Re/Generation Studio (2024-2025) playbill
From About Face Theatre’s Artistic Director
Welcome to Re/Generation Studio!
This program was born out of vulnerable, passionate, and hopeful exchanges in the Fall of 2021. At that time, I recognized different kinds of unsettling challenges and inspiring breakthroughs that we were making about the kind of stories we wanted to tell and how we wanted to tell them emerging from the pandemic.
The pilot year was organized around a series of Saturday afternoon play readings. Each week we read an excerpt of a play and then activated some exploration of the themes through collages, gestural movement work, small group discussion, and other methods. One of those plays, Lavender Men, was so well received we decided to move it forward into full production in our 22-23 season.
The second time around, the Re/Gen schedule was expanded into a festival format adding workshops and intentional community gatherings. The program attracted people eager to share what they know and learn from each other. One of the devising sessions led to a new model for developing work and that has been a major focus of our current season.
Building on this remarkable trajectory, we are thrilled to introduce our third round of Re/Gen Studio with special thanks to our generous colleagues at The Goodman who have invited us to present some featured events in The Alice, their Education and Engagement facility.
A recent Theatre Communications Group survey titled “Compounding Crises”, acknowledged:
“It is a time of both crisis and chrysalis, for there are theatres and theatre workers who are thriving, and we can build from those bright spots as we recover. And we must do more than just rebuild; we must also transform our models into a just and thriving theatre ecology that works for all of us.”
At About Face we are dedicated to ongoing evolution for the field and our culture. Re/Generation Studio is one of those bright spots in our theatre ecology and we look forward to seeing you there.
Megan Carney
About Face Theatre Artistic Director
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Workshop Artists
Zahra Baker (they/she)
“Creative Sound Play for All: A Music and Wellness” Workshop
Zahra Glenda Baker is a performance artist recognized for her work as a folk and improv vocalist, dramatic actor and an engaging storyteller. She has performed at storytelling festivals, schools, museums, conferences and special events across the country. Zahra is a member of the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS), the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a 3Arts Make a Wave recipient, and an active participant in the national cohort, Creating Freedom Movements.
Ashli Funches (any pronouns)
“Theatre for Learning and Liberation” workshop
Ashli is currently working as an actor, educator, and florist. Ashli is a teaching artist with Timeline, Lifeline, Writers Theatre, and a touring artist with Pegasus. Ashli’s recent credits include: IS GOD IS (Red Orchid), Native Son (Lifeline), Notes from the Field (Timeline), Stew (Shattered Globe), For Colored Girls (Fleetwood-Jourdian), A Drop in the Bucket (Jackolope), and Detroit 67 (The Theatre School). Ashli received their BFA in Acting and an BA in African Diaspora from DePaul University. She wrote, produced, and portrayed Amari in the film A Yellow Circus (premiered at the Black Film Festival New Orleans, Micheaux, Black Alphabet, and Black Harvest Film Festival). Ashli also portrays Z in a feature entitled The lapse premiering later this year. Before then, you can catch Ashli on Chicago PD.
Lexi Saunders (she/her)
Town Hall for Directors and Theatre Makers
Lexi is a director, performer, and teaching artist originally from Los Angeles. Their Chicago directing credits include Laced and Power in Pride (About Face Theatre), Roan @ The Gates (American Blues), The Departure (Haven), Eurydice (Jedlicka), Grounded (Theater of Thought), Fifty Shades of Shakespeare ((re)discover), the upcoming regional premiere of Natural Shocks; and various storytelling events with 2nd Story. Lexi has assistant directed at Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Steep, Jackalope, and La Jolla Playhouse; and was honored to be selected for Victory Gardens’ inaugural Directors Inclusion Initiative and The Directors Haven. She currently teaches storytelling, acting, playwriting, and performance art for both teens and adults at 2nd Story, TimeLine Theatre, and Camp Bravo. In both their art and teaching practice, Lexi is passionate about creating spaces for people to explore and expand their voices through vulnerability, empathy, imagination, creativity, and collaboration. She is a member of the 2nd Story Collective and an Artistic Associate of About Face Theatre. BA/BS Theatre & Psychology, UC San Diego.
Nadya Naumaan (they/them)
Town Hall for Directors and Theatre Makers
Nadya is a Pakistani-American nonbinary queer Muslim artist working in theater and filmmaking in Chicago over the last six years as a director/associate director, dramaturg, producer, scriptwriter, playwright, stage manager, and actor. Previous credits include First Floor Theater’s One Party Consent (Director), About Face Theatre’s Mosque4Mosque (AD), Jackalope’s Pretty Shahid (Dramaturg/AD), Court Theatre’s Photograph 51 (AD), ITP’s I Call My Brothers (Dramaturg), and New Coordinates’ Love in the Time of Jonestown (AD). Nadya’s short film STUCK was screened at the Coalition of South Asian Film Festivals in 2020 in addition to several other film festivals. Their webseries, Pooj&Nad, was a finalist at The Mosquers Film Festival in 2022. Their latest short, A Simple Ask, was recently screened at the International South Asian Film Festival of Canada and Sundar Prize Film Festival.
Albe Gutierrez (she/her/ella)
#HireTransNOW: Trans Workplace Inclusion Training
Albe Gutierrez, also known as Miss Albe or Albe, is a bilingual (English/Spanish) art therapist, group facilitator, and special projects lead at CTC who works with clients and organizations seeking LGBTQIA+ affirming care and consultation. She holds a Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling degree, MAATC, from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, BFA, in Studio Art from the University of New Mexico. When working with Albe, the process is a collaborative experience designed to enhance personal insight, coping skills, and communication techniques through various avenues of self-expression. Her approach to therapy and treatment is an integrative one, combining expressive arts modalities with psychodynamic and client-centered methods that incorporate Positive CBT to promote a trauma-informed environment for growth.
Reading Workshop Artists
Phases of the Moon Artists
Bryna Turner (they/them)
Playwright
Bryna Turner is a Brooklyn-based playwright originally from Northern California. Their play At the Wedding had its world premiere at LCT3 at Lincoln Center Theater. It received the Laurie Foundation’s Theatre Visions Fund Award, a NY Times Critic’s Pick, and was featured in the NYT Best of 2022 “Unforgettable Theatrical Moments” category. Their play Bull in a China Shop also premiered at LCT3 and was a NY Times Critic’s Pick. Other plays include Phases of the Moon and How to Separate Your Soul from Your Body (in ten easy steps!).
Keria Fromm (she/her)
Director
Keira is a Chicago-based, Jeff Award-nominated freelance director. She is a proud artistic associate at About Face Theatre where she’s directed The Brightest Thing in the World, Bull in a China Shop, Significant Other, Bright Half Life, and A Kid Like Jake. Other recent favorite directing credits include: The Liar, The Moors, and A Doll’s House (American Players Theatre), Mary’s Wedding (Peninsula Players Theatre), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); The Last Match (Writers Theatre); Top Girls and hang (Remy Bumppo); The Columnist (American Blues Theatre); The How and the Why (TimeLine Theatre), Charles Ives Take Me Home (Strawdog), Broadsword (Gift Theatre), and Fallow (Steep Theatre). Keira received her MFA from DePaul University, is a Lincoln Center Directors Lab alum, and is a member of SDC, the professional directors union. keirafromm.com
Janyce Caraballo* (she/her)
“Margaret”
Janyce is an actor, director, and teaching artist from Chicago’s Humboldt Park. She takes pride in her Latiné culture, Queer communities, and strives to uplift their vibrant stories. She is passionate about creating fun inclusive spaces, being an ally for underrepresented folx in the arts, and making storytelling accessible to and for all. Select Chicago credits: Little Women; Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley (Northlight Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane); Shakespeare in the Parks (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Romeo and Juliet; Hope: Part 2 of a Mexican Trilogy (Teatro Vista); Seussical (Marriott); Suddenly, Last Summer (Raven Theatre); Hot Pink (New American Folk Theatre); The Full Monty (Theo Ubique). Regional Credits: Peninsula Players, Door Shakespeare, Indiana Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre, First Folio Theatre,TheatreSquared. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. She has her Master of Fine Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Website: www.janyce-caraballo.com
Aurora Real de Asua* (she/her)
“Louise”
Aurora Real de Asua is an actor, playwright, and filmmaker. Previous credits include The Wolves (Goodman, Jeff Award for Best Ensemble), The Adventures of Augie March (Court Theatre), The Wickhams (Northlight Theatre), Top Girls (Remy Bumppo), The Moors (American Players Theatre), Pipeline (Victory Gardens), and Firebirds Take the Field (Rivendell Theatre). Her play WIPEOUT received a rolling world premiere through the National New Play Network, with productions at Rivendell Theatre, B Street Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company, the Alleyway Theatre, and Constellations Stage and Screen. WIPEOUT received NNPN’s David Goldman Fund for New American Play Awards. Her short film Heartsong debuted on Short of the Week and screened at various festivals. It is available to stream online. Aurora holds a BA in Theatre from Northwestern University and an MFA in film from Columbia University, where she was awarded the Jesse Thompkins III award for achievement in screenwriting. She is ensemble member at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company.
Z Mowry (they/them)
“Bishie”
Z Mowry is beyond excited to be a part of this reading of Phases of the Moon! Their most recent credits include Medium Alison in Fun Home at Porchlight Music Theatre and Cinderella at MPAC. Outside of acting, you can find them trying new recipes, taking care of their plants, and hosting dinner parties. Hire trans talent! Instagram: @zzmowry
Audrey Kleine (she/her)
Stage 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.
Untitled Queer Romance or The Subject of You Artists
Michael Turrentine (he/him)
Playwright
Michael Turrentine is so excited to get to workshop his newest play with About Face. Mainly an actor in the city working a many theaters including The Gift Theater, Steppenwolf, The Lyric Opera, Marriott, Paramount, Drury Lane, and many more, Michael has also written several plays, podcasts, and shorts including Mare (workshopped at Broken Nose Theater) and If Only Once (workshopped at Commission Theatre). Michael would like to thank his family, especially his mother, for their undying support. Michael is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Catherine Miller (they/them)
Director
Catherine has been casting for AFT since Mosque4Mosque, in addition to dramaturging The Brightest Thing in the World and acting as artistic producer of the 2024 Re/Gen Studio. Catherine is the resident casting director for Raven Theatre and American Musical Theatre Project at Northwestern University, in addition to having recently cast productions for Chicago Childrens Theatre, Theatre Wit, Backstitch Arts, and Jackalope Theatre, among many others. Additionally, Catherine has done dramaturgy and gender consulting work for Paramount Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, and Actors Theatre of Louisville, while also guest lecturing/teaching at Acting Studio Chicago, Northwestern University, The Theatre School, Notre Dame University, Roosevelt University, Columbia College, among others. They were a 2021 3Arts Make A Wave recipient and was featured in American Theatre Magazine’s Role Call. They were also 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. For more, subscribe to their new substack at frombehindthetable.substack.com.
Matty Bettencourt (she/he/they)
“Pat”
Matty Bettencourt is thrilled to be a part of exciting new work here at About Face Theatre! Previous Chicago theatre credits include shows with Paramount Theatre and Marriott Theatre as well as work with Hell In A Handbag Productions and [producingbody].
Makenzy Jenkins (she/he/they)
“Lyle”
Makenzy Jenkins is thrilled to making their AFT debut! Regional credits include: Beautiful at Drury Lane Theatre, A Taste of Soul & The Salon at Black Ensemble Theatre, Passing Strange at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, several TYA shows in the city, as well as Shrek & Frozen at New Stage Theatre in their home-state of Mississippi. They attended Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts for Acting. They enjoy their free time by exploring the city, writing, and listening to Beyonce, SZA, or a Soulquarian. It’s a privilege to be able to serve in theatre. Represented by DDO Artists Agency. Instagram: @makenzyx
Shariba Rivers* (she/her)
“Deja”
Shariba Rivers is a Chicago-based actor where she is a company member at MPAACT, a member of Playground-Chicago, and part of Artemisia Theatre’s Leadership Coalition. She has appeared on stages across Chicago, including Goodman, TimeLine, and Raven Theatres, and she has stopped in to play in Portland, Rochester, and Hilton Head. TV credits include The Chi, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Empire; film credits include Bob’s Best Friends, Instinct of Fear, Fitting Descriptions, and Smoking Gun! Shariba is an award-winning actor for her role as Lilian Harper in the BBC award-winning audiodrama Unwell: A Midwestern Gothic Mystery. Recognition includes being the 2024 3Arts Stan Lipkin & Evelyn Appell Lipkin award winner and being listed again in Newcity’s 50 Players for 2025. Shariba is represented by Gray Talent Group and is a proud member of both SAG-AFTRA and AEA. www.sharibatheactor.com
Bri Buckley (she/they)
“Autumn”
Bri Buckley is a Michigan-born, Chicago-raised actor, activist, producer, director, and educator. Dedicated to cultivating new works, Bri thrives on collaborating with playwrights and fellow creatives to bring fresh, innovative stories to life. Her recent theatrical credits include Milo Imagines the World (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Midnight Garden of Good and Evil (Goodman Theatre); Clyde’s (Denver Center for Performing Arts); and The Ripple, the Wave that Carried Me Home (Goodman Theatre & Berkeley Repertory Theatre); among others. TV Credits include The Chi (Showtime) and Night Sky (Amazon Prime). A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Bri is deeply committed to both her artistic craft and creating spaces for marginalized voices to be heard, whether on stage, in the classroom, or through her work as a producer and director. Represented by Gray Talent. SAG.
Alex Benito Rodriguez (he/him)
“Matthew”
Alex Benito Rodriguez is a Chicago based actor and teaching artist. Alex previously worked with About Face in The Leads and is overjoyed to be part of Re/Gen 2025. Chicago credits include Briefly Breathless (Wondrous Strange), Inherit the Wind (Goodman Theatre), Short Shakespeare! Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), The Lifespan of a Fact (TimeLine Theatre), Anna in the Tropics (Remy Bumppo), In His Hands, and Botticelli in the Fire (First Floor Theater). Regional: The Crucible, Noises Off (Asolo Repertory). TV: Chicago Fire (NBC).
Claire Kaplan
“Talia”
Claire Kaplan is an actor/movement director, and teaches Mask and Physical Theater at UIC. She got her MFA from Columbia College and Arthaus Berlin in Devised Performance. She has worked at home and internationally creating and performing physical theatre with various ensembles, including her own company, The West. She played Lane in the Chicago premiere of The Brightest Thing in the World with the incredible About Face. Up next: Claire will assistant direct for First Floor in May, and her rave-play Midnight Sacrament performs again on June 7 at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.
Jennifer Jelsema (she/her)
“Patrese”
Jennifer Jelsema is a professional film, television, theatre, commercial, and voice over actor represented by Gray Talent Group. Jennifer’s theatrical productions include The Singularity Play (Jackalope Theatre), Household Spirits (Theatre Wit), Bald Sisters (Steppenwolf Theatre), The Moors and Do You Feel Anger (A Red Orchid Theatre), Ushuaia Blue and Fifth Domain (Contemporary American Theatre Festival). Her television credits include Chicago Med, Paper Girls, Zen Room, and Empire. She has appeared in many films including Someone Saved My Life, Tears to a Glass Eye, Come As You Are, and The End of the Tour.
Theo Wampuszyc (he/they)
Stage Manager
Theo Wampuszyc is a trans theatre artist that approaches the stage from many angles. In addition to a growing resume in stage management, Theo also performs drag as “The Transjester,” performs as Ozzie T. Cougar for the Kane County Cougars, and acts as a company clown for Vaudeville Chicago–a healthcare organization that brings circus, music, and comedy to elder living facilities with a focus on dementia and memory care.
An Army of Lovers Artists
R. Eric Thomas (he/him)
Playwright
R. Eric Thomas is delighted to be working with About Face again after 2018’s production of his play Time Is On Our Side. He is the winner of the Barrymore Award for Best New Play, the Dramatists Guild Lanford Wilson Award, and the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Drama. He is also the “Eric” of Asking Eric, the popular nationally syndicated daily advice column found in over 100 newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. A proud member of the WGA, he was on the writing staff for the Peabody Award-winning series Dickinson (AppleTV+) and Better Things (FX) and is currently developing multiple projects for film, television, and stage. His books include the national bestseller Here For It, Kings of B’More, a 2023 American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book, and Congratulations, The Best Is Over!, an instant USA Today Bestseller. Website: rericthomas.com
Mikael Burke (he/him)
Director
Mikael Burke is a black queer director, deviser, and educator based in Chicago. A Princess Grace Award recipient in Theatre (2017) and Joseph Jefferson Award-winning Director (2024), his recent credits include: Milo Imagines the World by Christian Magby, Christian Albright, & Terry Guest (Rolling World Premiere, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago, IL & Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis, MN); King James by Rajiv Joesph (Forward Theatre, Madison, WI); Oak by Terry Guest (World Premiere, Urbanite Theatre, Sarasota, FL); Othello by William Shakespeare (Theatreworks Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO); Short Shakes! Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago, IL); Notes From the Field by Anna Deveare Smith (TimeLine, Chicago, IL); The Salvagers by Harrison David Rivers (World Premiere, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT); Tambo & Bones by Dave Harris (Refracted Theatre, Chicago, IL, winner of 8 Joseph Jefferson Awards); Blues For an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage (Remy Bumppo, Chicago, IL); Clyde’s by Lynn Nottage (Theaterworks Hartford, Hartford, CT, winner of 1 CCC Award); The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest (About Face Theatre, Chicago, IL, winner of 2 Joesph Jefferson Awards). Mikael has also been recognized with a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Directing (2022), and as one of New City Magazine’s 50 Players of Chicago in 2023 & 2025. Mikael is an Artistic Associate at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company in Chicago, as well as at About Face Theatre, where he previously served as Associate Artistic Director. He’s also an adjunct faculty member at DePaul University and Roosevelt University, and a proud member of SDC. MFA Directing, The Theatre School at DePaul University. | mklburke.com
Jyreika Guest (she/her)
“Chloe”
Jyreika Guest is an actor, dancer, and intimacy director based in Chicago. Thankful to God for continuing to guide her and to her family and community for loving her. Theatre credits include: FELA! (Olney Theatre), How Blood Go and What to Send Up When It Goes Down (Congo Square); Tragedy of King Christophe (formerly House Theatre of Chicago); Lindiwe U/S (Steppenwolf); Frankenstein (Remy Bumppo); columbinus (The Yard Theatre Company); In the Blood (Red Tape Theatre); Fly Honeys Show (The Inconvenience Project); The Wiz (Kokandy Productions). Intimacy direction credits include: Ain’t No Mo (Woollymammoth Theatre); Is God Is (Red Orchid Theatre); Groundhog Day, Rock of Ages (Paramount Theatre); Fire Shut Up In My Bones and Champion (Lyric Opera); Sheepdog (Shattered Globe); Brooklyn Laundry, Little Women, Selling Kabul, Intimate Apparel, Fireflies (Northlight Theatre); The Tasters (Rivendell Theater Ensemble); The Light (Coalescence Theatre); The Children of Edgar and Nina (The Neighborhood Theatre); October Storm and The Last Pair of Earlies, Hoodoo Love– Asst. (Raven Theatre); First Deep Breath – Asst. (Victory Gardens). Film/TV: Starz Power Book Series: Force, Rough River Lake, and The Poet Series. She is proudly represented by DDO Talent Agency. IG: @jevelyng
Zahra Baker (she/her)
“Page”
Zahra Glenda Baker is a performance artist recognized for her work as a folk and improv vocalist, dramatic actor and an engaging storyteller. She has performed at storytelling festivals, schools, museums, conferences and special events across the country. Zahra is a member of the National Association of Black Storytellers(NABS), the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a 3Arts Make a Wave recipient, and an active participant in the national cohort, Creating Freedom Movements
Donovan Session (he/him)
“Jordan”
Donovan Session is excited to be working with About Face Theatre once again! Previous credits include: Is God Is (Red Orchid Theatre), The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Magnolia Ballet (AboutFace Theatre), At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen (Urbanite Theatre), and many more. Originally from Tulsa, OK, he is grateful to now be able to call Chicago his home.
Scott Duff (he/him)
“Chuck”
Scott Duff is a Chicago-based actor, comic, and radio host. A graduate of Northwestern University, he is an Artistic Associate of About Face Theatre, having appeared in over 15 AFT productions, and has performed all over Chicago including work with the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Theater Wit, Lookingglass, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, iO, and American Theatre Company. Mr. Duff is the host/producer of OUT CHICAGO, a live weekly talk show for the LGBTQ community airing Sundays on WCPT, Chicago’s Progressive Talk Radio.
Collin Quinn Rice (they/them)
“Connection”
Collin Quinn Rice is a queer actor and photographer based in Chicago. They were most recently seen in The Singularity Play (Jackalope Theatre), Fairview (Definition Theatre), Laced, Le Switch (About Face Theatre), The Tasters (Rivendell), All Quiet on the Western Front (Red Tape Theatre), Mike Pence Sex Dream (First Floor Theater), The Harvest (Griffin Theatre Co.), Hatfield & McCoy (The House), and more. Regional credits include From on High (OddKnock Productions, Denver). TV credits include The Bear (FX/Hulu) and Work in Progress (Showtime). Collin is a graduate of Northwestern University, and they are represented by DDO Chicago. Their comprehensive work can be found at www.collinquinnrice.com.
Detra Payne* (she/her)
“Janine”
Detra Payne is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Acting at Northwestern. Regional credits include A Christmas Carol (The Goodman); Slide By (Wyly Studio Theatre); Babette’s Feast and She-Wolf (Amphibian Stage Productions); The Mountaintop (Circuit Playhouse); The Bluest Eye and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Hattiloo Theatre); Prophet (PS 122); It’s Giuliani Time (Vital Theatre); Baby Talk (The Sargent Theatre); Crime Scene: All About Eva and Star Trek (Sacred Fools Theatre). Television and Film credits: Chicago Fire, The Big Leap, 24 (Fox), Price of Fame (Reelz); Moesha, The Parkers (UPN), Tempested, Forced Move.
Theo Wampuszyc (he/they)
Stage Manager
Theo Wampuszyc is a trans theatre artist that approaches the stage from many angles. In addition to a growing resume in stage management, Theo also performs drag as “The Transjester,” performs as Ozzie T. Cougar for the Kane County Cougars, and acts as a company clown for Vaudeville Chicago–a healthcare organization that brings circus, music, and comedy to elder living facilities with a focus on dementia and memory care.
Life Out Loud Artists
Dionne Addai (they/she)
Playwright & Director
Dionne Addai is a performer, writer, director, and teaching artist local to Chicago. She works at About Face Theatre as their Director of Educational and Artistic Programming. Dionne is a passionate advocate for reproductive rights, racial justice, and free comprehensive sex education. Their artistic practice centers on educating 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 (Merrimack Repertory, Raven Theatre, Filament Theatre; etc). She co-hosts a live-recorded podcast called Mad Liberation and releases music under the stage name “strawberry gelato.” Dionne is represented by Actors Talent Group.
Lexi Saunders (she/her)
Theatrical Consultation
Lexi is a director, performer, and teaching artist originally from Los Angeles. Their Chicago directing credits include Laced and Power in Pride (About Face Theatre), Roan @ The Gates (American Blues), The Departure (Haven), Eurydice (Jedlicka), Grounded (Theater of Thought), Fifty Shades of Shakespeare ((re)discover), the upcoming regional premiere of Natural Shocks; and various storytelling events with 2nd Story. Lexi has assistant directed at Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Steep, Jackalope, and La Jolla Playhouse; and was honored to be selected for Victory Gardens’ inaugural Directors Inclusion Initiative and The Directors Haven. She currently teaches storytelling, acting, playwriting, and performance art for both teens and adults at 2nd Story, TimeLine Theatre, and Camp Bravo. In both their art and teaching practice, Lexi is passionate about creating spaces for people to explore and expand their voices through vulnerability, empathy, imagination, creativity, and collaboration. She is a member of the 2nd Story Collective and an Artistic Associate of About Face Theatre. BA/BS Theatre & Psychology, UC San Diego.
Haven A.J. Crawly (they/them)
Performer
Haven A.J. Crawley is delighted to live Life Out Loud with you all. Crawley is passionate about art that engages with its audience, and has worked in a number of immersive theatre experiences—including haunts and speakeasies. This is their first season with About Face Theatre, and they’re honored to explore the intersection where queer history meets queer futures in all its revolutionary joy. Crawley will also be appearing this spring as Agnes in A Short Leap’s inaugural production of Clearing by Beth Hyland. They are a graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign BFA program. In their spare time, they can be found crafting, writing poetry, and training to join the circus.
Sharon Pasia (they/them)
Performer
Sharon Pasia is a self-made actor, writer, and producer based in Chicago. Other Chicago credits include: FLOOD (U/S, Shattered Globe) The Model Play (The Understudy), We Could Be (About Face Theatre), and Pakalolo Sweet (Nothing Without a Company). Recent commercial credits include Salesforce, Bell’s Brewery, Glassdoor and Biorè. They are a proud alumni of the Green Room Collective at About Face Theatre and are excited to announce that they will be a part of this year’s Victor Wong Fellowship at Second City. Catch them over sharing shower thoughts on IG @oversharon.online
Ua Smith (she/they)
Performer
Ua is an actor, artist, dancer and overall creative. She has worked with About Face Theatre before on a few readings. The magic of theatre, expression, and how it could be used to better our experiences has always interested her. Ua is excited for the future of this show and to work with the company again.
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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