Matthew Allis (Extra #1)recently moved to the city of Chicago after graduating with a BA in theatre from Knox College. His previous stage roles have included Hamlet in Hamlet, Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Orlando in As you like it, Cleante in Tartuffe, Hal in Proof as well as many other roles on the stage! Matt is most excited for his screen debut as the college aged Carl Sandburg in the upcoming PBS American Masters series on the noted poet. He is very excited to be working in his Chicago premier with Project 891. Matt would like to thank his friends and family for their support. Enjoy the show!
Tommy Culhane(Extra #4) I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and then went on to attend Creighton University also in Omaha. While in college I received a BA in Journalism with a concentration in Advertising. After college I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and through the organization worked as a volunteer for one year in Phoenix, AZ for Boys Hope Girls Hope of Arizona. Following the completion of the program I moved back to Omaha and saved up money so I could move to Chicago and train as an actor. I have been in Chicago for two years training at both Act One Studios and Second City Training Center. Currently I am in the Second City Conservatory and Epic Proportions is my first show on a Chicago stage!
Liz Hoffman: (Extra #3/Costume Designer)Liz is an actor and writer with a BA in theater and in English from Loyola University Chicago. Last seen in Never the Sinner, Liz is the managing director of Project 891 Theatre Co. as well as an ensemble member with A Reasonable Facsimile Theatre Co. She has also worked with a number of other Chicago theater companies over the years, including Tire Swing, Player’s Ring West, Speaking Ring, Ground Up, Rubicon, The Loop Players, and the Bailiwick Director’s Fest. As a playwright, Liz won first place at the 2007 Women’s Theatre Alliance short playwriting competition, and she’s provided short plays for ARFTCo. Liz would like to thank her mom for, well, for everything really.
Robert Kaercher (D.W.DeWitt) Bob is just as pleased as grape Kool-Aid to be back working with the kids of the Project 891 Theatre Co. following his portrayal of “Robert Crowe” in their inaugural production, John Logan’s Never the Sinner. Bob has been aimlessly wandering about the Chicago theater scene for well over a decade now, and has had the pleasure of working with such prestigious award-winning troupes as Prop Thtr, Theo Ubique, European Repertory, Roadworks Productions, Factory Theatre, Circle Theatre in Forest Park, Bailiwick Repertory, Irish Repertory of Chicago, Chicago Dramatists, and Griffin Theatre, among others. He dedicates his performance to Denise and Desmond, who make him laugh every single day.
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Matthew Lozano (Benny) is a proud member of Project 891 Theatre, having appeared in their first major production, Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story, last summer. Previous Chicago credits include Jackie: An American Life and The Taming of the Shrew (Theatre-Hikes), The Laramie Project and Wanda’s Visit (James Downing Theatre), and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Circle Theatre, Jeff Recommended). He has also been seen crooning a tune at Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret. He thanks the company, cast, and crew for this opportunity and his Ma and Pa, sisters, family, and friends for their constant support.
Jason Rost (Extra #2) Jason is truly grateful and excited to be on the stage with Project 891. Past acting credits include, Hamlet with Polarity Ensemble, Navy Pier Entertainment, Tecumseh: The Outdoor Drama in Ohio and The Lost Colony in North Carolina. He is a graduate of the theatre department at Southern Illinois University. Jason also serves as Artistic Director of Hangar 9 Theatre Company where he has directed several productions.
Cole Simon (Phil) Cole Simon steps onto his first Chicago stage after moving here late summer of 2009 and finishing directing the SAG film,Separation Anxiety. He holds a degree in Theatre from Ohio State University with an emphasis on acting, directing, and writing. Since graduating, Cole has worked non-stop in the Ohio area. Of his credits, he is proud to have worked with Evolution Theatre and Available Light Theatre of Columbus, Ohio. The former being lauded as most promising new troupe by the Columbus Dispatch and the latter lauded in American Theatre Magazine as one of 12 "Hip, hot, and on the verge companies." He lives with his more qualified girlfriend, Kiana, and our even more qualified cat, Tempest. If you like what you see tonight, never be too shy to ask him if he'd like to be involved in another project. He's a nice guy. After all, he's from the ol' Mid-West-of-A. (www.cole-simon.com )
Anna Schutz (Louise Goldman) is so pleased to be working with Project 891 Theatre Company. Some of her previous shows include: the Chicago premiere of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Rubicon Project), Indecent Proposals (Metropolis PAC), Baby (Metropolis PAC), Dennis DeYoung’s Jeff Award Winning The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Bailiwick Rep.), The Who’s Tommy (Jedlicka PAC), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (La Costa Theatre), and Stuck (La Costa Theatre). Anna holds a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She would like to thank her family, friends & Phil for their endless support. More info @ www.annaschutz.com
CREW
Ron Popp (Director) is thrilled to be working with such a great cast and crew. Previous stage credits include Nathan Leopold in Never the Sinner, Bud Frump in H2$, Swift in All in the Timing (Irene Ryan Semi Finalist), Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Guildenstern in Hamlet, Stranger in The Joy Of Going Somewhere Definite with Rubicon Theatre Project and James/Virgin Mary in the Midwestern Premier of Corpus Christi by Terrance McNally. Directing credits include The Laramie Project, The Heidi Chronicles and the Chicago Premiere of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead. Ron obtained a BA in Theatre with a focus in playwrighting from the University of Indianapolis and received a Certificate of Merit from the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival for his first full length play, Coming Home. As always, he thanks Don for putting up with my crazy schedule.
Anna McKie (Stage Manager) Anna is so excited to be on board with Project 891. Originally from Portland, OR, she received her BFA in Musical Theatre from the College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has had the opportunity to travel and perform with theatre companies based out of Oregon, Washington, Ohio, Michigan, as well as several companies here in Chicago.
Sarah Frank (Props Designer) is pleased to be working with this great company once again, especially on a show as unique and entertaining as this. Within the past year she worked as Assistant Stage Manager for Project 891's Never The Sinner as well as Stage Manager for The Artistic Home's Cut To The Chase series. She would like to thank Ron and Liz for choosing me, Michael for his never ending wisdom and Howard for his love and patience.
Beau Forbes (Fight Choreographer)
Jim Vendiola (Film Designer)
Michael Rashid (Film Designer) is an Artistic Associate with Project 891, and directed its first production, Never the Sinner. He has acted, written, and/or directed for many Chicago companies, including Emerald City, NewTown Writers, Breadline, and Imagination Theater. Michael holds a BA from Western Michigan University and and MFA from West Virginia University. He is the Artistic Director of the newly formed Black Elephant Theatre Company. Thanks to Ron for bringing him onboard, and Jim for another great team-up.
Brad Gunter (Lighting Designer) Brad Gunter is very pleased to be working with Project 891 for the first time. He has most recently worked with n.u.f.a.n. and Strangeloop Theatre, of which he is a member. He hopes you enjoy the show.
Zena Yeatman (Sound Designer)
Stephanie Charaska (Set Designer) This is Steph's debut with Project 891. Recent graduate of University of Illinois-Urbana. Chicago credits include Resurrection Blues (Eclipse Theatre), And Then They Came For Me (Skokie Theatre), Lend Me A Tenor (The Summer Place), The Fantasticks (The Library Theatre), and various projects with Collaboraction. Thanks much to all my friends and family for their continued support! stephcharaska.com