The Second City Cast & Crew of Today’s Performance – Chicago

The Second City Cast & Crew of Today’s Performance


Please silence all devices and refrain from taking photos during the performance.

Second City is a professional production employing members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers. 

Ensemble

RICH ALFONSO

RICH ALFONSO (he/him) is excited to be a part of the Touring Company along with these amazing people! He was a recipient of the 2016 NBC/Universal Bob Curry Fellowship and has worked as a cast member for The Second City’s Black History Month Show, touring aboard Norwegian Cruise Line and as an understudy for the ETC Resident Stage. Other credits include being a featured performer in the 2019 NBC Break Out Comedy Festival, and his solo show at the Annoyance, I.C.E. Box which was featured on WBEZ Radio and NPR. He is represented by BMG Talent. Follow Rich on Instagram and TikTok @rich_alfonso

TINA ARFAEE

TINA ARFAEE (they/any) has been writing and performing on multiple stages in Chicago since 2012, most notably at The Annoyance Theater with Matt Damon Improv. With MDI they wrote and starred in In-Diana: a web series. She also appeared on an episode of Chicago Fire, Centered: the web series, and short film, The Sweatshirt. Tina is a graduate of the Second City/NBC Universal Bob Curry Fellowship. Please reach out directly if you are interested in starting a Dolly Parton cover band. They are repped by Grossman & Jack. @tinatwocats

KENNEDY BALDWIN

KENNEDY BALDWIN (she/they) is an improviser, writer and actress born and raised in Chicago. She attended Western Illinois University where she studied music business. She started taking improv classes at The Second City at the beginning of 2016 and has been in love with it ever since! In 2019, she completed the Severn Darden Graduate Program and in 2020 she was a recipient of the Bob Curry Fellowship at Second City. She now produces the smallprov show at Logan Square Improv.

ANNA BORTNICK

ANNA BORTNICK (she/her) is an actor and improviser originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She received her B.F.A. from Boston University and has trained at the Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute. Anna also performs with the musical improv company, BABY WANTS CANDY and SHAMILTON (Edinburgh Fringe, The Second City) and is a current resident company member at iO Theater. www.annabortnick.com

KARL BRADLEY

KARL BRADLEY (he/him) is a writer and performer living in Chicago. A Georgia native, he performs regularly at the Annoyance Theatre in the sketch group “Cigarette Sandwich.” Alright, enjoy the show that is about to start. Wait, why are you still reading this? The show is on the stage. You won’t miss anything if you stop reading now. The secrets of the universe are not hidden here, and if they were, would you believe them? Karl is from Georgia. See, I told you.

JENELLE CHEYNE

JENELLE CHEYNE (she/her) originally hails from Vancouver, Canada. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and Comedy Studies. She has written and performed in Table Manners, Fa’China, Fa’China 2, and her solo show Let’s Go Bobby. She sailed the seas on The Norwegian Breakaway with The Second City and is now delighted to be a part of The Second City Touring Company. She currently performs with Miracle Ranch at iO, as well as Trigger Happy and The Holy F*** Comedy Hour at The Annoyance. Much love to her Mom and Dad! Say hi here: jenellecheyne.com

GEORGE ELROD

GEORGE ELROD (he/they) is a member of Second City’s National Touring Company (GreenCo). He wrote and performed in Second City’s first original LGBTQ sketch revue, Salute to Pride: Not Safe for Werk. TV credit includes HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. Other Chicago comedy credits include, Bob Curry Fellowship (NBCUniversal/Second City), Deck the Hallmark (Second City), Let’s Make it Perfectly Queer (Second City), and Comet (iO Chicago). George is from Little Rock, Arkansas, and is an alumni of DePaul University. They are represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.

CLAIRE FAVRET

CLAIRE FAVRET (she/her) writes and performs all around Chicago. She has contributed headlines for The Onion and Clickhole, co-wrote an episodic comedy podcast/radio play called A Winkle In Time, and has co-created many sketches with the sketch comedy group Cigarette Sandwich. On social media she’s @clairefavs

BILL LETZ

BILL LETZ (he/him) Born and raised on the southside of Chicago, Bill is happy to perform in a place that is a part of his favorite city’s rich history. He started training at Second City roughly a decade ago and since has performed all over Chicago, as well as across the US and even on the high seas on the Norwegian Breakaway. He loves pizza and his puppy Two Scoops of Cookies and Cream. You can see pictures of her @letzey on IG.

CHAS LILLY

CHAS LILLY  (he/him) is a Chicago-based actor, writer, and improviser from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He’s been a regular performer at various Chicago improv theaters for years, but these days he’s usually found playing with his friends at Logan Square Improv. In his free time, he loves teaching classes and producing music for the bevy of talented local artists who come through Ersatz Records. For business inquiries, contact chaslilly89@gmail.com

ZOE MCKEE

ZOE MCKEE (she/her) is a comedian and actor originally from Oklahoma City. As a black, queer, big, hot, funny lady, her greatest passion is making others laugh! With big dreams in her funny bone, Zoe studied at Columbia College Chicago and graduated in Comedy Writing and Performance. Before being a part of the Second City Touring company (BlueCo), she understudied for the Second City Mainstage Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not, and Don’t Quit Your Daydream. Zoe is proudly represented by Paonessa Talent. You can find her on Instagram at @zoeisaslug.

PHYLICIA McLEOD

PHYLICIA McLEOD (she/her) is an improviser, writer, voice over actress, and teacher based in Chicago, IL. She began her comedy career at Second City Chicago and completed the conservatory & Bob Curry Fellowship programs. You can hear her as she co-hosts the podcast Unlearning or in her head learning how to read Tarot Cards.

PRESTON PARKER

PRESTON PARKER (he/him) is thrilled to perform with The Second City National Touring Company. Originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, previous credits with Second City include The Best Friggin’ Songs of the Second City, and understudying for the Mainstage and Touring Company. Other sketch work has been featured at Austin Out of Bounds Festival, Chicago SketchFest and Austin SketchFest. He also writes and composes original musicals, including The Election of William Henry Harrison (Best Ensemble, Premier Premieres Festival), When Jared Met Ivanka, and Titanic 2042 (Best Musical nominee, Chicago Reader). He is the proud Champion of the 2019 ESPN1000 Holiday Parody Song Contest. You can follow him on Instagram @prestonleeparker to see too few photos of himself and way too many photos of his cat, Kuzco. Overwhelming love and gratitude to Bianca, Ashley, Shelby, Dad, and Mom, always

CASSIDY RUSSELL

CASSIDY RUSSELL (she/her) has been doing improv since middle school (cool!). She’s a member of Chicago’s longest running improv team, Deep Schwa, as well as Annoyance Theatre house team Sight Unseen. She directs plays and teaches improv around Chicago, and in the summer she gets to teach comedy classes in Alaska at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp (an actual dream!). Touring with the Second City is another actual dream, and she’s very, very happy to be doing it. Cassidy has pretended to eat chicken on camera so many times and was once in a commercial where all four of the other actors were cats. She’s appeared in multiple (multiple!) local car commercials. Follow her on Instagram @ramblingcass IF YOU WANT.

CATHARINE SAVAGE

CATHARINE SAVAGE (she/her) is delighted to perform with The Second City! A Massachusetts native, she moved to Chicago after graduating from Brown University with a B.A. in History and Gender Studies. She is a proud graduate of The Second City Training Center’s Conservatory and Severn Darden Graduate Program, as well as iO’s training program. She has performed with her team Artemis and in the Armando Diaz Experience at iO. Thank you to her dog nephew Chance for always believing in her. She is represented by BMG Talent. Follow her on twitter: @CatharineSavage

ANNIE SULLIVAN

ANNIE SULLIVAN is a writer, performer, and all-around sweetheart originally from Kansas City and an alum of Columbia College Chicago. She is a cast member of The Second City’s National Touring Company, as well as a performer on the improv team Devil’s Daughter, and a member of The Annoyance’s weekly sketch show, HOLY F*CK. Follow them on Instagram @whitemystery95 or follow her on the streets of Chicago.

ROSS TAYLOR

ROSS TAYLOR (he/him) is originally from St. James, Missouri and studied theater at Mizzou. Favorite Second City credits include: National Touring Company, performing at the Kennedy Center and Lyric Opera and understudying the e.t.c. Ross teaches improv at the Second City and Annoyance Theater, and performs weekly at the Annoyance with Missed Call and Tuesday Musical Improv. @rosstaylornyc

MAX THOMAS

MAX THOMAS (he/him) is allergic to dairy, tree nuts, & Christianity. He grew up on Jimi Hendrix, Bernie Mac, & Soy Milk. Max is a lighting rod of a comedian that will have you laughing from start to finish & leave you excited for more. Max has been featured on Comedy Central Featuring, Live From Austin, TX, seen at The Comedy Store West Hollywood, The NBC Break Out Comedy Festival at The Second City Chicago 2017-2019, Zanies Chicago & Rosemont, Jokes and Notes, Tiny Cupboard Brooklyn, The Second City Chicago & Hollywood, Laugh Factory Chicago, Steppenwolf Theater, Black & Funny Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Detroit Improv Festival, Boston Improv Festival, Out of Bounds Comedy Festival Austin, TX, Keenan Thompson: The Ultimate Comedy Experience and Lollapalooza Music Festival. He is Chicago Reader Best Stage Actor 2022. Follow him @ThatsMaxThomas

Production and Creative Teams

CARISA BARRECA (Director, she/her) is honored to be Directing Blue Co! She is an alum of The Second City’s resident stage, where she wrote and performed in three critically acclaimed revues. Most recently she was honored to direct the 111th Mainstage Show, Don’t Quit Your Daydream! Along with the Mainstage, she also directed the award-winning show She The PeopleSecond City’s SING OUT and Deck The Hallmark. She has had the honor of performing at Lyric Opera of Chicago with Sir Patrick Stewart and Reneé Fleming in The Second City’s Guide to the Opera at Goodman Theatre; The Kennedy Center with Twist Your Dickens; and wrote and performed in Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Second City’s collaboration The Art of Falling.   Follow her @Cinderisa.

JEFF GRIGGS (Director) is the author of the book Guru; My Days with Del Close and a Director/Performer/Teacher at Second City.  He’s a faculty member of the Second City Film School and is a professor at Depaul University and Columbia College. He has performed improv and sketch at theaters around the world and is a current director for the Second City Touring Company.

ANNE LIBERA (Director, she/her) is an Associate Professor and coordinates the degree in Comedy Writing and Performance at Columbia College Chicago. She is an Artistic Consultant and Director of Comedy Studies for The Second City. She served as Director of Pedagogy for The Second Science Project in partnership with the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago. Her directing credits include: The Madness of Curious GeorgeComputer Chips and SalsaThe Second City Goes to WarAre You There God? It’s Me, Katniss Everdeen, and Second City touring productions all over the world.

Anne has presented on topics in improvisation and comedy for Aspen Ideas Festival, Code Conference, Chicago Ideas Week, Twitter, and guest lectured at the Stanford Business School and Northwestern University. Her book Funnier: A Theory of Comedy with Practical Applications will be published by Northwestern University Press.

Twitter:@AnneLibera1

TONY BELSITO (Musical Director) is a Chicago-based musician and performer originally from Duluth, Minnesota. Previous MD credits include Second City’s HouseCo, TourCo, SuperAfroWavyDrippyExtra-BrilliantDopeShow, and Dance Like There Are Black People Watching. Guitarist for Kid Copter, studio musician for Ersatz Records, and releaser of original music streaming under my name, Tony Belsito. If you’d like to know more, just ask. Yes, you can have a link to the playlist.

MICHAEL OLDHAM (Musical Director, he/him) is a composer and pianist who weaves artwork, story, and imagination into his work. Whether experimenting with looping videos on Instagram as the “parts” of a piece that anyone can play (Music In Segments – 2018), utilizing repeating gif images of old silent films as inspiration for a twelve-movement work (Music In Gifs – 2019), translating great works of art into music (Suggestion Box: Art – 2020, The Egon Schiele Pieces – 2021), writing art songs, musical theater, pop songs, or commercial ad work, Michael’s thirst for unusual storytelling through music is never quenched.

PAUL SOTTNIK (Music Director) is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter and performer currently living, teaching and working in Chicago, IL.  Since earning a BA in music from Fredonia University they have worked extensively as a dance accompanist with many great companies including Hubbard Street Dance, The Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Austin. They have composed music for “Echo Modern Dance Collective” and “A Theater in the Dark”.  Follow them @SottnikMusic or at www.melacollective.com/sottnik-music

BREE BARTMAN  (Stage Manager, she/her) For the past 10 years, she’s been hiding in the shadows at several theaters around Chicago, including The Second City and the long running show, Bye Bye Liver. When she’s not at Second City, you can find her slinging sass at Ed Debevic’s! Please enjoy the show!!!

INDIGO COAR (Stage Manager, they/them) is thrilled to be a stage manager for the Touring Company! Indigo is a Chicago-based theatre technician, specializing in stage management and technical direction. They started working with Second City as a virtual stage manager back in mid-2021, shortly after first moving to Chicago. They earned their BFA in technical theatre at LIU Post University in New York. Indigo has been enjoying delving into the world of improv and sketch comedy following their much larger experience in the musical theatre world. 

REBECCA GILMAN (Stage Manager, she/her) divides her time between stage managing, directing, and acting. Since arriving in Chicago, she has stage managed the world premiere of Malapert Love with the Artistic Home (2023 Jeff Award for Best New Work) and has been working as a stage manager for The Second City and iO Theater. Rebecca received her BA in theatre from UAA in 2015. Directing credits include Little Women: The Musical (2021), Grounded (2021), and The Crucible (2019) with the Kenai Performers. Favorite acting credits include Missy Miller in The Marvelous Wonderettes (Addie Camp Dining Car 2022), Maxine in Night of the Iguana (UAA Theatre and Dance 2014), and Sister Aloysius in Doubt: A Parable (TTR 2014). Favorite stage management credits are Gravidity (TTR 2014 and VTC 2014) along with [title of show] (2013), Other Desert Cities (2015), Antony and Cleopatra (2016), and The Great American Trailer Park Musical (2017) at Cyrano’s Theatre Company.

BRYON HENDERSON (Producer, he/him) is a Chicago native and Producer for the Touring Company.  He has his Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami, FL with emphasis on Music Business and Performance in Voice and on Viola. He has worked with many award-winning and national recording artists to produce live events and concerts.  Bryon has worked for Second City Works and served as Producer for SuperAfroWavyDrippyExtra-BrilliantDopeShow, and Dance Like There Are Black People Watching.  He is currently co-starring in the life-long comedy of marriage, 3 kids and a dog. 

PAIGE MACKEY (Production Coordinator, she/her) After doing several summer camp sessions as a child, she joined the team as a camp counselor for two summers. She began her time in Customer Success after completing the Comedy Studies program at Second City. Paige graduated in May of 2022 from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Comedy Writing and Performance, as well as a minor in Marketing. When she isn’t answering your calls and emails, Paige is on Custom Ink designing merch we would never sell.

Understudies

ZOE AGAPINAN

Zoe Agapinan is so excited to be performing with The Second City! Zoe is a California-born and Chicago-based actor, writer and comedian. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Theater Arts and a minor in Economics (just in case). She is an alumni of The Second City’s Severn Darden Graduate Program, and a 2022 Bob Curry Fellow. Performance highlights include: She The People(The Second City), fair dinkum (CiC Theater), FELT (iO Theater, CiC Theater), and Holy F*ck Comedy Hour (Annoyance Theater). Follow her on Instagram (@z0three) and TikTok (@thereal_lilzo)!

KRISTEN AVILES

KRISTEN AVILES  is from the beautiful sunshine place of Staten Island, NY. After moving to Chicago in 2017 she is now a Chicago based comedian, improviser and beautiful singer. You can currently catch her sometimes in Clued-in (Second City), Shamilton (Second City), The Mermaids (Annoyance) or as an understudy for Alex Bellisle in Great Altercations right here in the e.t.c! If you want to follow along and see where she will be next, you can follow her on everything @kris10aviles

ANDREW BALDWIN

ANDREW BALDWIN (he/him) is a musician, comedian, and writer from Wisconsin. Since moving to Chicago, he has trained at the Second City Conservatory and The Annoyance. In addition to performing improv and sketch throughout Chicago, he has performed as an understudy for Second City’s 110th Mainstage show Do The Right Thing, No Worries If Not, teaches at The Annoyance Theater, and is an ensemble member of Shamilton, Baby Wants Candy, and Satirical Race Theory. Sometimes he can still be spotted playing percussion around the city to feel like he isn’t wasting his music degrees. Instagram: @andrew_on_drums. Rep: Grossman&Jack Talent.

HOLLY BARRAS

HOLLY BARRAS (she/her) was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but spent a lot of her childhood skipping rocks around Oklahoma before moving to Chicago in 2017. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2021 and is a Comedy Studies alumni. She can be seen performing with the Annoyance Ensemble Team Modern Crimes, and independent team Smoochers. She is currently an understudy for Second City’s Touring Company. Other performing credits include Splatter Theater (The Annoyance), Trigger Happy (The Annoyance), and New Team Smell (iO Theater).  She would like to thank her Dad for his constant love and support! When she isn’t performing and writing comedy, you can catch her playing Dance Dance Revolution and eating hummus (sometimes at the same time.) Follow her on Instagram @hollaycomeday

DEB DUNCAN

DEB DUNCAN (she/her) is so excited to be performing with The Second City! She’s a comedian, actress and musician proudly hailing from Akron, OH. She’s understudied for Mainstage revues Together at Last, Do The Right Thing, No Worries If Not and Don’t Quit Your Daydream and is currently understudying for The Second City National Touring Company. She also co-produces and hosts the podcast, Queer Movie Night and can be seen performing at Logan Square Improv. She also has a band with her wife, The Q’s and you can check out their album, Us Who Know, which is available on all streaming platforms! Follow her on Instagram @debradbag and @debraduncan on Twitter. Thank you to her best friend and love of her life, Kayla and their pup, Bea.

Colette Gregory headshot

COLETTE GREGORY

COLETTE GREGORY (she/her) is an award-winning writer, comedian, and actress. She is a 2024 Second City Bob Curry Fellowship recipient and the showrunner and a performer in the upcoming Chicago-based sketch show Out of the Loop which will be released on the Hipstr network. Colette was in the 2020 Second City Black History Month show and understudied for The Second City Mainstage and e.t.c. She toured the country using humor to teach sexual assault prevention with Catharsis Productions and produces SHADE: An Actually Diverse Comedy Show at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre Production from Northwestern University, as well as a Master of Arts and Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University–New York. You can catch her singing with RIFF: Chicago’s Music Improv Party, performing sketch comedy with Bosses in Bonnets, and doing improv with Baby Wine. Colette was recently featured on the third season of HBO’s South Side. Much love to her emotional support human, Andy, for being the best husband a goof could ask for. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok @colettecomedy

ERIC GREENBAUM

ERIC GREENBAUM (he/him) is from the wonderful town of New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from New York University with a BFA in Drama, and finished his time at school in The Second City’s Comedy Studies Program during the spring of 2021. You can find him around Chicago performing comedy and theatre, and he might even sing for you! He would like to thank his family and friends very very much for helping him pursue this little dream of his. Eric is a freak who doesn’t have social media, but you can follow him and his shows on his website, ericgreenbaum.com

DANI NICOLE JAMES

DANI NICOLE JAMES (she/her)  is an actor and curve model from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. She can be seen improvising all around Chicago. She is a graduate of The Second City Conservatory and the School at Steppenwolf.  Her most recent credit is her one woman show “You Can Cry When You Get Home” which she performed at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as part of The Lookout series.  She has also modeled nationally and locally. Some favorites include Macys, Famous Footwear, and HUM Nutrition.She is represented by 10MGMT and 10 Talent Agency in Chicago.F or up

MAX LAZERINE

MAX LAZERINE (he/him) is a writer, performer from Minneapolis Minnesota and is an alum of Columbia College Chicago. Max is a performer with The Annoyance’s HOLY F*CK COMEDY HOUR and can be seen around town with his sketch duo Max and Annie. You can follow this bad boy on twitter @Maxlazerine

DAVE LYZENGA

DAVE LYZENGA (he/him) is an actor, improvisor, and software engineer. You can find him performing all over Chicago at iO (The Teenagers, The Musical Armando, RIFF, Dreamboat), The Revival (The Living Newspaper), The Second City (Baby Wants Candy), and CSz Chicago (ComedySportz Ensemble), and up in Grand Rapids with his independent team (Pop Scholars). He has worked in Bar Harbor for ImprovAcadia, aboard a cruise ship for The Second City Theatricals, and in a Class 10 clean room for Purdue University. Recently, Dave performed right here in Dysfunctional Family Affair (u/s) and wrote a solo show all about his very own dysfunctional family (Dave Lyzenga’s A Good Guy).

LAURA MAYNARD

LAURA MAYNARD (she/her) was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee before moving to Chicago in 2015. She studied Comedy Writing and Performance at Columbia College Chicago and graduated in 2019. She can be seen improvising weekly at iO with Birdlady and at The Den with Pure Energy. She wouldn’t be here without her parents, so John and Laura if you’re reading this – love you! You can follow her on Instagram @lahrahmaynard and Letterboxd at @mrsdennisquaid

CAT MCDONNELL

CAT MCDONNELL (she/her) has performed with The Second City at sea aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines, and on land in She The People, The Best Friggin’ Songs of The Second City, Improv Brunch, and Late Night Date Night (a show she created). Cat has had the pleasure of understudying The Second City Mainstage revues Don’t Quit Your Daydream and Do The Right Thing, No Worries If Not, as well as The Second City’s BlueCo and HollyCo. She has also enjoyed directing The Second City’s National Touring Company, Late Night Date Night, Improv After Hours, e.t.c. improv show, Out of The House Party, and teaching in The Second City and iO Theater training centers. Cat is currently an ensemble member of iO’s Phony Award Winning Musical (co-created and music directed by Laura Hall of Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and the proud curator of ‘Lovesome,’ an LGBTQ+ long-form improv show.

LAURA MULCAHY

LAURA MULCAHY (she/her) moved to Chicago many years ago from the lakes of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is an actor and improviser around Chicago and can be found at the Annoyance Theater, iO, and Logan Square Improv. She is also a contributor to ‘Reductress.’

KEVIN NOONAN

KEVIN NOONAN (he/him) is a writer and performer originally from Overland Park, Kansas, thrilled to perform with Second City. Kevin previously wrote and performed at the Pack Theater in Los Angeles with house ensembles Very Famous and Nobody Yell At Me. Other past credits include red carpet journalist, SAT tutor, working salad orders at a cafe in the mall, and almost Blockbuster Video cashier, until the store closed down on what was supposed to be his first day of work. His instagram is @kevin.noonan4.

AUDREY SCHIFFHAUER

AUDREY SCHIFFHAUER (she/her) is originally from Buffalo, NY, and has performed improv and sketch comedy in Chicago for seven years, including Second City, iO Theater, The Annoyance and CIC. She is excited to be performing with her friends again after missing comedy so much in the last year, although her cat Lily is not thrilled that she seems to be leaving the house more often.

TRAVIS STUEBING

TRAVIS STUEBING (he/him) is an actor, writer and comedian originally hailing from Texas. While having performed with many regional theaters, locally he is a graduate of iO and The Annoyance’s Improv programs, Second City’s Conservatory, and is also an alum of Second City’s Severn Darden Graduate Program. He’s also contributed voice work to the anime One Piece and The Onion’s podcast The Topical. He couldn’t be more proud to be apart of The National Touring Company as an understudy. He’d like to thank his family for all of their support, and Katie, for being the best partner to run lines with. You can find him on Twitter: travis_stuebing & Instagram: travis.stuebing

NICK WILSON

NICK WILSON (he/him) is an actor, improviser, and musician from the south suburbs of Chicago, Il. He’s a graduate of DePaul University, as well as Second City’s Conservatory program and the iO training center. He’s performed all over the city, mostly at iO, CIC and Second City, since 2016. His web series, Hammersmith: Hurdle of Dreams, for which he won Best Actor at the Chicago 48 Hour Film Project, went on to win at Filmapalooza in Paris and screen at the Cannes Film Festival.

KAI ELISE (Understudy Music Director) (she/they)  can be spotted in the wild playing dueling pianos around Chicago and dancing at late night Tango milongas. She debuted at Second City with the inaugural Victor Wong Fellowship in their sold-out show It’s A Bao Damn Time as a music director. She has directed musical theatre camps and shows around the midwest with Central Wi Children’s Theatre, The Stage School, and the East End Players. Her most recent project was writing and orchestrating Say Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Parody. She uses innovative patches and loops with Ableton to play keys with Chicago Loud 9, Aya Ito, and to build her own solo shows. Her debut album under the name Kai Zhi Hundred called To My Selfish was recently released on all platforms. She can be found on IG and tiktok as @kaionthekeys

BRYCE HALLIDAY (Understudy Music Director) is an Australian musician and audio producer, who has been based in Chicago since 2022. Since completing his Bachelor of Music at the Australian Institute of Music in 2012, Bryce has created music and sound design for a huge variety of projects, with a focus towards sketch and improvised comedy. In Chicago, he has been a music director at the renowned Second City, The Annoyance and iO theatres, and in 2023 he toured with original members of the US ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ cast. His compositions can be found in video games (Birdsketball, Particulars), films (Diagnosis, Jimbra) and podcasts (Snowball, Conversations From The Abyss). Before moving to the USA, Bryce worked for five years at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where he produced several acclaimed podcasts. Including the cult-hit comedy documentary ‘Finding Drago’ and the stand up comedy series ‘Alice Fraser Trilogy’, which Apple Podcasts named in their ‘Best Australian Podcasts’ 2018 list.

KATIE DREHER (Understudy Stage Manager, she/they)was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She spent time in Colorado studying educational theatre before coming to Illinois to pursue a career in stage management. Her recent stage management highlights include Matilda Jr. Paramount Theatre, Three Little Pigs Chicago Kids Company. Other credits include Young Performer Supervisor Sound of Music, School of Rock Paramount Theatre. (she/they)was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She spent time in Colorado studying educational theatre before coming to Illinois to pursue a career in stage management. Her recent stage management highlights include Matilda Jr. Paramount Theatre, Three Little Pigs Chicago Kids Company. Other credits include Young Performer Supervisor Sound of Music, School of Rock Paramount Theatre.

LEO (Understudy Stage Manager, they/them) has been in the theater game for most of their life, and is thrilled to be spending time stage managing, producing, and directing this year. This has been especially true since starring their own production company, Destined For Chaos Productions, which will be putting up two original reviews this year. You will find Leo stage managing various things throughout the building, including the long-running shows, “Baby Wants Candy” and “RIFF”. You can also see Leo performing around town, often doing music improv, which they have enjoyed since graduating Second City’s Music Improv Conservatory last year. Leo is happy any time they are doing something in a theater and is thrilled to be a part of this show! Check out their productions @destined_for_chaos

GABBY OWENS (Understudy Stage Manager, she/they) has been bouncing around the Chicago theater world since she moved here in 2018. When she’s not in a theater, she can frequently be found working as a dog walker, trying to get all the fresh air and puppy therapy that stage managing rarely offers. Past credits include: Richard III (Babes with Blades), Krugozor (Theatre Evolve), Matter Dance’s 2023 Spring Concert, Labyrinth (Broken Nose Theatre), Language Rooms (Broken Nose Theatre), Queen of the Mist (Firebrand Theatre).

 

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