THE AUTHOR

Lauren M. Gunderson is the most produced playwright in America of 2017, the winner of the Lanford Wilson Award, the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award and the Otis Guernsey New Voices Award, she is also a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and John Gassner Award for Playwriting, and a recipient of the Mellon Foundation’s 3-Year Residency with Marin Theatre Company. She studied Southern Literature and Drama at Emory University, and Dramatic Writing at NYU’s Tisch School where she was a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. Her work has been commissioned, produced and developed at companies across the US including South Cost Rep (Emilie, Silent Sky), The Kennedy Center (The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful And Her Dog!), Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The O’Neill, The Denver Center, San Francisco Playhouse, Marin Theatre, Synchronicity, Berkeley Rep, Shotgun Players, TheatreWorks, Crowded Fire and more.  She co-authored Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley with Margot Melcon, which was one of the most produced plays in America in 2017. Her work is published at Playscripts (I and You, Exit Pursued By A Bear, The Taming, and Toil And Trouble), Dramatists (The Revolutionists, The Book of Will, Silent Sky, Bauer, Miss Bennet) and Samuel French (Emilie). Her picture book Dr Wonderful: Blast Off to the Moon was be released from Two Lions / Amazon in May 2017. LaurenGunderson.com and @LalaTellsAStory

THE DIRECTOR

Bryan Wakefield (Director) is deeply honored to be sharing this story with such an amazing cast and the incredible support of Oak Park Festival Theatre and Open Door Theater. A long-time fan of Lauren Gunderson, Bryan has directed the Chicago premieres of two of Gunderson’s other works:The Revolutionists (Jeff Recommended) and Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight with the Organic Theater Company. More of Bryan’s work can be seen May and June of 2019 as he directs The Memo by Vaclev Havel, with the Organic Theater Company. Other directing credits include You Can’t Take it With You, Life is a Dream, Something I’ll Tell you Tuesday, The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year, The Author’s Voice, and The Blue Room. Bryan is an artistic associate with Oak Park Festival Theatre (actor in Macbeth, Fair Maid of the West, Twelfth Night, Cyrano de Bergerac, and others), a company member of the Organic Theater Company (actor in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Bartleby the Scrivener, Macbeth, Theophilus North, and others), adjunct professor at Elmhurst College and Central Arizona College, an actor/combatant with the Society of the American Fight Directors, and a trained exotic bird handler from the California-based Carvalho’s Friends of a Feather. He holds an MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University, a Certificate of Acting from the Moscow Art Theater School, and is currently working on an MBA at the University of Southern Indiana.

THE CAST

Erica Bittner (Caroline) became an artistic associate in 2017.  At OPFT, she has appeared in You Can’t Take It With You, A Dickens Carol (2017 & 2018), Pygmalion, and Love’s Labours Lost.  She’ll also soon be seen in I & You and The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe in 2019.  Other Chicago credits include:Noises Off (Windy City Playhouse); Bad Jews (Theatre Wit/North Shore/Royal George); The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe (First Folio – 2018 and 2012);A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane); Richard III: No Beast So Fierce (Oracle Theatre); Dead Man Walking (Piven Theatre); Hello, Dolly! (Music Theatre Works); Dis/Replacement, Momentary Opera (Redmoon); and productions with Music Theater Company, GreatWorks, One Year Chekhov, Chicago Dramatists, Victory Gardens, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater.  Regional: King Charles III (Cardinal Stage).  International: The Two Noble Kinsmen (RADA) and Momentary Opera (Redmoon – Japan/China).  Television: The Chi (Showtime – recurring), Chicago Fire (NBC), American Greed(CNBC).  Erica holds a BFA from the Chicago College of Performing Arts and a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and she’s represented by Gray Talent Group.  www.ericabittner.com

Matty Robinson (Anthony) As an actor he appeared in in BoHo’s recent production of Cyrano as Raguneau, OPFT’s productions of The African Company Presents Richard III as William Henry Brown, A Dickens Carol (2017) as Chapman, The Taming of the Shrew as Grumio, and worked on The Fair Maid of the West and To Kill A Mockingbird. Matty is also an Artistic Associate of OPFT.  Matty is a proud Illinois State University alumnus holding a Bachelor of Science degree in theatre. Want more Matty? Check him out Friday nights at Pimprov as Prince Mida$, doing improv with The Moonsharks, writing and performing sketches with The Martin Luther Kings of Comedy, and performing stand-up around the city. Follow his adventures on instagram: @mattydor11

Morgen Kerian (u/s Caroline) is thrilled to be joining the team of I and You at OPFT. She recently graduated with her B.F.A in Acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Her favorite roles include Marianne Dashwood Sense and Sensibility, and 3rd Witch/Murderer/Gentlewoman/ Lady Macbeth (u/s) Macbeth with Lyric Repertory in Utah, Rory God of Bears, Desdemona Goodnight Desdemona, and Ruby (u/s) May the Road Rise Up in Chicago, Polly The Gingerbread Lady and Mary Tilford The Children’s Hour with The Lantern Theatre Company. Film credits include “The Intern” and “Vandal”.  She holds certifications from SAFD, The Atlantic Theatre Company and the National Theatre School of Ireland (GSA). Proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Morgen is represented by Lily’s Talent Agency. She is based both in Chicago, and her hometown of New York. www.morgenkerian.com

Alex (Ajax) D. Joseph (u/s Anthony) is beyond grateful to be partnering with OPTF’s “I and You”. He is currently pursuing a B.F.A. in Acting at Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts. His most recent passionate productions have included, “Clash” and “Take Em Down” as Van Turner at Frontier Theatre.