ARTIST BIOS

Bryan Baumer (Jerry/Robbins, he/him) is so excited for his first Wirtz production! He would like to thank his parents, friends, Linda Gates, and the entire cast, crew, and creative team of Mancub. Woof

Casey Bond (Paul, he/him) was born and raised in Evanston and is currently a Sophomore Theatre and Psychology undergraduate. Stage credits include: Pity The Woman Who Never Spills (Vertigo Productions), Fun Home (Victory Gardens), Pillars of the Community (Strawdog Theatre), Dead Man Walking (Piven Theatre) Waiting for Godot (u/s, Druid Theatre at Chicago Shakespeare). Casey is represented by Stewart Talent. He would like to sincerely thank Christopher and the entire Mammily for their care Woof!

Azalea Brown (Assistant Director/Assistant Choreographer, U/S Mum/Karen) is honored to be working on her first Wirtz production with the wonderful cast and crew of Mancub. She is a sophomore Theatre Major in the Music Theatre Certificate with an interest in performance and choreographing for the stage, and has performed in, stage managed, and choreographed for multiple student theatre productions across campus thus far. She would like to thank Christopher for making Mancub such a fulfilling process.

Mia El-Yafi (Mum/Karen, she/her) is a Theatre, Political Science, and International Studies major who grew up somewhere sometime and is currently a Sophomore at NU. Stage credits include: Lobster (Wirtz Center), Antigone (Wirtz Center), How to Defend Yourself (Spectrum), The 10 Minute Play Festival (Vertigo Productions), and the Firelight Devising Series (Spectrum). She would like to thank her loving family and friends for their endless support. She is eternally grateful to Christopher and the Mancub team! Woof.

Nastia Goddard (Luke/Mr. Sisskind, she/her) is a third-year Theatre and English major (the latter changes week to week) pursuing the Music Theatre Certificate. She is a proud member of Griffin’s Tale Children’s Repertory Theatre and Vertigo Productions. Nastia loves all things strange and experimental. Endless thank you’s to Christopher and the entire Mamily for their hard work and passion on this truly special process… and for constantly complimenting her on how funny and beautiful she is. Woof.

Alexander “Alex” Heid (U/S Jerry/Robbins, he/him)  is a freshman Theatre major from Dayton, Ohio. This is his first show with Wirtz, and he could not be more excited! He is grateful for all of the amazing artists, kindness, and laughs he has experienced throughout the process.

Liam Jeninga (Dad/Ken, he/him) is excited to play Dad, Ken, and other roles in Mancub! He last performed as Trigorin in The Seagull at BADA and as Apollo in Pythia at Northwestern. Liam also designs puppets; recent projects include Beowulf: A Thousand Tears of Baggage and The 94th Annual Waa-Mu Show. Liam is attending Northwestern University as a Theater Major. He would like to thank his mother and father for supporting him on this journey. woof.

Palima Lukins (Assistant Chorographer, she/her) is so excited to be part of her first Wirtz production. She is a sophomore theater and cognitive science major with a dance minor. Her past roles have included Cassie in A Chorus Line, Danielle in Bring It On: The Musical, and Lavender in Matilda. She would like to thank her loving and supportive family and friends, her incredible teachers, and the incredible cast and team.

Alexander Morgan (U/S Dad/Ken, he/him) is a junior Theatre major from Scotland, United Kingdom. He made his Northwestern Wirtz debut understudying Child 1, Archie, Buster, and Pepe in The Snowy Day. Before Northwestern, he trained at The Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Most recently, Alexander studied screen acting at Prague Film School, expanding his work for the camera. Passionate about storytelling across mediums, he continues to explore both stage and screen while pursuing his degree.

Alex Olguin (Production Stage Manager, he/him) is an undergrad stage manager from Hinsdale, Illinois double majoring in Theatre and Political Science, minoring in Transportation & Logistics, and completing the Theatre Management and Theatrical Design modules. Alex is thrilled to be Production Stage Manager for Mancub! Recent credits: Wirtz: “The Prom,” “Working: Localized,” “Airness,” “February House,” “Joan of Arkansas.” StuCo: “R&H Cinderella,” “Kinky Boots,” “Bonnie & Clyde,” “Once,” “Rent,” “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” “The Oregon Trail,” “Hometown,” “Qasim’s Mithai Shop.”

Aidan Passaro (Assistant Stage Manager, he/him) is very excited to be working on his first stage management position at Northwestern! In the past Aidan has worked primarily as an actor. His last project was on campus in Pythia, an original musical. Past credits include Young Charlie in Kinky Boots (Broadway and National tour), John Addams in 1776, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and Mike in A Chorus Line. He would like to thank his family, Caitlin Body, and the cast and team of MANCUB.

Maya Vinice Prentiss (Intimacy/Fight Choreographer & Dialect Coach, she/her)  is an Actor-Combatant, Fight/ Intimacy Choreographer, and Dialect Coach. Goodman acting credits include How to Catch Creation, School Girls, and Clyde’s; design credits include Penelopiad, Rust, The Love Object & School Girls. Her work has been featured in Chicago at Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Remy Bumppo, Story Theatre, Timeline Theatre, Impostors Theatre, Babes with Blades, Denver Center, Pegasus Theatre & The House Theatre; and regionally at Denver Center, St. Louis ShakesTheatreSquared and Illinois Shakespeare Fest. She holds a BA in Drama from Spelman College and an MFA in Acting from UIUC

Christopher Michael Richardson (Director/Choreographer, he/him) is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist from Richmond, VA.Directing: “Winnie-the-Pooh” (Imagination Stage), “Everybody” (American University), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Turn of the Screw” (NextStop Theatre Company), and “A Raisin in the Sun” (National Players Tour 72.) Acting: WEST END: “A Strange Loop” (The Barbican); REGIONAL: “Sweeney Todd”, “Gun and Powder”, and “Assassins” (Signature Theatre); “The Mortification of Fovea Munson” and “Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical!” (Kennedy Center TYA); “Our Town” and “Macbeth” (Shakespeare Theatre Company); “Matilda” (Olney Theatre Center) ; “The Wiz” (Ford’s Theatre)

Ilya Solovjov (U/S Paul, he/him) is a second year Theatre and Computer Science dual degree student at Northwestern. He loves acting and is so thankful to be part of Mancub. He would like to thank everyone who was a part of the creation of Mancub for making it such an amazing process.

Louis Van Camp (Sound Designer, he/him) is currently a graduate student in Northwestern University’s Sound Arts and Industries program. After writing and recording a few albums, he began composing music for short films and video games. His interest in musical composition expanded to multimedia sound design, and now he enjoys creating soundscapes for theatrical productions. He recently contributed original scores of music for Northwestern’s Danceworks 2025 and collaborated with choreographers at Oberlin College for a dance festival.

Alec Westland-Hurwitz (Assistant Director, he/him) is thrilled to AD Mancub! A second-year studying theatre and creative writing, this is Alec’s first time directing on campus– and he couldn’t be more grateful for Christopher’s guidance, support, generosity, and humor throughout the process. Past performance credits include “The Prom” (Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts) and “Sweeney Todd” (Korsa Musical Theater). Alec has found working on this piece to be incredibly meaningful, and he hopes that you enjoy the show!

Casper M. Wong (U/S Luke/Mr. Sisskind, they/them) is a freshman studying Theatre and Psychology. They previously appeared as Duncan in Bird Rock by Sarah Talbert and are currently co-producing this year’s freshman musical, Head Over Heels. They’d like to thank their friends and family for endless laughs and support!