UT Committee Elections Archive

Alasdair Dodd (he/him)

Hi! I'm Alasdair, a third year EALC and Religious Studies major. Since my second year, I've been very involved in UT, as a lighting designer, stage manager, and production manager. My full list of credits is: Falsettos (LD); A Midsummer Night's Dream (SM); Royal Flush (workshop, SM); The Arsonists (LD); Troilus and Cressida (co-PM). I am extremely grateful to UT for giving me a purpose and space of joy at UChicago and wish to run for committee so I can improve and give back to UT for future students. Additionally, I have experienced firsthand the power of UT committee in making tangible, beneficial change, and would love an opportunity to continue this next year. Some goals I want to focus on include encouraging first year participation (as both actors and designers), increasing communication between UT and the Dean's Men and other performance-oriented RSOs, and streamlining the production process between TAPS Pro-Staff and UT.

August Petry (they/them)

Hi! My name is August Petry, and I am a first year majoring in TAPS and Math. The past two quarters I have been the Assistant Director of If/Then (mainstage), where I have been in the rehearsal room every day and fallen in love with UT. My priority has been If/Then these past two quarters, but I also directed a staged reading (Raisel and the Ibbur) in the fall, am signed on to The Tempest (Assistant Production Manager) and Cactus Flower (Assistant Lighting Designer) for the spring, and am excited for the chance to be involved in every aspect of the production process! I would be eager to be on committee to get more involved in the administrative side of UT, especially as I aim to go into theater administration professionally, as well as give back to the incredible UT community! I fell in love with theater management as the executive producer of my theater in high school, and I would be excited to once again be involved in the administrative side. On committee, I would have several primary goals, the first being to expand the Staged Readings. When I participated in this fall’s staged reading, I really loved the experience, but think the readings could benefit from a more organized structure, with increased communication between directors and writers. I'd be eager to help run staged readings to make sure they can occur every quarter, as well as in a way that allows us to truly do justice to the scripts. I'd additionally like to work to increase marketing and outreach at the start of the year, in particular regarding auditions; many people (in particular first years) do not know how they can get involved in UT, or don’t find out we exist until after auditions are done, so I would love to brainstorm ways to ensure people know how to get involved! Secondarily, I would hope to work with committee to increase collaboration with other arts RSOs and organize more trips to see local Chicago theater. I would be excited to dedicate this next year to any and all committee responsibilities and the betterment of UT, and I hope to have the opportunity to serve on committee this year. Thank you for your consideration!

Clara Pressey (she/her)

Hello! My name is Clara Pressey, and I am a first year prospective TAPS and something else (as of yet undecided) major. My UT credits include Theater[24] this quarter and last quarter (as a writer and an actor respectively). I am also a member of the performing generation of Off-Off Campus and an avid Shakespearience-enjoyer.While my current role in Off-Off prohibits me from participating in mainstage productions for the next two quarters, I can't wait until I can, and I can not adequately express my enthusiasm for UT. From the moment I stepped onto campus, UT members have been some of the friendliest people I've had the good fortune to meet. But just as it is a warm community, UT is also an artistically vibrant one. I can hardly articulate the depth of dedication, enthusiasm, and artistry I have seen poured into every UT show and event. This dedication to the performing arts makes UT a vital part of life on campus, and one in which I'd like to be as involved as humanly possible. As someone who has aspirations in theater, I would take my role in Committee very seriously. I have experience with performing, stage managing, and directing. This variety of experience, along with my passion for theater, would allow me to step into a number of roles and contribute in a number of ways. I know that serving on UT would also be an invaluable learning experience. UT is important, and I want to play whatever part I can in helping it flourish. Thank you, and I'll see you around! Say hi to me, I need friends.

Emily Curran (she/her)

Hi everyone! For those who don’t know me, I’m Emily. I’m a current third year Public Policy major and TAPS minor. I have served as UT Committee Social Chair for the past year and am excited to run for Committee again! Being on Committee has been a wonderful experience. We have made some amazing changes to the way we do theater and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the work we have begun. I have never known a quarter off from UT and I would love to keep it that way through the rest of my time at the College! On individual shows, I have served as a lighting designer, actor, and (most recently) an assistant director. I am well versed in how UT functions, but am keen to listen to new folks on how we can make the process smoother. If you’ve made it this far in the statement, thank you! I hope to keep serving the UT community through service on Committee and look forward to all the progress we will make.

Giancarlo Beritela (he/him)

As a third-year student in the College, I’ve been involved in UT every quarter bar one. I’ve also served on what will be the previous iteration of UT committee as Co-Outreach Chair. I think as someone now familiar with not just UT as a whole but the workings of committee, I would be a valuable addition to the team, picking up from where I left off!

Joseph DePaula (he/him)

Hi, I'm Joseph (he/him) and I am a third-year student here. I have been involved with UT since my first quarter here, as an actor & assistant director, and as of next quarter, actual director. Further, for the last year I have acted as the Co-Outreach Chair with Giancarlo Beritela--making graphics for shows/events, taking head-and-action shots of all UT productions, and running the UT social media accounts. I am running again because I enjoy what I have been doing, and I would love to continue helping run UT in this (or in any) capacity.

Kaden Kaden (she/he/they)

Hi!! My name is Kaden Kaden (yes, first name: Kaden, last name: Kaden). I'm a second year now, but I've been involved with UT since pretty much the moment I set foot on this campus and started my time as a student here. I got brought into this crew of lovely people through Theater [24] and then doing the lighting design for Muscle Memory last fall. Since then I've worked on quite a few shows (13 if you count T [24], 8 if you don't). I can proudly say I have experience working on UT shows in almost every design discipline. I've really enjoyed getting to explore so many different mode of creative expression through theater, my time spent with UT has most definitely been one of the brightest spots in my college experience so far.As someone who has worked exclusively as a designer, never as management or as an actor, I have a really strong understanding of how design in UT operates. I would love to improve the support network for new designers, because breaking into UT design can be daunting and confusing. I want to join committee so that I can put my experience to use in ways that will benefit the UT community long-term. P.S. Look, you know me, vote for me (please please please please pretty please like cmon man please)

Katie Keeley (she/her)

Hi! I’m Katie Keeley, and I’m a second year majoring in Creative Writing and Public Policy. I am running for committee because I believe that actors deserve far more representation in the UT decision making process.I’ve spent this year as part of the cast of If/Then (if you saw the show and thought “wow, that character is a real narc” that was probably me), and I’ve also acted in Theater[24] and been a member of the TAPS Musical Theater Writing Cohort. Acting with UT has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my time at UChicago, which is why I am so convinced that improving actor experience throughout the production process will benefit everyone involved and make our shows even better. I also hope to develop more opportunities for musical theatre with UT, such as a quarterly low-commitment showcase to give our actors and directors who want to work on more musicals a chance to be involved with UT every quarter, as well as an easier entry point for students who want to join UT but aren’t sure about the rehearsal schedule or cross-quarter commitment required for musicals. Thanks for the consideration, and I’ll see you at spring auditions!

Nayu Shimo (she/they)

Hi! I'm Nayu and I'm a second-year here at UChicago studying some combination of Gender and Sexuality Studies, Religious Studies, and TAPS. Throughout my two+ years (it's a bit complicated), I've been part of five TAPS productions: Welcome Back To My Channel (assistant director), Fall 2024 Staged Readings (actor), The Arsonists (assistant stage manager), If/Then (assistant production manager), and Troilus and Cressida (co-stage manager.) I'll also be stage managing 35mm: A Musical Exhibition and sound designing Cactus Flower this Spring 2025! I would like to join committee first, because I want to learn about and further be apart of supporting the theater community at large here at UChicago. As someone who is both new yet (somewhat) old within the realm of UT, I believe there are ways that can make introducing first-years and people not currently involved in theater become more involved in an accessible way. I know there are nooks and crannies of theater that can seem intimidating to someone who is brand new at it and I believe that committee can further help to ease those anxieties and encourage people to join the theater community. Second, I would like to focus on expanding the hold space library and finding concrete ways to encourage productions by non-white and non-male writers. While there have been some positive changes since my first year, I still find that the vast majority of productions we put on are by white, male playwrights, which limits the diversity and representation on our stages. I am committed to advocating for productions that feature diverse casts and playwrights, and I want to work collaboratively with my peers to brainstorm strategies that can make this a reality. Specifically, I hope to use the proposal process to support and promote these diverse voices, ensuring that our programming reflects a broader range of experiences and perspectives and truly embraces inclusion in all aspects of production.Finally, I would like to continue working on fostering a stronger and more positive relationship with TAPs pro-staff. In recent years, our interactions with the TAPs pro-staff have been somewhat rocky, and I recognize the importance of repairing and improving this relationship moving forward. Building trust and open communication is essential for a smooth collaborative environment, and I am committed to supporting initiatives and actions that will help bridge any gaps and strengthen our partnership. By focusing on mutual respect and shared goals, I hope to contribute to creating a more cohesive and effective working relationship with TAPs pro-staff for the benefit of everyone involved.

Rachel Bolte (she/her)

Hi all! I'm Rachel, a third-year studying sociology and German. I've been officially involved in UT since the end of my second year, but I've been a fan of UT almost since day one (having HUM with Emily Curran will do that to you). UT has brought me a lot of joy and many of my closest friendships; given me the opportunity to do the things I'm good at (spreadsheets and sending reminder emails!) in service of fun and rewarding projects (namely Play that Goes Wrong and The Arsonists); and to push myself out of my comfort zone, as I'm now acting for the first time in Thirteenth Morning. As a committee member, my priority would be helping UT keep up the things it does well: creating a true community of performers and artists on campus and putting on consistently high-quality productions (which is no small feat for anyone, much less UChicago students). I'd also like to see us as an organization address some common sticking points in productions, which might include building in support for cast/crew NEDs and committee liaisons in the form of conflict-resolution training, updating our interpretations of the CTS to make sure our organization is supportive of and empowering its members.Thank you for your consideration!

Robert Stimpson (he/him)

I have performed in two UT shows. The first, Strings Attached, was a cross-quarter musical written by Jeff Lind. I auditioned for Strings because Jeff asked me to, and by the time that show ended, I was hooked. I have since performed in Much Ado About Nothing with the Dean's Men and in Theatre 24. After that experience with the Dean's Men I wrote a sociological exploration on how the Dean's Men and UT play in the arts community and broader culture on this campus. The jist of my argument said that the strong community built by UT empowers people and strengthens love for the arts on this campus. I would like to play a role in managing that community and spreading that love.

Weston Fox (he/him)

Hi! I'm Weston Fox (he/him) and I'm a first year here majoring in TAPS and Environmental Science. I've been involved with UT's Theater[24] this quarter and last as both an actor and as a writer, and am currently part of Off-Off Campus. I've also participated in the Shakespeariences (ask me about my Cressida)!Theater has been a huge part of my life (amongst family, lemonade, and books), and I've tried my best to interact with it in as many different ways as presented to me. I've spent a lot of time as an actor, recently been involved in writing - from sketches to plays - done stage crew and lighting, and tried my hand at directing. Even though Off-Off has prevented me from involving myself more, I'm so genuinely excited about participating in the UT community in my future years. Everyone I've interacted with from UT (through Theater[24], after shows, or in class) has been so bright and warm and welcoming, only matched by the talent and intellect I've seen on display in every performance. It's a true hub on campus for artists, and I'd love to provide help in any way I can.I'm committed to doing what I can to help UT thrive even more in the future. My past experience managing performance venues, acts, and other logistics within a theater organization would serve me well with UT, and I'm dedicated to putting those skills to good use. I'm ready and willing to help in whatever way is needed, and I hope to learn more about UT and theater with you all. Wave hi if you see me! Thank you!

Will Rehmus (they/them)

Hi! I'm Will (they/them), a second-year Astro major/TAPS minor. I have been on UT Committee for a year and have learned a lot. I think that my experience, both organizationally and technically, would be very beneficial for Committee next year. I have a few main goals for the term. One is to continue building our relationship with TAPS, which has been improving significantly, but is still somewhat strained. Another is to improve the infrastructure and communication of UT. A lot of things would be easier if information was easier to access, more timely, and presented in a more readable format. I have been on the crew of 8 shows: Cassandra (Lighting & Sound Designer), Muscle Memory (Asst. Lighting Designer), Falsettos (Asst. Stage Manager), Strings Attached (Co-Sound Designer), The Play That Goes Wrong (Asst. Lighting Designer), Arcadia [TAPS Pro-Show] (AME) Much Ado About Nothing (Scenic Designer), and Troilus and Cressida (Asst. Sound Designer). I also have been involved in Theater[24] 4 times, am currently Committee Liaison for 13th Morning, and will be on Cactus Flower (Lighting Designer) in the spring.

Abby Kanes (she/her)

Hi I'm Abby Kanes, and I'm a second year majoring in TAPS and Business Economics. I have been involved with UT since the fall quarter of my first year and been in committee since last winter. UT has given me a wide range of opportunities onstage and behind the scenes. UT Credits include The Heirs Workshop (Aveline), Trail to Oregon (Bass), Scientific Method (Props Designer), Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt), Perfect Match Workshop (Bass), and Winter 2023 Workshops (Committee Liaison). I am currently rehearsing for Be More Chill which is performing next quarter! Last year I joined UT Committee because I saw it as an opportunity to get hands-on experience with theater management. My life goal is to own and operate my own theater and I believed the experiences with planning and choosing shows that I would get on committee would help me achieve that goal. I have learned so much about what to pay attention to and how to build a diverse season. I hope to continue these efforts as we move to longer seasons and aid in this transition. This past year on Committee I was the social media manager for UT. Throughout the past year we have expanded our outreach through social media with instagram posts along with facebook events in an effort to increase marketing for UT shows. If I were elected to Committee I would continue this effort and work to increase visibility for theater performances happening on campus as well as running for other roles within the committee.

Anna German (she/her)

I have been a head costume designer and assistant on 4 shows and a workshop. I am very passionate about UT and I have been a part of a production every quarter I have been at UChicago. However, that means that I have been able to see many problems with the process. I know many people are frustrated with the way that UT works and I am convinced we can improve it. One thing I think that Committee is missing is input from designers, since almost none of the current members of Committee have been in a lead design position on a show, and there are a lot of concerns and considerations that can be hard to understand from the outside in. I would like there to be more representation for an underserved and underappreciated part of UT. I also think that there could be more input and consideration from members of UT who aren't on Committee but still have great ideas for improvement. Furthermore, I would love to see more diversity within UT. I don't think that we as an organization do enough right now to reach out to the larger UChicago community and, as a result, lose the chance to have a wider range of people involved in our productions. Overall, I am passionate about theater and I want it to succeed on this campus. While the work we do is great, I know we have the capacity for better.

Antrita Manduva (she/her)

Through UT, I have been able to bring South-Asian stories to stage. I appreciate UT's commitment to inclusion of diverse voices in theater, and I want to be a part of strengthening that effort. In high school, I found that there was less space in theater for URM and women. Most productions produced Shakespearean or old European plays that did not leave room for contemporary voices/issues. In College though, I have been pleasantly surprised by the variety of productions every quarter. By being a part of Committee, I hope to support more shows of contemporary and diverse voices, and help UChicago students realize their creative vision on stage. I also want to familiarize myself with running a theater and be involved with a bunch of different productions as time permits to satiate my love for the stage. Theater has always been a safe space for me, and one that continues to help me feel more comfortable with expressing myself; I hope to make theater be that for my peers as well.

Belle Nahoom (she/her)

Hi all, my name is Belle Nahoom (she/her) and I am a second year interested in joining committee in the upcoming year. I've had a ton of involvement with UT in the last two years spanning various roles. I've had the lovely opportunity to assist as a stage manager and costume designer, and lead in both those roles as well. I also was an actor in the BA thesis Yivdak last spring. I'm also a part of tech staff! I want to be a part of committee because I have tons to say about University Theater and honestly, I just want a place to voice it. I want to be a part of the ongoing discussion about how to make theater on campus more inclusive and welcoming. I have a number of ideas about how we can retain members in roles by committing ourselves to creating a comfortable space for new people interested in UT. Personally, I'm really passionate about the roles of assistants in UT. The reason that role exists is to open the path for new members and to help students figure out what kind of work they want to do in our shows. There are some assistant roles that I woulda argue take a lot of energy, and some that don't even really involve the individuals. I would really like to focus on getting new members via the assistant process (from what I've noticed is that assistants who have really good environments and training tend to stay around) by creating a standard for lead designers. Lead designers should be encouraged to involve their assistants and have an open, continuous conversation with them about their expectations in that role. I've also noticed that there is a void in committee - there's no one involved in costume design. I think having me, as an addition to add that perspective would be a great help to understanding proposals! I also have some ideas about hold-space shows that I would like to voice to committee. :) Thanks for giving me the platform to talk about my ideas!

Coco Liu (she/her)

Hi! I'm Coco, and I've been heavily involved in UT throughout my time here, primarily as either stage or production management on a mainstage show every quarter. As a member of Committee in the past year, I've also helped to organize and run auditions, as well as Staged Readings this quarter. More recently, I'm involved in the push to revamp the UT proposal process and show schedules, and this is something that I'd like to continue to be involved in if I'm re-elected to Committee. During my time in UT, I've seen, heard, and experienced a lot about what's working and what isn't. Moving forward, if I'm given the opportunity to continue to serve on Committee, my goal would be to refine and improve our processes to reduce unnecessary stress and create experiences that are more enjoyable for everyone. This starts with more oversight over the scope of shows and introducing more flexibility in show scheduling, so that shows that are longer and/or more design-heavy can have more time in the production and pre-production process, and continues with ensuring that shows receive more support during the production process, from pro-staff or otherwise. At the same time, I see a lot of value in lower-commitment UT programming such as Staged Readings, and I will help to ensure that they continue to happen, as well as explore more avenues for people to be involved in UT in a low-commitment way. Ultimately, I hope to help to grow the UT community, retain current members, and foster stronger bonds between members through experiences that are fun (the most important pillar of UT!!) and productive. UT has been a massive part of my time at UChicago thus far, so I'm really invested in helping to build the community and improve our processes. Thanks for the consideration!

Danielle Yablonovskiy (she/her)

Hello UT! I am so honored to have the opportunity to run for my third term on UT committee! I am currently in my third year, majoring in Economics and Psychology, as well as minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies. My journey with UT started as a quarantined first year, looking for any opportunity to get involved with the artistic scene in my new home (and by new home, I meant my childhood bedroom trying to do theater on a macbook). That spring (2021), I had the incredible opportunity to be the Assistant Stage Manager on Welcome Back to My Channel, an entirely virtual and live production. From there, I have been so lucky to never miss a quarter with UT, stage managing two rounds of workshops, two cross-quarter musicals, and filling in as a liaison (and even once as an APM), wherever I could! As an active member of the UT community and as a longstanding member of the committee, I have seen all of the wonderful opportunities, happy memories, and learning experiences that UT has been able to provide for dozens of us! All that being said, if re-elected to committee, I hope to continue working hard on many of the important initiatives that we have already begun this year. I want to continue making strides on issues such as our impending understudy bylaw and proposed dramatic changes to the show proposal cycle. I am extremely passionate about these issues having been (and currently am) an SM on cross quarter shows that cast understudies. These first hand experiences with such UT experiences, making me dedicated to continuing to represent a better, more fair, and more fun UT experience for all. Secondly, as I have often championed, I genuinely believe that there is no time too late to join any extracurricular, especially UT. During both my terms on committee thus far, I have been the only member of the Class of 2024, a sure consequence of our highly unconventional first year (see fully virtual show, above). And yes, while we are about to be fourth years, I want to continue representing an overarching access to opportunity within the UT community. UT is not only for people that have already been doing UT, UT is not just looking for first years, UT is for the entire community, and given the opportunity to continue serving on committee, I will do everything in my power to continue pushing the limits of access and interest in UT across the entire UChicago (and broader) community! Thank you so much for your time and consideration! Much love <3

Eleni Lefakis (she/her)

Hi! I'm Eleni Lefakis (she/her), and I'm a 2nd-year TAPS and Data Science double-major. Since last year, I've participate in basically every UT show that would have me. My full list of UT credits is: The 18-Foot Long Banana (T24, director); Past, Present, Future (staged reading, director); Ah Wing and the Automaton Eagle (workshop, ASM); The Heirs (workshop, costume designer); The Heirs (mainstage, SM); Pre-Vaccine, Post-Instagram (staged reading, director); The Trail to Oregon! (mainstage, AD/dramaturg); Marian, or The True Tale of Robin Hood (mainstage, AD/dramaturg); Romeo and Juliet (mainstage, co-PM); MacBeth in Space (mainstage, dramaturg); Be More Chill (mainstage, co-director), and Twelfth Night (MainStage, PM). I'm also a current member of committee and an FXK technician. This past year has been one of a lot of change for UT. We as a club have only recently started to understand what our post-pandemic operations will look like. I think we've spent much of the past three years expecting everything to return to how it was before COVID, but between university culture shifts and the 9 week quarter, it's become clearly that that will not be that case. I am one of the current members of committee that did not experience what UT was like before the pandemic but was there to see everyone experience the consequences of it, which I think is something valuable as we move forward and adjust our proposal process and functioning to reflect our new reality, as well at the TAPS department's. There are a lot of opinions and ideas floating around our community, and my substantial involvement in the activities of the club outside of committee itself have allowed me to hear and engage with many of them. I think that with the help of new members, the younger cohort of committee has the knowledge necessary to keep UT current and make changes to our processes that make more sense in our new reality. On a more personal level, I hope to spend a possible second term on committee doing three things. Firstly, I want to continue building the Hold Space library. Three of the four texts currently in it are texts I added to it, and I think there's a lot more good work out there that is feasible for UT to perform that our members should be aware of. Secondly, I'd like to finish the work Lena started with codifying rights and responsibilities for designers. UT's actors are protected by the CTS and aware of their responsibilities via the actors contract, but until recently, designers didn't have an equivalent. Now the designers also sign contracts, but there's no document outlining the treatment and support they're entitled to, which I consider the next step towards equity for the performing and production sides of UT. This effort will also include people acting as assistants, as I believe there's more we can do to adequately train assistants and make sure their time and efforts are treated as valuable. Thirdly, I want to focus on the relationship between the Dean's Men and UT as a whole. As we move into a new proposal process, communication with the Dean's Men will be increasingly important.

Emily Curran (she/her)

Hello! My name is Emily Curran (she/her) and I want to run for Committee so that I can give back to the program that has completely changed my life at UChicago for the better. I have been involved in theatre serving as an actor, designer, and stage manager for almost my entire life. Coming into my first year, I knew that I wanted to be involved with UT and TAPS in anyway that I could. During my first week on campus, I signed up for Theatre[24] as a designer and got my first introduction into theatre at UChicago with the show “Dirty Cop”. It incredibly chaotic, but it only made me want to dive further in. A few weeks later into my first quarter, I saw that an assistant lighting designer position was open for Romeo and Juliet and jumped at the chance to get to work. I am also now fortunate enough to be the lighting designer on Macbeth in Space. I have learned so much through all of these shows (and one of them hasn't even gone into tech yet). I also attend lighting cohort and every week, I learn more and more about one of the elements of theatre I love most. I want to join Committee so that I can continue learning about the production of theatre as well as the intricacies that create and support the theatre community at UChicago. Especially as someone who is new to University Theatre and UChicago in general, I believe that there are steps that can be taken in order to make UT (especially designing within UT) more accessible to first years, those that want to try something new with theatre, and those who are simply eager to learn about production. I know from experience that being the only first year in a production meeting can be intimidating and I feel like Committee has the capability to take steps in order to ease these anxieties and expand the community as a whole. Thank you so much for your time and the opportunity to run!

Emma Linderman (she/her)

I am a third year TAPS and CMST major, and theater has definitely been what I have committed myself most to in college, outside of academics. Having acted in UT productions, Pro-Shows, and B.A. projects, I feel that I have experienced a lot of the different ways theater is practiced at UChicago, and have also been given many ideas for how it can be practiced in the future. Though most of my experience with UT has been through performing, I am equally passionate about many other facets of theater, and hope to learn more about them. My first experience with theater at UChicago was acting in the TAPS production of Amazons and Their Men last winter, and I found that a lot of the practices put in place then (such as dramaturgy packets, extensive work on making sure costumes catered to actor comfort levels, and an efficient yet open rehearsal environment) were ones that can definitely be explored more within UT. My first UT production was last spring's Scientific Method, and while the experience was overall a positive one, it did help me realize that there are a lot of discussions to be had, specifically around the nature of Hold Space shows, particularly their selection process and overall management. I also think there is room for Committee to focus on the comfort, safety, and respect not only of actors, but of entire production teams, especially as it pertains to policies regarding understudies, design elements, and scheduling.

Jo Selmeczy (they/them)

Hello! I'm Jo, and I am a first-year prospective TAPS and Creative Writing double major. I am applying to be on the University Theater board because I have the enthusiasm and work ethic necessary to become a leader in the UT community. After writing for Theater24 in Autumn Quarter, I realized just how important theater is to me and the passion I have for pursuing playwriting as a career. After performing in Romeo and Juliet and becoming a Dean's Man, I knew there was no way I could go without being somehow involved with University Theater. I plan on continuing to explore both backstage and onstage opportunities for involvement in UT in the upcoming years. I know that I would be an effective and enthusiastic committee member. Even though I've only been here for two quarters, I have committed the majority of my out of class time to rehearsal. I know that I will rise to the responsibility that this role requires, and bring my passion for the performing arts to this position.

Joelle Singer Jensen (she/her)

I am a first year who is undecided but definitely wants to double major in TAPS. UT has been fundamental in shaping my experience at UChicago so far, and I am committed to being apart of UT productions for every quarter that I'm here! I greatly admire UT's commitment to being student run and promoting student-written work, as well as advocating for the rights of everyone working on a production and want to become more involved in those areas first-hand. Working on Be More Chill has definitely been the highlight of my first year at UChicago and I would love to be a part of the process of proposing shows, reviewing by-laws as well as advocating for the rights of actors and crew. I'd like to work with Committee on promoting more diverse shows as well as further encouraging a rehearsal environment where student comfort is made a priority. I can provide insight as an actor, but also as someone who has experience working on student councils in my high school and community theater departments, as well as the Westport Country Playhouse Youth Leadership Council.

Joshua Winston (he/him)

Hello! I'm Josh Winston, He/Him/His, and I'm a second year. I'm currently acting in my third UT show, having been in Trail to Oregon, Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood, and now The Laramie Project, and I intend on continuing to act as much as I can over the rest of my time here! The main reason that I want to join Committee is to make being in a UT show as comfortable and fun for its actors as possible. Acting in a UT show can be both a large time commitment and a possible source of stress, so it's a priority of mine to reduce the stress inherent in putting on a show as much as possible and open up more communication between Committee and actors. Specifically, this would involve more directly communicating with actors about the rights they have, establishing more continuous conversation between actors on a show and their Committee Liaison (through the cast NED or otherwise), and making information as accessible as possible to those who are new to UT. It is my hope that this would ensure all actors, even those just starting with UT, are aware of the rights they have, the resources available to them, and how to utilize those resources Another big reason that I want to join Committee is to use my own experiences to ensure that future shows are equipped with the proper contingencies to overcome whatever obstacles they face. Having been an understudy in Trail to Oregon and worked with other former understudies on parts of this process already, it is a big priority to me to continue the work that is already being done on ensuring every show has contingency plans in place, whether that is through the use of understudies or another method. In doing this, I want to remove any unneeded stress by making sure actors do not end up having to do more than they signed up to do and that the production team has a plan to fall back on if things go wrong instead of having to find a solution in the moment. Thank you!

Julia Morales (she/her)

I am a first year majoring in NELC and History. Though I am only a first year, I have already been in two UT shows, and two cup of theatre shows. I was in Marian, A True Tale of Robin Hood(UT) as Lucy, Macbeth in Space(UT) as Lennox, Arms and the Man(Cup of Theatre) as Louka, and The Physicists(Cup of Theatre) as Nurse Boll/Monika Stetller. I want to be on the UT Committee because I love theatre. I want to make friends, and get involved with other creative people. Theatre is one of the most interesting art forms, and I think that through creating opportunities for students to be involved in that we can make truly incredible productions. The interactions between director, tech, actor, and designer that are present within UT are extremely impressive especially considering that it is all student run. I'd love to be more involved in that process and being on the Committee is a way for me to do that. If you haven't met me yet, know that I do my best to be friendly and welcoming. I love meeting new people and appreciate this opportunity to get more involved. Thank you for your consideration.

Kelly Mao (she/her)

Hi all! I'm Kelly, a second-year Math and Computer Science major currently serving as the secretary of UT Committee and looking to run for my second term. Over the past year and a half, I've gone extremely hard into theater--stage managing (Love's Labour's Lost, King Lear), production managing (The Heirs), and designing (Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth in Space), as well as helping organize Staged Readings, a student-written script showcase--and I have no plans on stopping for the rest of my time at UChicago. During my year on Committee, I've contributed to a stage management guide, as well as worked with other members on Committee to create more designer and management resources in general and compile a production manual for UT shows, since there aren't a whole ton of resources readily available to first-time designers or managers, especially since COVID led us to lose a lot of institutional knowledge, and we're only just now building it up again. I think this initiative will be extremely important as we're seeing a shift into thinking about different proposal timelines--we'll need this baseline understanding of designer/manager responsibilities and rights to work off of moving forward. I'm also working to increase transparency to the wider UT community--I know that sometimes the goings-on of Committee can seem a little opaque (even if you read the weekly emails!) and I want to make all members of UT feel empowered to voice opinions and trust that they'll be heard and taken into consideration. I'm creating a feedback form for this purpose, as well as working towards facilitating more town hall-like meetings (and perhaps some regular coffee chats with Committee?). This ties into my desire to facilitate a stronger theater community on campus (my big dream is a UT formal)--individual shows can feel like islands sometimes, but more sharing of knowledge and general interaction between designers, direction, and management on different shows can only ever work out for the better. In the end: making and being a part of theater on this campus truly means so much to me, and I'd love to have the opportunity to continue working towards making it a more fun and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.

Lily McHugh (she/her)

All of my free time is dedicated to this organization, and as such I think it's high time I start giving back to the group that helped me make my first collegiate friends! I have worked both on and off the stage, and have a good working understanding of what makes a show run. I have a passion that drives me to want to make this organization the best it can possibly be!

Lincoln Crockett (he/him)

Hi! I am a lover of theater, I love all aspects of the theater from pre-production, to backstage, to the wonderful stagecraft that brings insight into my, and all our lives. Although my participation in UT so far has mostly been through Off-Off Campus, I also directed in Theater [24], an experience that exemplifies the love and joy that this community brings to theater. Because of my long journey with theater, I am willing to approach a UT committee position with a varied perspective, knowing that UT is a varied community that hopes to service all sorts of people, from those who want to try performing or producing for the first time, to those who are interested in theater professionally. Additionally I understand how theater, especially for the participants in a production, is as much a social as an artistic endeavor. My goal as a UT committee member would be to help facilitate both artistic ambition and social connection (even between different groups in UT) because I believe that as we find joy in each other, we can make more joyful, and emotionally potent art!

Maya Carlos Doyle (she/her)

I'm Maya, a second-year in the College studying some combination of English, linguistics, and education. Throughout my first two years at UChicago, I have amassed (technically) 11 UT credits, working on (at least) one mainstage a quarter. I have worked on Dean's Men shows (Love's Labour's Lost, Asst. Scenic; Macbeth in Space, Asst. PM), Weekend of Workshops (Fields of Asphodel, SM), UT-proposed hold space shows (Scientific Method, Lighting Designer; Laramie, SM Collective™ member), Theater[24] (2022–23, Curator; Writer), and cross-quarters (Trail to Oregon, Asst. Lighting), as well as on TAPS pro-shows (Amazons and their Men, ASM) and in the Logan Scene Shop. I love being on production teams, from painting sets and focusing lights to taking notes during PMs. Yet, my heart truly lies in stage management (or so I tell myself), and next quarter, I will be putting my SM hat back on for Twelfth Night. Beyond just loving being on prod teams, I really do just love theater, and I want to support theater and performance on campus. I feel like I've been able to experience the broad range of UT from both the rehearsal room side and the production meeting side. We are lucky to have so many resources here, and I specifically want to develop systems of support for prod team members. Pro-Staff does so much to support our productions in terms of building scenic elements and giving tap access (and MORE!), but they're also there to guide and mentor us as professional theater people with years of experience — and I feel we're not making enough use of that. I want to work to facilitate more student communication with Pro-Staff. As has been noted, cohort attendance is low, Pro-Staff are receiving no communication, and designers feel lost. As a member of Committee, I want to encourage more members of UT to reach out to Pro-Staff and be in regular conversation with them, both for the benefit of smoother and better production. I know that designer contracts are being rolled out, but meetings with your mentor need to be emphasized as important to the process and to the production. Outside of UT, I've also been a part of performances and seen groups come in with not a clear idea of how technical elements of shows go. Having to recruit a performer to call a show is a difficult last minute task. UT has so many resources — resources that we have worked on and developed. And I want to help share those UT resources, such as our manager/designer guides as well as just our knowledge of stage management and of putting on shows. If it isn't clear, I really do love UT and the people in UT, and it has been a huge part of my first (almost) two years here — and by being on Committee I want to help make our community the best it can be!

Natalie Floreancig (she/her)

I first got involved with UT through Theater24 and Staged Readings in Winter 2022, and since then I have been involved with theater every quarter. I've made a lot of my best friends through UT, and I would love to get more involved with the logistical side of things. I specifically would love to talk more about understudies and how they can be reincorporated back into UT. Along with some of the other former understudies, I have already met with some members of committee to discuss the basics of what an understudy bylaw would look like. I think it is very important that this conversation is continued. Understudying is a very valuable experience and could be a great way to increase the number of people getting involved with UT. Additionally, I would love to discuss more ways that UT can reach more people in general. I think it can be somewhat difficult for people to first get involved, especially on the acting side, and I want more people to be able to be a part of this community. I look forward to talking with you all about how we can expand UT's reach within the university!

Rory McGann (he/him)

I have been involved with UT for three quarters to date, both the quarters listed above as well as the current quarter, in Be More Chill (Rich Goranski) that will continue into next quarter. I have had the pleasure of getting to know much of the UChicago theater community during this time, so I am very grateful to UT for providing me with many great friendships and incredible experiences. I want to join UT Committee for two reasons: first, specifically, I want to help construct bylaws that both define and protect the roles of understudies in UT productions. Having been an understudy during the role's trial days in UT and having witnessed the ongoing discussion of the place of understudies within UT, I am invested in orchestrating the best solution to the current dilemma. This can only be done, in my view, by bringing the situation into UT Committee through people who have first-hand experience with it. Beyond this particular focus, I want to continue the work of shaping UT into the best possible version of itself so that all those who are involved in it in any way, shape, or form get the best out of their experience. I believe that people participate in theater because they love it, and as a member of UT Committee I would endeavor to ensure that each individual's interaction with UT satisfies that desire as fully as possible. I understand that providing this experience to all those that seek it doesn't just happen on its own, so I am running for UT Committee to take an active part in delivering that joy of theater to all who want it.

Abby Kanes (she/her)

I am planning on majoring in TAPS. Before I came to UChicago I did a lot of research on the theater department, and the thing that truly excited me the most was the idea of a student run theater. One of my long term goals is to run a theater and UT committee would help me get a lot of experience in this field.

Ariana Baginski (she/her/hers)

Hi! My name is Ariana Baginski (she/her), and I am a third year Molecular Engineering major with a TAPS minor. Despite COVID, I have done my best to participate in UT in some way every year. I've attended both scenic and management cohort over these past three years. I have served as an assistant scenic and sound designer on shows including The Winter's Tale, The Old Man and The Old Moon, and My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theater. Now, I am currently working as one of the stage managers on The Trail to Oregon. The primary reason I want to join Committee is because I have a lot of passion for theater. I have met several incredible performers, designers, and managers. (Selfishly I would like to be on Committee to continue meeting people and making new friends.) I want to help these creators make more impressive art. I find myself amazed every time I go to a UT show and remember that it is all student run. Being able to lift up any student's voice is a very important aspect of UT and I want to help those people get to a space they can speak out from. New Work Week and the Weekend of Workshops are great ideas that have recently been started to do just that and I'd love to continue to develop those productions. Another reason I want to join Committee is to help create a safe space for students to perform in. Theater is a very interactive and vulnerable activity and therefore, anyone participating should be able to feel safe whether it is in regard to COVID or intimacy/fight choreography. I have started working with current Committee members to introduce Title IX training at the start of any rehearsal process. This introduces the idea of consent into the rehearsal room in a non-sexual capacity because it is always important to check in with your fellow performers. The crew I'm on now is also working with ways to define what people are comfortable with in terms of COVID. Exposure is a risk we all face, and we want to reduce that risk as much as possible while still allowing a productive rehearsal schedule, whether this is through the introduction of understudies or a democratically decided COVID policy. Thanks!

Cameron Drake (he/him)

I have worked in almost every aspect of University Theater. I am a Dean's Man, I've acted in both Theater [24] and Staged Readings, I directed with New Work Week last year, I've pm'ed with paper projects, and I assistant costume designed with Our Channel in Spring of 2021. I've seen all sides of University Theatre. University Theatre is an excellent community space filled with students who want to act and design and direct. However, there isn't a lot of opportunities for students who want to learn how to set design or costume design, especially since we didn't do paper projects this year. I would want to build a database that will organize when cohorts are happening as well as opportunities for students to learn new areas of design. I also want to discuss the hold space bylaw. It is a great bylaw and absolutely necessary for University Theatre. However, it's a bit vague both in execution and language within the bylaws. I would want to spend my time on committee actively taking steps in order to better organize and structure the hold space bylaw. Thank you all for your consideration.

Coco Liu (she/her)

The one constant I've had over the past two quarters (and the first year of college is famously a volatile time) is going for rehearsals (almost) every day. As Assistant Stage Manager for Love's Labour's Lost last quarter and Stage Manager for The Light now, I've probably spent more time in Logan than in any other building on campus. Besides working on mainstage shows, I’ve also attended management cohort and participated in Theater[24] as a writer. Theater is something that excites and comforts me, and I am deeply passionate about making it. UT, in particular, has a special importance to me. It was my introduction to a lot of things: to working in theater, to UChicago, to college, to the US. With that in mind, I'd like to deepen my involvement in UT and go further in my contributions to the UChicago theater community. I’ve always liked working in the background (that’s partly why I enjoy SMing) and organizing and planning things behind-the-scenes; being on Committee would allow me to do that on a larger scale, and allow me to impact others on a larger scale as well. Furthermore, the direction that UT is heading in – that of increasingly prioritizing minority representation and diversity in the arts – is something that attracts me. As an international student, this has a unique significance for me, and is an area that I am interested in exploring and furthering.

Danielle Yablonovskiy (she/her)

Hi!! I have been involved with UT every quarter since Spring 2021. In the spring of 2021, I was the ASM on Welcome Back to My Channel. In the Fall of 2021, I was the SM on Ah Wing and the Automaton Eagle, one of the Fall 2021 Workshops. In the winter of 2022 (this quarter), I began working as one of the SMs on The Trail to Oregon, the University's first cross quarter show, which will go up this coming spring. I joined Committee in the Fall of 2021 through a special election and my two quarters on Committee have already shown me all of the wonderful impacts that Committee can make. It is through our time and efforts that we are able to better the UChicago Theatre Community at large. My favorite thing about being on Committee so far is being able to meet and appreciate people working on all of the different shows, not just the one I am currently working on. This gives me a deeper perspective on the inner workings of UT, as a whole. This also goes for being given the ability to work with many Pro-Staff and learn the logistics of putting on programs at UT. I want to remain on Committee to use these lessons in order to provide a better theatre environment for everyone at UChicago. I find that there is an extreme lack of communication between committee, Pro Staff, and the general public. There is a lot of information that gets lost in the cracks between these three groups. As a member of committee, I want to continue pushing for better information pass down to the UChicago community by continuing to better our social media presence. Furthermore, I would like to make the entire process of joining UT more accessible. Even as someone who as been involved with UT my entire time in college, there are still list hosts that I am not on that I should be on. I would want to make all of this information available readily and easily on our website, instagram, Facebook, newsletter, etc. Additionally, as we are doing with the spring quarter committee produced show, I want to create more opportunities for "hold-space" shows to be produced my UT, encouraging everyone and anyone to bring their story to UT. I am so lucky to have already had the chance to serve on committee and hope that I get the. chance to continue serving the theatre community at large!

Jared Zuker (he/him)

Acted in three shows: Macbeth, Twelfth Night, and Love’s Labours Lost, and currently directing King Lear. I will be staying in Chicago as a grad student and would love to continue helping the theatre community at uchicago!

Kelly Mao (she/her)

I'm really passionate about theater and have wanted to join UT since before I arrived on campus (my first O-Week activity, actually, was going to Logan to print scripts for Love's Labour's Lost). Since then, I've been a writer in Theater[24], I'm currently production managing The Heirs, and because I don't know how to not throw 100% of myself into one thing, I'm running for Committee! Ever since I've jumped headfirst into working on UT shows, I've wanted to increase outreach and get more up close with the producing and proposal stage of making theater here. Specifically, I'm interested in increasing transparency around the particulars of different show roles (perhaps by officially documenting the rough time commitments and responsibilities of each role) as well as the production process, so as to make UT more accessible to newcomers. Most importantly, though, this is a community that's already grown important to me even in just the last couple months, and I'd love to serve it however I can.

Layla Lukaj

I am a first-year prospective TAPS and Political Science double major. I consider myself primarily and actor, and I think that UT as committee representing the theatre community at University of Chicago is the place for people of all theatrical backgrounds to come together to make theatre as exciting and well-managed as possible. I have spent the last four years organizing theatrical events at my high school and I want to take my excitement for the craft of theatre-making and my past experience in leadership in theatre forward though UChicago. As an actor I think I can provide valuable insight on drawing other artists to UT productions, organizing events, general UT marketing, and generating hype for upcoming shows. I plan to be apart of the UT community for the rest of my term here, so hopefully I can formalize that commitment by joining Committee!

Luke Walker (he/him/his)

My past UT involvement includes being a member and performing with Off-Off Campus, as well as designing props for The Light while working in the prop shop. I would like to be a part of Committee because I want to know how things worked and get more involved with UT as I put so much time and energy into UT already.

Noah Klowden (he/him)

Having directed both a workshop and a mainstage production through University Theater, I have a good amount of experience with both the proposal process and putting on shows. Being new to University Theater post-quarantine, I have first hand experience that can be applied to knowing how reform can be implemented to improve UT's accessibility to newcomers in a time where experience is in hot demand. I believe my experience means that I will be able propose ways to make University Theater a space better equipped to train new people, promote itself, and support shows in progress. I will continue to support new outreach systems such as the Instagram, as well advocating for better support for new comers, such as finding a way to better help designers utilize their assistants.

Reese Klemm (she/her)

Last year, when I ran for Committee, my primary objective was to make sure that students interested in getting involved in UT productions have a clear path to do so. As a result, once I began to serve on Committee, I helped to develop a form that allows people to indicate interest in certain positions on creative teams. This was a crucial resource that allowed me to cast a wider net when filling production positions in The Trail to Oregon. This coming year, I hope that I can continue to serve on Committee to make sure that this form is effectively optimized and continues to be used. Additionally, I would like to create a stronger bond between UT and music organizations on campus. I would love to create a directory and guide for enlisting band/orchestra members that can be used in the future, so musicians interested in UT have the same access to our opportunities. This will hopefully aid in the musical audition process as well. Lastly, moving forward, I would like to support the goal of increasing the dialogue and interaction between Committee and Pro-Staff as well as the broader UT and Pro-Staff. As a past member of SM/PM cohort and current manager of Directors' Cohort, I see the importance of getting professional help when it comes to UT shows and future occupational advice. Therefore, as we go into this coming school year, I will be personally striving to get the word out about our cohort and create the space for UT members to learn something new... Also, karaoke night. Yes.

Spencer Ng (he/him)

Hello! I’m Spencer, and I’m a third-year who’d like to continue improving UT’s community, foster more original and diverse work, and make it easier for anyone to get involved in UT. Over the last two years as the Social Chair on Committee, I’ve helped make UT’s inner workings more transparent, closely involving the community and TAPS through open subcommittees and office hours as we worked together to transition over to a nine-week quarter proposal system. This led to increased sliding-scale budgets for both mainstages and workshops, while maintaining roughly the same number of productions that UT has seen during ten-week quarters. There’s also been the chance to do larger-scale designs during workshops in preparation for designing mainstages, as well as more design and assistant positions than ever before this year! Meanwhile, UT programming and opportunities have become increasingly accessible - I helped launch the new UT Instagram, website, and Discord. These platforms have been used to better reach the greater UChicago community about our shows and open positions, facilitated a very successful audition process this winter, and of course, brought us some fun game nights when things were remote. In particular, the design/management interest form through the website has made it very easy for experienced designers to find brand-new assistants the past two quarters (some who are now heavily involved with UT and fellow candidates for Committee!), instead of just relying on word-of-mouth. On the acting, writing, and directing side, I helped organize Staged Readings this quarter, bringing together over 25 people (many of which had no prior theater experience) to produce six new plays and experience what working on a show feels like in a low-commitment process. In the future, I plan to continue expanding our online presence to better promote UT opportunities and make the proposal and production processes more accessible through community resources. I’m excited to see the new work that future quarters have in store, as we’re providing more platforms for playwrights to workshop their scripts and encouraging more site-specific work. And of course, I’m hoping to facilitate more mentorship between experienced production staff members and assistants to ensure everyone has the knowledge to pursue their artistic passions and feel like they’re part of this wonderful community. Theater has been an important part of my time here at UChicago, and I would love to leverage my stage management experience and knowledge of UT pre-Coronatimes to help UT grow. Thanks for your consideration!

Zander Galluppi (he/him/his)

Hi UT! My name is Zander Galluppi, and it is a privilege to run for my fourth term on UT Committee. My past UT involvement, in addition to my Committee duties, includes acting in over twelve UT/TAPS performances since my first year of grad school in 2017. Some of my major accomplishments on Committee include rewriting our (pre-COVID) proposal documents, heading the UT Newsletter subcommittee that has now been folded into the Instagram group, and leading an introduction of fight captains to UT to increase fight safety on set. UT has seen a lot of instability and change over the past few years: between COVID and then the shift to 9 week quarters, we have all had to be flexible and inventive about the art we do and how we do it. Throughout this period of experimentation, Committee has been considering what normal UT operations should look like in the future, which has resulted in several major changes to season structure, proposal types, funding opportunities, and more. It feels to me that we are settling into a new normal for UT post-COVID, and as our operations and involvement ramp up again, it is imperative that we work next on clearly codifying our new standards and practices. I think we have a good idea of what those standards and practices should be as of this quarter, but it feels like we're still in a "reactionary planning" mode when issues arise because we have yet to codify a lot of our new operating procedures. This lack of clarity impacts our whole community--and everything from current projects to communication and expectation setting about future projects. As I am soon to be the only student at the university who was on Committee pre-COVID, I hold a uniquely useful perspective about our organizational standards as we begin to codify them. I know all the ins and outs of pre-COVID UT--from things that worked well to things that should change--and I'd focus next term primarily on helping write the bylaw and production manual language that will carry UT forward. I have always run for Committee on a platform of transparency, communication, and support of our members, and I hope to continue being a resource for those who have questions and concerns about our operations as they change and grow.