Six Characters in Search of an Author

Cast

Joshua Arroyo

Joshua Arroyo (The Boy) is 11 years old and a sixth-grader at Richard Edwards Elementary School. This is his first performance. In his free time he enjoys playing all types of sports. He is currently on his school basketball, track and lacrosse teams. He also enjoys playing guitar and making people laugh. Josh would like to thank the Ghostlight team for giving him the part of The Boy. He will also like to thank his parents for all the support they give him to follow his dreams.

Jean E. Burr

Jean E. Burr (Ingénue) moved up to Chicago during the Polar Vortex of 2014 after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with degrees in film studies and Japanese. Some of her favorite roles include Winifred (Once Upon a Mattress), Sally Brown (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), Cassie Hack (Hack/Slash), Margalo (Stuart Little: The Musical), Paulina (The Seagull), Safari Guide (Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition at Disney World), and Linda (Blood Brothers). Her burlesque persona, Harley Darling, has performed with Gorilla Tango Burlesque, Vaudezilla and Plan 9 Burlesque. She would like to thank her family, friends, the cast & production team, and Chippo for their continued awesomeness. Check out more at www.jeaneburr.com.

Norman J. Burt

Norman J. Burt (The Father) moved to Chicago in 2014 from South Carolina, where he studied theatre performance in college. Since moving, he has trained and performed at such improv institutions as The Annoyance, Under the Gun Theater, The Second City, the Playground and Bughouse Theater, among others. He is extremely grateful to Ghostlight Ensemble for allowing him to be a part of this production.

Ana Dragovich

Ana Dragovich (Madame Pace) is ecstatic to be making her non-university affiliated debut with Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre! She is a senior theatre & musical theatre student at Loyola University Chicago where she had the pleasure of playing Anna Held in Tintypes, directed by Mark Lococo, and Diana in Lend Me A Tenor, directed by Jonathan Wilson. When she is not acting you may find her playing her guitar, practicing opera, reading a Stephen King novel or researching how to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle! She would like to thank her friends and family for their invaluable enthusiasm and support in all of her artistic endeavors; her fellow cast and production team members for being so inspiring and fun to work with; and you, the audience, for coming to see our show.

Nellsyn Hill  

Nellsyn Hill (Director) a transplanted Texan, is enthused to return to the stage in her first show with Ghostlight. Previous Chicago performances include pool (no water) (Kinematics), Merry Christmas, Mulch Pile! (Mercy Street), The Bird Girl (Mercy Street), ALICE! (Nothing Without a Company). Regional credits include: Waking Up (Greyman, Dallas), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Baylor University), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Garland Civic Theatre). She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Baylor University. She is a proud alumna of the National Theater Institute and Mercy Street Theatre Company ensemble member. She is privileged to be the mama to a 6-year-old cat and 6-month-old human.

Heather L. Jencks

Heather L. Jencks (The Mother) is grateful to be working with the dedicated Ghostlight Ensemble team. You may have previously seen Heather in the world premieres of Patria Libre (Prologue Theatre Company), The Benchmark (StepUp Productions), and Down the Moonlit Path (Nothing Without a Company). Most recently, Heather played Kent in King Lear (Eleusis Collective) and was honored to participate in the Women’s Theatre Alliance (WTA) Juried Showcase, performing Gideon’s Knot. Heather is a proud alumnus of Black Box Acting Studio, The Second City Training Center, The Annoyance Theatre, and iO Chicago; and has had the pleasure of studying at L’Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq and the summer conservatory at RADA. Endless thanks to her friends and family for their love and support.

Miona Lee

Miona Lee (Leading Lady) is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre performance from Missouri State University. Favorite roles include Scheherazade in A Thousand Times Goodnight, Emily Christie in Hack/Slash, Gwendolyn in The Odd Couple, Snug/Cobweb in A MidSummer Night's Dream, Vixen in Dracula, Alice in The Wildling (staged reading), and any/all the roles she's done for Fight Night. In addition to acting, she studies physical storytelling and contact improv in the Loui Movement Technique with Creative Wellness and aerial arts with The Actors Gymnasium. Thanks to Tim for all the love and support I could ever ask for.

Carolyn Minor

Carolyn Minor (Props Deisgner) is excited to join her second production with Ghostlight Ensemble — this time both onstage and off. She headed to Chicago 15 years ago upon graduating with a drama degree from University of Virginia. After spending those last 15 years creating theatre onstage and in teaching artist roles throughout Chicago, this is her return to props work for the first time since 2001! Onstage you may recognize her from Kasey Foster's Dance Tributes at Martyr's or her work with Knife & Fork Theatre. Carolyn would like to thank the production team and cast for their support throughout this show.

Emma Palizza

Emma Palizza (Second Lead Lady) is so honored to be working with Ghostlight Ensemble! A graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas (as unique as it sounds), Emma moved to Chicago to explore the comedy and theatre scene. She has since studied at Second City in their Improv for Actors and Musical Improv Conservatory programs, as well as acted around town in several storefront productions. Some highlights of past productions include Beth in Chiara Atik's Women, Callie in Diana Son’s Stop Kiss and as Posh Spice in Ghostlight’s staged reading of Spice World. Lots of love to Charlie, Thomas, Mom & Dad and a very special thank you to Ghostlight for letting her create the most actory-actor possible! 

Jason Pereira

Jason Pereira (The Son) was most recently seen in Karaoke Nights (Coffee & Whiskey Productions), which ran during the Chicago Fringe festival. He has a background onstage, as well as on camera working on independent films; Buckle Up Punk!, Moviestar*, Letters (Reeling International Film Festival). He has trained at Black Box Studio under Audrey Francis, Ian Mclaren, Jessie Fisher. He is happy to be working with this ensemble and thanks his family and friends for their support. 

CHUCK QUINN IV

Chuck Quinn IV (Juvenile Male Lead) is excited to be joining Ghostlight Ensemble for their inaugural show! Chicago-area credits include: Frank Abagnale, Jr. in Catch Me If You Can (Big Deal Productions), Guildenstern in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (DePaul Theatre Union) and Stillman in Ordinary People (Citadel Theatre). Chuck is a current software engineering student at DePaul University and a proud graduate of iO Chicago. Big thanks to the cast and crew for a wonderful experience, and to his family for all the love and support. chuckquinniv.com

Andy Ricci

Andy Ricci (Leading Man) is excited to be making his debut with Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre. He has been performing in Chicago the past few years and has been seen in Richard III (Catesby) with The Empty Theatre and Merry Wives of Windsor (Slender) with Fury Theatre. Other credits include Reasons to be Pretty (Greg), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Launce), Vernon God Little (Various Characters). He was born and raised in Salt Lake City where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah. He thanks his loving parents, Katie, Emily, Bear and Ruby for all their continued support.

Kara Reese Rivera

Kara Reese Rivera (The Child) is 8 years old and in third grade. This is her first non-musical play and she is excited to be a part of it. The other plays that she has been in are Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr. (Ensemble/Mama), Enchanted Adventures (Chef/Gingy), Cinderella Story (Fairy Godmother), The Broadway Pet Shop (Roxie), Joy, Peace, and Love (Katy), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Sleepy) and Jingle All The Way (Susie). Her training includes voice and acting with Ms. Hillary Haymond and piano at Patrick’s Music Corner. In addition to acting and singing, Kara likes to read and write short stories in her free time. She had her first taste of performing on stage in her school production and she extremely loved it! She has a strong desire to pursue a career in entertainment someday. She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

Lisa Uhlig

Lisa Uhlig (Stage Manager) is a proud founding member of Ghostlight Ensemble and the Director of Operations. Most of her work in recent years has been in stage management, but her degree at Southern Illinois University focused on both stage management and directing. Also a member of Muse of Fire Theatre Company in Evanston as their resident stage manager, she has a soft spot for all things Shakespeare. During weekdays, she can be found managing an office in Lincoln Park and showing everyone who will look, pictures of her fur babies. As a historically adamant NON-actor, she thanks you for your patience as she dips her toes in the acting water (as close to her comfort zone as possible). And of course, special thanks to her fiancé (!!!!) for all the dinners he made throughout the rehearsal process.

Alejandra Vivanco

Alejandra Vivanco (The Stepdaughter) has performed in Chicago in The Feast (Wendy), Mutt (Therapist/Quinn/Jane) and Bechdel Fest 3: Find Your Voice (Elisa Jones). After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in communications and performing arts in Peru, she moved to California and completed her MFA in 2014. Having been trained as a dancer, she enjoys learning new choreography and creating her own routines. Alejandra dedicates this show to her parents, and thanks her brother and husband for the love and support they have shown her. 

Production Crew