MICHELLE BENDA, Lighting Design
Michelle is thrilled to be designing her second show with Interrobang Theatre Project! She previously designed I Call My Brothers earlier this year. Lighting design credits include Everybody (Brown Paper Box Co.), Hamlet (The Gift Theatre), The Gentleman Caller (Raven Theatre), Collage of a Dystopian Midwest, Frankenstein (Bower Theatre Ensemble), Failure: A Love Story (Illinois Theatre), and Cabaret (No Stakes Theater Project). She has assisted lighting designers at Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and TimeLine Theatre Company. Michelle holds an MFA in Lighting Design and Technology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
BLAKE CORDELL, Master Electrician
This is Blake’s second time working with Interrobang Theatre Project as Master Electrician. He has also worked as Master Electrician at theaters such as Adventure Stage Chicago, Pride, and Haven, and has been an electrician with numerous others. He graduated from Kansas State University with a B.A. in theatre and a B.A. in music back in 2017, and has since been working freelance in Chicago. To find out more about Blake’s electrical and audio work, visit blakecordell.com.
ELANA ELYCE, Artistic Producer
Elana acts, directs, writes, coaches and produces. She first met Interrobang as a cast member of The Argument in 2012 and subsequently produced Here Lies Henry (2012), Hot N’ Throbbing (2012) and Speaking in Tongues (2013). After a hiatus, she returned to perform with fellow ensemble members in Still (2016) and resumed producer responsibilities for all productions that followed. Over the last few years, Elana has been seen with The House Theatre of Chicago, first appearing in the acclaimed United Flight 232, which won a Jeff award for best ensemble. She is now a company member with The House. Other theaters that have welcomed her in recent years include Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, Eclipse, Remy Bummpo, Stage Left & Theatre Seven, and The Yard/Raven Theatre. She is also the Business Manager of The Chicago Inclusion Project. www.elanaelyce.net
SARAH GISE, Casting Coordinator
Sarah has been a proud ITP company member since February 2015. She graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a BFA in Acting. She was previously seen in Interrobang's Fifth Season productions, Owners and Really Really. She is currently a company member with New American Folk Theatre (Chicago) and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre (Los Angeles), with whom she won the LA Weekly Best Actress award for The Belle of Belfast in 2013. She can be seen at many film festivals around the country in the new film Halfway starring Quinton Aaron from The Blindside, which was awarded Best Feature at the Julian Dubuque International Film Festival. In February 2016, she performed the one-woman show The Amish Project with AtticRep in San Antonio, TX, and shortly after was invited to take the show to the Teatro Potlach FLIPT festival in Rome, Italy. She performed in the Midwest premiere of Still by Jen Silverman with Interrobang at the Athenaeum, followed by the remount of AtticRep's The Amish Project by Jessica Dickey with Interrobang last year.
ELISE KAUZLARIC, Dialect Coach
Elise Kauzlaric is happy to be working with Interrobang for the first time. She is a member of the artistic ensemble of Lifeline Theatre where she has coached numerous productions. Around town and regionally she has coached for Steppenwolf, Marriott, Timeline, Irish Theatre of Chicago, the hypocrites, Griffin Theatre and The Michigan Shakespeare Festival among others. She has been twice nominated by the Jeff Committee for her dialect work on Busman’s Honeymoon (Lifeline) and Punk Rock (Griffin). Elise is also a director and actor and spends her days teaching at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and The Theatre School at DePaul University.
CHRISTOPHER AARON KNARR, Design Associate
Christopher Knarr is a South Bend, Indiana native, Chicago transplant, and is currently residing in Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Theatre & Drama and a Music minor, and studied abroad with The Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. Recent credits include Interrobang Theatre Project's season eight production of For the Loyal, for which he created original music. For season seven's Still, The Amish Project, and Falling, he was House Manager, Marketing, and Social Media. He was also House Manager/Social Media for the fifth and sixth season, including Really Really, Recent Tragic Events, and The North Pool, and also was a part of past season productions of Orange Flower Water as a Production Assistant, and Terminus, The Pitchfork Disney, and Ibsen is Dead as Assistant Stage Manager. christopheraaronknarr.com
JAMIE KREPPEIN, Assistant Director
Jamie is a multi-faceted theatre artist originally from Gurnee, Illinois. A recent graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University in Theatre Arts and English-Writing, Jamie is a director, stage manager, educator, and scenic artist. She is thrilled to be working on her first show with Interrobang Theatre Project. She recently served as the Props Designer for The Ruse of Medusa at Facility Theatre, where she also started her Chicago theatre career as the ASM for Phoebe in Winter. Jamie recently completed the Artistic/Education internship at Writers Theatre while being the Youth Performer Coordinator on the Polar Express Train Ride. Currently, you can find her doing props and scenic work at Chicago Children's Theatre, Steep Theatre Co., Warren Theatre, and more. Mostly, she's just trying to be 23 and a functional human being, so let her know if you have any tips.
SOTIRIOS LIVADITIS, Scenic Design
Sotirios Livaditis is excited to be working with Interrobang Theatre Project. Recent projects include Hans Christian Andersen (Northwestern University), For Services Rendered, The Harvest (Griffin Theatre), Small World, Fun Harmless War Machine (The New Colony), Language Rooms (Broken Nose Theatre) Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies (First Floor Theatre), The Light Fantastic, 1980 or Why I’m Voting for John Anderson (Jackalope Theatre). He was the associate scenic designer on A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Djembe! (Apollo Theatre) and Madama Butterfly (Irish National Opera) with Todd Rosenthal. MFA - Northwestern University. Please experience more of his work at www.sotiriosdesigns.com
MATTHEW NERBER, Marketing Associate
Matthew comes to Chicago from Buffalo, New York, where he earned his BFA in theatre performance from SUNY Buffalo. He has been with ITP since 2014's Owners, which he understudied. He also assistant directed the company's production of Katrina: Mother-in-Law of 'Em All and played Andrew in 2016's Recent Tragic Events. Other Chicago credits include Her Naked Skin(Shattered Globe Theatre), Once in a Lifetime (Strawdog Theatre Company), and Assistance (LiveWire Theatre Chicago). Matthew has also assistant directed shows at Collaboraction and Redtwist.
NANCY PAYNE, Marketing Manager
Nancy comes to ITP to provide marketing support and direction as Marketing Manager. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in strategic communication and business, she has been working in marketing and advertising full-time. As a lifelong theater advocate, she is excited to help promote ITP's mission and upcoming seasons.
DAVID ROSENBERG, Press Relations
JON-PAUL SCHAUT, Social Media Director
Originally from Tampa, FL, Jon-Paul is an arts marketer, actor, director, producer and artistic director. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with dual B.A. degrees in Theatre Studies and Advertising/Public Relations. He is a former Student Leadership Liaison with the Florida State Thespian Festival, former Artistic Director of Project Spotlight and a former box office and marketing assistant for the UCF School of Performing Arts. Currently Jon-Paul works at Carol Fox and Associates as a group sales representative and events assistant along with his responsibilities with Interrobang Theatre Project.
ERIK SIEGLING, Sound Designer/Original Composition
Erik is pleased to be sound designing his fourth show with Interrobang. He recently designed for ITP’s production of Utility this past spring. Last fall, Erik designed for The Comrads’ production of Warrior Class, as well as several shows at Oakton Community College. He has also designed for Seattle Shakespeare Company in Seattle. An accomplished actor as well, Erik has guest starred on the TV show Z Nation, performed in theatres across the country, and has a B.A. degree in Theatre from Principia College.
EVAN SPOSATO, Technical Director
Evan has spent the last two decades in and around the theatre as an actor, director, stage manager, technical director, and production manager. He spent eight years at the Waterville Opera House in Waterville, Maine, working both onstage and behind the scenes. During the Opera House's centennial renovation, he was the technical advisor to the building team and wrote grants totaling more than $2 million. While in Maine, Evan also served as the longtime president of the board of directors of Aqua City Actor's Theatre and worked with Bossov Ballet Theatre and Everyman Repertory Theatre. Since moving to the Chicago area, Evan has built shows for Jackalope, Cloudgate, Steep, City Lit, New Colony, and others. This is Evan's first show with ITP. When Evan isn't in a theater, he works with political campaigns on voter contact and digital outreach.
STEPH TAYLOR, Costume Design
Steph is thrilled to be back working with Interrobang where she previously designed Falling. She is a Chicago based Costume Designer that also loves to dabble in hair and makeup design. Credits include productions with Court Theatre, Filament Theatre, The Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre and The Goodman. Steph is currently working with a program called After School Matters, teaching young Chicago actors about theatre and design.
ALBERT “BEEP” TREFTS, Stage Manager
Beep is a Chicago-area stage and production manager. He is thrilled to be back with Interrobang, having previously stage managed The North Pool. His recent projects include The Ruse of Medusa and Phoebe in Winter, both at Facility Theatre. Beep has also worked with Piccolo Theatre, Actors Training Center, Pride Films & Plays, and the URTAs in Chicago. He is a graduate of Hofstra University and member of the Piccolo Theatre ensemble. He is ever thankful to Lee.
RICHIE VAVRINA, Production Manager
Richie is a Production Manager, Scenic, and Lighting Designer. This is his third production with ITP, having worked as a lighting designer on both Grace and The Goat in 2017. His work has been seen in productions by Firebrand Theatre, Elgin Community College, Circle Theatre Company, among countless others. He works as a draftsman and render artist by day.
ZOE VERDIN, Creative Design
Zoë provides creative direction for all ITP print and digital marketing, while working as a freelance graphic designer and practitioner of Thai bodywork and trigger point therapy. Zoë has also worked as scenic designer/carpenter, costume designer and muralist on all main stage productions at Polaris Charter Academy since 2011. Her most recent designs include costumes and backdrop for the Academy’s Wiley and the Hairy Man and publicity for Interrobang’s Season Six: Unnatural Disasters. Zoë has a BA in Studio Art from Carleton College, with concentrations in ceramics and photography. Zoë is delighted to be collaborating with Social Media Marketing Guru, Christopher Knarr on publicity for Season Seven’s Flesh & Blood series, and with Ed Anderson on the ITP website.
CLAIRE YEARMAN, Violence/Intimacy Design
Claire is an actor, Certified Teacher with The Society of American Fight Directors, intimacy choreographer and educator. She has an MFA in Acting from Western Illinois University. She’s worked with ITP, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Williams Street Rep, Red Tape Theatre, Piccolo Theatre, Aston Rep, 20% Theatre, and Metropolis Performing Arts. Her fight choreography received a Jeff nomination for Red Tape Theatre’s The Love of the Nightingale. Claire has choreographed violence for ITP’s Foxfinder, Hot N’ Throbbing, Owners, Really Really, and Falling. safd.org/member profile
