Nathan Hilehe/him

Erik

Nathan Hile is thrilled to be making his Chicago theater debut at Theater Wit. He is a recent graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul where some of his favorite credits were Jack Falstaff (HENRY IV) and Colin (BURN).

Ilyssa Fradinshe/her

Clara

Ilyssa Fradin is excited to be making her Theater Wit debut with HOUSEHOLD SPIRITS. After an extended break from theater, she is grateful to be back, and with such an amazing cast and production team. Ilyssa is a proud SAG-AFTRA actor and can be seen and heard on various TV shows, films, and voiceovers. She’s also the very proud parent, with her husband Greg, of their two incredible daughters. Ilyssa is forever grateful to Mia for her friendship and creativity. Thanks also to Eileen for helping her take this leap. Ilyssa remembers her mom with this performance. You are loved.

Téa Baumshe/her

Rox

Téa Baum is ecstatic to be making her Chicago theater debut with Theater Wit! A recent graduate of Northwestern University, her theatre credits there include Sally Bowles in CABARET, Small Alison in FUN HOME, and Violet in 9 TO 5. She also wrote and performed as an ensemble member in Northwestern’s neo-futurist inspired performance group. Outside of theatre, she studied Psychology in school and is passionate about providing mental healthcare to children. Much love to her friends and family for supporting her always!

Doug MacKechniehe/him

Philip

Doug MacKechnie returns to Theater Wit after playing the Narrator in A CHRISTMAS STORY in 2007 (yikes). Regional roles include Bart Giamatti in the world premiere of BANNED FROM BASEBALL (Human Race Theatre Company) and Eric Sheridan in the world premiere of UNNECESSARY FARCE (BoarsHead Theater). Chicagoland: THE GRAVEDIGGER (First Folio), MENORCA (16th Street), LUCINDA’S BED (Chicago Dramatists), SLAPHAPPY (Beat The Jester Productions) – all world premieres (oh, look, a theme!) with companies no longer producing (oh. look. another theme…). Other local favorites from deep(er) in the résumé include THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, PITZ & JOE (Red Hen Productions); UNCLE FRED IN THE SPRINGTIME, TAKING STEPS, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER (City Lit); TRANSLATIONS (Seanachaí); AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER (Organic); and PRINCIPIA SCRIPTORIAE (Circle). Doug was an Associate Artist at Chicago Dramatists for about a decade, a regular during the final years of ShawChicago (appearing in CANDIDA, JEEVES IN BLOOM, JEEVES INTERVENES, THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE, HEARTBREAK HOUSE, PRIVATE LIVES, MAJOR BARBARA, MAN AND SUPERMAN, SAINT JOAN, and ANDROCLES AND THE LION), and you might have seen him on your TV a few times if you didn’t blink too slowly. MFA graduate of The Theatre School, DePaul University. Proud member of Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA. Linda: You make me possible.

Jennifer Jelsemashe/her

Evelyn

Jennifer Jelsema is honored to make her Theater Wit debut in the role of Evelyn with this talented cast and creative team. Jennifer’s theatrical productions include BALD SISTERS (u/s Him) (Steppenwolf Theatre), USHUAIA BLUE (u/s Sarah) and FIFTH DOMAIN (u/s Mei Li) (Contemporary American Theatre Festival), THE MOORS (u/s Agatha) and as Sophia’s Mother and Janie in DO YOU FEEL ANGER (A Red Orchid Theatre). Her television credits include CHICAGO MED, PAPER GIRLS, ZEN ROOM, and EMPIRE. She has appeared in many films including COME AS YOU ARE, GOOD GUY WITH A GUN, BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION, and THE END OF THE TOUR. Jennifer is represented by Gray Talent Group.

Cindy Goldshe/her

Angela

Recent Chicago area appearances include MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON (Steppenwolf Theatre), CHRISTMAS CAROL (Goodman), INDECENT (Victory Gardens), CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (Drury Lane), MEASURE FOR MEASURE (Goodman), AWAKE AND SING (Northlight), THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Chicago Shakespeare), and at Lyric Opera in SHOWBOAT and MY FAIR LADY. Regionally, Cindy performed at Asolo Theatre in THE CAKE, The Kennedy Center in SHOWBOAT and DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT (where she shared a role with RBG!), in THE MUSIC MAN with Glimmerglass Opera, both in New York and at the Royal Opera House in Muscat. Cindy won a Jeff Award for playing Gertrude Stein in Frank Galati and Stephen Flaherty’s LOVING REPEATING. Recent TV: WORK IN PROGRESS, EMPIRE, CHICAGO FIRE, and the pilot episode of TNT’s LEVERAGE. Cindy is a Professor of Theatre at Northwestern University.

Joe Zarrowhe/him

Leo

Joe Zarrow is an Evanston-based playwright and actor. Stage Left and Theater Seven of Chicago co-produced the world premiere of his play PRINCIPAL PRINCIPLE (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination for Best New Work) here at Theater Wit. The play has gone on to be produced in cities ranging from Atlanta, Georgia to Auckland, New Zealand. In Chicago his plays have also been produced or developed by the New Coordinates, Jackalope, the Gift, Walkabout Theater, LiveWire Chicago Theater, Tympanic Theater, Broken Nose Theater, and Collaboraction. Most recently, his neo-medieval Satanic Panic pageant HELLMOUTH was workshopped at the Invulnerable Nothings Barn Lab residency in Maine. Favorite roles have included Watson in THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE (Open Book Theater Company – Wilde Award winner, Best Lead Actor in a Play), Scoolch in BULRUSHER (Congo Square Theater), Alan in THIS (Windy City Playhouse), and some jerk on an episode of CHICAGO PD. He trained at the School at Steppenwolf. You can learn more about him at joezarrow.com.

Robert Koonhe/him

Understudy, Philip & Leo

Robert Koon is happy to be working with the good people at Theater Wit. He recently appeared in THE KELLY GIRLS for Factory Theatre, MAN OF THE PEOPLE for Stage Left Theatre, MIDDLE PASSAGE for Lifeline Theatre and HAMLET for Invictus Theatre. He is an ensemble member with Broken Nose Theatre, where he appeared in LABYRINTH and HUMAN TERRAIN. Other credits include CASA VALENTINA for Pride Films and Plays, A DICKENS CAROL and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW for Oak Park Festival Theatre, FUN HARMLESS WARMACHINE for The New Coordinates, PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY for Strawdog, THE WOMAN IN BLACK for Wildclaw Theatre, and CHAGRIN FALLS for The Agency (Jeff nomination). Robert is a Resident Playwright alumnus at Chicago Dramatists, and his plays include the Jeff-nominated ODIN’S HORSE and VINTAGE RED and THE DUST OF THE ROAD (Joseph Jefferson Award for New Work). He is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Love to JM and Dr. K.

Alex Levyhe/she/they

Understudy, Erik

Alex Levy is a graduate of the School of Theatre and Dance at Illinois State University with a B.A. in Acting. Recent theatrical credits include NEXT TO NORMAL (Writers Theatre, Broadway World Best Actor in a Musical nomination), PARIS (Steep Theatre), DO YOU FEEL ANGER? (A Red Orchid Theatre), MOSQUITOES (Steep Theatre), PHOEBE IN WINTER (Facility Theatre), HAIR (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), HAMLET, TWELFTH NIGHT, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, and RODEO (Illinois Shakespeare Festival). TV credits include appearances on CHICAGO FIRE (NBC) and EMPIRE (FOX). Additionally, their plays THE GIMMICK and LEGALIZED! have been workshopped through The Pipeline Collective’s 2021 and 2022 Salon Readings. Alex is proudly represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.

Zoe Nemetzshe/her

Understudy, Rox & Clara

Zoe Nemetz is a Chicago based actor and is very excited for her first opportunity with Theater Wit. She has trained at Acting Studio Chicago, Actor’s Training Center, Second City, Vagabond School of the Arts, Voice with Rebecca Schorsch and she received her BFA in Acting from Illinois Theatre. Zoe’s recent theater credits include the Jeff Recommended production of WHEN THERE ARE NINE at PrideArts, THE HUMANS at STC Theater, I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES with MTG, and BAD JEWS at The Station Theater. She has appeared at Corn Productions in their most recent sketch shows DEATH TOLL and SAD TIMES. During Covid, you could find her doing Zoom Theater with Women’s Theatre Festival, Chicago Dramatists, and Wayward Sister’s Theatre. Check out her website for additional independent film and commercial credits: www.zoenemetz.com. “Thank you to my family and friends for always supporting me and my artistic journey!” Represented by 10MGMT.

Elizabeth Rentfroshe/her

Understudy, Angela & Evelyn

Elizabeth Rentfro is an actor, composer, and musician represented by BMG with an MFA from The American Shakespeare Center. She is the resident music director for Midsommer Flight and was an original cast member of Drunk Shakespeare Chicago. She is the co-founder of Staging Change Chicago, an artist collective dedicated to the uplifting of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices. She has worked as a performer and music director for several other companies including Pride Films and Plays, City Lit, Promethean Theater Ensemble, Muse of Fire, Flying Elephant, and Open-Door Rep. www.elizabethrentfro.com

Mia McCulloughshe/her

Playwright

Mia’s plays have been produced in Chicago, around the country, and in the UK at many theaters including Steppenwolf Theater Company, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Old Globe (San Diego), Stage Left Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, InterAct Theater Company (Phila.), and Mirror Stage (Seattle). She is delighted to be premiering HOUSEHOLD SPIRITS at Theater Wit.

McCullough won a Best New Play Jeff Award for her play CHAGRIN FALLS in 2002, and has been nominated for that award for two other plays. McCullough’s plays have been finalists for the Jane Chambers Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and twice for the ATCA Steinberg Award. Most recently, McCullough premiered her solo show MILKSHAKES AND MORPHINE at Lifeline Theatre’s Fillet of Solo, and THE SQUIRREL PLAYS were all performed together for the first time at Mirror Stage in Seattle.

McCullough has taught playwriting and/or screenwriting at Northwestern University, University of Illinois – Chicago, Carthage College, and Chicago Dramatists as well as workshops in Chicago Public Schools. She’s written and published a book on the creative writing process called TRANSFORMING REALITY, and many of her plays have been published by Broadway Play Publishing and various other publishers. She is a member of Honor Roll!, a group of femme writers over 40, as well as a member of the Dramatists Guild.