JULY 27 – AUG 31
$15 – $35
OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES: August 8 – 11 (Thursday – Saturday 8pm, Sunday 7pm)
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
written by William Shakespeare directed by Melanie Keller
Love is in the air when triumphant soldiers return from battle, oblivious that another kind of war is about to begin at home.
Benedick, a solider and confirmed bachelor, is thrown into a battle of wit and words with the acid-tongued Beatrice – and though they resist it, the magnetic attraction between them grows stronger with every argument. Meanwhile, Benedick’s friend Claudio is head over heels for Hero, and they will soon be wed. Everyone’s world is shattered when Claudio, influenced by a scheming malcontent, levels a shocking accusation at Hero.
Who is to be believed? Can true love defeat “fake news”?
DATES
JULY 25 – AUGUST 31, 2019 Thursday-Saturday (8pm) | Sunday (7pm) | Plus a special Wednesday performance on August 28th
PREVIEWS JULY 25 & 26 (Community Appreciation night, free admission)
OPENING NIGHT JULY 27
TICKETS
General admission $35 | Seniors $28 | Children under 12 & dogs free
Previews: $20
Students – any performance $15
(valid student ID must be presented at box-office to claim student tix)
Questions: Call our Box office (708) 300-9396
AUSTIN GARDENS
167 Forest Avenue
Oak Park IL 60301
Only 25 minutes from downtown Chicago!
“Director Melanie Keller establishes a comic world that feels fresh, dynamic and accessible”
– The Wednesday Journal
“Thoroughly convincing and beguiling in her role as Beatrice, her extraordinary acting ability is a force to be reckoned with….At the same time, Wakefield is versatile, eloquent, and dashing as Benedick…”
– Around The Town Chicago
AUSTIN GARDENS
167 Forest Avenue
Oak Park IL 60301
Only 25 minutes from downtown Chicago!
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The most direct and convenient access is to take either the Metra / Union Pacific West line to the Oak Park Station, or CTA Green Line “L” to the Harlem/Marion station. Walk north on Marion to Lake Street. Turn east and walk two blocks to Forest Avenue. Turn north, walk one block and the park is on your left.
BY CAR
Take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Harlem Avenue (Illinois 430), exit north and continue to Lake Street. Turn east and continue three blocks to Forest Avenue. Proceed north one block to the Park (on the west side of the street).
PARKING
Surface Parking Options
$1.00 per hour, enforced Monday–Saturday from 8am–6pm
No time limit. All surface parking spaces are FREE after 6pm, Monday-Saturday, and FREE all day on Sunday. Observe posted regulations, such as no overnight parking.
A) Metered Street Parking
Free after 6pm and all-day Sunday
– Coins and meter keys
B) Pay-by-Space Lot
Free after 6pm and all-day Sunday. Three hour parking limit per space.
– Terminals located at entrances, take your receipt with you – Accepts coins, bills and credit cards.
C) Public Valet Service
Operating Monday through Saturday, 10am to 10pm
PARKING DURATION PARKING FEE
– 0 to 3 hrs……………………..$5
– 3 to 10 hrs……………………$12
(per Village Ordinance)
D) Private Lot
– Subject to individual rules and regulations as posted
– Please note that violators may be towed
Parking Garages
E) Lake + Forest Garage: entrance on Forest Avenue
Monday–Saturday 1.5 hours FREE, Sunday FREE all day
| Parking Duration | Parking Fees |
| 0 to 1.5 hrs | FREE |
| 1.5 to 2.5 hrs | $2 |
| 2.5 to 3.5 hrs | $3 |
| 3.5 to 4.5 hrs | $4 |
| 4.5 to 5.5 hrs | $5 |
| 5.5 to 6.5 hrs | $6 |
| 6.5 to 10 hrs | $11 |
| 10 to 24 hrs | $16 |
There is a long and treasured tradition of picnicking before (and during) performances. Many people come early and dine while they watch the stage being set-up.
Austin Gardens is tucked away in the heart of downtown Oak Park. There are many restaurants which offer wonderful dine in or carry out fare. Both Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are very close by for last minute feasts.
Our Box Office sells concessions such as coffee and cold drinks as well as light snacks.
In agreement with the Park District and the Village, our patrons are able to bring their own adult beverages to the park. The BYO permit allows for alcohol to be consumed in Austin Gardens one hour before the performance until one hour after a show has closed.
Oak Park Festival Theatre is hosted in Austin Gardens compliments of the Park District, and we ask that our patrons please respect their policies:
- Carry In/Carry Out Program: We all understand the importance of caring for our environment so that we leave our planet better than we found it for future generations. Each one of us can make a difference. The same is true for our parks. We are asking for your help and cooperation in keeping our parks clean and safe through the Oak Park Park District’s Carry In/Carry Out program. You simply need to carry out all waste and recyclables you bring into the park. The purpose of this program is to raise awareness about generating less waste, using more reusable containers, increasing recycling efforts, and taking better care of our parks. It’s also good for our environment and saves tax dollars!
Thank you in advance for your support and participation. If we all accept this one small responsibility, we’ll have cleaner, safer and more enjoyable parks.
This program is an initiative of the Park District of Oak Park’s Greening Advisory Committee. For more details visit http://www.pdop.org/AboutUs/GoGreen
When does the Box Office open?
The box office is open one hour before the performance. If you come early for your picnic or to stake out your preferred spot, just check in at the box office once it is staffed.
Can you bring liquor to the park?
In agreement with the Park District and the Village, our patrons are able to bring their own adult beverages to the park. The BYO permit allows for alcohol to be consumed in Austin Gardens one hour before the performance until one hour after a show has closed.
What is your weather policy?
Sometimes a light rain will break out during a performance. We may continue to play through a light rain, or pause, allow you to seek cover until it blows over and then resume. A downpour or the presence of lightening will cancel a performance. Your ticket will serve as your “raincheck.”
WEATHER CANCELATIONS
Much as we hate to, we must sometimes cancel a performance because of weather. Canceling is a tough decision and we make that decision as close to performance time as possible in the hopes of getting in the evening’s show.
In the event that we cancel a show due to weather prior to performance time you will be notified via email notifications and we also make announcements on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/oakparkfestivaltheatre/
If you have already purchased a ticket and the performance is cancelled, we apologize and ask that bring your ticket or purchase receipt to the box office on another day and it will be honored.
If we are rained out the entire last week of the season or closing night, and you were in attendance, please call 708-300-9638 and leave a message for our Box Office Manager to discuss the situation.
What are the seating options?
Beautiful Austin Gardens has a lush green lawn and plenty of space. We have accommodated as many as 350 with no worries of crowding or sight lines.
- We offer plastic chairs for a $2 rental but most patrons prefer to bring their own chairs or blankets along with their picnic hampers. Chairs are not set up in advance except for some group sales.
- Children (children 12 and under are our guests and do not need a ticket) are encouraged to sit close to the stage.
- If you need help placing or setting up you chairs/blanket we will be happy to assist you.
When does the park close?
Austin Gardens is a public park. The gates except the main entrance/box office are closed 45 minutes before the performance.
Are there a lot of insects in the park?
Any outdoor event may have small unwelcome guests. It very much depends on the particular summer. Our last several seasons have been reasonably bug free but we do offer complimentary insect repellant. Citronella candles are also a good idea.
What’s the restroom situation in the park?
There are three indoor restrooms available in Austin Gardens directly behind the stage at the Environmental Education Center Building by our concession area.
May I bring my dog?
YES! As long as they do not disrupt the performance. According to Oak Park statute, all dogs must be on a leash of a maximum 8 feet in length.
THE CAST
Eunice Woods* (Beatrice) is delighted to be working with Oak Park Festival Theatre for the first time! Chicago credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Familiar u/s (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Father Comes Home From the Wars u/s (Goodman Theatre); Hinter (Steep Theatre); No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks (Manual Cinema); Parade u/s (Writers Theatre); 10 Out Of 12 (Theater Wit); Little Shop of Horrors (American Blues Theater); The Project(s) (American Theater Company) and more. Television credits include Shameless and Chicago PD. Eunice is a proud company member of BOM where she performs and teaches in Chicago Public Schools. She is represented by Gray Talent Group. Follow her on Instagram to see what she’s up to: @eunicewoods
Bryan Wakefield *^ (Benedick) is absolutely ecstatic to be returning to Oak Park this season to play with this outstanding cast and crew. Chicago credits include The Fair Maid of the West, Macbeth, Love’s Labours Lost, Twelfth Night, Cyrano de Bergerac (Oak Park Festival Theater), Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Bartleby the Scrivener, Macbeth, Theophilus North (Organic Theater Company), Arms and the Man (ShawChicago),Titus Andronicus, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Shakespeare Project of Chicago), and others. Bryan became an artistic associate with Oak Park Festival Theatre in 2017, is an actor/combatant with the Society of the American Fight Directors, and an exotic bird handler from the California-based Carvalho’s Friends of a Feather. He holds an MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University and a Certificate of Acting from the Moscow Art Theater School. A special thanks to Steven B.: tabor and the pipe…tabor and the pipe. Got it.
Tina El Gamal (Hero/ 2nd Watch) is a Chicago-based actor, and theatre artist. She is thrilled to be making her Oak Park Festival Theatre debut! Tina is a recent graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago, where she received her BFA in Acting. Her recent credits include: the Chicago premiere of I Call My Brothers (Interrobang Theatre Project), Cash Cows – A Staged Reading (Artemisia Theatre), the world premiere of Through the Elevated Line (Silk Road Rising), and florissant and canfield (UIC Theatre). Tina is represented by NV Talent
Ian Michael Minh (Claudio) is thrilled to join OPFT this summer for one of his favorite shows in the canon. Credits around town include Vietgone (Writers Theatre); Cendrillon (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Romeo & Juliet (Teatro Vista); The Last Dance, Shadow Boy (Commedia Beauregard); Art (Parlor Room Players); and Coriolanus (Commission Theatre). He is also an artistic ensemble member with Midsommer Flight and has appeared in the company’s productions of Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It. Ian is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent and can be found at ianmichaelminh.com.
Patrick Blashill (Leonato) is really excited to perform in his first show at the Festival and to work with such an outstanding cast. An ensemble member of Lifeline since 1996, Patrick has performed in roughly 30 plays there, favorites include Towny in Midnight Cowboy, Old Bailey and the Earl in Neverwhere, Edgar Drake in The Piano Tuner (After Dark Award: Outstanding Performance), Victor in Lizard Music, Hugh Thane in The Talisman Ring, Tom in Pistols for Two (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Ensemble), Ferdinand the Bull in The Story of Ferdinand, the Mighty Gorilla in The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death (remounted for Chicago Theatre on the Air with guest star Brent Spiner), and Bunter in Strong Poison (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Ensemble). He is especially proud to have acted in all three of Lifeline’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, spanning The Fellowship of the Ring (Bilbo Baggins), The Two Towers (Frodo Baggins), and The Return of the King (Frodo Baggins). Patrick has worked with numerous other Chicago theatres, including The Factory (May the Road Rise Up), Griffin (The Harvest) Eclipse Theatre (Long Day’s Journey Into Night), Theatre Mir (The Sea), Backstage Theatre Company (A Number), Filament Theatre (Eurydice), and Reverie Theatre (Emma). A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC, Patrick is represented by Gray Talent and has appeared in several episodes of Chicago PD as well as a number of commercials.
Peter Sipla (Don Pedro) is thrilled to debut at Oak Park Festival Theatre! He was most recently seen as Rom/Drums in “Cambodian Rock Band” at Victory Gardens Theatre. Other credits include Phra Alack in “The King and I” (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Henry in “South Pacific” (Drury Lane Theatre), “Short Shakes!: Romeo and Juliet” and “Passion” (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), “Newsies” and “City of Angels” (The Marriott Theatre), “Wizard of Oz” and “Miss Saigon” (Paramount Theatre), and work with TimeLine Theatre, Writers’ Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, Brightside Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, Steel Beam Theatre, and Disney Cruise Line. Television credits include Hundley in “Chicago Fire.” Peter has recorded Voiceovers for hundreds of commercials and industrials. @petersipla www.petersipla.com
Bret Tuomi* (Don John/Dogberry) is very glad to be making his first appearance on the OPFT stage. Chicago area credits include Julius Caesar, Henry V, Othello, Macbeth, and Nell Gwynn at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; The Iceman Cometh and Ah, Wilderness! at The Goodman; Drury Lane appearances include West Side Story, Billy Elliot and Saturday Night Fever; and The Odd Couple and Big River at Theatre at the Center. He has also appeared on Broadway and the first national tour of Rock of Ages. Television credits include Mind Games and Chicago PD.
Will Burdin (Conrad) is humbled to be working for the first time with Oak Park. Other Chicago credits include: Shakespeare In Love (Chicago Shakespeare); The Temperamentals, Significant Other, (About Face Theatre), Out of the Blue, The Good Doctor, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Tartuffe, Macbeth, (Organic Theater Company); Twelfth Night (Midsommer Flight); The Dancing Plague (Right Brain Project); and The Tempest (Suitcase Shakespeare). Regional credits include Hamlet, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Les Liaisons Dangereuse, and Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (American Players Theatre). Will received his BFA in acting from Northern Illinois University, has studied at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia, and is a company member at the Organic Theater Company here in Chicago.
Noelle Klyce (Ursula) holds an Acting BFA (’18) from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her most recent credits include Elsa in RISING TEMPERATURES: IT”S GETTING WARMER (Akvavit Theatre), Alice in DEAR BRUTUS (Eclectic Full Contact Theatre), Camilla in THE WINTER’S TALE and Gadshill/Westmoreland in HENRY IV, PART ONE (winner of the “Best Play” Award for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Arkansas Awards) at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. She’s also worked with ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Bernard Productions, in the green show for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in the Parks, and in Season 3 of NBC’s Chicago PD. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Rio Ragazzone^ (Friar/ George Seacol) is delighted to be working with Oak Park Festival Theatre once more. Chicago credits include Taming of the Shrew, You Can’t Take It With You (OPFT, u/s); In the Canyon (Jackalope Theatre Company, u/s); Armonica’s: The Secret Gem of the Southwest Side (Jackalope Groundworks Series.) Rio holds his Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts from New Mexico State University and is a proud artistic associate of Oak Park Festival Theatre.
Lizzie Bourne (Margaret/Sexton) Lizzie is very chuffed to be back at Oak Park this summer, after You Can’t Take It With You last year! Other credits include – Theatre: Yen(Raven Theatre),Cuzco (Theatre 503), Dough! (Creative Scene); The Picture of Dorian Gray (White Bear); The Glorious Damnation of Eddie Small (Union Theatre/Bedlam). R&D: everything that rises must dance (Complicite), I AM BEAST (Sparkle and Dark). Radio: Home Front (BBC Radio 4). Film: Pride and Prejudice and Gays(Columbia College), The Falling (BBC, Carol Morley), Ramanujan (Camphor). Lizzie trained in Acting at the Oxford School of Drama, and holds a BA(Hons) from The University of Nottingham and an MSc from The University of Edinburgh.
Nick Caesar (Borachio) Is overjoyed to be making his Oak Park Festival debut! Nick is from Kansas City and is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. Previous credits include: Pericles (Muse of Fire), When the Rain Stops Falling (Circle Theatre), Psmith Journalist (City Lit), Merry Christmas Mulch Pile (Mercy Street), Book of Disquiet (Blue Elephant Theatre, London) Chicago Fire (NBC). Nick would like to thank his friends and family for all their support, and hopes you enjoy the show! Nick is represented by DDO Artists Agency Chicago.
ANNA CIVIK is thrilled to be working with OPFT this summer! Anna is a proud graduate of Northwestern’s theatre program. Recent credits include The Wolves (Flint Repertory Theatre), Little Foxes (
Jordan Arredondo (Verges/Messenger) is thrilled to making his Oak Park Festival Theatre debut! His previous Chicago credits include: First Love is the Revolution (Basti) at Steep Theatre Co., American Jornalero (Marcelo) at Teatro Vista, Romeo and Juliet (Romeo) at Teatro Vista, Waiting for Godot (Lucky) at Tympanic Theatre, The Party House (Jake) at the Runaways Lab Theater. TV/Film Credits include: Chicago Fire, Killing Eleanor, Defer, and Binx. He graduated with his B.F.A in Acting from the School of Theatre and Music at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Jordan is represented by Gray Talent Group. Jordan would like to give a big thanks to his family, the Gray fam, and Sabrina for all the endless love and support.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Brian Sprague (OPFT Technical Director) Brian Sprague is a Chicago based freelance theatre artist. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Northern Illinois University and has studied and performed internationally at the Moscow Art Theatre and Adana State Theatre in Adana, Turkey. Some past technical director credits include: Fun Harmless Warmachine (The New Colony), Warrior Class (Comrades), The Harvest (Griffin Theatre Company), Akeelah and the Bee (Adventure Stage Chicago), JB, Arms and the Man (City Lit Theatre Company), Invisible Hand, Birdland, Earthquakes in London (Steep Theatre), You Can’t Take it With You, Fair Maid of the West, Macbeth, The African Company Presents Richard III (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Grace, The Goat: or Who is Sylvia (Interrobang Theatre Project), Happiest Place on Earth, Give It All Back, Truth and Reconciliation and HeLa (Sideshow Theatre Company), Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing (Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival).
Becs Bartle (Master Electrician) is a lighting designer, master electrician in the Chicago area. Mx. Bartle credits include 20% Theatre Company, Brown Paper Box Co., Highland Park Players, Urban Theatre Company, Fremont Street Theatre, Interrobang Theatre Project, Commission Theatre, Babes with Blades, Flying Elephant Productions, Pride Films & Plays, Saltbox Theatre Collective, and Edge of the Wood Theatre.
Melanie Thompson (Production Manager) is thrilled to work with Oak Park Festival Theatre, and work with such a phenomenal team! Past credits include: His Life Matters (Black Lives, Black Words International Project), That Night (Erasing the Distance), Good Enough (16th Street Theatre Co.), Evil Dead (Black Button Eyes Productions), I Know My Own Heart (Pride Films & Plays), The Lonesome West (AstonRep), Koalas(16th Street Theatre Co.), Docfest 2018: Learning 101 (Erasing the Distance), The Laramie Project (AstonRep), I Can Cook Too: an evening of musical theatre with Krista Hansen (DUPAC). Erasing the Distance: Dominican, Chapter 2 (DUPAC), Shockheaded Peter (Black Button Eyes Productions), The Addams Family (DUPAC), and The Seagull (DUPAC). She thanks her friends, family, and Prince for their love and support.
Melanie Keller (Director) is honored to return to OPFT where she previously directed The Amish Project and appeared as Lady Macbeth. She is the Associate Artistic Director of First Folio Theatre where she has directed All Childish Things, Mary’s Wedding, Silent Sky and acted in over 10 productions including The Turn of the Screw, The Merchant of Venice and Blithe Spirit. As a member of Signal Ensemble, she directed the Jeff-nominated: The Drowning Girls. Acting credits with Signal include East of Berlin and The Russian Play (Jeff Award for Best Actress), The Weir (Jeff Nomination for Best Supporting Actress), and Much Ado About Nothing. Other directing credits include projects with Shakespeare Project of Chicago, Irish Theatre of Chicago, Fraud and Phony, WildClaw and Chicago Dramatists. Additional acting credits include productions at Waterfront Playhouse in Key West, Peninsula Players, The Goodman, Northlight, Chicago Shakespeare, Artists’ Ensemble, Strawdog, and seasons at the Stratford Festival of Canada, Lakeside Shakespeare and the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. She has appeared on Chicago Med, Fire, and PD, and in the short film UberEx. She is so grateful to the members of OPFT for inviting her to play in their home-in-the-park this summer.
Nicholas James Schwartz (Scenic Designer) Originally from New York , Nick now resides is Chicago as a scenic designer, scenic artist and production manager. He has been recently nominated for best Scenic Design by the BTAA for his work on Juneteenth Street at ETA Creative Arts Center and for Harbur Gate at 16th Street Theatre. Nick’s previous works include: Comedy of Errors (Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre), Elephant Man (William Street Repertory), King Lear, Between Riverside and Crazy (Red Twist Theatre), Blood at the Root, Antigone (Elgin Community College), In The Blood, Rounded Heads and Peaked Heads (Red Tape Theatre), Naked Trapdoor Theatre, Book of Merman, Defacing Michael Jackson (Flying Elephants Productions), Juneteenth Street (ETA Creative arts), Green Book, YPF (Pegasus Theatre Company), Memphis, Young Frankenstein, Memphis(Parkland College), and Revolt (Vision Latino Theatre).
Jamie Karas (Properties Designer) is happy to be back from last year where she did The African Company Presents Richard III and is excited to be working on Much Ado About Nothing! In Chicago she has worked on The Hero’s Wife (16th Street Theater); Dada Woof Papa Hot and Bull in a China Shop (About Face Theatre); Innovation Nation Live!, Violet, and Titanic the Musical (Griffin Theatre); Girl Found (Idle Muse); Flies! The Musical (Pride Films and Plays); Shrek Jr., Footloose, The Aristocat Kids, Legally Blonde Jr, and Seussical the Musical (Wilmette Park District); The Father, Le Puff Or Believe it or Not, and Born Yesterday (Remy Bumppo); Wolf At The End Of The Block and In The Time Of The Butterflies (Teatro Vista); Becky Shaw, Bootycandy, Apartment 3A, This, and Explorer’s Club (Windy City Playhouse); Tall Girls (Shattered Globe); We’re Gonna Be Okay, Welcome to Jesus, and Men On Boats (American Theatre Company); Pinocchio, The Nutcracker, and Death And Harry Houdini (House Theatre of Chicago); Girl Found (Idle Muse Theatre); The Invisible Hand, Bobbie Clearly, and The Cheats (Steep Theatre); Into the Woods, Anything Goes, Gypsy, Peter Pan, and Mame (Music Theater works) and many others. She is also the current Prop Shop Supervisor at Loyola University of Chicago.
Rachel Lambert (Costume Designer) is delighted to be working with Oak Park Festival for the first time. Her other Chicago design credits include Santaland Diaries and The King of Hell’s Palace (Goodman Theatre); Twist Your Dickens (The Second City); Mothers and Sons (Northlight Theatre); Puff: Believe It Or Not, Henry IV, The Life of Galileo, and Travesties and Northanger Abbey (Jeff nominations–Remy Bumppo Theatre); Mary’s Wedding, Silent Sky, Cymbeline, Merchant of Venice, and Romeo & Juliet (Jeff nomination);Time Stands Still and The Dingdong (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble); A Swell In The Ground (The Gift); Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, A Perfect Ganesh, Intimate Apparel (Jeff nomination), After the Fall (Eclipse Theatre); Hansel & Gretel, The Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, Magic Flute, Gianni Schicchi (DePaul School of Music); Rose (Greenhouse Theatre); Next to Normal (BoHo Theatre); My Name Is Annie King (Underscore Theatre); The Drowning Girls (Signal Ensemble); and American Myth (American Blues Theatre). Regionally she has designed for Peninsula Players and the Texas Shakespeare Festival.
Mark Lancaster† (Intimacy & Violence Designer) has been working with OPFT since 2017 when he joined the casts of Macbeth, The Fair Maid of the West, and A Dickens Carol. He also served as the fight/movement director for the 2018 season’s You Can’t Take it With You and The African Company Presents Richard III. Mark is a 2012 graduate of the MFA Acting program of The Theatre School at DePaul University, an Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors—easy to love, hard to miss, thinks he can write, is damned handsome, and adores his cat.
Gary Nocco (Assistant Costume Designer and Wardrobe Master) is pleased to return for his fifth show with Oak Park Festival Theatre. He is a Chicago-based freelance stylist, costume designer and make-up artist. Film Credit: Every 21 Seconds (Wardrobe Supervisor and Personal Stylist / Make-up Artist / Assistant to lead – Two 9 Productions). Theatrical Design Credits: The Fantasticks (Ogorod Productions), The Next Big Thing (The Factory Theater), Muthaland (Jeff Recommended–16th Street Theater), The Liar (Jeff recommended–Promethean Theatre Ensemble), Eurydice (Promethean Theatre Ensemble), Carroll Gardens (16th Street Theater), Dating & Dragons (The Factory Theater) and The Taming of the Shrew (Oak Park Festival Theatre). His work has been seen at Improv Olympic Chicago and Victory Gardens Biograph Theater.
Nicholas James Schwartz (Scenic Designer) Originally from New York , Nick now resides is Chicago as a scenic designer, scenic artist and production manager. He has been recently nominated for best Scenic Design by the BTAA for his work on Juneteenth Street at ETA Creative Arts Center and for Harbur Gate at 16th Street Theatre. Nick’s previous works include: Comedy of Errors (Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre), Elephant Man (William Street Repertory), King Lear, Between Riverside and Crazy (Red Twist Theatre), Blood at the Root, Antigone (Elgin Community College), In The Blood, Rounded Heads and Peaked Heads (Red Tape Theatre), Naked Trapdoor Theatre, Book of Merman, Defacing Michael Jackson (Flying Elephants Productions), Juneteenth Street (ETA Creative arts), Green Book, YPF (Pegasus Theatre Company), Memphis, Young Frankenstein, Memphis (Parkland College), and Revolt (Vision Latino Theatre).
Megan Turnquist (Lighting Designer) is excited to work with Oak Park Festival Theatre this season. Chicagoland design credits include productions such as Emma!, Elephant Man (Williams Street Rep), Eclipsed (Pegasus Theatre), Veronica’s Room, Amadeus, Myths and Hymns (Promethean Theatre Ensemble)Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Wheaton College) Julius Caesar, Antigone, and Mudlark (The ARC Trials). Regional credits include Macbeth, Guys and Dolls (Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre) and an assistantship at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Megan holds an MFA in lighting design from Purdue University.
George Zahora† (Original Music/Sound Designer) has been doing sound design in various professional and semi-professional capacities for almost thirty years. He’s also a playwright, IT consultant, DJ and mostly retired music journalist, none of which should matter to you. OPFT audiences have heard his work in last season’s You Can’t Take It With You and The African Company presents Richard III, as well as 2017’s Macbeth. He’s also the resident sound designer for the Shakespeare Project of Chicago, where he has created sound and music for more than thirty shows, and in recent years created a lot of music and sound effects for the much-missed ShawChicago. He sincerely hopes that you were able to hear EVERY WORD of tonight’s performance. If you had a less-than-ideal experience, please email him at sound@oakparkfestival.com with the pertinent details (i.e. where you were sitting, what was wrong).
INTERN PROFILES
Dakotah Brown (General Internship) will be a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and will be earning his Bachelor of the Fine Arts with and emphasis in acting. This is Dakotah’s first summer working at OPFT and his debut working in the Chicago theatre scene. His previous credits include Macduff in Macbeth and Malcolm in Student Body at UWSP.
Lily Chrones (General Internship) is delighted to be joining the intern team this summer after having been inspired by attending OPFT productions during previous summers. Lily is a Junior at Boston Conservatory majoring in Contemporary Theatre. Her previous credits include Appropriate (Cassidy), The Seagull (Paulina), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peaseblossom/Snout). She would like to thank friends, family and mentors who have inspired and encouraged her on her artistic journey.
Megan Flanery (General Internship) This is Megan Flanery’s first summer working at OPFT. She would like to thank everybody who has helped to create this amazing opportunity for her. Megan is a Freshman at Los Medanos College majoring in Theatre Arts. Her previous credits include Les Misérable (Props crew), Twelve Angry Jurors (Prop Master), The Drowsy Chaperone (Prop Master), Titus Andronicus (Prop Master), Living La Vida Loca (Light Crew), Connected (Running crew), and Bolt Bolton vs. Outer Space (Assistant Stage Manager).
Leanne Hays (General Internship) This is Leanne’s first summer working in the Chicago area and at OPFT. She is a sophomore at the Chicago College of Performing Arts working towards a B.F.A. in Acting. Her previous credits include The Wild Party (Mae), Inherit the Wind (Rachel Brown) and Learned Ladies (Martine & Lepine).
Catherine Healey (Administrative Internship) is thrilled to join OPFT as an intern for her first summer in Chicago! Catherine is a recent graduate from Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut where she earned her BA degree in Theater. Additional training includes semesters at the Gaiety School of Acting (Dublin, Ireland) and the National Theater Institute (Waterford, CT). Previous credits include Susan in bobrauschenbergamerica by Charles Mee (dir. by Kimberly Senior) and Tour Guide in Information for Foreigners by Griselda Gambaro (Connecticut College).
Brianna Jones (Administrative Internship) is a senior at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and is completing both a BA degree in Theatre and a BS degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. Recent university credits includes A Doll’s House Part 2 (Nora), By The Way Meet Vera Stark (Lottie McBride/ Carmen Levy-Green) ,and Eurydice (Big Stone), This is Brianna’s first time working for OPFT and she is excited to learn more about the arts administrative process.
Max Martin (General Internship) currently studies acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. He is thrilled to be spending the summer working with Oak Park Festival Theatre. Max grew up in Naperville, Illinois and he also studied acting last year at Chicago College of Performing Arts. Other Chicago area professional work includes Friedrich in The Sound of Music (BrightSide Theatre in Naperville) and the role of The Caddie in Fairways (The Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles).
Matthew Rohan (General Internship) will be a sophomore pursuing a BFA in Stage Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In high school, he served as the Stage Manager for the Illinois All-State Company of Big Fish, produced by the Illinois Theatre Association. Previous collegiate credits include Footloose (ASM), Studio Dance I and Extended (ASM), and Marat/Sade (PA). In the coming fall semester, he will serve as the Stage Manager for Songs for a New World and the Production Stage Manager for the Armory Free Theatre.
Meredith Rupp (General Internship) is thrilled to join Oak Park Festival Theatre for her first summer as an intern. Meredith is a recent graduate of Kenyon College with a degree in Drama with a focus in acting. Some of her previous credits include her senior thesis, Slowgirl (Becky), Crimes of the Heart (Chick), and a staged reading of I’m Revolting (Lucinda) by Gracie Gardner.
Joshua Stein (General Internship) will be a Sophomore at Rider University. He is pursuing a major in Musical Theatre with a minor in Psychology. This is his first summer in Chicago and his first summer working with OPFT and he is thrilled to jump into the vibrant Chicago theatre scene. Previous credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Dogfight (Birdlace), and Billy Elliot (Braithwaite/Older Billy). He is also the founding captain of the Rider Brunks improv team at Rider University.
Sarah Valeika (General Internship) will be a sophomore at Yale University, pursuing a double major in Theater Studies and Psychology. This is Sarah’s first summer with OPFT and she is incredibly grateful to have joined this community! Previous credits include The Matchmaker (Dolly Levi), The Glass Menagerie (Laura Wingfield), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena).
Kierra Walker (General Internship) will be a senior at University of Iowa, focusing on Stage Management. She’s been involved with the university’s New Play Festival and school productions. This is her first summer working at OPFT and she is excited to share contributions to the team!
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