ARTIST BIOS

Cristina Benninghoff (Assoc. Choreographer, she/her) is honored to be part of the creative team for “The Addams Family”! From Bogotá, Colombia, Cristina moved to Chicago to earn her BFA in Musical Theatre with a Dance Concentration at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Credits include “In the Heights” (Swing) and “Always Something There…” (Ensemble) at Marriott Theatre, “Grease” (Cha-Cha, Dance Captain) at Metropolis Performing Arts Center, “Spectacular Spectacular” (Green Fairy, Dance Captain) with [producingbody], “Pippin” (Ensemble, Fastrada US) and “Wonderful Town” (Swing, Dance Captain) at CCPA, “The Most Amazing Story Ever Sung” (Ensemble), “Simply Christmas” (Ensemble), and other original productions from Misi Producciones in Bogotá. Cristina would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support, and give special thanks to Nich for believing in her since day one. ¡Vamos con toda! @cristinabghoff

Ava Chen (Wednesday Addams, she/her) is a Theatre and Cognitive Science major at Northwestern University pursuing the Integrated Marketing Certificate. She is thrilled to be part of The Addams Family and enjoyed performing in Northwestern’s Freshman Musical last year. Originally from Georgia, Ava is deeply grateful to director Chris Ramirez, the entire creative team, and her family for their constant support and encouragement.

Roie Dahan (Assistant Director, he/him) is a senior studying Theatre, TYA, and Marketing Communications and is so honored to have assistant directed this production! Recent directing credits include “35MM: A Musical Exhibition” (Wirtz SPP), “Itinerary” (Vertigo Productions), & “[title of show]” (R&M Productions/ACT of Davie). He wants to thank Chris, Henry, and this incredible cast & team for making this process so lovely, and his family and friends for all their love and support! sites.google.com/view/roiedahan

Nora James Eikner (Morticia Addams, she/her) is a senior theatre major in the Music Theatre Certificate program and the Playwriting Module. On campus, she is a member of Vertigo Productions, a new work theatre board, and TBD, a neofuturist-inspired performance group. Favorite credits include “The Comedy of Errors” (Luciana), “The 93rd Annual Waa-Mu Show” (Lily), “Sweeney Todd” (Mrs. Lovett), “Mary Poppins” (Bert), and this wonderfully kooky show. To Chris, the team, friends and family, je t’aime and merci!

Ray Faiella (Ancestor, U/S Lurch, he/him) is a Northwestern senior from Little Silver, New Jersey. He is studying Music Education, Arts Administration, Voice Performance and pursuing the Musical Theatre Certificate Program. At Northwestern, he has most recently been seen in 35MM: A Musical Exhibition. He has music directed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Alice By Heart. He was also Dance Captain and Choreographer of Once: The Musical. He is super grateful for this cast and team!

Liam Jeninga (Lurch, he/him) Liam Jeninga is excited to play Lurch in The Addams Family! He last performed as Actor 2 in Mancub at Northwestern and Trigorin in The Seagull at BADA. Liam also designs puppets and will be working on Caucasian Chalk Circle at Northwestern. Liam is attending Northwestern University as a Theater Major and Linguistics Minor. He would like to thank his mother and father for supporting him on this journey. Uhhhhhhhhh.

Paige Klemenhagen (Morticia Addams/Wednesday Addams Standby, she/her) is a senior at Northwestern University studying voice & opera, musical theatre, and communication studies. She has competed in musical theatre and opera competitions, such as NextGen’s National Competition (Semi-finalist), Spotlight Triple Threat (Finalist), YoungArts (2-time Merit Winner), Hal Leonard National (3rd Place), National Classical Singer (2nd Place), and Schmidt Regional (1st Place). Professionally, Paige has performed in Some Enchanted Evening (Sierra Repertory Theatre), Annie (The Children’s Theatre), and Albert Herring (Minnesota Opera).

Casey Lyons (Music Director, he/his) is a senior pursuing a dual degree in Theatre and Voice & Opera. His credits at Northwestern include “February House” (Associate Music Director), “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). www.caseylyons.me @caseylyonsactor “Blessed be God in all His designs”

Emet Mandell (Uncle Fester, he/him) is a senior Theatre and Political Science student at Northwestern University. Emet’s Wirtz Center credits include The Comedy of Errors (Duke of Ephesus), The Prom (Ensemble) and How To Know The Wild Flowers (Ensemble). He also appeared in the British American Drama Academy’s production of Three Sisters (Andrey Prozorov) and in Northwestern’s Little Shop of Horrors (Mr. Mushnik) and Tuck Everlasting (Ensemble). He is also a member of The Blackout and Overtime Comedy.

Audrey Michael (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is thrilled to be a part of “The Addams Family.” Michael is a Senior pursuing a dual degree in Theatre and Opera Performance with a concentration in Theatre Management. Most recently she served as the Stage Manager for “Man of La Mancha.” Her other credits include: “Into the Woods” (Production Assistant) with Idaho Shakespeare Festival, 2024 New Play Festival (Stage Manager), and “The Prom” (Assistant Stage Manager). Michael has also been an Assistant Director/chorus member of numerous Northwestern Operas.

Grace Morley (Ancestor, U/S Pugsley Addams, she/her) is so excited to be a part of The Addams Family Musical! A native of Philadelphia, PA, Grace is an actor, singer, and dancer pursuing a B.A. in Theatre and Political Science and is part of the Musical Theatre Certificate Program. Her recent credits include Governor in “Man of La Mancha” and Warrior Ensemble in “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Emily, Mommom, Nini, Yeye, and Buddy!

Alex Olguin (Production Stage Manager, he/him) is thrilled to be returning to the Wirtz Center, where his previous stage management credits include The Prom, Working: Localized, Airness, Joan of Arkansas, and Mancub. He is also involved in Northwestern student theatre, where select credits include Cinderella, Kinky Boots, Bonnie & Clyde, Once, Rent, Urinetown, Next To Normal, The Little Mermaid, and The Oregon Trail. Alex is a senior studying Theatre, Political Science, and stage management in the Theatre Management Module.

Nich O’Neil (Choreographer, they/them) shifted from actor to creative in 2023. Their credits include “Beauty and the Beast” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, “Cinderella” at Drury Lane, “Brighter Futures” at the Paramount Theatre, “The Secret Garden” at Theo Ubique, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Marriott Theatre, and “South Pacific” at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts.

Aidan Passaro (Ancestor, Onstage Swing, he/him) is so excited to return to Wirtz in this production of The Addams Family. Aidan has previous been seen on campus in Pythia, an original musical, and as the Assistant Stage Manager of MANCUB. 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 and the cast and team of The Addams Family!

Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (Director, he/him) is an actor, director, playwright, and educator from Dallas, TX and a recent Chicago transplant. Directing credits include: LUCHA TEOTL (Goodman Theatre) A Christmas Carol; Native Gardens (Farmers Alley Theater); Luchadora! (Cara Mia Theatre Company); LUCHA TEOTL (Prism Movement Theatre); Little Shop of Horrors (Junior Players); Associate director of A Midsummer Nights Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); and Associate director of A Christmas Carol (Dallas Theater Center. Acting credits include: Inherit the Wind; American Mariachi (Goodman Theater); Guys and Dolls; Cinderella (Drury Lane Theatre); Native Gardens; Into the Woods; In the Heights; Twelfth Night; Sweat; White Rabbit Red Rabbit; Hair; Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure (Dallas Theater Center); Stede Bonnet a F*cking Pirate Musical and Hands on a Hardbody (Theatre Three); The Great Distance Home; Elliot, A Soldiers Fugue (WaterTower Theatre); Empathitrax (Second Thought Theatre); An Octoroon (Stage West); It Shoulda Been You; Titanic (Uptown Players); Zoot Suit; blu; Crystal City 1969 (Cara Mía Theatre Co.); The Winter’s Tale; Pericles, (Shakespeare Dallas). Ramirez received his BFA in Theatre Performance from Baylor University. @chrisllewynramirez

Clara Shapiro (Associate Music Director, she/her) is a junior majoring in Theater and General Music with a concentration in Music Education. Music direction credits include Next To Normal (Arts Alliance), Bonnie and Clyde (WAVE Productions), Carrie (Freshman Musical), A Year With Frog And Toad (Purple Crayon Players), and the upcoming 83rd Dolphin Show: Footloose. She has had an amazing time working on this show with the best team she could have asked for!

Rowan Sharma (Lucas Beineke, he/him) is a junior Theatre and Cognitive Science major, pursuing the Music Theatre Certificate. Favorite professional credits include Jason in “Falsettos”, Steward in “Anything Goes”, Gabe in “Next to Normal”, and Bobby Child in “Crazy for You”. At Northwestern, credits include Angel in “Kinky Boots”, Schroeder in “Charlie Brown”, Peter in “Jesus Christ Superstar”, and Jose in “Man of La Mancha”. Rowan enjoys singing with “F15 Acappella” and performing musical improv with “The Bix”.

Lucca Silva (Gomez Addams, he/him) is a senior Theatre student at Northwestern University. His Wirtz credits include Benjamin Britten in February House and the understudy for KJ in The Aliens. He has also appeared in the Waa-Mu show, Bonnie & Clyde (Ted Hinton) and The Pillowman (Ariel). He would like to thank his family, friends, and collaborators for this amazing opportunity!

Holly Simon (Pugsley Addams, she/they) is a sophomore, theatre major, writer, and activist. Northwestern mainstage debut! Select credits: “As it is In Heaven” (u/s Peggy), “Museum” (Liz/Carol/Blakey swing), “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, Gina, Laila, TCSTC, and this incredible blessing of a team. Love always. @the.original.holly.simon

Sophie Simon (Ancestor, Onstage Swing, she/her)is a sophomore studying Theatre and Film and Media Studies, and is so excited to be a part of The Addams Family! Previous credits include The Dolphin Show’s “Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Gabrielle Standby/Dance Captain) and WAVE Productions’ “Bonnie and Clyde” (Young Bonnie/Eleanore) at Northwestern University. She would like to thank Chris, Nich, Casey, the amazing cast and crew, and her family for their constant love and support. Enjoy the show!

Sierra Smith (Swing, U/S Alice Beineke, she/her) is thrilled to have the opportunity to work as a swing in The Addams Family alongside this talent cast and crew! A current freshman at Northwestern, past production highlights include Ella in Cinderella, Olive in Spelling Bee, and Sue Snell in CARRIE. She thanks her parents, sister, her best friends Jordan and Bella for their constant love and support, and the production team that made this possible. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Emry Sottile (Dramaturg, they/them) is a Doctoral Candidate in Northwestern’s Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama program. Their previous dramaturgy work includes Wirtz’s productions of “Violet,” “February House,” “The Prom” and American Music Theatre Project’s “Manic Pixie Dream Girls Aren’t Black.” Outside of dramaturgy, they research role-playing game performance practices such as larp and D&D, musical theatre, and other sites of queer utopia, cultural memory, and community building.

Ludmila Stoffel (Puppeteers, she/her) is a Junior Theatre and Dance student from Córdoba, Argentina. Some Northwestern credits include: Comedy of Errors (Courtesan), Bird Rock (Elsie), Danceworks 2025 (Dancer), and Jazz Nutcracker 2024 (Dancer & Producer). She is also passionate about arts administration and is an active member of Arts Alliance, Seesaw Theatre, STUCO, Dolphin Show, and Waa-Mu. She thanks her family for making her a huge fan of The Addams Family and is thrilled to participate in this show!

Faith Walh (Ancestor, Dance Captain, she/her) is a senior Dance major and Theatre minor in the Music Theatre Certificate program. Wirtz credits include Arch Madness (Ensemble/Dance Captain), How To Know The Wild Flowers: A Map (Fanny), The Prom (Ensemble/Asst. Choreo). Professional credits include Grease (Jan), Oklahoma! (Gertie/Dance Captain), Can-Can (Marie), and Willy Wonka (Mrs. Gloop/Wonka Assistant) at Woodstock Playhouse and The Full Monty (Associate Choreographer) at Paramount Theatre.

Mason Wang (Gomez Addams/Lucas Beineke Standby, he/him) is a freshman theatre major from the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. Selected credits include: (A Christmas Carol) and (The Music Man in Concert), Metropolis Performing Arts Center. Outside of theater, Mason is a proud Eagle Scout and avid coffee drinker. He’d like to thank his parents for their endless support and the cast of (The Addams Family) for their wonderful talents.

Alec Westland-Hurwitz (Grandma, he/him) is so excited to be playing one of his most beloved types of people – a crazy old lady! Originally from Berkeley, California, Alec is a junior in the Music Theatre Certificate Program, studying theatre and creative writing. Favorite past roles include King Richard in “Richard II” (British American Drama Academy), and Toby in “Sweeney Todd” (Korsa Musical Theatre). So much love and thanks to the family, friends, cast, and team that made this possible!

Henry Winkelman (Assistant Director, they/them) is a fourth-year theatre and history major. Previous Wirtz credits include “Lobster” (Costume Designer), “The Prom” (Assistant Costume Designer), and “Blood Wedding” (Assistant Costume Designer). Some other favorite credits include “Perfect Arrangement” (Wirtz SPP, Director) and “The Effect” (Arts Alliance, Director, upcoming). They are also a member of Sit and Spin Productions, Northwestern’s experimental theatre board. They would like to thank Chris and the whole Addams team for all their hard work in making this an incredible show and an incredible process to work on.