ARTIST BIOS

Gina Alba Cervantes (Assistant Director, she/her) is a freshman studying Human Communication Sciences and Music Composition and has loved working with the team of A Tale of Peter Rabbit! Gina is from Nebraska and has acted in stage plays, musicals, and been involved in Forensics. She is currently on the Northwestern Speech team, where she is able to continue pursuing her passion for oral interpretation. This is her first production as assistant director, and every second has had her jumping with joy!

Haley Bart (Flopsy, she/her) is a junior theatre major, English minor, and is pursuing the IMC Certificate. She is so excited to be part of Imagine U and her first Wirtz production! Favorite Northwestern credits include “Pythia” (Clea), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Helena), and Song Cycle. Haley has a passion for directing and is a proud member of Sit and Spin Productions. She’d like to thank her parents, friends, and nephews, Asher and Calvin, for their endless support.

Sam Bessler (Lighting Designer, he/they) is a Chicago-based lighting designer currently in his third year, studying Theatre and Philosophy. He is excited to be designing with The Wirtz Center again. Select past credits include “Helena & Hermia” (Impostors Theatre Co.); “The Oath” (Actors Temple, off-Broadway); “The 93rd Waa-Mu Show”, directed by Tommy Rapley (The Wirtz Center); along with nearly fifty other productions in the last three years. You can find more of his work at sjblights.com.

Rachel Calderazzo (U/S Flopsy, she/her) is overjoyed to be performing in her first show at the Wirtz Center. She is a sophomore studying theatre and math. Her favorite past roles include Wednesday in “The Addams Family” (Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Florida) and Queen Aggravain in “Once Upon a Mattress” (South Walton High School, Florida). Rachel would like to thank the incredibly talented cast and crew of “A Tale of Peter Rabbit” for their support. All glory be to God!

Tor Campbell (Director, he/him) is a Chicago-based director and choreographer. He earned his MFA in Stage Directing from Northwestern University and is the Northwestern Directing Fellow and a producer at Goodman Theatre. Recent credits include “The Prom,” “Sweat,” and “The Full Monty.” Upcoming: “Hairspray” with Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park, opening July 26, 2025.
Learn more at www.torcampbell.com.​

Madelyn Cantzler (U/S Mopsy, Cottontail, she/her) grew up performing at the community theater Premier Arts in Elkhart, Indiana, including roles like Mary Lennox in “The Secret Garden”, and Liesl von Trapp in “The Sound of Music”. She attended the Chicago High School for the Arts in the Musical Theater Conservatory, and is now at Northwestern University for Theater. Madelyn is also participating in the Theater for Young Audiences module and plans a career in young children’s theater. 

Larry Huetteman (Projection Designer, he/him) is a Chicago based Projections Designer and Video Editor as well as Technical Director for various theater projects. After a successful IT management career, he has 10+ years of experience in live theater. Recent design efforts include “Addams Family” (Baer Theater), “Anastasia” (Robin Bennett Theater), “Exit, Pursued by a Bear” (Chopin Theater), “Pinocchio” (Chicago Children’s Theater), “Journey for the Sun” (The Actors Gymnasium), and “Tabletop Tragedies” (Links Hall & Chopin Theater).

Emily Kelly (Assistant Stage Manager/Run Crew Head, she/her) is a Chicago, Illinois based Stage Manager and is delighted to be working with Northwestern. Some notable productions include: “Lobster” (ASM) (Northwestern University), “How The Light Gets In” (PSM), “Sunday in the Park with George” (PSM) (Columbia College Chicago), “The Patio Plays” (PSM) (Nomad Theatre Company), and “Throbbin Wood” (PrideArts Center). Kelly received her BA in Theatre focusing in Stage Management from Columbia College Chicago. 

Michah Kier (U/S Peter, he/him) is a first-year Theatre major and Legal Studies minor who is excited for his Northwestern stage debut. Some of his favorite credits include “The Drowsy Chaperone” (Man in Chair), “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Sebastian), “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood” (Town’s Guy), and “Puffs” (Wayne). He would like to thank his family and friends for supporting him throughout this process and all of you for coming to watch.

Alice Heemang Kim (Assistant Projection Designer, she/her) is a projection designer from Jeju Island, South Korea. She is a graduating Theatre Arts major at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Previously, she served as the cultural consultant for “Antigone” (Wirtz Center), and is currently designing for Albany Park Theater Project. Explore more of her work at: aliceheemang.com.

Willa Marie O’Donnell (Cottontail, she/her) is a sophomore Theatre and Psychology major. Recent/Favorite credits include: Jump the Dragon (Facility Theatre), The Beyond (Writers Theatre), and Lost Girl (National High School Institute). Willa is thrilled to be part of “Peter Rabbit” and is so excited to help bring this story to life. Endless thanks to her friends, family, and mentors for their unwavering support and love!

Anna Patel (Mopsy, she/her) is jumping with joy to be making her Wirtz debut! She is a second year Theatre Major, with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Spanish, and the Music Theatre Certificate. Recent/Favorite credits include “Next to Normal” (Pop Up! Productions), “Footloose” (Hawken Player’s Society), and “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” (VC^2). Anna cannot wait to share this heartwarming story with you. She sends thanks and hugs to her family and friends for their unconditional support.

Kieran Rowe (Peter, he/him) is a fourth-year Theatre and Economics major from Minneapolis, MN. Some recent Northwestern roles include Ferdinand in The Tempest, Harry in Kinky Boots, and CB in Dog Sees God. He wants to say a big thanks to Tor and the rest of the team for making this an awesome last show at Northwestern, and another huge thanks to his parents for being his biggest fans. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Mags Sowell (Stage Manager, she/her) is a Chicago, Illinois based stage manager and a recent graduate from Columbia College Chicago (CCC) with a BA in Stage Management. Some of her previous work includes: PSM for “HAIR!” (CCC), & for “Footloose: The Musical” (Robertson County Players), SM for “Lobster” (NU Wirtz Center), “Feathers and Teeth” (CCC), ASM for “Blood at the Root” (ETA Creative Arts), and 1st ASM for “Sunday in the Park with George” (CCC).

Lia Wallfish (Costume Designer, she/her) is a Chicago-based costume designer and visual artist. She was born in Israel and moved to the United States in 2015 to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Theater at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Lia has worked professionally in costume design and costume departments in various fields, including theater, opera, dance, television, and film. Some of the notable productions she has worked on include La Traviata at The Metropolitan Opera, American Horror Story, and Macbeth at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She holds an MFA in Stage Design from Northwestern University. In her art, she challenges the conventions she experienced growing up in Israel and is dedicated to telling stories that inspire inclusion and healing.

Zhuolin Wu (Assistant Sound Designer, she/her) is currently pursuing an MA in the Sound Arts and Industries program at Northwestern University, where she primarily explores storytelling through sound in theater, film, and interactive media. With a background in Media Studies (BA), she is passionate about creating immersive auditory experiences.