“February House” is licensed courtesy of Red Brick Songs Inc. d/b/a Red Brick Songs obo Magdeburg Music (ASCAP)
We are on sacred ground. Northwestern University is on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk nations. Before it was stolen from them through colonization and forced removal, this land was a site of trade, travel, gathering, and healing for more than a dozen other native tribes. The state of Illinois is still home to more than 100,000 tribal members. In the spirit of healing and making amends for the harm that was done, we acknowledge the native and indigenous peoples who called this land home. We pledge ourselves as members of the Northwestern School of Communication to turn our statements into action and build better relationships with native and indigenous communities in Evanston, in Chicago, and throughout the region.
Dear Audience,
Welcome to February House! We’re so glad you’re here.
This is a story about artists living and creating together – made by a company of artists living and creating together. All of the characters you will see on stage actually existed and are played by people who are actually existing now. These actors are as much a part of this show as the residents of 7 Middagh they play.
You’re existing with us too. And so, you’re also a part of the show. This isn’t a play where you have to sit quietly and pretend you’re not there: please clap, laugh, and make noise as you feel moved to do so. We want you to be here, in this house, with us.
To live this way, to vulnerably exist in the world with others, is a risk. We’ve spent months exploring just that, as both artists and as these characters. To invest, care, and love is to risk rejection and inevitably face loss. The show ends. Graduation comes. Someone you love moves away. But when we allow ourselves to be as vulnerable as these characters, (and these actors), there is so much joy, love, and wisdom. Their heartaches are our heartaches too as we navigate the precarious parallel circumstances of 1940-41 Brooklyn and 2024-25 Evanston.
Thank you for choosing to spend your time with us. That choice has power. We each get to choose who to invite into our lives and how we spend our time with them. Those attempts of connection, homemaking, and community – no matter how small or short lived – are a resistance against the compounding forces that seek to divide us. Community is how we survive. Thank you for being a part of ours, if only for a time.
Jessica Thebus, Amanda Dehnert, Alexander Gemignani, KO, Billy Siegenfeld, Erin Ortman, Tanya Palmer, Bex Ganellen, Jacob Kerzner, Jane Skapek, Amy Peter at The Theatre School (DePaul University), and the many many others who offered support, guidance, perspective, and care.
The Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts appreciates funding from The Alumnae of Northwestern University’s Academic Enrichment Grant.
Abraham Deitz-Green — George Davis
Sadie Fridley — Carson McCullers
Esteban Ortiz-Villacorta — Wystan Hugh Auden
Henry Jones — Chester Kallman
Danny Dollase — Reeves McCullers/Young Man
Joshua Messmore — Peter Pears
Lucca Silva — Benjamin Britten
Julia Yanosik Perez — Erika Mann
Arwen-Vira Marsh — Gypsy Rose Lee
Philip Cullen — U/S Peter Pears
Ray Faiella — U/S Reeves McCullers/Young Man
Sarah Olson — U/S Erika Mann
Jocelyn Tisdale — U/S Carson McCullers
Evan Trotter-Wright — Piano/Conductor
Claire Kim — Reed – Flute
Alvin Chen — Reed – Clarinet/bass
Ethan Weisman — Reed – Flute/Clarinet/bass
Melody Zhang — Violin Melody Zhang
Kieran Cullen — Cello
Daniel Atwood — Banjo/Guitar/Electric guitar
Cecelia Olszewski — Sub
Miguel Rodriguez — Sub
Kristen Waagner — Choreographer
Evan Trotter-Wright — Music Director
Olive Ferguson — Production Stage Manager
A Inn Doo — Scenic Designer
Gin Ko — Costume Designer
Chelsea Strebe — Lighting Designer
Ethan Korvne — Sound Designer
Forrest Gregor — Associate Sound Designer
Courtney Abbott — Intimacy/Fight Director
Linda Gates — Dialect/Text Coach
Marina ‘Lo Ca’ Lo Casto — Burlesque Consultant
Emry Sottile — Dramaturg
Elebetel Negusse, Vincent Perez, Max Sullivan — Assistant Directors
Hannah Weiss — Assistant Stage Manager
Gavin Yi — Assistant Scenic Designer
Casey Lyons — Associate Music Director
Clara Shapiro — Assistant Music Director
Alex Olguin, Ryan Burkle — Assistant Lighting Designer
Eva Burkholder — Assistant Choreographer
Sierra Rosetta — Land Acknowledgement Consultant
Matt Reich — Audio Engineer
Jamel Booth — Run Crew Head
Akinle Armand, Ava Chen, Christian Gomez, Ethan Park, Harrison Whitfill, Iris Hernandez, Jorje Lara, Maddy Newman, Shea Frimmer, Tessa DeJesus, Timmy Woodward — Run Crew
Courtney Abbott (Intimacy/Fight Choreographer, they/she) NU: 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. Special thanks to Lo Ca for her burlesque wisdom: @windycitywitches
Eva Burkholder (Assistant Choreographer, she/her) is a sophomore Dance, International Studies, and Theatre student from Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Regional show credits: Disney’s Moana, Jr. (Dance Captain/Ocean Ensemble), Matilda the Musical (Ensemble). Northwestern show credits: “How To Know The Wildflowers: A Map” (Prairie), “Fly Away Home” (Director), “Carrie” (Co-Producer), Danceworks 2024: “Emergence” (Performer), NMP Fall Dance Concert (Co-Producer). In addition, she is a member of Steam Heat Dance Company and Co-Community Outreach Chair of Arts Alliance.
Philip Cullen (U/S Peter Pears, he/him) is a fourth-year Theatre, Theatre Management, and Legal Studies student from Bethesda, Maryland, and is delighted to be joining the February House cast for his final onstage appearance at Northwestern. Select NU acting credits include “Violet,” “Joan of Arkansas,” “Big Fish,” “Regicide,” and “This Is Government.” Next quarter, he’ll be producing “Call Me Eris” and directing “Julius Caesar!” If he’s not making theatre, you can probably find him somewhere playing Dungeons & Dragons. Enjoy the show!
Abraham Deitz-Green (George Davis, he/him) is a senior studying theatre, cognitive science and is in the Music Theatre Certificate Program. Previous NU credits: Thor (The Great Sea Serpent), Charlie (Kinky Boots), Monty (Violet), Orlando (As You Like It), Kev (Bengal Tiger). Endless love to the creative team, company, and his family <3.
Danny Dollase (Reeves McCullers/Young Man, he/him) is a senior RTVF major and is thrilled to be making his Wirtz debut in “February House”! Some favorite Northwestern credits include Monty in “Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”, Rapunzel’s Prince/Wolf in “Into the Woods”, Van in “Dog Sees God”, and Jules in “Sunday in the Park with George”. He wants to thank his family for their support and guidance and you all for coming to the show!
A Inn Doo (Scenic Designer, she/her) is a set and projection designer from South Korea, currently pursuing an MFA in Stage Design (Scenic) at Northwestern University. Recent credits include Sunday on the Rocks (Northwestern Wallis Theater), Achilles (SKON Theater), Count (Daehakro Art One Theater), and V Ever After (Dream Art Center). A recipient of the Shinshindangbu Young Playwright Award, A Inn combines a background in literature with a strong focus on original and premiere productions.
Ray Faiella (U/S Reeves McCullers/Young Man, he/him) is a junior studying Music Education and Voice Performance, while pursuing the Musical Theatre Certificate Program. At Northwestern, he has previously been seen as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors and as Ensemble in the Dolphin Show’s Matilda. He has music directed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Alice By Heart. He was Dance Captain and Choreographer of Once: The Musical. Thank you Seth and Olive for a great process!
Olive Ferguson (Production Stage Manager, she/her) is a Chicago-based freelance stage manager. She is so grateful to be part of another Wirtz project, and especially grateful for the trust and love within this team. Her next production is Hairspray with Uptown Music Theatre of Highland Park, which goes up this summer. Thank you to friends, family, and kind faces. Welcome to February House!
Sadie Fridley (Carson McCullers/Dance Captain, she/her) is a senior theatre student in the Musical Theatre Certificate. Favorite Northwestern credits include A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Sibella), Violet (Young Violet), As You Like It (Hisperia), The Scarlet Letter (Hester Prynne), Something Rotten, and the past three Waa-Mu shows, for which she also composed. Sadie thanks her family for their unwavering support, and the wonderful friends that she’s had the honor of creating this show with.
Linda Gates (Dialect/Text Coach, she/her) is Head of Voice and a Professor of Instruction in the Department of Theatre at Northwestern University. She is also an actress, director, and writer who has worked as a voice/dialect/text coach for theatre and film, both on and off Broadway, regional theatre, Europe and in England. Her Wirtz Dialect/Voice/Text coaching credits include: Indecent, Working, Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really, The Great Sea Serpent, The Tempest, Antigone and currently February House.
Forrest Gregor (Associate Sound Designer, he/him) in Chicago his designs have been heard on the stages of TimeLine, Paramount, Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Writers, Metropolis, The Gift, Oil Lamp, Music Theatre Works, Northwestern and the University of Chicago. Outside of Chicago his work has been heard at Theatre Aspen, Paper Mill Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Forrest is the current sound supervisor at Music Theatre Works and received his BFA in Sound Design from DePaul University. Visit forrestgregor.com.
Henry Jones (Chester Kallman, he/him) is a Sophomore studying Theatre & Cognitive Science. He is also a newly accepted member of the Music Theatre Certificate! When he’s not on the stage you may find him singing with the Northwestern Undertones or Dialect Coaching student theatre. Recent credits: Alfred in ‘Alice By Heart’(L&M), Vik and Trees in The Waa Mu Show, Don in Kinky Boots(Dolphin Show). He’d like to thank his parents and closest friends for always being a support! Insta: @henvin129
Gin Ko (Costume Designer, she/her) is a 3rd Year MFA costume designer with extensive collaborations in photography projects. Her work has been showcased in Taipei, Macau, and Chicago. Previously, she has designed “Frida Libre,” “Danceworks 2024,” “The Aliens,” “Antigone,” and “Wink” here at the Wirtz Center. Explore more of her creations by visiting her website: https://ginyk.com/
Ethan Korvne (Sound Designer, he/him) is a composer and sound designer from Akron, OH. Recent credits include: “Coronation” at Refracted Theatre Company, “Beneath the Willow Tree” at Pulse Theatre Chicago, “Short Shakes! Romeo & Juliet” at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and “Tambo & Bones” at Refracted Theatre Company (2 Joseph Jefferson Awards – Original Music in a Play and Best Sound Design). Ethan graduated in 2024 from The Theatre School at DePaul University with a BFA in Sound Design. More at ethankorvne.com
Casey Lyons (Associate Music Director, he/him) is a junior pursuing a dual degree in Theatre and Voice & Opera. His credits at Northwestern include “The 93rd Annual Waa-Mu Show” (Music Director), “Frida Libre” (Associate Music Director), “Shimmer” (Music Assistant), and Purple Crayon Players’ “The Little Prince” (Music Director). Casey is also a performer and writer. www.caseylyons.me @caseylyonsactor “Blessed be God in all His designs”
Arwen-Vira Marsh (Gypsy Rose Lee, she/her) is a Senior studying Theatre & Black Studies. She is also in the Music Theatre Certificate. She studied Drama at the Laguardia High School of the Performing Arts in NYC and the British American Drama Academy in London. You may have seen her most recently as Antigone in ‘Antigone’ here at Wirtz Center this past fall! Endless love to family, friends, and the ancestors! More at arwenviramarsh.com
Joshua Messmore (Peter Pears, he/him) is so excited to share the world of February House with you. He cannot believe he gets to play every day with this terrific cast and their fearless leaders: Seth, Evan, and Kristen. Joshua returns to the Barber stage after appearing as Trent Oliver in “The Prom” last year. Additionally, Joshua made his Chicagoland theatre debut in “White Christmas” at the Marriott Theatre this fall. He hopes you are moved by this story of community, art-making, and practicing vulnerability during difficult times.
Sarah Olson (U/S Erika Mann, she/her) is a current Junior from Winnetka, Illinois, pursuing a double major in Theatre and Biological Sciences. After spending the fall quarter in Copenhagen, Denmark, she is thrilled to return to theatre and join the February House team. Recent credits include “The Little Mermaid” (Purple Crayon Players), and “Overtones” (WAVE D-Fest). Outside of performing, she has been working on writing and developing The 94th Waa-Mu Show and looks forward to joining the cast this spring.
Esteban Ortiz-Villacorta (Wystan Hugh Auden, he/him) is a senior at Northwestern. He was last seen at the Wirtz Center as The Imperious Canute in “The Wong Kids.” Some of his favorite shows here have been “Blood Wedding” and “How to Know the Wildflowers: A Map.” He would like to thank his family and friends for their support, Seth and the rest of the company for making this show so special, and you for coming. Enjoy the show.
Julia Yanosik Perez (Erika Mann, she/her) is a Junior from Houston, Texas. In her time at Northwestern, she has enjoyed performing in the Wirtz Center’s “Frida Libre” and “How to Know the Wild Flowers: A Map,” as well as various Student Theatre productions, such as “American Idiot,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” and “In the Heights.” She is majoring in Theatre and Creative Writing, and is excited to see where she can combine her passions in the future.
Vincent Perez (Assistant Director, he/him) is a first-year Northwestern student from Evanston, Illinois studying Theatre and Cognitive Science. Though he made his Northwestern debut in “Dead Man Walking,” he’s excited to have “February House” be his first production as a student. His upcoming work includes “Achilles & Patroclus” (Patroclus). He thanks his family and friends for their support. IG: @vincentperez._
Seth Roseman (Director he/they) is a director, theater maker, and community organizer who creates events, experiences, and stories that spark change. They’ve collaborated with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, The Hangar Theatre, Juilliard, Alliance Theatre, Rattlestick, and the Sunrise Movement. A graduate of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and the National Theatre Institute, Seth is a third-year MFA Directing candidate at Northwestern University.
Clara Shapiro (Assistant Music Director, she/her) is a sophomore from College Park, Maryland double majoring in theater and music. She is thrilled to be working with an incredible music team on her first Wirtz production, “February House”! Northwestern credits include “Bonnie and Clyde” (Music Director), “Carrie” (Music Director), “Kinky Boots” (Associate Music Director), “Falsettos” (Assistant Music Director), and the upcoming production of “Next to Normal (Music Director)”. She’s a proud member of Sigma Alpha Iota’s Beta chapter.
Lucca Silva (Benjamin Britten, he/him) is a Third-Year Theatre major at Northwestern University from Franklin, Tennessee. He has recently played Ted in “Bonnie & Clyde,” Ariel in “The Pillowman,” and understudied the role of KJ in “The Aliens.” He would like to thank his parents for always affording him the opportunity to pursue what he loves. He hopes you enjoy the show!
Emry Sottile (Dramaturg, they/them) is a third-year Doctoral Candidate in Northwestern’s Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama program. Their previous dramaturgy work includes Wirtz’s productions of “Violet” and “The Prom” and American Music Theatre Project’s “Manic Pixie Dream Girls Aren’t Black.” Outside of dramaturgy, Emry researches role-playing game performance practices such as larp and D&D, musical theatre, and other popular culture sites of queer utopia, cultural memory, and community building.
Chelsea Strebe (Lighting Designer, she/they) graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts from University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Her educational credits from Northwestern include Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery (Lighting Designer), The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl (Lighting Designer), and How to Know the Wildfowers: A Map by Julie Marie Myatt and Jessica Thebus (Lighting Designer). The Wong Kids by Lloyd Suh (Lighting Designer) Her educational credits from UW-Parkside include Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson (Lighting Designer), and Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare (Lighting Designer). Professional Credits include staff electrician at Gateway Playhouse, and lighting designer/master electrician at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre where she designed both Our Town by Thornton Wilder and Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas.
Max (Sully) Sullivan (Assistant Director, ze/hir/he) is in hir final year at Northwestern, studying journalism and performance studies. Ze is an analysis aficionado, serving as dramaturg for student productions including “Fefu and Her Friends” and “The Seagullman.” Favorite past shows include “The Prom” (twice!), “Collective Rage,” and theatre for young audiences with the Theater Bug in Nashville, Tennessee. He thanks his friends at the GSRC for helping him carry on.
Jocelyn Tisdale (U/S Carson McCullers, she/her) is very excited to be in her first production with Wirtz as well as her first understudy role. Recently, she worked with Northwestern’s student theatre and played Alice in Alice by Heart as well as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Jocelyn majors in Theatre and Political Science at Northwestern with a minor in Spanish. She would like to thank her parents for always being so supportive!
Evan Trotter-Wright (Music Director, he/him) is a senior double majoring in theater and music with a music technology minor. Originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, Evan frequently music directs on campus productions, and is thrilled to be back in the Barber for “February House!” Most notably, he was a music director and keyboard conductor of the 93rd Annual Waa-Mu show last spring. You can also find him performing with the Undertones, Griffin’s Tale, Phi Mu Alpha, and the marching band.
Kristen Waagner (Choreographer, she/her) is a Chicago-area choreographer and director who is delighted to be returning to the Wirtz Center after her last show, How to Know the Wildflowers. Her past projects have included work with Northlight, Lookingglass, and Steppenwolf. She graduated from Northwestern in 2023, where she studied Theatre and Asian American Studies. All love to Ernie and Mattea.
Hannah Weiss (Assistant Stage Manager, she/they) is excited to be back on another Wirtz show. She is a 2021 graduate of Columbia College Chicago earning her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre concentrating in Stage Management. Past credits include THE PROM (Stage Manager; Fox Valley Theatre Company/Childrens’ Theatre of Elgin), HOW TO KNOW THE WILDFLOWERS (Assistant Stage Manager; Wirtz Center at Northwestern), WORKING (Assistant Stage Manager; Wirtz Center at Northwestern), RELENTLESS (Assistant Stage Manager; TimeLine Theatre Company/Goodman Theatre), SOUTHERN GOTHIC (Assistant Stage Manager; Windy City Playhouse), THE SNOW QUEEN (Assistant Stage Manager; The House Theatre of Chicago), and more. Since 2023, she has been working part-time in the Elgin Community College Arts Center as an Event Coordinator. Shoutout to Olive, the best partner in crime (…I mean theatre….)
We thank our donors who make it possible to develop and sustain the quality of productions at Northwestern University. The following individuals and institutions have made gifts to one or more of the following areas: the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, American Music Theatre Project and the Music Theatre Funds. All gifts were made between September 1, 2024 and January 15, 2025.
Donate online at giving.northwestern.edu.
Thank you for supporting Northwestern University Theatre and Dance!
E. Patrick Johnson, Dean of the School of Communication and Annenberg University Professor
Lori Barcliff Baptista, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Advising
Roderick Hawkins, Associate Dean of External Affairs and Chief of Staff
Molly Losh, Associate Dean for Research
Bonnie Martin-Harris, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Rick Morris, Associate Dean for Finance and Administration
Rayvon Fouche’, Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Tanya Palmer, Assistant Dean & Executive Artistic Director
Thomas Bradshaw, Radio/Television/Film
Leslie DeChurch, Communication Studies
Joshua Chambers-Letson, Performance Studies
Henry Godinez, Theatre
Bharath Chandrasekaran, Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Melissa Blanco Borelli, Head of Dance
Tommy Rappley, Associate Chair of Theatre
James Schwoch, Associate Chair of Communication Studies
Erin Courtney, Associate Chair of Radio/Television/ Film
Jorge Silva — Managing Director
Michael Constantino — Associate Managing Director
Pete Brace — Marketing & Development Manager
Heather Basarab — Production Manager
Valerie Tu — Production Manager, Chicago
Gianna Carter — Production Coordinator
Aziza Macklin — Audience Experience Manager
Jamie L. Mayhew — Box Office Manager
Lynn Kelso — Imagine U Artistic Mentor
Ryan T. Nelson — Music Supervisor
Dylan Reyno — Technical Coordinator
Shannon Perry — Technical Supervisor
Emily Baker — Assistant Technical Supervisor
Dylan Jost — Scenic Carpenter
Micah Hofferth — Scenic Carpenter
James Weber — Scenic Artist
Eileen Rozycki — Assistant Scenic Artist
Chris Wych — Properties Supervisor
Kathy Beach Parsons — Properties Assistant
Eileen Clancy — Costume Shop Supervisor
Jessica Donaldson — Assistant Costume Shop Supervisor
Kristy White — Cutter/Draper
Pamela Brailey — Cutter/Draper
Renee Werth — Stitcher/Crafts Supervisor
Eli Hunstad — First Hand
Peter Anderson — Lighting & Sound Supervisor
Michael Trudeau — Associate Lighting & Sound Supervisor
Stephen J. Lewis — OGMC Arts and Media Producer
Stephanie Kulke — OGMC Fine Arts Editor
Alexander Gemignani — AMTP Artistic Director
Denise McGillicuddy — AMTP Program Assistant
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