ARTIST BIOS
Katarina Andrade (Diana, she/her) is a current junior from Sergipe, Brasil studying Theatre, Physics and Astronomy. Her favorite roles include playing herself in Autobiografia (autobiographical short film), as well as the Virgin Mary in O Auto da Compadecida (CCPA high school). She’d like to thank her family and especially her grandma for all the support even from far away, and her friends André, Arthur, Bia, Leo, Renato and Rita. Also the entire (beyond) amazing team and cast, including Ernie!
Cheyenne Casebier (Georgia) was last seen in Gaslight at Northlight Theater and understudied Helen Hunt in Betrayal at the Goodman. Notable credits include fifteen years performing in Seattle at the Seattle Rep, 5th Avenue and ACT, plays in over five seasons at the Guthrie Theatre, and Sarah Paulson’s understudy in The Glass Menagerie on Broadway. Cheyenne trained at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and holds an MFA from the University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program.
Isabella Castro (Assistant Lighting Designer, she/her) is a lighting designer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, currently an MFA candidate in Stage Design at Northwestern University. With experience across theater, dance, and opera, she is excited to collaborate with The Beyond.
Eliza Fleming (Production Stage Manager, she/they) is participating in her first production at the Wirtz Center. She is a recent BA graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles, where her highlights included stage managing Seize the King under director Will Power and several new works festivals. Eliza is thrilled to be a part of The Beyond and would like to thank the entire creative team (and Morgan Frost!) for the opportunity, as well as partner Chris for his love and support.
Sam Geiger (Sam, he/him) is a freshman theatre major at Northwestern University and is so excited to be a part of The Beyond! This is his first Wirtz Center production! On campus, he is a member of THUNK a cappella and Fusion Dance Crew.
Hannah Gill (Hannah, she/her) has a heart that is beyond (;)) full to be a member of The Beyond team. Raised down the lake in Chicago, Hannah is a junior pursuing theatre, political science, and a music theatre certificate at Northwestern. Select credits include Mrs. De Soto in Imagine U’s Doctor De Soto, Mallory in The Waa-Mu Show, Barbara Grant in Perfect Arrangement, and The Pilot in The Little Prince: A New Musical. Thank you for being here!
Gabby Gutierrez (Annie, she/her) is ecstatic to be in this wonderful production! Previously in the Wirtz Center’s How to Succeed In Business… as J. Pierrepont Finch, 2026, The Prom as Emma u/s, 2023, Arts Alliance’s American Idiot as Whatsername, 2024, Matilda the Musical 1st National Tour as Matilda, 2015-2017, Broadway’s School of Rock as Sophie, 2016, Madison Square Garden’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Annie, 2014, Paper Mill Playhouse’s South Pacific and Ngana, 2014, and Brooklyn Nets National Anthem Singer, 2023. Thankful for her family’s support.
Jeffery Hancock (Movement Creator, he/him/they/etc.) M.F.A., is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University, collaborative interpreter with Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, and founder of -ish design. His teaching and multidisciplinary practices explore how values emerge and intersect with positionality through movement, costume, and clothing creation. A founding member of River North Chicago, and formerly with Hubbard Street and others, he practices relentless curiosity-as-inspiration about nature, humans/animals, materials, joy, queerness, anxiety, his cat, and his husband Joe.
Liam Jeninga (Joe, he/him) is excited to perform in The Beyond! He last performed at Northwestern as Lurch in The Addams Family and as Ken the Dog in Mancub. Liam also designs puppets, with recent shows including Caucasian Chalk Circle and The Human Chair (& The Nose). This is Liam’s last university show, and he is happy to share it with this wonderful team. He would like to thank his mother and father for supporting him on this journey.
Chloe Johnston (Vision) is a writer, director, and performer and an alumni ensemble member of The Neo-Futurists. Recent projects include 46 Plays for America’s First Ladies (Critics Pick, NYTimes), Grace (The Orchard Project, Northwestern University) and Leave the Light On, a podcast about caregiving. She is co-author of Ensemble-Made Chicago: A Guide to Devised Theater (NU Press). She is a professor of Theater and Performance Studies at Lake Forest College. www.chloejohnston.org
Harrison Lewis (Composer/Lyricist/Music Director, he/they) is a New York-based composer/lyricist. This will be his fifth original piece presented at Northwestern, after Behind the Mirrors, The Dogwood Trees, Waterland, and How to Know the Wildflowers: A Map. He recently received his master’s from BerkleeNYC, where he began his flagship musicals Seven Steps Around the Fire and The Boy Who Painted the Sky. His work has also been developed with Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, Green Room 42, Theatre Barn, Prospect Musicals, Live & In Color, EnActe Arts, & Soaring Gardens. harrisonmlewis.com
Grace Morley (Clara, she/her) Grace is so excited to be a part of The Beyond! 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 The Caucasian Chalk Circle and The Addams Family. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Emily, Mommom, Nini, Yeye, and Buddy!
Julie Marie Myatt (Co-Creator, Playwright, Associate Professor of Instruction, Playwriting, Theater Department, she/her) created many plays and productions including: How to Know The Wild Flowers: A Map, Birder, The Happy Ones, Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter, Someday, My Wandering Boy, Boats On A River, The Sex Habits of American Women, Cowbird, among others. Awards and fellowships include: The Walt Disney Studios Screenwriting Fellowship, Jerome Fellowship, McKnight Advancement Grant, the Mellon Playwright in Residence at South Coast Repertory 2013-2016. She is an Alumni of New Dramatists and teaches playwriting at Northwestern.
Kennedy Naseem (Margaret, she/her) is an actress and director from Kansas City, Missouri who is graduating from Northwestern this spring with a BA in Theatre, a minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies, a certificate in Music Theatre, and a module in Theatre for Young Audiences. Her recent theatrical credits include Super Indian (Dir. at Newberry), How to Succeed in Business (Rosemary), and Let’s Go Camping! (Fuzzy). She’s loved every moment of “making the unknown known” with this brilliant team!
Francesca Patrón (Assistant Director, she/her/ella) is a director from San Diego. She received her B.F.A. in Stage and Screen Acting from Azusa Pacific University and her M.F.A. in Directing from Northwestern University. She is one of the original founding members of Third Culture Studios, Los Angeles and an artistic associate of Maened Physical Theater, an immersive theater ensemble that produces physical, site-specific work. Northwestern directing credits include As it is in Heaven, The Clean House, Code Blue, The Turn of the Screw, and Annice, A Slave (Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts,) Regionally, she has worked at Writers Theatre, The Goodman, American Players Theatre, Writers Theatre, Timeline Theater, Actor’s Co-Op, Hollywood and Third Culture Ensemble.
Paloma Pluess (The Little Girl) is a 5th grade student at Edison Regional Gifted Center in Chicago Public Schools. She is a member of Circesteem’s Performance Troupe and a student at Flatts and Sharp Music in Rogers Park for guitar and ukulele.
Ian C. Weber (Additional Music Direction/Sound Designer, he/him) is a sound designer, composer, singer, and tap dancer, not necessarily in that order. DESIGN: Hymn (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Old Wicked Songs (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre), Dial M for Murder (Drury Lane), Home for the Holidays (Lookingglass Theatre). COMPOSITION: Robot Nature and Dreamsters (original musicals, Roosevelt University). Listen to those anywhere music is streamed. Thanks to the team at Northwestern for bringing him on board, and thanks to Marissa for just about everything else. www.iancweber.com
Oscar Yum (Pete, he/him) is a junior at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, where he is pursuing a degree in Voice and Opera Performance with a Music Theatre Certificate. He currently studies under W. Stephen Smith. Hailing from Altadena, California, Oscar is passionate about exploring the intersection of classical voice and contemporary musical theatre, and is committed to telling stories that resonate with him as a Korean American and reflect the richness of diverse audiences and communities.
