Read the statements from the following 2026-2027 UT Committee candidates here! Elections will be held at 2:30pm on Friday, February 20th (Logan 603)

Kaden Kaden (she/he/they)

Hiya! I’m Kaden Kaden and I’m a third year who has been in UT since my very first quarter here at UChicago. I’m proud to say in that time I’ve worked in almost every design discipline. I’m also proud to say that for the last year I’ve served on UT committee as a general member. In my time on committee so far I’ve worked on increasing awareness of and access to the wide array of resources available to UT Designers. My main focus has been revitalizing the production manuals. In partnership with Emily Curran, I wrote UT’s first ever manual for the Short Play Showcase process, which has also been helpful to other performances in the FXK. In my next year on committee, I want to continue supporting designers and growing the resources they have access to. I’m running again because I’ve really enjoyed being involved with UT on this higher level and I know that with another year I can continue supporting our lovely designers and all the lovely people who make UT the wonderful group that it is.

Jac Davies (he/him/his)

Hello everyone! My name is Jac Davies, and I’m a first year Biology Major. At UT, I have performed as Chip Tolentino in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and have many more credits to my name outside of UT amounting to 25 total productions where I’ve held various roles from actor to music director to assistant stage manager, and more! After my first show here, I’m super excited to continue and see how my previous experience can contribute to this organization! I would love to use this opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of UT as to better involve myself in what has been a very supportive and respectful community and really work to continue that trend. My primary goal regards outreach to first years which I know has been a priority already, but, as somebody who has just recently been through that process, I have a few ideas that I believe would have benefitted me this previous year including stronger outreach even before O-week and providing more opportunities to get involved mid-quarter rather than requiring scared little first years to make a quarter or more long commitment before they’ve even been to all of their classes. Another goal of mine is to provide more casual opportunities to learn different areas of a production. I primarily act but would love to get more into directing, and I believe that could be greatly benefitted by having more regular, casual seminars about specific things: how to block a scene, tips on interpreting songs, basics of script writing, etc. These could be hosted by students, staff, or guests as many other RSOs have already been doing. Then, when opportunities to use these skills present themselves to beginners, such as with Theater[24] or Weekend of Workshops, more can be made from these experiences. It would also serve to increase confidence in these abilities enabling people to take the chance that they might not have otherwise. Theatre has been the most integral part of my life for the better part of 9 years (50% of my life), and I would love nothing more than to continue that and I hope to introduce fresh ideas into the committee space to be able to provide others with the same! Thank you so much for your consideration!

August Petry (they/them)

Hi! My name is August Petry, and I am a second-year majoring in TAPS and Public Policy. I have served as UT Secretary this past year and am excited to run for Committee again! I have been super involved in UT since the start of my first year; most recently I directed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, but previous credits include If/Then (AD) and Cactus Flower (APM/ALD), and many Staged Readings and Theater[24]’s. I am also looking forward this Spring to being the Production Manager for Julius Caesar and the dramaturg for This is As Good As it Gets! As a committee member, most of my work has been in my capacity as Secretary, where I take the minutes notes for each Committee meeting and send out our weekly newsletter to over 1000 community members. I love being UT Secretary, and plan to run again for Secretary this next committee! On committee, I’ve led the Bylaw Updating Subcommittee, where we underwent a full rework of the UT Bylaws, as well as the Staged Reading Subcommittee, where I reworked the structure of our staged reading programming to be more workshop-based, and facilitated quarterly staged readings. I have also recently taken over the NED/Liaison subcommittee, and am aiming to create checklists for liaison weekly updates by the end of the quarter. For next committee, if I remain Secretary, I would be excited to continue sending out the minutes and a weekly newsletter, perhaps adding a special top-of-the-quarter edition with all of the upcoming shows and events for the quarter. I would also like to add a (new) easter egg this year to the newsletter! I would love to continue to run staged readings, which has been some of my favorite programming, and am hoping to standardize the timing and structure of Staged Readings for next Committee, as well as create template materials for future committee members running the subcommittee! I plan to stay on the NED/Liaison Subcommittee as well, liaising a show in the Spring and continuing to work to make sure resources are accessible. I’d also love to lay the groundworks for quarterly no-cut cabaret programming, to add a low-commitment way to be involved musically in UT! I’d like to think I have a strong sense of how UT functions, and I would be excited to keep listening to community members to improve our processes, and make UT a better community for everyone! Sorry this is so long, but thank you, and I really hope to serve you all again this year!

Elisa Gao (she/her)

Hi! I’m Elisa, a third-year Astrophysics and TAPS major. I’ve been involved with UT since my first year, primarily as a costume and scenic designer. My UT credits include Red Rex (Scenic), Pericles (Costume), As Y’all Like It (Costume), The Tempest (Scenic), 35MM (Costume), Troilus and Cressida (Assistant Scenic), Royal Flush (Costume/Props/Scenic), Richard III (Duchess/Lord Mayor), and Falsettos (Assistant Costume). I have also performed in the TAPS Pro-Show productions Happy Birthday Mars Rover and On the Back of Before, as well as in UBallet productions. With extensive experience in design, dance, and performance, I will bring a multidisciplinary perspective to the UT Committee that could encourage experimentation with diverse storytelling forms in our productions. I also have valuable experience and insight to share with members who are new to UT. Additionally, I am interested in helping bridge the gap between design teams and casts by fostering greater understanding of each other’s artistic processes and strengthening collaboration across the company. Thank you!

Jack Zirin-Hyman (he/they)

Hello! My name is Jack Zirin-Hyman (he/they), and I am a first year planning on majoring in music and mathematics. I’ve been involved in UT (on the tech side) since I began at UChicago this year, starting with Assistant Sound Design for Dean’s Men’s As Y’all Like It and then Lead Sound Designing for both of the Short Play Showcases, El Cepillo de Dientes and The Burden of Burial. UT has provided me with a creative outlet and warm, vibrant community from the moment I stepped on campus – it’s been incredible having the opportunity to see the artistry on display here, and being welcomed in to collaborate on these projects. I want to reciprocate the support I’ve been given by contributing to the administrative side to help sustain this flourishing environment. There’s a truly special theater community here that I feel privileged to participate in, and I would love to be given the opportunity to serve on committee and play whatever role I can in helping UT thrive.

Maya Bond (she/her)

Hi! I’m Maya Bond! I’m a second year TAPS major, Creative Writing and Education double minor. I am very excited to be running for UT Committee! My past UT involvement in terms of mainstage acting includes playing the roles of Emily Webb in Our Town and Miranda in The Tempest. In terms of tech positions, I have fulfilled the roles of Sound Designer on As Y’all Like It, Assistant Sound Designer/Board Op on Troilus and Cressida, and Programmer/Board Op on 13th Morning. I have also acted in two Theater[24]s, participated in three Staged Readings (twice as actor, once as director), and attended one Shakespearience. As a TAPS major, I am always seeking out new ways to engage with theater. I feel I owe the world to those currently on committee that I call friends for welcoming and mentoring me throughout my time in UT. I hope to do the same for all new and returning members of UT. Similarly, having recently fulfilled the role of NED and (VERY) recently joining a subcommittee, I learned that I am genuinely passionate about helping people have a good show experience. Having fulfilled both acting and multiple tech positions, and having worked in East, West, the FKX, and a site-specific location, I feel I have a uniquely well-rounded understanding of the production process. I hope to assist building our audience network and helping implement post-show feedback. Additionally, having co-ran my high school’s Actors’ Collective and having run the theater department of a sleepaway camp for three summers, I am no stranger to theater leadership. Truthfully, I like theater a lot (a lot), I’ve spent so much of my time at UChicago doing UT, and I’m so so excited to see what I can learn from being a member of Committee!

Sara Romai (she/her)

Hi! I’m Sara, a third year Political Science and Economics major. My first introduction to UT was Theater[24] at the end of my second week here, but I’ve been involved in UT every term since as a stage manager, production manager and actor. I have worked on If/Then (ASM), Cactus Flower (SM), We’re Live (PM), As Y’All Like It (Adam/Corin), and Antigone (PM). I joined committee in the fall and have acted as Social Chair this past term. I have loved the chance to give back to the community that has meant so much to my experience at UChicago, and I have also learned a lot as I’ve become familiar with the work it takes to run UT. I would love to build on that experience on the next iteration of committee to continue making positive changes within UT! In particular, one thing I would hope to focus on is continuing to make UT resources (production manuals, sample documents, etc.) more accessible to production teams, so that we can better support new managers and designers.

Katie Keeley (she/her/hers)

Hi! I’m Katie Keeley, and I’m a third year majoring in Creative Writing and Public Policy and minoring in Music. This year with UT, I’ve been working as the vocal director on Spelling Bee. In previous years, I’ve also worked on 35mm and If/Then, and I’m currently working on my original musical, This Is as Good as It Gets, which I’m directing in the spring. As UT has been jumping into doing multiple musicals per year, including more single-quarter and song cycle shows, it’s important to elect committee members who have expertise in the particular difficulties that come with producing musicals. Having worked on 15 musicals in my life, I’m familiar with how the process for a musical differs from a regular play. I’d also love to work on creating more opportunities for first years and new community members to get involved in musicals, like more SPS musical projects and encouraging more student-written music through quarterly song showcases. UT has been doing great work the last few years in including and accommodating musicals in the production calendar, and I hope to create even more opportunities for musical theater actors and musicians as a member of committee. Thanks for reading, and I can’t wait to see you all at UT events the rest of the quarter!

Danny Erani (he/him)

Hi! I’m Danny, a second year Biochemistry major. I have been involved in UT since my first quarter here and am so incredibly grateful for the friends and community that it has brought me. I have acted in The Arsonists (Fall 2024), The Tempest (Spring 2025), and most recently Spelling Bee (Fall 2025 -Winter 2026). As an actor in UT, I would love to be on committee in order to continue to improve the communication between actors, directors, and the production team. Additionally, I would love to help in finding a meeting point for all involved in UT where we can continue to put on amazing shows while assuring that everyone’s wants/needs are being met. I have so much love for this group and want to be a part of the people that work to keep this community so beautiful. Thank you!

Will Rehmus (they/them)

Hi! I’m Will, a third-year astrophysics major & TAPS minor. I’ve been on Committee for the last two years and have developed a pretty strong understanding of the constraints and opportunities that UT has. I like to think that I have been a very effective member of Committee. For example, I have been running the UT website for the last year and spent much of last summer overhauling the layout, design, and backend of the website. Aside from all of the boring stuff, if I had to choose one thing to work on with Committee, it would be how we interact with the broader UChicago performing arts world. I think that we have the capacity to be a resource for other organizations and could tap into the very cool things that they’re doing! I have so so many thoughts about UT stuff, so if you want to hear about things, talk to me! In my 8 quarters here at UChicago, I have worked on 9 mainstage shows: Muscle Memory (Asst. Lighting), Falsettos (Asst. Stage Manager), Strings Attached: A Musical (Co-Sound), The Play That Goes Wrong (Asst. Lighting), Much Ado About Nothing (Scenic), Troilus and Cressida (Asst. Sound), Cactus Flower (Lighting), As Y’all Like It (Lighting), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Scenic). I have also had small roles on 4 additional shows and been involved in 7 T[24]s. I also want to thank you for reading all the way to the bottom of this list and thereby being an informed voter!

Candidate statements from previous elections can be found here.