanda Giles (she/they): u/s “Lane”
Amanda is thrilled to be making her About Face debut! Most recently, you may have seen them as Hershel in Hershel & The Hannukah Goblins. Notable other Chicago area credits include: Haymarket: A New Folk Musical, A Man Of No Importance, Carrie 2: The Rage, Queer. People. Time. & Elizabeth in If/Then and Young Gertrude in Loving Repeating, both Jeff award nominated performances. Thanks to the best agents in the biz at Grossman & Jack Talent, the cast, team and the most supportive constellation of loved ones. Love is the brightest thing there is, let it in. www.amanda-giles.com
Stephanie Fongheiser (she/her): u/s “Steph”
Stephanie is so excited to be making her About Face debut and is thrilled to be understudying a character who shares not only her name, but also her identities. Chicago credits include: A Christmas Carol (u/s, Drury Lane Theatre), Little Women (First Folio Theatre), Frankenstein (Oil Lamp Theatre), I Build Giants (u/s, The Plagiarists), Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog (Black Button Eyes Productions), and Fast Company (u/s, Jackalope Theatre). She has participated in several new play workshops with companies including Strawdog Theatre, Avalanche Theatre, The Plagiarists, and Rivendell Theatre. She is a company member at Avalanche Theatre and is represented by BMG Talent.
Production Bios
Conchita Avitia (she/her/ella): Lighting Designer
Conchita is a freelance Mexican-American Lighting Designer based in Chicago; she holds her BA in Theatre Design from Columbia College Chicago. Recent design credits are with Teatro Vista (¡Bernarda!, The Dream King [Jeff Recipient]), Colectivo El Pozo (Peter Malmö), Steppenwolf Theatre (Chlorine Sky; Co-Designed), About Face (Mosque4Mosque), Concrete Content (The Wizards; Chicago Reader Best of 2023 Nomination), Steep Theater (Paris; Co-Designed), and Free Street Theater (57 Blocks). When she isn’t designing, she is serving as an ALD throughout the city; recent Assistant Lighting Designer credits are with TimeLine Theater (Relentless), Chicago Shakes (As You Like It), Steppenwolf Theatre (Another Marriage, Dance Nation), and Court Theatre (For Colored Girls). For production photos and updates visit www.avitialighting.com.
Hannah Bolstad (she/her): Lead Electrician
Hannah previously working as the Production Electrician on AFT’s Mosque4Mosque. She has loved working with the production team and admires all the work they’ve done for the show. She would like to thank the team, her family, and her girlfriend for all their support. Enjoy the show!
Gianni Carcagno (she/they): Accessibility Coordinator
Gianni is excited to return to About Face after recently working as accessibility coordinator for Gender Play and Mosque4Mosque. In addition to accessibility, Gianni is also a stage manager, with recent credits including: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, TimeLine Theatre Company, and Apollo Theater Chicago. www.giannicarcagno.com
MEGAN CARNEY (she/her): AFT Artistic Director
Megan is a director, playwright, and teaching artist. Recent Chicago directing credits include The Gulf, 20/20, and Time Is On Our Side (About Face), Winter, Grizzly Mama, Danielle Pinnock’s Body/Courage, American Wee Pie, and The Walls (Rivendell). Megan has written several plays based on true stories, including Women At War based on 75 interviews with women in the military (Rivendell); Open Systems about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (Goodman Theatre); Let Them Eat Cake about marriage equality (Dixon Place, NYC); and multiple large ensemble plays with About Face Youth Theatre, which she co-founded. Megan’s work in theatre and community building has been recognized with multiple After Dark Awards, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, an APA Presidential Citation, induction into Chicago’s LGBT Hall of Fame, and a Rockefeller Foundation MAP Grant. Megan served as the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she developed public arts-based programs and led interactive workshops. She is a certified mediator with the Center for Conflict Resolution, earned an MFA in Theatre with a focus on Directing and Public Dialogue from Virginia Tech as well as a BA from Kalamazoo College, where her ideas about art as a tool for social justice and activism began to take shape.
Jean E. Compton (she/her): Stage Manager
Jean is thrilled to work with About Face for the first time! She is a stage manager, collaborator, and new works booster whose Chicago credits include Blues for an Alabama Sky, Galileo’s Daughter, Anna in the Tropics, and Passage (Remy Bumppo); Paradise Square (Pre-Broadway); Thirst (Strawdog); The Death of Gaia Divine (Momentary Theatre); 3:35PM, Candide, and Mudpie 2018 (Mudlark); You for Me for You (Sideshow); Lizzie (Firebrand); and Shining Lives (Northlight). Her regional credits include Into the Breeches! (Cleveland Play House); Cannabis Passover, Proximity, Indecent, Blood at the Root, Commedia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, An Octoroon, and Into the Breeches! (Chautauqua Theater Company); Venus in Fur and The Whale (Rep Stage); and seasons at Two River Theater and Cleveland Play House. Jean was a company member at The Passage Theatre where she stage managed The Miscellany, All-One! The Dr. Bronner’s Play, and Spirits to Enforce. She is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. www.jeanecompton.com
Jenn Freeman: Choreographer
Jenn Freeman is a Chicago based performance artist that also navigates the world as Po’Chop. Freeman, inspired by Portland based artist, keyon gaskin, prefers to not contextualize their work through credentials.
Keira Fromm (she/her): Director
Keira is a Chicago-based, Jeff-award nominated director. She is also an Artistic Associate with About Face Theatre where she directed Bull in a China Shop, Significant Other, Bright Half Life, and A Kid Like Jake. Other directing credits include: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre), The Moors, A Phoenix Too Frequent, and A Doll’s House (American Players Theatre), The Last Match (Writers Theatre); At the Wedding and Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (TheatreSquared); Top Girls and hang (Remy Bumppo); The Columnist (American Blues Theater); Charles Ives’ Take Me Home (Strawdog); The How and the Why (TimeLine Theatre); Broadsword (The Gift Theatre); and Fallow (Steep Theatre.) She received her MFA from DePaul University, her BFA from Boston University, is an alumna of Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, and a member of SDC, the professional directors union. Keira will be directing The Liar at American Players Theatre this upcoming summer. www.keirafromm.com
Gregory Graham (he/him): Costume Designer
Gregory is a Chicago costume designer and milliner. His credits include: Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet, Dream: A Community Reimaging of A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Mothers (Gift Theater), The Writer (Steep Theatre); Blues for an Alabama Sky, Anna in the Tropics, Routes (Remy Bumppo Theatre); The Porch on Windyhill, Garbologist, Fireflies (Northlight Theatre); Once (Writers Theatre); Is God Is (A Red Orchid Theatre); From the Mississippi Delta (Lifeline Theatre); A Mile in the Dark (Interronbang Theatre Project); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre); 1919 (Steppenwolf Theatre); Enough to Let The Light In (Teatro Vista); Private Lives (Raven Theatre); Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, Rent, Porchlight Revisits: Passing Strange (Porchlight Music Theatre); On the Greenbelt, Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog Theatre); Othello (Court Theatre)); The Facts of Life: Satan’s School for Girls, The Drag Seed (Hell in a Handbag Productions). Regional: The Wiz (Children’s Theatre of Madison); Raisin (Skylight Music Theatre); Blood at the Root ( Millikin University, School of Theatre and Dance). Education: BA in Theatre Design, University of Illinois at Chicago . www.gregorygrahamdesign.com
AUDREY KLEINE (she/her): AFT Production Manager
Audrey is a Chicago-based artist and the Operations and Production Manager at About Face Theatre. She moved from Nashville, Tennessee, to Chicago to attend college and received a BA in Theater with a concentration in Stage Management from Columbia College Chicago in 2017. After graduating, she freelanced as an Assistant Stage Manager and Production Assistant for more than a dozen productions at Chicago theaters including Windy City Playhouse, The Goodman, About Face Theatre, Rivendell and more. The Brightest Thing in the World marks her ninth full production with About Face.
Christopher Kriz (he/him): Sound Designer & Composer
Christopher is a composer and sound designer based in Chicago and is pleased to return to AFT having previously designed Dada Woof Papa Hot, Time Is On Our Side, Significant Other, Bright Half Life, and many others. Winner of five Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has designed for companies in Chicago including Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Northlight Theatre, Court Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Writers Theatre, Remy Bumppo Theatre, Timeline Theatre, Shattered Globe Theatre, The Gift Theatre, and dozens of others. Regional design credits include: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Peninsula Players, Crossroads Theatre, American Stage Theatre, Montana Shakespeare, TheatreSquared, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, and others. Christopher is a proud member of United Scenic Artists 829. To hear more of his work, please visit www.christopherkriz.com
Hannah Kwak (she/her): Asst. Sound Designer
Hannah is thrilled to be working with About Face Theatre for the first time. She recently worked on Night Watch at Raven Theatre and spent this past summer with Peninsula Players Theatre as their Lighting and Sound Intern. Hannah is in her final semester at Loyola University Chicago, where she is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Theatre and History. @hannahgkwak
Sotirios Livaditis (he/him): Scenic Designer
Sotirios is a set designer and illustrator based in Chicago. Recent projects include Birthday Candles (Northlight Theatre) Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress (Children’s Theatre), The Writer (Steep Theatre), The October Storm (Raven Theatre), Queen (Penobscot Theatre) and Enough to Let the Light In (Teatro Vista/Steppenwolf). He has worked with Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago Opera Theatre and the Irish National Opera. He holds an MFA from Northwestern University. Please experience his work at www.sotiriosdesigns.com.
Catherine Miller (they/them): Dramaturg, Casting Director
Catherine is excited to be back at AFT, having cast Mosque4Mosque, Gender Play, and the upcoming Lavender Men, in addition to casting and artistic producing the most recent Re/Generation Studio. They have cast productions for Raven Theatre, Theatre Wit, American Musical Theatre Project, Northwestern University, BoHo Theatre, Haven Chicago, Jackalope Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, and First Floor Theater among many others. Additionally, Catherine has done dramaturgy and gender consulting work for Paramount Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and AFT. Catherine was a 2021 3Arts Make A Wave recipient and has a BFA in Dramaturgy/Criticism from The Theatre School at DePaul.
Aimy Tien (she/they): Assistant Director
Aimy is happy to return to one of their artistic homes at About Face. She is a queer Vietnamese Chinese American multidisciplinary artist bringing stories to the page, stage, and screen. Selected collaborators and credits include Free Street Theater, 2nd Story, the Guggenheim, PBS, Apple TV+, and HBO. Aimy is the founder of tinheart productions and the creator of The Queer Joy Project. Learn more about them and their work at AimyTien.com.
B Valek (they/them): Asst. Stage Manager
B Valek is a Chicago-based artist. Stage management credits include: Laced (About Face Theatre); Windwalkers, The House of Baba Yaga, Tippy: Stories from the River, The Wood (The Impostors Theatre Co). Performance credits include The Last Living Gun and Miranda: A War-Torn Fable (The Impostors Theatre Co). B is a proud ensemble member of The Impostors Theatre Co. Thank you for being here and for supporting queer theatre.
Becca Venable (she/her): Technical Director
Becca is a Dallas, Texas, native now living in Chicago where she was the technical director at the University of Illinois at Chicago for over three years. In May 2018, she was the recipient of the Michael Merritt Emerging Technical Collaborator Award. Becca also works as a technical director, sound designer, and lighting designer around the city. Some of Becca’s credits include A Year With Frog and Toad (Chicago Children’s Theatre), The Nutcracker (Ballet Lubbock), The Gulf (About Face Theatre), Dying City (The Comrades), American Hero (First Floor Theater), and A Streetcar Named Desire (University of Illinois at Chicago).
Kate Warner (she/her): AFT Interim Managing Director
After holding both Artistic Director and Managing Director positions for 20 years, Kate completed her Executive MBA in 2015, became a Certified Global Innovator at Oxford, and now regularly consults with non-profits on everything from strategy and sustainability to transformation and innovation. In her theatre career, she has held leadership positions at New Rep in Boston and Dad’s Garage and Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta. She served as a board member of Theatre Communications Group from 2006 to 2012 and co‐chaired the 2012 Conference in Boston. She is a member and presenter for both Lincoln Center Theatre Directors’ Lab and Directors Lab West. She has been a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society since 1999.
Sheryl Williams (she/her): Intimacy & Violence Choreographer
Sheryl is thrilled to be joining the About Face Team! With a B.A in Musical Theater and Stage Combat Minor from Columbia College Chicago and over a decade of acting experience, she has been using her multiple skill sets to support and enhance stories all over the Chicagoland Area. While being a repeat Consultant and Choreographer for North Central College and Roosevelt University, some credits include: Fen (Court Theater) and Cabaret (Porchlight), The Nacirema Society (The Goodman Theater), Spring Awakening (Roosevelt CCPA), Anything Goes (Porchlight), and Silent Sky (Citadel Theater).
Leah Nanako Winkler: Playwright
Leah is an award-winning playwright and TV writer from Kamakura, Japan, and Lexington, Kentucky. Her plays include God Said This, Two Mile Hollow, Kentucky, Hot Asian Doctor Husband, and The Brightest Thing in the World, as well as many short plays all produced Off-Broadway and regionally. Accolades and fellowships: Yale Drama Series Prize, Mark O’Donnell Prize from The Actors Fund and Playwrights Horizons, Audible’s Emerging Playwrights Fund, Jerome New York Fellow at the Lark, Francesca Primus Prize, and a 2020 Steinberg Playwright Award. She is published by American Theater Magazine, Nanjing University’s Stage and Screen Reviews, Yale University Press, Backstage, Smith and Krauss, Samuel French, and Dramatists Play Service. TV credits include Michael Moore’s TV NATION, New Amsterdam, A24’s Ramy on Hulu (where she along with the other writers won a Peabody Award), Love Life on HBO MAX, and currently on projects at Apple, Warner and Amazon.
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.
Thank you to our Generous Funders
For a complete list of our donors and supporters, please visit our Support Us page.
BECOME AN ABOUT FACE SUPPORTER TODAY!
Today, it’s more important than ever to tell bold, powerful LGBTQ+ stories on stage, in our communities, and now online. About Face Theatre’s work is a powerful catalyst for moving forward local and national conversations on sexual and gender identity. During AFT’s 2019-2020 season, we persisted through amazing challenges to continue to connect with our community and continue telling LGBTQ stories.
- Our in-person and virtual productions and educational programming reached almost 4,800 community members
- Our community outreach production adapted its stories for the internet, creating the amazing Power in Pride at Home web series
- AFT’s Youth Ensemble and Youth Task Force produced online cabarets that reached more than twice as many viewers as our in-person events
With your help, we will continue to adapt and expand our impact into Chicago communities and beyond.
