ARTIST BIOS

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

Claire Bauman (Director, she/her) is a 2nd-year MFA director who creates theatre, dance theatre, and performance art through devising and ensemble-based practices. Previous Northwestern credits include “No Exit” and “Elephant.” Favorite professional credits include movement direction for “The Writer” (Steep Theatre) and co-producing and directing Sarah Kane’s “4.48 Psychosis” ([producing body]). She has worked with storefront and DIY companies across Chicago, including Trap Door Theatre, Red Tape Theatre, Interrobang Theatre Project, and Wender Collective. Love to Mark!

Angelena Browne (Sofie, she/her) is a performer from New Jersey and Saint Kitts & Nevis studying Acting, Musical Theatre, and Marketing at Northwestern. Recent credits include “For Colored Girls” (Lady in Purple) at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, “City Kid: The Musical” (Lena) at NJPAC. At the Wirtz Center, she has performed in “Sunday on the Rocks” (Gayle), “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Play” (Van Helsing), “Sweat” (Cynthia), “Violet” (Lula), and “Last Stop on Market Street” (Nana). She deeply appreciates the support of her family, friends, and the incredible team behind this production!

Sydney Chan (Assistant Choreographer, she/her) is a theatre and Asian American studies double major with dance minor. After spending years on stage as a performer, she is excited to debut off-stage at Wirtz as an assistant choreographer. She thanks Claire for the opportunity to utilize her dance/movement experience. She thanks her parents, brother, family, and friends for their support!

Grace Hall (U/S Sofie, she/her) is a theatre major who is thrilled to be a part of this production of “Wink” for the Wirtz Center. Some of her recent credits include, “Thimble”(Asper), “Grease” (Jan), and “The Prom” (ensemble swing). She is a theatre artist in many ways as both an actor and designer. She is originally from Los Angeles, California, and so excited to be here and a part of “Wink”!

Elliott Hanson (Wink, he/him) is a senior at Northwestern University studying Theater and Psychology with the Acting for the Screen module. NU credits include Matilda (Rudolpho), Cabaret (Texas), Kinky Boots (Angel), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Titania). He dedicates this performance to his late cat, Skitty—an icon, a legend, and a cat who undoubtedly would’ve been a Wink fan 🙂

Nathan Hiykel (Dr. Frans, he/him) Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Nathan has previously played Curly in Oklahoma!, Tonton Julian in Once on this Island, Mumford the Dragon in The Last Stop on Market Street, Mr. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical, and most recently Birder in How to Find the Wildflowers: A Map. Nathan is excited to bring the story of Wink to you all and wants to thank his friends and family for all of their support in his artistic endeavors.  

Ibrahim Khan (U/S Gregor, he/him) is very excited to return to the Wirtz Center for his second production! Previous Wirtz credits include “How to Know the Wildflowers: A Map” (Ensemble, u/s Michael). Professional credits include “Legally Blonde” (Sundeep/Ensemble, Music Theater Works). Besides theatre, he likes to play guitar, hike, and hang out with his dog. He’d like to thank his family, friends, and partner for their unending support.

Minjoo Kim (Dramaturg, she/her) is a first-year PhD student in Theater and Drama (IPTD) from Seoul, South Korea. Her research centers around oral histories, tourism, identity, and site-specific performances. Dramaturgy credits include “Bull in a China Shop” and “The Oresteia” at Edison Theatre.

Alayna Klein (Scenic Designers, she/her) is a 3rd year set designer in pursuit of her MFA at NU. Previously, she has designed “The Tempest,” “Antigone,” and “The Clean House” here at the Wirtz Center. Select design credits: “Fully Committed” (6th Street Playhouse), “Spring Awakening” (SUNY New Paltz), Physical Acting Intensive (NYU), and “Leaving Eden” (NY Musical Festival 2019). Select assistant credits: The Drama Bookshop (David Korins), “Suffs” (Mimi Lien, The Public), “Sweeney Todd” (Mimi Lien, Broadway), “Leroy & Lucy” (Andrew Boyce, Steppenwolf) . www.alaynaklein.com.

Gin Ko (Costume Designer, she/her)is a costume designer with extensive collaborations in photography projects. Her work has been showcased in Taipei, Macau, and Chicago. Originally from Taiwan, she arrives at costume design from a background in classical music. She holds a BA in Drama and Theatre from National Taiwan University and is currently pursuing her Stage Design MFA at Northwestern University. Explore more of her creations by visiting her website: https://ginyk.com/

Marilena Kolokotsa (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is a proud theatre major and dance minor in Northwestern University. Her recent credits include Nancy in “Oliver! The Musical”, Megan Jones in “PUFFS”, Ms. Mirage in “Lipstick Burlesque’s ‘24 show”, and Antigone U/S in “Antigone”. This is her third stage management experience in the university, following “Mee-Ow’s 50th Show” and “Durango”.

Tiger Lee (Assistant Director, any pronouns) is so excited to have gotten the chance to work alongside such a fun and twisted play. After mainly immersing himself as a performer in Northwestern’s student run productions, he is thrilled to have worked on a show in the Wirtz center for the first time. He would like to give a huge thanks to his co-assistant director, Louise Sims, for being such an incredible person to work alongside this process.

Charlie Niccolini (Gregor, he/him) is a senior theatre major at Northwestern. Wirtz credits include “The Tempest” (Caliban) and “Sweat” (Jason). He is also a member of THUNK A Cappella. Charlie would like to thank Claire and the entire cast and crew of Wink for their hard work over the past few months.

Mark Park (Hair and Makeup Designer, any pronouns) is a wigs, hair, and makeup designer who has designed and executed a variety of looks for theatre, short films, photoshoots, and independent projects. Their wigs, hair, and makeup credits include The Tempest and Kinky Boots, and their selected hair and makeup credits include Danceworks, The Prom, and Everybody. They were the wigs, hair, and makeup assistant at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival ‘23 and did makeup work for several professional photographers in Korea.

Louise Sims (Assistant Director, she/her) is a sophomore theatre major and performer who is thrilled to be making her assistant directing debut on such a fantastically bizarre show. Louise sends many thanks Claire for her guidance and to entire team for being wonderful to work with, especially her co-AD, Tiger.

Tyler Yoon (U/S Wink, any pronouns) is a 1st year undergraduate from South Korea.

Lily Zhao (Sound Designer, she/her) is an MA student in Sound Arts and Industries at NU. She specializes in multi-media sound designs like video games, films, theater, museum, interactive sound design, and contemporary composition. She is excited and grateful to work on Wink as her first show at NU!