AILA AYILAM PECK she/her (Elaine) is thrilled to be making her debut with Raven Theatre and the artists of NIGHT WATCH. Chicago credits include: A DISTINCT SOCIETY (Writers Theatre); HATEFUCK (First Floor Theatre); SHAKUNTALA (Goodman Future Labs); THIS WIDE NIGHT, FIVE MILE LAKE (Shattered Globe); BIRDLAND (Steep); THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ANTARCTICA (The Gift); MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY (Northlight); 1984 (Steppenwolf for Young Adults).  Regional credits include: HOUSE OF JOY (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); BRAHMAN/I, A ONE-HIJRA STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW, PROOF (Kitchen Theatre); THE WHO AND THE WHAT (Huntington Theatre); A DOLL’S HOUSE, TWELFTH NIGHT, MACBETH (American Players Theatre). She is a proud graduate of School at Steppenwolf and University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She is represented by Gray Talent Group.

KROYDELL GALIMA he/him (John) is happy to be returning to Raven’s stage after performing in last season’s RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN. Other Chicago credits include WHITE MONKEY (Goodman Theatre-New Stages Festival staged reading series); UNITED FLIGHT 232 (House Theatre). Television credits include a recurring role on CHICAGO MED (NBCUniversal); THE CHI (Showtime); EASY (Netflix). The feature length film, STEP SIX, andI DIDN’T MEAN TO GO MENTAL, a pilot. He is repped by Gray Talent Group and is a member of SAG-AFTRA. Love to my friends, family, Siobhan, and Nym.

JODI GAGE she/her (Blanche) is a Chicago-based actor and has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Milwaukee Rep, Theater Wit, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Blank Theatre, and Chicago Physical Theater Festival, among others. Before relocating to Chicago, she worked extensively in the Pittsburgh area with Pittsburgh CLO, PICT Classic Theatre, The REP Pittsburgh Playhouse, among others. She toured internationally with Theatre Lumina, where she is also a company member, in their production of SONG OF HOME. Television: Chicago Med (NBC). Education: MFA in Theatre, Point Park University; BM in Opera Performance, Oberlin Conservatory. She is represented by Gray Talent. jodigage.com

KATHY SCAMBIATTERRA she/her (Helga/Dr. Lake) is thrilled to be making her Raven Theatre debut. As Artistic Director and co-founder of The Artistic Home, she has helmed 23 seasons and was most recently seen there in DYING FOR IT. In addition, she has worked at Interrobang/Rivendell, Steppenwolf, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Pacific Resident Theatre among others. TV/Film credits: recurring role on CHICAGO PD (NBC Dick Wolf Productions), Philip K. Dick’s ELECTRIC DREAMS (Amazon), GOOD GUY WITH A GUN (One Shot Productions), MONUMENTS (Zaxiefilms), INTO THE WAKE (Diesel Brothers), among others. She is represented by ATG actorstalentgroup.com and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.

CHRISTOPHER MEISTER he/him (Walker/Hoke) is delighted to be working with Raven for the first time. Chicago: BOTTICELLI IN THE FIRE (First Floor Theatre), MOTHER ROAD (The Goodman Theatre), QUEEN (u/s Victory Gardens), DEATH OF A SALESMAN (The Hypocrites), BRIEF STUDY OF AN ENDLESS THING (Gift Theatre), TRUST (Lookingglass Theatre) YELLOWFACE (Silk Road Rising), UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Jackalope). Regional: STOP KISS (Nebraska Rep), THE HOLLOW (Acadia Repertory Theatre), DESIRE (the dirigo group), JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK (Different Stages). Television: SHINING GIRLS, CHICAGO P.D., CHICAGO MED, THE BIG LEAP, EMPIRE, THE CHI. Film: The DILEMMA, THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE, ALEX/OCTOBER.  Chris is proudly represented by Grossman & Jack Talent and a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

MATTHEW MARTINEZ HANNON he/him (Vanelli/Appleby) is a native of San Diego, California and earned his MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Selected credits: PRIVATE LIVES (Raven Theatre); A MILE IN THE DARK (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); THE SPIN (Interrobang Theatre Project); DADDY LONG LEGS, THE BOOK CLUB PLAY (Third Avenue PlayWorks); RETURN TO SENDER (Nashville Children’s Theatre); THREE SISTERS, NATIVE SON (The Theatre School at DePaul University); HOME INVASION (6NewPlays); MACBETH, ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); AULIS: AN ACT OF NIHILISM IN ONE PLAY, SUMMERTIME (University of California, Berkeley). Matthew is represented by DDO Artists Agency.

SARAH J. PATIN they/them (Elaine Understudy) is excited to be working with Raven Theatre for the first time! Chicago credits include: THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL (Kokandy Productions); CAMELOT (Music Theatre Works); ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Theo Ubique); SUB-CULTURE (Interrobang); MARY SHELLEY SEES THE FUTURE (The Runaways Lab); BOB: A LIFE IN FIVE ACTS (The Comrades); and OUR TOWN (Redtwist). Sarah is proudly represented by Big Mouth Talent.

RICHIE VILLAFUERTE he/him (John Understudy) is happy to make his Chicago debut at Raven Theatre. He is a proud member of The ACADEMY at Black Box and a recent graduate of the School at Steppenwolf. He received his B.A. in Theatre Performance from UNLV and was seen this past summer at the Michigan Shakespeare Festival as Cleon in PERICLES and Carlos in A FLEA IN HER EAR. Other credits include Oscar in SWEAT (Vegas Theatre Company); Andrew in RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS (A Public Fit). He is grateful for the support of his partner Rose, family, friends, and The ACADEMY ensemble.

NORAH FLAHERTY she/her (Blanche Understudy) is so excited for her first production with Raven Theatre! After graduating from North Central College, Norah has been acting & choreographing in Chicago since 2019 & recently graduated from the Second City Conservatory (2022). Theatrical Credits include: THE CLEANUP (Prop Theatre), PORTRAIT OF A BUNCH OF LADIES ON FIRE (Newport Theatre), POLITICAL CLIMATE CHANGE (Second City Conservatory), RENT (Possibilities Theatre), THE DINING ROOM (Possibilities Theatre). When Norah isn’t acting, she is writing & producing sketch comedy, and teaching dance/choreographing at Momentum Performing Arts. Love always to Mom, Dad, Nolan, Liam, MC, & my dearest Harry.

ANN JAMES she/her (Helga/Dr. Lake Understudy) is pleased to return to Raven, where she portrayed Mrs. Holly in SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER. She has worked with Chicago Shakespeare, Goodman, Jackalope, MadKap, Sideshow, and Trap Door theaters, and narrated  HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and PETER AND THE WOLF with the Lakeview Community Orchestra. James is director of Chicspeare, a theater company based in Chicago specializing in Shakespeare; our name reflects our commitment to both the City and the Bard (chicspeare.org).  She is a member of SAG-AFTRA.

JAKE BUSSE he/him (Walker/Hoke Understudy) has been acting in the greater Chicagoland area since 2017. Recent credits include A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Invictus Theatre); PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE (Citadel Theatre); FRANKENSTEIN, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, NEVER THE BRIDESMAID (Oil Lamp Theatre); THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL (Surging Films and Theatrics). TV credits include: CHICAGO FIRE (S10 E19). Jake is endlessly grateful to be fulfilling a dream of working at Raven Theatre.

PETER FERNEDING he/him (Vanelli/Appleby Understudy) is elated to be working with the talented cast and crew of NIGHT WATCH and the awesome team at Raven Theatre. Since moving to Chicago he has been seen at Mercury Theatre, Theatre Wit, Redtwist Theatre, Avalanche Theater Co., and The Plagiarists. Much love to everyone involved in this production for their dedication and hard work. As always, he owes a great deal of gratitude to his family and friends for their continued support. He is a graduate of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

LEE FISKNESS he/him (Lighting Designer) is based in Chicago. Highlights include: Steppenwolf, Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Drury Lane, Marriott Theatre, Court Theatre, Writers Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, and Lightscape at Chicago Botanical Gardens. Regionally: Kennedy Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Mark Taper Forum, Cincinnati Playhouse, Emerson Colonial Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Rep. Opera: Lyric Opera, San Jose, Dallas, Colorado, Portland, Kentucky, and Florentine Opera. International; The Jurassic World Exhibition (China), Marriage of Figaro (Japan), Movement Stories (Abu Dhabi). Lee was the Lighting Director at The Santa Fe Opera where he worked for 18 seasons. Lee is a member of United Scenic Artists. leefiskness.com

LUCILLE FLETCHER (Playwright) was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1912 and began writing as a child. In all, Fletcher wrote and broadcast more than twenty radio plays. Her drama THE HITCH HIKER was performed by Orson Welles on Mercury Radio Theater. SORRY, WRONG NUMBER was first a radio play starring Agnes Moorehead and later a film starring Barbara Stanwyck and nominated for an Oscar. Fletcher continued to write novels and stories long after Radio’s Golden Age had given way to television. Her books include AND PRESUMED DEAD, THE STRANGE BLUE YAWL, THE GIRL IN CABIN B54, BLINDFOLD, NIGHT WATCH, and her final novel, MIRROR IMAGE, published in 1988. The novel BLINDFOLD became a 1966 film starring Rock Hudson, and NIGHT WATCH a successful play which ran on Broadway and later became a film starring Elizabeth Taylor in 1973. Her short story MY CLIENT CURLY became the basis for the movie ONCE UPON A TIME starring Cary Grant. She passed away on August 31, 2000.

NORA GEFFEN she/her (Assistant Director) is thrilled to be returning to Raven after working on RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN. She has recently worked with Snails on a Bike (Co-Director; DRY LAND), Goodman Theatre (Literary Intern, Production Assistant; Playwright’s Unit, New Stages Labs), Drury Lane Theatre (Assistant Director; MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS), and Northwestern’s American Music Theatre Project (Assistant Director; COWBOY BOB). norageffen.com

ELISE KAUZLARIC she/her (Dialect Coach) is happy to be returning to Raven having previously coached dialects for THE GENTLEMAN CALLER and SUNDOWN, YELLOW MOON. Elise works around Chicagoland as well as regionally and also coached for Georgette Verdin’s productions of THIS WIDE NIGHT and OUT OF LOVE. Elise has been twice nominated by the Jeff Committee for dialect work on BUSMAN’S HONEYMOON (Lifeline) and PUNK ROCK (Griffin). Elise is also a director and actor, teaches at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, and is a member of the artistic ensemble at Lifeline Theatre.

CHRISTOPHER KRIZ he/him (Original Music and Sound Design) is an award winning Composer and Sound Designer based in Chicago and is pleased to return to Raven having previously designed THE OCTOBER STORM, THE LAST PAIR OF EARLIES, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, and others. Design credits in Chicago include: Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, TimeLine Theatre, Victory Gardens, Northlight Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Shattered Globe, The Gift Theatre, and many others. Regional: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Peninsula Players, American Stage Theatre, Crossroads Theatre, TheatreSquared, Montana Shakespeare Festival, Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, and others. A winner of five Joseph Jefferson Awards, Kriz is a proud member of United Scenic Artists 829. To hear more of his work, please visit christopherkriz.com

HANNAH KWAK she/her (Assistant Sound Designer) Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Hannah is a senior at Loyola University Chicago (LUC) pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Theatre and History. She works in the LUC Department of Fine and Performing Arts Production Office and spent this past summer with Peninsula Players Theatre as their Lighting and Sound Intern. She is thrilled to be working with Raven Theatre. @hannahgkwak

RICHARD LUNDY (Stage Manager) Chicago credits include: Mercury Theater: CLUE; Venus Cabaret: COMPANY, LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S…; TimeLine Theater: PARADISE BLUE, THE LAST WIFE, SUNSET BABY; Levin Productions: ASSASSINATION THEATER; Next Theatre: 16 productions including THE ADDING MACHINE: A CHAMBER MUSICAL (World premiere); Writers Theatre: OH COWARD!, THE MAIDS; Famous Door: SUBURBAN MOTEL; Porchlight: MEET JOHN DOE. Also: Hypocrites, Northlight, Remains, Victory Gardens, Organic, Halstead Theatre, Wisdom Bridge. National tours: MISS SAIGON (First National Company: Cameron Mackintosh); I LOVE LUCY LIVE! (David George). Regional: Olney Theatre Center: MISS YOU LIKE HELL, OIL. Also: Trinity Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Shakespeare & Company, Folger Shakespeare. 37-year member of Actors Equity. 31-year husband of the remarkable Carmel Carroll.

CATHERINE MILLER they/them (Casting Director) is excited to be back at Raven Theatre, having cast THE OCTOBER STORM, RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN, PRIVATE LIVES, THE LUCKIEST, SUNDOWN, YELLOW MOON and HOODOO LOVE. They have cast productions for About Face Theatre, Theatre Wit, American Musical Theatre Project, BoHo Theatre, Haven Chicago, Jackalope Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, and First Floor Theater among many others. Additionally, Catherine has done dramaturgy and gender consulting work for Paramount Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville and About Face Theatre. Catherine was a 2021 3Arts Make A Wave recipient and was recently featured in American Theatre Magazine’s Role Call. They also were on NewCity Magazine’s 2020 + 2019 Players: The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago and the Windy City Times’ 30 Under 30 list. Catherine has a BFA in Dramaturgy/Criticism from The Theatre School at DePaul.

MAYA VINICE PRENTISS she/her (Fight Choreographer) is an SAFD Certified Actor-Combatant, Fight Choreographer, and Dialect Coach. Her fight direction credits include ETHIOPIANAMERICA (Jeff Award Recipient, Definition Theatre), THE MOST LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON (Steppenwolf Theatre); MEASURE FOR MEASURE (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); RUST, ROMANCE DEPOT (Goodman Theatre); MARIE ANTOINETTE AND THE MAGICAL NEGROES (The Story Theatre); WINDWALKERS, THE HOUSE OF BABA YAGA (The Impostors Theatre); and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (The Station Theatre).

SARAH SLIGHT she/her (Artistic Director) is a Chicago-based dramaturg, literary manager and producer. At Raven, she has dramaturged RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN by Sharyn Rothstein and THE LUCKIEST by Melissa Ross. Other recent dramaturgy credits include A MILE IN THE DARK by Emily Schwend, dir. Georgette Verdin (Rivendell); THE GRADIENT by Steph Del Rosso, dir. Amelia Acosta Powell (St. Louis Rep); THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon dir. Jessica Thebus (Northlight Theatre); THE BURN by Philip Dawkins dir. Devon de Mayo (Steppenwolf Theatre, SYA); and WELCOME TO JESUS by Janine Nabers dir. Will Davis (American Theater Company). Sarah has also dramaturged new play development workshops at Rivendell Fresh Produce Festival, Victory Gardens Ignition Festival, New Harmony Project, Phoenix Theatre, The Playwrights’ Center and American Theater Company. Alongside Jess McLeod, she is the co-adapter of a condensed version of THE PROJECT(S) by PJ Paparelli and Joshua Jaeger, which toured through Chicago Public Schools and housing conferences in 2017. Sarah has served as the Associate Artistic Director at American Theater Company, Artistic Programs Manager at Northlight Theatre, Literary Associate at Williamstown Theatre Festival and Literary Manager at Red Eye Theatre. MFA Columbia University, BS University of Evansville.

STEPH TAYLOR she/her (Costume Designer) is thrilled to make her Raven Theatre debut. Recent Chicago credits include BAKED!, GREY GARDENS, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (Theo Ubique Theatre); IN MY GRANNY’S GARDEN (Goodman Theatre); ALWAYS, PATSY CLINE (Firebrand Theatre Company); OUT OF LOVE, FALLING (Interrobang Theatre Project); LUNA, SNOW QUEEN (Filament Theatre). Favorite recent Assistant and Associate Design credits include ALICE (Lookingglass Theatre); LAYALINA, THE NOTEBOOKS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI, SWING STATE (Goodman Theatre). Steph is a resident Costume Design Assistant at the Goodman Theatre and excited to kick off another season this fall.

GEORGETTE VERDIN she/her (Director) is a Cuban-American freelance director, the Associate Artistic Director of Northlight Theatre and a member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. In 2022, she was selected as the Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at Goodman Theatre. She’s been nominated for three Joseph Jefferson Awards for Director of a Play (Midsize) for ENOUGH TO LET THE LIGHT IN (Teatro Vista), THIS WIDE NIGHT (Shattered Globe), and SPAY (Rivendell). Recent directing credits include: the U.S. premiere of THE WRITER (Steep Theatre); the World premiere of A MILE IN THE DARK (Interrobang Theatre Project); the World premiere of ENOUGH TO LET THE LIGHT IN (Teatro Vista); and CHAGALL IN SCHOOL (Grippo Stage Company). Georgette was profiled as one of 50 artists in NewCity Magazine’s 2023 “Players: Who Really Performs for Chicago Right Now” and in Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago 2022.”  For more, visit georgetteverdin.com.

LUCY WHIPP she/her (Production Manager) is a Chicago-based production manager, AEA stage manager, and a generally useful set of hands to have around. Recent production credits that made her smile: Assistant Production Manager on the immersive production PORT OF ENTRY (APTP/TRP); Production Stage Manager of world premieres GENDER PLAY, OR WHAT YOU WILL and THE MAGNOLIA BALLET (About Face); ANNA IN THE TROPICS, ROUTES (Remy Bumppo); Assistant Stage Manager for KITTY AND GEORGIANA: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY (Northlight); WOMEN OF SOUL (Mercury); MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY, WHO’S HOLIDAY (Theater Wit); PLANO (First Floor Theater). She is proud to be a Governing Ensemble member at The Story Theatre. She has worked with The Story since Season I, stage managing LEAVE ME ALONE! and AT THE WAKE OF A DEAD DRAG QUEEN, production managing MARIE ANTOINETTE AND THE MAGICAL NEGROES, and producing several emerging playwright workshops and festivals including THE (W)RITES OF SUMMER as a part of Steppenwolf Lookout’s Summer 2023 season. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2019. 

MARA ISHIHARA ZINKY she/her (Scenic Designer) is thrilled to be designing at Raven for the first time! Her recent Chicago credits include LAST HERMANOS (A Red Orchid Theatre), ROUTES (Remy Bumppo), BAKED! (Theo), and THE PORCH ON WINDY HILL (Northlight Theatre). Mara also works as a freelance props artisan, and her work has been seen onstage at Steppenwolf, The Goodman, and Chicago Shakespeare. She is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University (Scenic Design 2017). 

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

Stephen H. Johnson

CORPORATE & FOUNDATION DONORS

Our corporate and foundation partners provide critical support for our operations, productions, and theatre arts education programs. Raven’s 2023- 2024 season is made possible in part by:

Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Horizon Therapeutics
PNC Foundation
Polk Bros Foundation
Shubert Foundation
The Saints
S&C Electric Company
UBS Financial Services
Whiskey Girl Tavern

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

This season is sponsored in part by a grant from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

Raven gratefully acknowledges the following individuals, whose donations of $50 or more were received between September 1, 2022 through September 1, 2023: