Ghostlight welcomes three new Ensemble Members

Chicago actors Nick Conrad, Courtney Marie and Reid Henry have joined Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Company. All three were seen in Ghostlight productions this past season.

Ghostlight is a true ensemble-driven theater company, according to Co-Artistic Director Miona Lee, which means the entire company participates in the decision-making process. It’s one of the great and unique aspects of Ghostlight, she adds. That includes programming, which is selected by the Ensemble after having open and honest discussions about the material.

“We move forward as a group and each member provides valuable perspective, Lee said. “I’m excited to see where Ghostlight will go with these new voices.

“Each one of these new members have unique backgrounds and passions that will provide us more opportunity to push our mission in new and interesting ways. What’s more exciting than that?”

Nick Conrad is an improviser, actor, karaoke DJ and founder of The Green Suite, a small company that offers hands-on classes and products made from up-cycled materials. Nick was most recently seen on the Ghostlight Stage as Jordan in Asherella and Bilbo The Blue Balloon in It’s Poppin’ – both part of Make/Believe 2022: A short play festival for young audiences. As well as acting, Nick also performs stand-up and sketch comedy at various locations around Chicago.

Courtney Marie is a Chicago native, who in addition to her artistic side, is also a dreamer, student and sometimes paralegal. She was most recently seen on the Ghostlight stage as Queen B in Asherella and Brooklyn in Best Friends – both part of Make/Believe 2022: A short play festival for young audiences. Other recent Chicago credits include: Ruined by Lynn Nottage, directed by the incomparable Ebby Offord; ‘Night, Mother by Marsha Norman and Raisin in the Sun, all with Invictus Theatre Company. In addition, Courtney is proud to have made her directorial debut with Footholds Vol. 3, produced by the Imposters Theatre Company.

Reid Henry comes to Chicago by way of Indiana and when not on stage, he can be found baking breads, fermenting various things and scouring Facebook marketplace for his next “project”. Reid was most recently seen on the Ghostlight Stage as Asher in Asherella, Peter in Sunshine and the Sea of Lost Things and George in A Blue Hydrangea – all part of Make/Believe 2022: A short play festival for young audiences. Recent credits include: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Revised!), L’Eliser D’Amore, Titus Andronicus and Leipzig.

Find out more about these artists and all our Ensemble members on the About Us: The Ensemble page of our website.

Good to know: Transportation options if you're coming to 'The Woman of Colour'

The staged reading of our original script for The Woman of Colour: A Tale is coming up later this month at Berger Park Cultural Center in Edgewater. There are actually two mansions and a coach house on this property. Our production takes place in the building to the south on the property (known as the Downey Mansion, at 6205 N. Sheridan Road).

Berger Park does not have public parking; however there is a cul-de-sac on Granville Avenue on the south side of the park, which allows for handicap accessibility drop-off. Metered Street Parking is available on Granville Avenue and also on North Broadway. Permit-free neighborhood parking is also available on the streets just west of Sheridan Road.

Public transportation, bicycling or utilizing one of the city's ride-sharing or taxi cab companies is greatly encouraged.

Public transportation options include:

• Red Line Train: Granville stop. Exit station and walk three blocks east to the Lake.

• Bus: 151 Sheridan. Stops right in front of the park at Granville Avenue and Sheridan Road

Bike racks are also located throughout Berger Park.

We look forward to seeing you at this world premiere event!

Up Next: A Live Reading of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Ghostlight Ensemble presents the next installment of its ongoing live movie reading series with Don’t Call Me Junior: A Live Reading of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

So dust off that brown leather fedora, get that whip cracking and join us at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6 at Carbon Arc Bar & Board (4614 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625), located in the Davis Theater in North Center, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the movie’s release.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and is the third installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. It was release in the United States on May 24, 1989. In Last Crusade, the intrepid explorer Indiana Jones sets out to rescue his father, a medievalist who has vanished while searching for the Holy Grail. Following clues in the old man's notebook, Indy arrives in Venice, where he enlists the help of a beautiful academic, but they are not the only ones who are on the trail, and some sinister old enemies soon come out of the woodwork.

The live reading is directed by Chad Wise.

There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door, which will help Ghostlight fund its upcoming season.

Overwhelming response to An Ideal Husband auditions

Thanks to everyone who submitted to our auditions for An Ideal Husband. We received hundreds of resumes and headshots. While we wish we could see you all, we have a limited number of spaces, which at this time have all been filled along with our waitlist.

If you received an audition slot, but cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible — not just for our sake, but out of professional courtesy to your fellow performers who did not receive an audition because of you. Responding quickly allows us to give others the opportunity. Even if you find out the day before your audition that you cannot attend, there are often actors who are available to take that slot with short notice. Likewise, keep this in mind when you consider not showing up to auditions without letting us know in advance. We do understand that unavoidable situations arise at the last minute, but in this day of smart phones and mobile telephones, it is easy to let people know why you won't be attending. Email cancellations to casting@ghostlightensemble.com or call our offices at (773) 377-5342.

We'll hope you'll keep an eye out for our next round of auditions to be held in the spring of 2018 for our summer show, Princess Without Pots.