ARTIST BIOS

Courtney Abbott (Intimacy/Fight Coordinator, they/she) is a Real Redhead. Chicago collaborations include: Midsommer Flight, City Lit, About Face, Teatro Vista, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Redtwist, Northwestern, DePaul, and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern. Courtney is a Stakeholder in the Back Room Shakespeare Project. @backroomshakes CourtneyAbbott.com

Alex Arinkin (Stage Technician, any) is absolutely giddy to be a part of David’s RedHaired Death! A Theatre and English Major from Wisconsin, Alex has recently performed in Caucasian Chalk Circle and Among The Dead on campus. Alex would love to thank his family and friends for their constant support, as well as everyone working on this amazing project for their passion and joy. Enjoy the show!

Olivia Ash (Assistant Director, she/her) is a Chicago-based theatre artist and current Northwestern student earning her Master’s Degree in Leadership for Creative Enterprises. Her most recent credits include Arcadia, The Wolves, and Radium Girls (Stage Manager). She has also been seen onstage in Into the Woods (Witch), and Violet (Music Hall Singer). Olivia is excited to be making her directing debut and is thankful to the cast and crew for sharing their artistry and passion for live theatre!

Rosalind Faires (Director, she/her) is a director from Austin, Texas. Regional credits include: Orlando: Excerpts (Wirtz Center Chicago), Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (TexARTS), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Penfold Theatre), Running Bear (Hyde Park Theatre, world premiere), and Sense and Sensibility (assistant director, Dallas Theater Center). She received dual degrees in Plan II Honors and Theatre and Dance from The University of Texas at Austin and is currently pursuing an MFA in Directing at Northwestern University.

Shea Frimmer (Assistant Director, they/she) is a director and music director currently pursuing a B.S. in Theatre. They are the founding artistic director of The Youth Artists Project, a producing collective based in Connecticut, and the literary manager and music supervisor for Purple Crayon Players. Select directorial credits: Stephanie Christopher… (OOB Festival), Bad Jews (Northwestern), Head Over Heels (Northwestern), Something Borrowed (Youth Artists Project), 9:47 (Youth Artists Project), Play With Your Food (JIB Productions).

Grace Hall (U/S Marilyn, she/her) is a Junior studying Theatre with a module in Theatre for Young Audiences at Northwestern. She is originally from Los Angeles, California. Some recent Wirtz credits include: Autumn in Imagine That! and Sofie (U/S) in Wink. Recent professional credits include Tracy in Hairspray. She is grateful to be a part of the lovely team of David’s Redhaired Death.

Regina “Reg” Harris (Lighting Designer, she/they) is a 3rd year MFA Lighting Designer from Oakland, California. She’s an alumnus of California State University, Fresno’s Theatre Arts program where she worked for 6 years as the resident Lighting and Sound Technician. She has designed such shows as Sunday on the Rocks, Museum, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. As a 3rd-year MFA Lighting Designer, Regina continues to push the boundaries of her craft.

Iris Hernández (Dramaturg, she/her) is fascinated by the complex world of David’s RedHaired Death. A sophomore from Minneapolis, Minnesota studying Theatre and Comparative Literature, her recent dramaturgical credits at Northwestern include Something Rotten, Vinegar Tom, and In the Time of the Butterflies. She would like to thank her parents for staying up late to discuss her research, and her friends for testing out her dramaturgical kahoots.

Sachin Jain (U/S Stage Technician, he/him) is thrilled to be part of David’s Redhaired Death! He has appeared in Shakespeare productions such as The Winter’s (Summer’s) Tale and As You Like It. When not performing Shakespeare, Sachin is often cast as intense characters—like Senator Fipp in Urinetown, Potiphar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Dr. Knef in Radium Girls—he’s a comedian at heart, with a love for sketch comedy and absurdism, recently appearing as “The Pineapple Thief.”

Henry Jones (Stage Technician, he/him) is a Junior studying Music Theatre & Psychology. When he’s not on the stage you may find him singing with the Northwestern Undertones or performing at Chicagoland elementary schools with Griffin’s Tale student theater ensemble! Recent credits: The Governor in The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Wirtz), Chester in February House (Wirtz), Vik and Trees in The Waa Mu Show, and Don in Kinky Boots (Dolphin Show). He’d like to thank his parents and closest friends for always being a support! Insta: @henvin129

Ani Kabillio (Jean, she/her) is thrilled to be starring in this production of David’s Redhaired Death. Not only is Ani a passionate actress, but also a comedian, writer, singer and director. As a senior theatre major and creative writing minor at Northwestern University, Ani has truly been able to hone her storytelling abilities. She’s currently based in New York City, where she was born and raised, and graduated with a degree in vocal music from LaGuardia High School.

Ethan Korvne (Sound Design Mentor, he/him) is a composer and sound designer based in Chicago. Recent credits include: Goodnight Moon at Chicago Children’s Theatre, Modern Gentleman at About Face Theatre, Birds of North America at A Red Orchid Theatre, Taming of the Shrew at Court Theatre (composer), Short Shakes! Romeo and Juliet at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Tambo & Bones at Refracted Theatre Company (2 Joseph Jefferson Awards – Original Music in a Play and Best Sound Design). ethankorvne.com”

Lawrence Lewis (Sound Designer, he/him) is a multidisciplinary practitioner of the performing arts. He has performed in musicals, opera, straight plays, and was regularly working as a scenic technician and carpenter in Colorado before moving to Chicago to pursue his master’s degree in sound design. Previous acting credits include Antigone, The Play That Goes Wrong, Guys and Dolls, and The Rivals. Technical credits include Cabaret, The Bluest Eye, Othello, Flyin’ West, King Hedley, and Dream Hou$e (Theatreworks).

Alex Myres (U/S Stage Technician, he/him) is excited to be making his acting debut at Northwestern! A sophomore studying English and Theatre, his high school acting credits include The Sound of Music (Captain von Trapp) and Arsenic and Old Lace (Lieutenant Rooney/Reverend Harper). He has also been on the design team and in the rehearsal room for several shows at Northwestern. Alex would like to thank everyone who has supported his theatre journey.

Grace Needlman (Scenic Designer, they/them) is a Chicago-based theater artist and facilitator who creates objects and spaces that inspire collective imagination. Grace’s puppets have appeared at Lookingglass, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Rough House, Steppenwolf, Teatro Vista, The Metropolitan Opera, La Mama, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and more. Grace is co-director of the Chicago Puppet Lab, where they work to build equitable pathways for puppeteers in Chicago, and co-creator of the Puppet Wonder Wagon and The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party. Grace holds a BA in Art from Yale University and an MA in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths University of London, and are an MFA candidate in Stage Design at Northwestern University.

Ellie Panko (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is excited to be back at Wirtz after stage managing A Comedy of Errors and assistant stage managing Sunday on the Rocks last year. She is grateful to be a part of a hard working production and design team. Recent credits include stage managing Purple Crayon Player’s Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse. She would like to thank her family, especially her sister, for supporting her in her theatre endeavors.

Aidan Passaro (Production Stage Manager, he/him) is excited to be Stage Managing this production of David’s RedHaired Death. Aidan has previously been seen at Northwestern in The Addams Family, Yadda Yadda Yadda the Lyrics of Cheryl Coons (AMTP), and Pythia, an original musical. Aidan has also been an assistant stage manager for various productions including Mancub and Love and Information. Other past acting credits include Young Charlie in Kinky Boots (Broadway & National Tour), John Addams in 1776, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and Mike in A Chorus Line. He would like to thank his family and the company of David’s RedHaired Death.

Louise Sims (U/S Jean, she/her) is a junior theater major pursuing the Music Theater Certificate and super jazzed to be part of David’s Redhaired Death! Favorite credits include Fanny in As It Is in Heaven (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.

Claire Sueyoshi (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is a freshman Theatre major from Irvine, California. She is excited to be working on her first Wirtz production with such an incredible creative team! She currently serves as the 84th Annual Dolphin Show’s Production Manager and recently stage managed Sit and Spin’s BEEF: Madonna x Gaga. She is also a proud member of WAVE Productions. She would like to thank her family for their love and support in all she does.

Mia Van De Mark (Marilyn, she/her) is about to complete her final year at Northwestern and she could not be more grateful to be closing out her time here with this play. She is a Sarah Siddons scholarship recipient, and a proud member of Purple Haze A Cappella and WAVE Productions. Some of her favorite previous credits include Vocalist/Musician (As it is in Heaven), Millie Martindale (Perfect Arrangement), and Isabella (Women Beware Women)! | miavandemark.com

Harrison Whitfill (Dramaturg, he/him) is a sophomore studying Theatre and Linguistics. He is excited to make his Wirtz dramaturgical debut with such a wonderful team (and a brilliant Co-Dramaturg). He also currently serves as the Literary Manager for Sit and Spin Productions. He would like to thank his friends, family, and mentors for all their support!