Lavender Men playbill
A Warm Welcome from About Face Theatre’s Artistic Director
We’re thrilled to welcome you to Taffeta’s universe in this trans-genre production! Drawing on fantasias throughout history, including Tony Kushner’s iconic works, Lavender Men invites us into a story that imagines a queer future out of the complex nature of our present and past.
I met Roger Q. Mason years ago through the Dramatists Guild. As I learned about Roger’s history in Chicago it was clear that About Face could provide a warm homecoming for this artist now premiering work across the country. Witnessing Roger reunited with the ingenious director Lucky Stiff has been thrilling for all of us and we’re excited to share this team’s visions with you.
Our season is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of how storytelling can truly change the world by challenging ideas. We kicked off the year with three weeks of new play workshops and skill sharing during Re/Generation Studio. In the spring, a creative team led by Director Keira Fromm, brought their full force to Leah Nanako’s Winkler’s The Brightest Thing in the World, a beautifully layered story about loving an addict. And now we’re thrilled to present Lavender Men as the ultimate historical do-over.
In Mason’s own words, Taffeta is, “kitschy, improvisational, and fabulous. Literally, the stuff of fables. She inserts herself into the fable of America in order to find liberation for herself from within that story.” You’re in good hands. Enjoy the journey!
Megan Carney
About Face Theatre Artistic Director
About Face Theatre
MEGAN CARNEY+ | KATE WARNER+ |
Artistic Director | Interim Managing Director |
presents
Written by
Roger Q. Mason
Directed by
Lucky Stiff
Cast
Tafetta | JULIAN “JOOLZ” STROOP |
Abe | MATT MARTIN |
Elmer | SHEA PETERSEN* |
u/s Tafetta | LUKE HALPERN |
u/s Abe | LOREN JONES |
u/s Elmer | GARVIN VAN DERNOOT |
Production Team
Asst. Director | JOHN-PAYNE |
Production Manager | AUDREY KLEINE |
Casting Director | CATHERINE MILLER |
Production Stage Manager | ISABEL PATT* |
Assistant Stage Manager | THEO WAMPUSZYC |
Movement Designer | JACINDA RATCLIFFE |
Intimacy & Violence Choreographer | COURTNEY ABBOTT |
Scenic Designer | CAITLIN MCLEOD |
Technical Director | BECCA VENABLE |
Scenic Painter | CHARLIE DEWITT |
Props Designer | AMANDA HERRMANN |
Costume Designer | ANNA WOODEN |
Sound Designer & Composer | DEE ETTI-WILLIAMS |
Lighting Designer | BENJAMIN CARNE |
Lead Electrician | HANNAH BOLSTAD |
Properties Designer | AMANDA HERRMANN |
Accessibility Coordinator | GIANNI CARCAGNO |
Scenic Crew | KIERAN O’CONNOR, ALEX RHYAN |
Electric Crew | KIERAN O’CONNOR |
Education Manager | Dionne Addai |
Graphic Design & Illustration | Charles Riffenburg |
Production Photography | Jenn Udoni |
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
Special Thanks
About Face Theatre extends a special thank you to Chicago Scenic Studios and UIC School of Theatre and Music.
Performer Bios
Luke Halpern (they/he/she): u/s “Taffeta”
Previous Credits include: Tick Tick… Boom (BoHo Theatre), Susan; Children of Eden (Broadway in Chicago), Ensemble; Kinky Boots (Paramount), swing/ensemble; Newsies (Paramount), swing/ensemble; A Chorus Line (Porchlight), Tom, u/s Paul, Al, Don; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakes), Moth; A Chorus Line (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Paul. Much love to their friends and family for the unwavering support.
Loren Jones (he/him): u/s “Abe”
Originally from Idaho, Loren moved to Illinois to pursue his Masters in acting, which he achieved in 2019. He moved to Chicago afterwards to begin his Midwestern career. Local recent credits include playing Ortle in A Christmas Carol at The Goodman theatre as well as understudying Bob Cratchit (with multiple performances); Murder On the Orient Express (Drury Lane); Statesville Voices reading series (The Goodman); and ROE (The Goodman). He is currently working on writing a one man show about veterans dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Matt Martin (he/they): “Abe”
Matt is an artist, advocate, and educator in Chicago. He is making his About Face debut. Recent work includes Mothers (The Gift), Christmas Carol (Drury Lane), Last Hermanos (Red Orchid), Heroes of the Fourth Turning, Uncle Vanya, Dance Nation, and In His Hands (Northwestern). Matt developed and performed new and immersive work in New York City with Accomplice, Pigeonholed, New Light Theater Project, and as a founding member of Lalabala Collective. Favorite regional credits include Romance/Romance, The 25th Annual… Spelling Bee, and Angels in America. His upcoming projects include In His Hands with First Floor and directing My Name is Rachel Corrie. When not performing, he is on staff supporting Arts Alliance Illinois in its endeavors to empower the creative sector across the state. MFA: Northwestern University. He is repped by DDO Artists Agency. Follow him @matt_mart.
Shea Petersen (he/they): “Elmer”
About Face Premiere. Chicago credits include: Enemy of the People (Goodman Theatre); Mike Pence Sex Dream (First Floor Theatre); At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen (The Story Theatre); The Boys in the Band (Windy City Playhouse); Regional credits: At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen (Urbanite Theatre) Film credits: Oh Baby! (dir: Meghann Artes). Shea received their BFA in acting from DePaul University and is represented by Grossman&Jack.
Julian “Joolz” Stroop (they/them): “Tafetta”
Ah, a stranger, quick, come in from the cold… have you met joolz? joolz makes art. joolz plays games. Sometimes joolz makes other things. Strange, terrible, unspeakable things. You may know them from their D&D actual play podcast The Pod Has Been Cast, have seen them on stage with companies like Filament Theater, Strawdog Theater Company, or perhaps even more recently: screaming silently in your own nightmares. When they aren’t polymorphing into other creatures/things, you may find them doodling monsters, writing stories, or making games.
Garvin van Dernoot (they/them): u/s “Elmer”
Garvin is a Chicago based actor hailing from the mountains of Colorado. Most recently they were seen as The Conductor in the interactive production of The Polar Express at Union Station. They are also currently understudying Blue in the Right Way’s production of Women Beware Women at the Edge Theatre on Broadway. They made their Chicago debut playing Kazimir Malevich in Chagall in School, directed by Georgette Verdin. They are thrilled to be working with About Face for the first time, and want to thank the entire team for this opportunity. They would also like to thank their parents, their roommates, and all their friends for their continued love and support. They would like to dedicate this performance to their late Grandfather, Peter R. van Dernoot, whose memory is a blessing.
Production Bios
Courtney Abbout (they/she): Intimacy & Violence Choreographer
Upcoming: In His Hands (First Floor). Past: Love Song (Remy Bumppo); SS! Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakes); Women Beware Women (Blue in the Right Way); She Loves Me (Citadel); Wolves (Redtwist); The Rise And Fall of Little Voice (The Gift); No Man’s Land, Bald Sisters, Choir Boy, Chlorine Sky (Steppenwolf); Enough To Let The Light In (Teatro Vista). Film: Stars in the Water, Paper Planes, Lee Baby, Departing Seniors. Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern. Courtney is a Stakeholder in the Back Room Shakespeare Project. CourtneyAbbott.com
Hannah Bolstad (she/her): Lead Electrician
Hannah previously worked as the Production Electrician on AFT’s The Brightest Thing in the World and 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
Benjamin Carne (he/him): Lighting Designer
Benjamin is a lighting designer and electrician based in Chicago. Ben’s recent design credits include: Teatro Zinzanni’s Love, Chaos and Dinner; Botticelli in the Fire (Jeff Award, First Floor Theater); James and the Giant Peach (Marriott Theatre); It Came From Outer Space (TheatreSquared); Body Movement Series (Fever Productions); The Grelley Duval Show; and Shrek the Musical (Drury Lane Theatre). As well as assistant lighting design for It Came From Outer Space (Chicago Shakespeare); A Chorus Line (Drury Lane). Ben is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. A portfolio of his work can be found at bcarnedesign.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.
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. Lavender Men marks her tenth full production with About Face.
Roger Q. Mason (they/them): Playwright
Roger Q. Mason is a writer and performer who uses the lens of history to disrupt the biases that divide rather than unite us. Their playwriting has been seen on Broadway (Circle in the Square Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway; and regionally. Mason’s world premiere of Lavender Men was lauded by the Los Angeles Times as “evoking the mingled visions of Suzan-Lori Parks, Jeremy O. Harris, and Michael R. Jackson.” As a filmmaker, Mason has been recognized by the British Film Institute, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award, and Atlanta International Film Festival. Their films have been screened in the US, UK, Poland, Brazil, and Asia. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Ma-Yi’s Writing Lab, and are an alum of Page 73’s Interstate 73 Writers Group and Primary Stages Writing Cohort. Mason has co-hosted the podcast Sister Roger’s Gayborhood and hosted This Way Out Radio’s Queerly Yours: Portraits in Courage. They are a lead mentor of The Marsha P. Johnson Institute’s Starship Fellowship, the New Visions Fellowship, and the Shay Foundation Fellowship. Instagram: @rogerq.mason
Caitlin McLeod (she/her): Scenic Designer
Caitlin is a costume, scenic, and puppet designer. Most recent credits include: Blues for an Alabama Sky (Virginia Stage Co); What the Constitution Means to Me (Copley Theatre, Aurora); The Dream King (Teatro Vista); The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Trouble in Mind (Timeline); The Aleph Complex (Alleyway Buffalo, NY); Get Out Alive (Haven); The Seagull (Steppenwolf); Sea Change (Cabinet of Curiosity); Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog); Exquisite Corpse (Rough House); Stick Fly (Writers Theatre). She also is a freelance craftsperson with work recently at The Goodman, The Kennedy Center, Lookingglass, Theatre Wit, Northlight, and Cabinet of Curiosity. Caitlin is a co-curator of NBS: Chicago’s Puppet Slam, a company member of Rough House and Cabinet of Curiosity, and the project manager of the Chicago Puppet Studio. Instagram @CaitlinMcLeodDesign
Catherine Miller (they/them): Dramaturg, Casting Director
Catherine is excited to be back at AFT, having cast The Brightest Thing in the World, Mosque4Mosque, and Gender Play, in addition to casting and artistic producing the most recent Re/Generation Studio. They have cast productions for Raven Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Theatre Wit, American Musical Theatre Project, and Northwestern University, among many others. Additionally, Catherine has done dramaturgy and gender consulting work for Paramount Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and AFT on The Brightest Thing in the World. Catherine was a 2021 3Arts Make A Wave recipient and has a BFA in Dramaturgy/Criticism from The Theatre School at DePaul.
Isabell Patt (they/them): Production Stage Manager
Isabel is so excited to be working with About Face! Recent credits include ¡Bernarda! (Teatro Vista/Steppenwolf), The October Storm (Raven Theatre), The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences (First Stage), Carmela Full of Wishes (Children’s Theatre Company), Pivot Arts Festival 2021 and 2022 (The Edge Theater), and touring with The Second City from 2021-2023. In addition to stage managing, Izzy was recently traveling the world with Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring/common ground[s] in collaboration with the UK’s Sadler’s Wells and Senegal’s École des Sables as company manager. They can also be found working at iO Theatre and the Neofuturists. Izzy is a member of Actors Equity Association and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota.
John-Payne (they/them/all): Assistant Director
John-Payne is a Chicago theatre-artist/curator/
Jacinda Radcliffe: Movement Director
A 2021 recipient of the Make A Wave Grant through 3Arts, Jacinda Ratcliffe is an actor, dancer, and Jeff-nominated Choreographer & Movement Director based in Chicago. She is an ensemble member with Lucky Plush Productions where she originated roles in Curb Candy (Harris Theater) and Rink Life (Steppenwolf 1700). She is currently a collaborator in LPP’s upcoming production Right Here. She has additionally danced as a company member with Winifred Haun & Dancers and as an apprentice with Project Bound Dance. Theater Artistic Team credits include THE ISLAND as Movement Director (Court Theatre); GET OUT ALIVE as Co-Choreographer (Haven Theatre); LADY FROM THE SEA as Associate Movement Artist (Court Theatre); LACED as Choreographer & Assistant Director (About Face Theatre); MLIMA’S TALE as Movement Director (Griffin Theatre); THE ODE AT PINT’S END as Choreographer (Birch House Immersive Theater). She is on faculty at the Actor’s Gymnasium and Chicago Movement Collective, the latter of which she also serves as Collective Manager & sits on the Board of Directors.
Lucky Stiff (they/them): Director
Lucky Stiff is a trans and nonbinary director, writer, and performer working in Chicago and New York. They build original experiences that combine nightclub culture and performance art which have been featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Blue Man Group Chicago, Boy Friday Dance Company, and Bushwig Festival of Drag, among many others. They hold an MFA in Directing for Theater from Northwestern University and have lectured in performance and directing at UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. luckystiffdrag.com
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.
Dee Etti-Williams (they/them): Sound Designer
Dee is an up-and-coming Sound Designer and Engineer from Dallas, Texas living in Chicago. After Studying Acting at Oklahoma City University, they moved to Chicago to participate in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Sound Apprenticeship Program. Since then, they have had the opportunity to work all over Chicago making theatre and telling stories and expressing their passion through design. Regional Theatre credits include The Antelope Party (Oklahoma City Repertory Theater); The Brothers Size (Oklahoma City Repertory Theater); The Island (Court Theatre). Chicago design credits include Run The Beast Down (Strawdog Theatre Company); Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog Theatre Company); Beatrix Potter’s Holiday Tea Party (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Haus of Atreus (Mudlark Theater); Peerless (Northwestern University Graduate Directing Program); On The Greenbelt (Strawdog Theatre Company); At The Vanishing Point (The Gift Theatre); Paris (Steep Theatre); Light Falls (Steep Theatre); Private Lives (Raven Theatre); Boulevard of Bold Dreams (Timeline Theatre Company); Is God Is (A Red Orchid Theatre); The Threepenny Opera (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre); Xanadu (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre); Exit Strategy (Northwestern University); The Addams Family (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre); The Wolves (UChicago Theatre and Performance Studies Program); A Christmas Carol (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre).
Anna Wooden (she/her): Costume Designer
Anna specializes in costume design while also working in scenic, puppetry, sculpture, illustration, and fabrication. She’s drawn to lyrical writing, inventive storytelling, fluid collaboration, and the discovery of building the perfect world for each story. She is an artistic associate of Cloudgate Theatre, an adjunct teaching artist at DePaul University, and an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. She earned her MFA at Northwestern University. Favorite credits include Get Out Alive (Haven), Pinnochio (The House), Footloose (Marriott Lincolnshire), Second Skin (Cloudgate), and Marys Seacole (Griffin). annawoodendesign@gmail.com
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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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.