ARTIST BIOS

Courtney Abbott (Intimacy Director, they/she) NU: Lobster; Wink; February House; Museum; Antigone; Dracula, a feminist revenge fantasy, really; Violet; The Prom; Dance Nation; Marisol. NU Opera: Albert Herring; Cosí Fan Tutte; The Magic Flute. Chicago: Glassheart (City Lit); the love object (The Story); In His Hands (First Floor); Lavender Men (About Face); Love Song (Remy Bumppo); SS! Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakes). Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern.

Maya Avery (Betsy, she/her) is a sophomore theatre major from Columbus, Ohio, and is pursuing the Music Theatre Certificate at Northwestern. Some of her Northwestern theatre credits include: Ursula in “The Little Mermaid,” Red Cross Nurse/Queen of Hearts in “Alice by Heart,” and ensemble in The 82nd Annual Dolphin Show: “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Maya is thrilled to be making her Wirtz debut, and is eternally grateful for her friends and family!

Josaphina Brinkerhoff (Musical Trio, she/her) is a theater artist and songwriter from Colorado. She made her regional debut last summer in “The Prom” (Ensemble) at the Sharon Playhouse. This is her first show at Northwestern and she is so excited to be a part of the team. She is also a member of Purple Haze A Capella.

Gianni Carcagno (Stage Manager, they/she) is excited to work with the Wirtz Center for the first time! Recent credits include: Leroy & Lucy, POTUS, No Man’s Land (Steppenwolf), Go Dog Go! • ¡Ve Perro Ve! (Chicago Children’s Theatre), Twelfth Night, Short Shakes! Romeo & Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and Boulevard of Bold Dreams, Trouble in Mind, Campaigns Inc., The Chinese Lady (TimeLine). Gianni has a BA in Theatre and Sociology from Loyola University Chicago. 

Kira Hyunah Carpenter (Jane, she/her) is a Chicago based artists and a freshman majoring in Theatre and Political Science. At NU she is the current outreach director of the student theatre board Sit & Spin. Her student theatre credits include assistant choreographer for “Beowulf.” This is Kira’s first wirtz credit and she is ecstatic to be working on “As it is in Heaven.”

Ryan Scott Cooke (U/S Fanny, Betsy, she/her) is a sophomore Theatre major and is so grateful to be a part of this beautiful production. Favorite credits include The Wong Kids In The Secret Of The Space Chupacabra, Go! (Wirtz Center), Dead Man Walking (The Boston Conservatory), and Richard II (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company). Ryan has also worked with The Broadway Collective, The Carnegie Mellon PreCollege Program, and Blue Man Group Boston. Much love to Victor, Lace, Sarah, and her moms!

Amanda Elena de la Fuente (Rachel/US Izzy/Dance Captain, she/her), a Chicago born Spanish-American artist, is a graduating senior with a BS in Theatre, Dance, and TYA. She works as a performer, choreographer, director, and educator. At NU, she’s worked with Seesaw Theatre as Education Director and New Movement Project as a Producer. Previous Wirtz Credits: The Great Sea Serpent (Seal/Hel), Water by the Spoonful (Yaz), Antigone (Boy/Lion/Chorus/Dance Captain) Blood Wedding (Spinning Woman), and Frida Libre (Co-Choreographer). IG: @amanda_dlf_

Gabby Gutierrez (Musical Trio, she/her) is ecstatic to participate in this production. She’s portrayed “Whatsername” in Arts Alliance’s American Idiot (2024), “Emma (u/s)” in the Wirtz Center’s The Prom (2023), “Matilda” in Matilda the Musical 1st National Tour (2015-2017), “Sophie” in Broadway’s School of Rock (2016), “AnnieWho” in Madison Square Garden’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2014), “Ngana” in Paper Mill Playhouse’s South Pacific (2014), and Brooklyn Nets National Anthem singer (2023). Thankful for her family’s support.

Jeffery Hancock (Movement Director, he/him),  Associate Professor of Instruction at Northwestern, is a collaborative interpreter with Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak and founder of -ish design. He investigates the performance of movement, power, and identity, at the intersection of function and expression. Synthesizing fundamental patterning, improvisation, and various embodied techniques, he creates performance, clothing, costumes, and sound and light environments for dance. Hancock draws inspiration from curiosity, humans, time, space, materials, queerness, anxiety, his cat, and partner Joe.

Emily Hayman (Sound Designer, she/her) is a Chicago-based sound designer and composer. Recent sound design credits include, “Museum”, and “Dracula” (Northwestern University); “Little Women” (Geva Theatre); “Henry V” (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); “Leaf” (Lifeline Theatre); “Seagulls” (Oak Park Festival Theatre); “Measure for Measure” (Montana Shakespeare in the Park). Associate sound design for “Bust” (Goodman Theatre); “Ride” (The Old Globe); “Dream Girls” (McCarter Theatre). Assistant sound design for “Winters Tale” (Hartford Stage); “POTUS”, “Describe the Night”, “Choir Boy”, and “Seagull” (Steppenwolf); “Richard III”, and “The Notebook” (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Emily received her BFA in Sound Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Atarah Israel (U/S Phebe, she/they) is a junior studying Journalism, Black Studies, and Creative Writing. Much of her artistic endeavors exist at the intersections of Blackness, queer becomings, and religion. She loves exploring creative expression in all its forms and is currently reawakening her relationship to performance.

Alayna Klein (Scenic Designer, she/her) is a 3rd year set designer in pursuit of her MFA at NU. Previously, she has designed “The Tempest,” “Antigone,” “Wink,” and “The Clean House” here at the Wirtz Center. Select design credits: “Fully Committed” (6th Street Playhouse), “Spring Awakening” (SUNY New Paltz), Physical Acting Intensive (NYU), and “Leaving Eden” (NY Musical Festival 2019). Select assistant credits: The Drama Bookshop (David Korins), “Suffs” (Mimi Lien, The Public), “Sweeney Todd” (Mimi Lien, Broadway), “Leroy & Lucy” (Andrew Boyce, Steppenwolf) . www.alaynaklein.com.

Cessa Lewis (U/S Hannah/Jane, she/her) is a sophomore Performance Studies Major. She is from Westport, Connecticut. On campus, she sings in Camerata Choir and is co-executive producer of the sketch comedy club, The Blackout. In high school, Cessa performed in all her school’s plays and musicals. Some highlights include Mary Sunshine in “Chicago,” Louison in “Imaginary Invalid” and Jo Marche in “Little Women.” This is Cessa’s first Wirtz production and she has loved watching the process come together.

Megan Liu (Phebe, she/her) Megan Liu is a second-year theater and legal studies undergrad at Northwestern University. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she has previously studied with Heather Biddle, Prague Film School, and Interlochen Arts Academy. She was most recently seen in the Wirtz’s Center production of The Wong Kids and is incredibly grateful to be a part of this process. Megan would like to thank her family, Mrs. Petropoulos, Monika, and friends for their unconditional support. Hope y’all enjoy the show!

Lauren Nishi (Assistant Lighting Designer, she/her) is a third-year from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Recent lighting design credits include: “Falsettos” (Jewish Theatre Ensemble), and “Sweeney Todd” (Arts Alliance). This is her first design project with Wirtz, and she is thrilled to have been a part of creating this beautiful show.

Francesca Patrón (Director, she/ella) is a Chicago-based theater and film director thrilled to be directing for Wirtz. She received her B.F.A. in Stage and Screen Acting from Azusa Pacific University and is currently an M.F.A. Directing Candidate at Northwestern University. She is one of the original founding members of Third Culture studios, Los Angeles. Other Northwestern directing credits include The Clean House, Annice, A Slave and The Turn of the Screw. Regionally, she has worked at The Goodman, American Players Theatre, Timeline Theater, Actor’s Co-Op and Third Culture Ensemble. Her academic research is on a theater of healing and how to use storytelling as means for communal healing. She would like to dedicate this show to her dad, Glenn, who would have been cheering the loudest.

Anna Rigo (Izzy, she/her) is thrilled to be a part of this show. She’s a sophomore Theatre and Music Theatre Certificate student, and highlights over these two years have included “Frog and Toad” (Toad), “Seussical” (Gertrude), and “Carrie” (Sue). She’s incredibly grateful to explore the world of this play, and she wants to thank the cast and creative team for creating their own beautiful community, along with Francesca, without whom their own meadow could not exist. 

Sierra Rosetta (Dramaturg, she/her) is a professional dramaturg from Trimont, Minnesota. Her most recent credits include La Jolla Playhouse (Indian Princesses), Goodman (Inherit the Wind), and Northwestern University (Wong Kids, Clean House, Frida Libre).

Holly Simon (U/S Peggy, she/they) is a freshman, pending theatre major, writer, activist, beyond thrilled for this show. Select credits: “Museum” (Liz/Carol/Blakey understudy), “Cabaret” (Fräulein Schneider), “Disaster!” (Ben/Lisa),“The Wolves” (#00), “The Diary of Anne Frank” (Anne), “The Prom” nonprofessional world premiere (featured ensemble). Thank you Mom and Dad, family, friends, Ms. Paik, Laila, Jaelyn, Hana, Gina, and the team of angels creating this- the most powerful, beautiful show anyone could ever wish for. Love always.

Louise Sims (Fanny, she/her) is a sophomore theater major and so proud to be part of As It Is in Heaven! Favorite credits include Spirit/Mariner 2 in The Tempest (Wirtz Center), Lucius/Mark Antony u/s in Julius Caesar (Delaware Shakespeare Festival), Sue in Fefu and Her Friends (WAVE Productions), & Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz (Walnut Street Theater). Offstage, Louise can be found carpenting, directing, baking, or cutting her bangs. Love to her family and the dog. 

Olivia Sullam (Stage Manager, she/they) is delighted to be working at Northwestern University for the first time! Chicago credits include: “At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen” (The Story Theatre); “Little Red Winter Circus” (Actor’s Gymnasium); “Little Women” (Northlight Theatre); “The Comedians” (Raven Theatre); “Happy Days Are Here Again” (Steep Theatre); “Dishwasher Dreams”, “Wife of a Salesman”, “Tiger Style!”, “Manual Cinema’s A Christmas Carol”, “Eurydice” (Writers Theatre); “The Dream King”, “Somewhere Over the Border” (Teatro Vista); “The Lifespan of a Fact”, “Black Sunday”, “Notes From the Field”, “Boulevard of Bold Dreams” (TimeLine Theatre).

Ellsworth Sullivan (Polly, she/her) is a second year Theatre Major studying French and philosophy from Asheville, North Carolina. Her most recent credits include Rest Stop by Lena Moore and The K of D by Laura Schellhardt. Ellsworth wants to thank everyone who was a part of this process, especially this incredibly loving ensemble, Francesa, Jeff, and the dynamic stage management duo that is Gianni and Liv. And of course her family (I didn’t forget about you!)

Naya Tadavarthy (Costume Designer, she/her) is a second-year MFA student in costume design originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota. Previous credits include “This Is Modern Art” (University of Notre Dame) and “Sunday on the Rocks” (Northwestern University).

Lili Tarnopol (Peggy, she/her) Lili Tarnopol (she/her) is a fourth-year Theatre major at Northwestern studying Music Theatre, Lighting Design, and Creative Nonfiction Writing. She has designed several campus shows and served as JTE’s Technical Director. NU acting credits include: Once, Sweeney Todd, Tuck Everlasting, Heathers: the Musical. She sends love to her family, friends, and dog, Cinnamon. Heaven is Lili’s last show at Northwestern before graduating. Thank you to Francesca, cast, and crew for the most special send-off.

Natalie Tangeman (Hannah, she/her) is a senior Theatre and Psychology Major in the TYA Module. Favorite roles include Renfield in Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really (Wirtz Center); Grendel’s Mother/Academic 2 in Dave Malloy’s Beowulf (Northwestern’s Wave Productions); Beth in John Proctor Is the Villain (Northwestern’s Sit and Spin Productions); and Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (Actors’ Theatre of Columbus). Natalie is a performer, educator, and director with Griffin’s Tale Children’s Repertory Theatre and Seesaw Theatre.

Mia Van De Mark (Musical Trio, she/her) is a theatre artist studying at Northwestern! She recently made her professional debut with Blue in the Right Way in Chicago as Isabella in “Women Beware Women.” Her credits at Northwestern include Henrietta in “Rest Stop,” Millie Martindale in “Perfect Arrangement,” and Shelby in “The Prom.” Mia is also a proud Wildcat Welcome Peer Adviser, and a member of Purple Haze A Cappella and WAVE Productions!

Yingxi Wu (Audio Engineer/Assistant Sound Designer, she/her)  is currently a student in the sound art and industry program at Northwestern University. She completed her undergraduate studies in music at South China Normal University and California State University, East Bay, majoring in classical clarinet and sound design. Her main direction focus on sonic interaction design, and sound design for video games. She enjoys coffee, cooking, reading, photography, and playing video games in her free time.