An Ideal Husband
Cast
sam Bianchini
Sam Bianchini (Mrs. Cheveley) is honored to return to the Chicago stage with Ghostlight after 10 years of living in Los Angeles. Favorite West Coast credits include: Romeo and Juliet (LA and San Francisco), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, The Cherry Orchard, Down in the Face of God and Talking Blues: Family Tradition (as director — world premier). Former Chicago credits include: The Nebraska Project (Bruised Orange Theatre Company), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Hamlet. TV/Film credits include: Lost Angeles (as writer/actress) and The Next Big Thing (currently streaming on Amazon). Sam holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is proudly represented by Big Mouth Talent. Thanks to J for all his support and infinite love.
Richard Engling
Richard Engling (Lord Caversham) is an actor, director, playwright, novelist and the founding Artistic Director of Polarity Ensemble Theatre. With Polarity, he directed Absolute Macbeth, The Good Harvest and Macbeth and adapted and appeared in Antigone. He wrote and directed Ghost Watch, wrote and appeared in Anna in the Afterlife and appeared in Leavings, Hamlet, The Rivals, Peer Gynt and Tom Jones. He has performed with Keyhole Theatre, ShakespeareInc, Chicago Actors Ensemble, the iO and others. He played drums with Midnight Blue, a jazz quartet. His novel Visions of Anna is available at amazon.com. His earlier novel, Body Mortgage, is soon to be re-released. Visit www.richardengling.com to learn more.
Alex Ireys
Alex Ireys (Lord Goring) is thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic production. He was last scene in the third rendition of Van Gogh Cafe with Filament Theater Company, where he is a resident artist. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Second City Conservatory. Alex has been acting and writing in Chicago for three years. He is thankful to all the baristas who got him through rehearsal and Ghostlight Ensemble for the opportunity to be fancy.
Song Marshall
Song Marshall (Lady Basildon) appeared with Blue Goose Theatre as Cadence Bauer in Sweet Sixteen Extravaganza!!! Other roles include: (re)discover theatre as a Guide in For One, Ghostlight Ensemble as Gina the Giantess in Rock Show. An ensemble member of Terra Mysterium she has appeared as Emma Goode in A Midwinter Mummers Tale, Delores Dion in The Lion and the Serpent and Elizabeth Munk in The Cold Heart. Other Chicago theatres worked with include: The Other Theatre Co. and New American Folk Theatre.
Allison McCorkle
Allison McCorkle (Mrs. Marchmont) studied theatre at Texas Wesleyan University before being lured to Chicago 10 years ago. Her credits include: Piccolo Theatre, Black Ensemble Theatre, Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, GreatWorks Theatre and Strangeloop Theatre. Recent roles include: Olga in Mitera, written by Ghostlight Ensemble member, Maria Burnham, and Anne in Krampus! this past Christmas. Much love & gushiness to Zachariah.
Halie Merrill
Halie Merrill (Mabel Chiltern) is simply delighted to work with Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Co. She was recently seen in Chicago in Twelfth Night (musician/ ensemble) with Midsommer Flight and in Nameless Mountains (Mandy) with Accomplice Theatre Company. Favorite past productions include: Dancing at Lughnasa (Agnes), Xanadu (Kira), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena) and Hamlet (Hamlet) at Southern Utah University where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in classical theatre. She has also done professional work in regional theatres such as Star Spangled Girl (Sophie) and Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Carol) at Neil Simon Festival and Amadeus (ensemble) and South Pacific (ensemble) at Utah Shakespeare Festival. Halie would like to thank all her many parents and her sweet husband.
Stephanie Monday
Stephanie Monday (Lady Markby) is delighted to be appearing in Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre's production of An Ideal Husband. She most recently appeared as J.B. in City Lit's production of J.B.
Ms. Monday has also worked in and around Chicago at Steppenwolf Theatre, Piven Theatre, Strawdog Theatre and Stage Left Theatre. Regionally, she has worked with the American Southwest Theatre Company, Forward Theatre Company and the Madison Rep. Cheers to all and enjoy the show!
Maddie Pell
Madeline Pell (Lady Chiltern) is thrilled to be a part of the cast of An Ideal Husband for her Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre debut. A graduate of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, some of Madeline’s Chicago credits include: A Wrinkle in Time (Lifeline Theatre), Twelfth Night (Three Brothers Theatre), Followspot (The Bridge) and The 39 Steps (Roosevelt). Some of her regional credits include: Titanic the Musical (Union Colony Dinner Theatre, Colorado) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stampede Theatre, Colorado). An enthusiastic thank you to the wonderful cast and crew involved in this production.
Sebastian Summers
Sebastian Summers (Vicomte de Nanjac) is thrilled to make his Ghostlight Ensemble debut! Sebastian moved to Chicago from Texas in August 2014 and has since studied acting with the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and taken to writing works like his festival-winning short play The Move and poetic journalism for Poets Reading the News.
Most recently, Sebastian could be seen as an ensemble member in High Fidelity: The Musical (Refuge Theatre Project) or as Simon Bliss in Noel Coward's Hay Fever with Saint Sebastian Players.
This summer, his voice can be hear as the aging and mysterious Haji in the new animated series Bad Hair Day.
He would like to thank Ghostlight Ensemble for their uplifting kindness, his hardworking and inspiring castmates and Oscar Wilde, for being his lifelong inspiration to fight to make the honest choice, regardless of objection.
Michael Wagman
Michael Wagman (Mason/Phipps) is beyond thrilled to be in this production. Michael’s previous Ghostlight credits include: Krampus! and their staged reading of A League of Their Own. His favorite Chicagoland credits include: Art (Janus Theatre), Walkabout 2016: Shakes Beers Shots (Janus Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Strangeloop Theatre), Mitera (Strangeloop Theatre), Cash on Delivery (Saint Sebastian Players) and The Rogue Aviator (Otherworld Theatre). Michael has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in playwriting from DePaul University and has studied at such institutions as Second City, i.O., Acting Studio Chicago, Black Box Acting Studio and Carlson&Hart. Michael would like to thank Holly for her vision and wisdom, his fiancé Lisa and their cats for giving him a home to come home to.
Aaron Wertheim
Aaron Wertheim (Robert Chiltern). This is Aaron's first production with Ghostlight Ensemble. In the past he has the pleasure of working at Victory Gardens Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Babes with Blades, Rediscover Theatre and Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. Aaron has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from Oklahoma City University.
Production Crew
Janette bauer
Janette Bauer (Production Manager) is a Texas girl excited to make her Ghostlight debut with An Ideal Husband. Janette has been in Chicagoland for five years having worked on nearly 20 shows as a stage manager, production manager, producer and managing director for Red Theater Chicago — some of the highlights being Kill Viktor Part I and II (New Millennium Theatre Company), R+J: The Vineyard (Red Theater Chicago) and Taste (Red Theater Chicago). Janette is currently an audience services associate for the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. Shooting for the stars is hard work and she would not be able to do it without a wonderful man and four bouncing pooches waiting at home.
Sam Gribben
Sam Gribben (Scenic Designer) is a scenic designer and painter based in Chicago. She recently completed her Master of Fine Arts at Illinois State University. She has worked as a scenic artist with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, the Little Theatre in the Square and the Tibbits Opera House.
stefanie johnson
Stefanie Johnsen (Costume Deisgner) is thrilled to work with Holly Robison and this wonderful cast and crew on An Ideal Husband. She works as a freelance seamstress creating custom cosplay and individual costuming as well as upholstery, tailoring and otherwise. She has also recently costumed Speed of Light, Fight Quest and Rogue Aviator with Otherworld Theatre Company, Visiting and Shrewish with Artemisia Theater, as well as prop designed for Night in Alachua County with Wildclaw Theater. This spring she will costume Future Echoes with Wildclaw and Texas Reckoning with Artemisia, as well as prop design for The Lady Deserves Satisfaction for Babes with Blades Theater Company and puppet suit design with The Conspirators’ show The Deckchairs. Keep an eye out for these inspiring shows and if you have personal projects for costumes or otherwise, please email stefanie.johnsen@hotmail.com!
Holly robison
Holly Robison (Director) is thrilled to be directing for Ghostlight Ensemble, for which she serves as Co-Artistic Director. Holly is a director, actor and improvisor. Directing credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as numerous smaller festival and short pieces. Favorite performance credits include: Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Chris in Dancing At Lughnasa, Ellen in In the Wake, Jo in Independence and Martha in The Children’s Hour. She has studied with various Chicago organizations including: Remy Bumppo, TUTA Theatre, Victory Gardens, Second City and First Folio Technique/Chekhov with Susan Hart and Jeffrey Carlson. Additionally, she completed the summer program, A Practical Approach to Directing, at Yale School of Drama. Holly is also a member and associate producer with Improvised Jane Austen. Huge thanks to the immensely talented and dedicated cast and crew!
Jennifer roseman
Jennifer Roseman (Stage Manager) is excited to return to work with Ghostlight. Recent Chicago shows include: Luz Estrada (Mercy Street), Encounter (Collaboraction) and Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery (Pegasus).
Chad Wise
Chad Wise (Properties Designer) is the managing director and a founding member of Ghostlight Ensemble. Chad most recently directed Ghostlight's holiday show, Gingerbread Grindhouse. He founded New Millennium Theatre Company in 1998 and served as its artistic director for many years, bringing experiences like The Texas Chainsaw Musical, Miyagi! A Karate Kid Musical and Silent Night of the Living Dead to Chicago stages. Along the way he’s worked with the likes of The Public House Theatre and Terra Mysterium as well.