Each quarter, the UT workshop format gives directors a chance to explore the limits of their creative visions. This fall, see some of those visions come to life. Director Coriander Mayer tackles the significance of the prodigal son in The Rope by Eugene O’Neill. An adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Anna Aguiar-Kosicki, promises an opportunity to explore a familiar text through new eyes, while a devised original piece by Thomas McLees brings important new questions to the table.

The Rope

Coriander Mayer (Director) is a fourth year in the College majoring in TAPS with a minor in biology. In the past year, Cori has worked as a live sound engineer for a capella groups on campus. In Chicago, Cori has worked as a lighting designer both professionally (select credits: Adventure Stage Chicago, Eleusis Collective, Bread and Roses, UBallet) and with University Theater (select credits: By the Bog of Cats, The Monkey King, Romeo and Juliet, After the Revolution). Cori also enjoys acting in devised work (The Tempest, Circe) and has directed two other workshops with UT, The Candles and Pericles, but Marxist. 

Jenni Guarino (Production Stage Manager) is a second year Biology major in the college. Her previous UT credits include She Kills Monsters (Calling SM), Winter Workshops 2017 (SM), and After the Revolution (APM). She hopes her whole cast - especially the first years new to UT - had as much fun working on this workshop as she did.

Abigail Henkin (Annie) is a first year prospective TAPS major. She has previously worked on Theater[24] (Writer). She is very excited to perform in her first UT workshop!

Shreya Shettigar (Sweeney) is a first year Economics major. The Rope is her first UT role.

Ezra Feldman (Luke) is a third year Biology major and prospective TAPS minor. He is excited to make his first UT appearance in The Rope this fall.

Michael Allara (Adam) is a third year biology and English major. His previous UT credits include Urinetown (Trombone), and Romeo and Juliet (ASM).

Gayathri Rao (Mary) is a first year who is undecided in her major. This is her first show with UT!

The Importance Of Being Earnest

Anna Aguiar Kosicki (Director) is a second year public policy major in the College. Previous directing credits include Iphigenia and Other Daughters (Assistant Director) through UT and The Civilty of Albert Cashier (Assistant Director) through Permoveo Productions. They are also currently the working on As You Like It (Makeup Designer/Costume Assistant).

Carolyn J. Applebaum (Stage Manager) is a second year in the college with an undecided major. Previous UT credits include Iphigenia and Other Daughters (Assistant Stage Manager), Henry VI (Assistant Director/Dramaturg), as well as Theater[24]. Other theater credits include University of Chicago Commedia Dell'Arte (Stage Manager).

Natalia Rodriguez (Gwendolyn) is a student in the College.

Nicole Davila (Miss Prism) is a first year Graduate Student-at-Large at the University of Chicago, Graham School. She majored in Anthropology at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. The Importance of Being Ernest is her first time working with University Theater. She has previously appeared in The Storybook's Christmas (Belle), A Walk to Remember (Jamie's Friend), A View from the Bridge (Catherine), and The Trojan Women (Hecuba).

Elizabeth Grumer (Lady Bracknell) is in the MAPH program. She is currently working with Iris on their upcoming show about the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

Poppy Perez Reyes (Cecily) is a student in the College.

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Thomas McLees (Director) is a third year student in the College. He is studying to receive a BA majoring in Political Science and minoring in TAPS. He was Cliff Bradshaw in the UT production of Cabaret prior to directing this devised piece. He has studied performance art in many venues outside of UT, including Northwestern and the London School of Performing Arts (LISPA). He hopes that you enjoy the devised piece that he and is actors worked tirelessly on to create.

Victoria Keating (Stage Manager) is a second year in the College. She has previously worked on Fall 2016's workshop Selections from Picture of Dorian Gray (Stage Manager), After the Revolution (Backstage Hand), Mr Burns, a post-electric play (Assistant Stage Manager), and UT's collaboration with Apsara Nari (Stage Manager).

Jacob Redmon (Actor) is a second year Economics major. He has previously worked on Footloose (Ren), Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik), and Arthur the Anti-Racist (Arthur).

Aliza Oppenheim (Actor) is a first year excited to be making her University Theater debut. Previous credits in high school and regional theater include Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett), Hair (Jeanie), The Odd Couple (Gwendolyn), and Bat Boy the Musical (Shelly).

Lara Braverman (Actor) is a first year prospective Physics and History major. 

Production Staff

Stephanie Slaven-Ruffing (Tech Staff Liason) is a student in the College.

Katy Surhigh (Committee Liason) is a fourth year English major. In UT, she primarily works as a stage manager and actor. Her credits include Peter and the Starcatcher (Mrs. Bumbrake), LEAR (SM), Mr Burns, a post-electric play (Nelson), Winter's Tale (ASM), The Seagull (ASM), and Urinetown (Billy Boy Bill). She has also stage managed for UChicago Commedia, and has served on Committee since 2016.