Karen Kessler

Director

Karen Kessler is tickled to be working on this amazing play with the talented people at the Backstage Theatre Company. She is also a proud member of the ensemble of A Red Orchid Theatre where she most recently directed the Midwest premier of Louis Slotin Sonata and previously directed the Midwest premier of Pumpgirl by Irish playwright Abbie Spallen, the Chicago premier of Sarah Kane’s Blasted; the US premier of Gagarin’s Way by Gregory Burke (a play that won an After Dark award for Outstanding Ensemble) and the Midwest premier of Mr. Kolpert by David Gieselmann. Other Chicago credits include: Collaboraction’s Sketchbook 2009 – Who Put the Dead Bird in My Mailbox? by Sarah Hammond; the US Premier of Roddy Doyle’s War for Seanachai Theatre; A Going Concern, This Lime Tree Bower, Remembrance, A Mislaid Heaven, and the award winning Early and Often for Famous Door; the Midwest premier of Sam Shepard’s The God of Hell at the Next Theatre; The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, Wrens, Hamlet and Cyrano de Bergerac for Rivendell Theatre; and the Midwest premier of Steve Martin’s The Underpants for Noble Fool Productions. Credits outside of Chicago include: Glengarry Glen Ross for the Northern Stage Ensemble in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England; Macbeth for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival; Measure for Measure for Connecticut Repertory Theatre; the world premiere of a new adaptation of The Three Musketeers, Scapin, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, and All’s Well That Ends Well at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival; and The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Complete History of American (Abridged) for Idaho Repertory Theatre. Karen is an Associate Professor of Directing and Shakespeare at Ball State University in Indiana.

Jen Poulin

Stage Manager

Jen is thrilled to join BackStage Theatre Company as Associate Artistic Director. Her journey began with a magical experience stage managing Aunt Dan and Lemon. She also stage managed Memory and Three Days of Rain. This season, Jen will be directing the first piece for The Listening Series, as well as stage managing A Number. Jen recently collaborated with 2nd Story on a solo piece, Cabinalysis, for the Minnesota and Chicago Fringe Fests.She received her BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in directing from University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. After graduating, Jen spent several happy years teaching drama, music, and dance to grade school children in the north and southwest suburbs. She has had the pleasure of working with many fine Chicago companies, including Strawdog Theatre Company, Eclipse Theatre Company, WildClaw Theatre, Serendipity Theatre Collective, Steep Theatre Company, Mary Arrchie Theatre Company, and Silk Road Theatre Project. Chicago stage management credits include Eclipse Theatre, Theatre Mir, Mary Arrchie Theatre Company, Rasaka Theatre Company, WildClaw Theatre, and Silk Road Theatre Project. She holds a BFA in Theatre Studies from University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign. /p>

Patrick Blashill

Salter

Patrick has been an ensemble member with Lifeline Theatre since 1996 and has been performing at various Chicago theatre’s for the past 20 years. Favorite roles include the Father in Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, Old Bailey in Neverwhere, and Edgar Drake in The Piano Tuner (After Dark award for outstanding performance). Other favorite roles include Ferdinand the bull in The Story of Ferdinand, the Mighty Gorilla in The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death (later remounted for Chicago Theatre on the Air with guest star Brent Spiner), Victor in Lizard Music, Hugh Thane in The Talisman Ring, Tom in Pistols for Two (Jeff citation nomination for Best Ensemble), and Bunter in Strong Poison (Jeff citation nomination for Best Ensemble). He is especially proud to have acted in all three books of Lifeline’s Lord of the Rings trilogy that spanned The Fellowship of the Ring (Bilbo Baggins-1997), The Two Towers (Frodo-2000), and The Return of the King (Frodo-2002). Patrick has worked with numerous other Chicago theatres (including an opportunity to play Mr. Knightley in Reverie Theatre’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma) including Victory Gardens, Organic Lab, Theatre on the Lake, Stage Left, and Shakespeare’s Motley Crew. Patrick is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Tony Bozzuto

Bernards/Michael

He was last seen in the Jeff Recommended Memory and Orange Flower Water, and in On An Average Day. For about seven years, Tony has been honored to work his way around the Chicago theatre scene with such talented companies as Lifeline Theatre, Next Theatre, Metropolis PAC, and, of course, BackStage Theatre Co.  Whether on stage, television or film, Tony credits much of his skills and successes to his studies at the incomparable Hilberry Theatre in Detroit, MI, where he received his MFA.

Angela Campos

Scenic and Props Designer

Joe Court

Sound Designer

Heath Hays

Lighting Designer

Heath is a BackStage Ensemble member, where he has designed set for On An Average Day, The Memory of Water, Beauty on the Vine, Bloody Bess and Zombies from the Beyond as well as the Jeff-recommended shows Waiting for Lefty and Medea.  He also designed sound for BackStage's The Ruling Class and Seanachi Theatre's drama Whistle in the Dark. He designed set for Infamous Conmmonwealth Theatre's Keely and Du, GreyZelda's Jeff-recommended production of A View From The Bridge as well as their Desire Under the Elms, and Hell in a Handbag's Caged Dames. Heath has also worked for Grounded Theatre, Arena Dinner Theatre, and Village Players.

Megan E. Sullivan

Costume Designer

Megan is a director, choreographer, instructor, designer, and performer of theatre, dance, and music.  Hailing from the ‘burbs of Detroit, she received a degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University while performing and working in the University Music and Theatre Departments, Highlands Playhouse (NC), and Vision Studio of Performing Arts, Inc. (MI).  Following graduation, Megan served four years as Artistic Director/CEO of VSPA, Inc. and began working as a freelance artist.  She was invited to ensemble membership with BackStage Theatre Company while working as Costume Designer for Anton in Show Business, and has worked additionally as Specialty Designer (Flags), Costume Assistance- Terra Nova;  Assistant Director, Stage Manager/Board Operator- Denise Druczewski’s Inferno; MUSE, Production Manager, Co-Sound Designer, Co-Music Director- The Skin of Our Teeth; Music Director, Choreographer- The Ruling Class; Director/Choreographer- Zombies from the Beyond; Properties Designer/Set Dresser- On An Average Day; Properties Designer/Set Dresser- Aunt Dan and Lemon; Production Manager, Properties Designer- Orange Flower Water; Production Manager, Costume Designer- The Play About the Baby;  Associate Artistic Director- BSTC 2005 and 2006 seasons.  Megan is currently an in-demand director, instructor, and performer in various genres and groups in Chicago and is proudly married to Sean Sullivan (ensemble member), whom she met while working in BSTC.   Her favorite artistic experiences outside of BSTC include performing CONNIE in Good News with Director August W. Staub, BEBE in A Chorus Line with Director/Choreographer Linda Talcott-Lee, and an intimate Master Class with Tony-award winning Ann Reinking.