The Wordshop Cast

Christy Cutts (she/her) is excited to return to Elephant, the play she was scheduled to read in 2020 before the world shut down. Originally from North Carolina, Christy trained in London before moving to Chicago. Some credit include: Decision Height and Sparrow with Surging Films & Theatrics, Newtown/Lantana with Waltzing Mechanics, and All the Love We Didn't Take with the Arc Theatre. She also co-produced an Evening of Chekhov at the Den Theatre. In recent years she has taken a break from acting, but is so excited for the opportunity to return to the stage with a reading of this fantastic play. Thanks to Leah, Clare, and the Plagiarists!

Madison HIll (they/them) – is delighted to be working with The Plagiarists again! In their first production with The Plagiarists, they played The Technician in I Build Giants. Madison works as a stage combatant, with multiple certifications with the SAFD, and they recently fell in love with children’s theatre. In 2022, they joined the ensemble of Imagination Theater, and they are incredibly passionate about educating and uplifting our future generations. You might recognize them from their work with other companies such as: Babes with Blades Theatre Company, The Raven Theatre, and Kerfuffle TYV and they are proudly represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent Inc.

Kelsey McGrath (they/them) is a Chicago-based Creative. They’ve acted with Northwestern University, Red Theatre, Steep Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, Eclipse Theater Company, and now, The Plagiarists! They studied with the School at Steppenwolf, Stella Adler Studio in New York and Black Box ACADEMY. They write and perform regularly with Pour One Out. All love and gratitude to Mama! www.kelseymcgrath.com IG: @kelseylooks

Shane Novoa Rhoades (he/him) is very excited to be working with The Plagiarists. Shane's previously worked with Drury Lane, Windy City Playhouse, TimeLine Theatre, American Theatre Company, Strawdog, Redtwist, The New Coordinates and more. Shane is a graduate from the Theatre School at DePaul University.

Theresa (she/her) is an actor and a musician. Recent credits include Lane Call and Last Night At Karaoke Town (Factory Theater), Indoor Cats and Vinegar Tom (Red Theater), and Tommy on Top (Pride Films and Plays). Other credits include work with Richmond Shakespeare Festival, Shattered Globe Theatre in their Protégé Program, Midsommer Flight, and Shakespeare All-Stars. She is represented by Chicago Talent Network. Stay connected with her at theresaliebhart.com.

Daniela Martinez (she/they) graduated From Columbia College Chicago with her Bachelor Of Fine Arts in Acting. Some of her favorite credits include Nurse Rosie/ Lorena in The Wizards, Minnow in About Face Theatre's production of Laced, and her Amtrak & Maker's Mark commercial credits. You can follow along with her on her journey on instagram @imagining_daniela

Andi Muriel (she/they) is a Chicago based actress, artist, and arts educator. They attended UIC’s School of Theatre and Music, where they received their BFA in Acting. Chicago credits include: As You Like It (Forest Park Theatre), Cymbeline (Midsommer Flight), and Motherhouse (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble).

Justine Serino (she/her) is very glad to be working with The Plagiarists on Shadows of Truth. Some of her Chicago credits include work with Rivendell, The Gift Theatre, Artemisia Theatre, Silk Road Rising, Dandelion Theatre, Babes with Blades, The Side Project, Stage Left and The Artistic Home.

Sarah Wisterman (they/them) was most recently seen in VINEGAR TOM and INDOOR CATS (Red Theater). Other recent credits include THREE SISTERS (The Neighborhood) and A SHAYNA MAIDEL (TimeLine Theatre). Film and TV credits include CHICAGO MED, WORK IN PROGRESS, CANDYMAN, and THE BEAR. Sarah earned their B.F.A. in Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University and is represented by Paonessa Talent.

Alice Wu (she/her) Chicago Credits Include: Revolution u/s (A Red Orchid Theatre), The Skin of Our Teeth (Remy Bumppo), Plaid as Hell (Babes with Blades Theatre Company), Non Player Character (Red Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Midsommer Flight), Arabia, Arabia! (The Plagiarists), Regional Credits Include: The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield (Humana Festival), Circle Mirror Transformation u/s, Home Invasion (Actors Theatre of Louisville). TV/Film Credits: Chicago Fire (NBC); Empire (FOX); Hive (web); Wheelhouse (web); The Onion Labs (The Onion). Education: BFA at North Dakota State University and the Professional Training Company acting apprenticeship at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. Alice is represented by DDO Artists Agency

Kylie (Ky) Anderson (they/them) is a EMC physical actor, acrobat, and model represented by Stewart Talent, located in Chicago, IL. They have BFA in Drama with an emphasis in Acting from the University of Oklahoma. Ky is a founding company member at Bramble Theatre Company, but has worked with a medley of other theaters in Chicago including Remmy Bumppo, Steppenwolf, and Lookingglass. Ky was apart of the Professional Training Program class of 2021 at Actor’s Gymnasium and Circus School, where they were in the inaugural Clown Program. Ky has also trained at Stella Adler’s Studio in New York City for physical theatre and was in the School at Steppenwolf class of 2019.

Grant Brown (he/him) This is Grant's second time working with the plagiarists, and he couldn't be more excited. Some of his previous Chicago credits include "The Duchess of Malfi" with Babes With Blades (Ferdinand and Cardinal U/s) "Valhalla" with the plagiarists (Prince Jorik), and "12th Night" with Midsommer Flight (Toby Belch, Orsino U/s). His regional credits include "Guys and Dolls" with the Colorado FAC (Rusty Charlie) and "Zanna Don't! with the Colorado Springs Conservatory (Steve Bookman). He is proudly represented by Talent X Alexander.

Clara Byczkowski (she/they) is a Chicago born/bred/based theatre artist and an ensemble member with The Plagiarists. Chicago theatre credits include I Build Giants, and UBU II, Electric Boog-UBU (The Plagiarists), The Duchess of Malfi (BWBTC), Girl Found (Idle Muse Theatre Company), Unifying the People: The Rudy Lozano Story (Valiant Theatre), Born Ready (The Factory Theatre), & You Are Here: Camino (Theatre Y) among others. Clara received her BFA in Theatre from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and currently daylights at OPEN Center for the Arts. Check out more at clarabyczkowski.com

Jordan Gleaves (he/him) is filled with gratitude for this first-time collaboration with The Plagiarists!

Reagan Kay James (she/her) is an actor with roots in Oklahoma, Alaska, Texas, and Chicago. Recently she was seen as Cass in Babes With Blades’ production of “Plaid as Hell,” and King Jarl in the Plagiarists’ production of “Valhalla.” She would love all your favorite book recommendations and pictures of your pets.

Stephen McClure (he/him) With his never diminishing impostor syndrome, Stephen McClure is still amazed he has yet to be exposed as a fraud. If you saw a Plagiarist show over the past few years with a shorter guy with a propensity for yelling, it was probably him. Appearances include Matthewson, The Epic of Gilgamesh; Captain Sweet Pea, Ubu II; Malush, Some Like it Red; Nips, Munsterspiel; and Colonel Majors, Season Pass: Deux Over, and Valhalla; bass player. Other Chicago credits include Timms in The History Boys (Eclectic Full Contact Theatre) and Tate in the midwest premiere of finding grafenberg (trip.). He would like to thank and recognize both his experience and biologically acquired families for their continual love and support. Special shout out to his dogs Luna and Lavender, even though they can't read.

Julia Stemper (she/her) is a happy company member with The Plagiarists, her first show with them being Matryoshka (2013). Additional credits with The Plagiarists include King Ubu (2013), these saints will burn (2015), belladonna luna sonata (2015), The Epic of Gilgamesh (2016), Ubu II (2017), Some Like It Red (2018), Season Pass: Deux Over (2019), Poison (2020), and I Build Giants (2022). A Chicago-based theater practitioner, she also serves as a teaching artist for Filament Theatre and FAME Center, and as the Artistic Director/Founder of Stone Soup Shakespeare, a yoga instructor with Wildlight Yoga, and an occasional substitute college theater professor in Wisconsin. Select non-Plagiarist acting credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream (Stone Soup Shakespeare), Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (Lifeline), Pericles (Shakespeare Project of Chicago), Romeo and Juliet (First Folio), and Moon Rhymes (Filament) in Chicago. Outside of Chicago she has performed in Heuristics in the Diner (Tron Theatre & Hampstead Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Arches) (UK); New Visions/New Voices Festival (The Kennedy Center), Star Spangled Banner (Smithsonian Museum of American History), The Drunkard (Solas Nua), Romeo and Juliet (Company III.ii), The Emperor Jones (American Century Theater), and Alice in Wonderland (Classika) (DC area). Julia served as a guest artist at Hope College in Holland, MI in their 2016 production of The Tempest. She holds a Masters in Classical and Contemporary Text-Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a BA from Macalester College.

Christina Casano (she/her) is a theatre artist based in Chicago. Her training includes a BA in Theatre from Miami University, Victory Gardens Theater’s Director’s Inclusion Initiative, and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Summer Professional Training Program. Selected directing credits: I Build Giants and Poison (The Plagiarists), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stone Soup Shakespeare), How To Murder… (workshop, Bramble Theatre), Blood of My Mother’s (workshop reading, Wayward Sisters), Plaid As Hell (Babes With Blades), Deep Shadows (audio drama, Eclectic Full Contact Theatre), Fame Heaux (staged reading, Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival), The Living Newspaper Festival (Jackalope Theatre), Fighting Words Festival (Babes With Blades). Other favorite projects: Some Like It Red and The Epic of Gilgamesh, etc. (The Plagiarists), How To Defend Yourself (Victory Gardens), Bury Me (Dandelion Theatre), The Light Fantastic (Jackalope Theatre). She is the Artistic Director of The Plagiarists and the Creative Producer at Remy Bumppo. www.cmrcasano.com

Juliet Kang Huneke (she/her) is an actor, playwright, and teaching artist who is passionate about theatre that is larger than life. Chicago acting credits include: Arviragus in CYMBELINE (Midsommer Flight), Joan 3 in JOAN AND THE FIRE (Trap Door Theatre), Fanny in THE UGLY ONE (Trap Door Theatre), Rose/Snake/Businessman in THE LITTLE PRINCE (Improv Playhouse), and WHEN THE SUN MELTS AWAY (Token Theatre). As a writer, she was recently awarded the ReImagine: New Plays in TYA grant to develop her new play for young audiences, HANNAH AND HALMONI SAVE THE WORLD!. When she's not acting or writing, Juliet teaches silly theatre classes at Chicago Children's Theatre. Northwestern 2022! https://www.julietkanghuneke.com/

Aja Singletary (she/her) is an actor, dancer and choreographer from Philadelphia. Recent credits include: Nacirema Society (Goodman), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Marriott) Is God Is (Red Orchid) Factotum (Lyric), Athena (Writers Theatre), Relentless (Timeline), Dance Nation (Steppenwolf), and Eclipsed (Pegasus). Aja graduated from Fordham University and completed the School of Steppenwolf in 2019. Represented by Gray Talent Group. Offstage, you'll catch Aja quoting Spongebob, liking food videos and singing.

Liz Sharpe (she/they) is so excited to be working with such an amazing team on this new play. One of their many passions in the theatre world is new works of art. Liz is best known for their work in Byhalia MS (Laurel), In the Canyon (Hope), and The Bear (Calder).

Stephanie Fongheiser (she/her) is so excited to be working with The Plagiarists again for their Wordshop series! She last worked with The Plagiarists in their production of I Build Giants as The Astronaut (u/s). Other Chicago credits include: A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane Theatre, u/s), Little Women (First Folio Theatre), Frankenstein (Oil Lamp Theatre), and Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog (Black Button Eyes Productions). She is represented by BMG Talent

Carina Lastimosa (she/her) is a San Francisco Bay Area native, currently residing in Chicago. Chicago theatre credits include The Duchess of Malfi (Babes With Blades Theatre Company) and world premieres of Poison and I Build Giants (The Plagiarists) and W.o.W. (Theatre Above The Law). Selected SF/Bay Area theatre credits include: Dogeaters (Magic Theatre), Sisters Matsumoto (Center REPertory Company), A Dreamplay (Cutting Ball Theater), The Day The Crayons Quit (Bay Area Children's Theatre), Slaughterhouse-Five and Top Girls (Custom Made Theatre Co.), Marat/Sade (Thrillpeddlers), A Kind of Sad Love Story (Bindlestiff Studio) and as a performer/educator for Kaiser’s Educational Theatre. Carina is a recipient of the Theatre Bay Area TITAN Award and a graduate of Indiana University. Carina is represented by Lily’s Talent Agency. www.carinalastimosa.com

Sam Linda (he/him) is thrilled and flattered to be working with the brilliant artists on this project! Most recently he was seen in the regional premiere of The Band’s Visit as Papi (TheatreSquared). Catch the production again at Writers Theatre in the new year! Other credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Lyric Opera of Chicago), A Chorus Line (Drury Lane), and Damn Yankees (Marriott Theatre). Many thanks to Grace and Devon for their artistry and friendship, as well as to Faith, Mom, Dad, Freddi, and all of his teachers.

Reilly Oh (he/him) is an actor and playwright currently studying Theatre at Northwestern University. Favorite credits include: Baked! (Theo), Macbeth (Shakes), and Trevor the Musical (Writers). Thanks as always to Mom, Dad, Grandma Oh, and the Oh Boys. Stewart Talent

Christopher Thomas Pow (he/him) is thrilled to be working with The Wordshop on Akiko and the Unknown! Previous credits include: Charlie u/s and Peter u/s in Lucy & Charlie’s Honeymoon (Lookingglass Theatre Company) Albert in Tiger Style! (Writer’s Theatre) Ted/Leng/Guitar in Cambodian Rock Band, (co-productions at Victory Gardens Theater/City Theatre Company/Merrimack Repertory Theatre and at Theatre Mu/Jungle Theatre) Pip in Great Expectations, Ferdinand in The Tempest (Great River Shakespeare Festival), Ensemble/Musician/Puppeteer in Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog Theatre Company), and Ensemble in Mlima’s Tale (Griffin Theatre Company). Christopher also voiced Ross in the GRSF’s audio production of Macbeth, and Jeff Balasco in Evil Kitten Production’s audio drama The Continuing Adventures of John Blade: Super Spy by Kyle Encinas. A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Christopher is currently working on his debut music album! Christopher Thomas Pow is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent Representation.

RJ Silva (he/him) CHICAGO: Baked! The Musical (Ensemble, Z u/s) Daryo's All-American Diner (Jun). REGIONAL: Sondheim on Sondheim (Celebration TC, Orlando), From Here (CFCArts, Orlando), Peter and the Starcather (St. Luke's, Orlando). Born and raised in Manila, Philippines. Loyola Chicago Theatre alumni. Theatre producer who has produced for Chicago Artist Guide, and playwright with works in development with CIRCA Pintig and Chikahan Theatre Company. Co-founder and producer of pop culture podcasts on The Ampliverse.