The Frau used to direct beautiful films for a fascist government. Now she’s trying to make a film that’s simply beautiful. But when telegrams start to arrive from the Minister of Propaganda, The Frau can no longer ignore the real war outside her sound stage. A darkly comical look at the role of artists during wartime, inspired by the life and work of Leni Riefenstahl.

Amazons and Their Men is a TAPS-sponsored production and is not affiliated with University Theater.

Cast

Abby Kanes (The Frau) is a first year TAPS and Business Economics major. In UT she performed in the The Heirs workshop (Aveline) in Fall 2021. Other credits include Wait Until Dark (Gloria), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Lucetta), A Christmas Carol (Belle and the Ghost of Christmas Past) and The Crucible (Rebecca Nurse). It has been an amazing experience working with the TAPS Pro Staff on this show. She is excited to play in the pit for The Trail to Oregon! (Electric Bass) next quarter!

Emma Linderman (The Extra) is a second year CMST and TAPS double major. She has previously worked on regional and community productions, and is excited for her first TAPS show. She is also a member of UChicago’s independent improv group, Occam’s Razor.

Zander Galluppi (The Man) is a fifth year PhD candidate in the Committee on Immunology. He has performed in over twelve UT/TAPS productions; some of his favorite credits include Love’s Labour’s Lost (Holofernes), Grenadine (Sconce), Animals Out of Paper (Andy), and Peter and the Starcatcher (Smee). Zander has also appeared with the Hyde Park Community Players, and his regional credits include work with the Beverly Arts Center, This Moment Productions, and Underscore Theatre Company’s Chicago Musical Theatre Festival.

Jonathan White (The Boy) is a fourth year TAPS and Jewish Studies Major. He has previously worked on Ever In The Glades (Ames), Twelfth Night (Sir Toby Belch), and A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Man/Doctor). He’d like to thank his parents and siblings (Benjamin, Joseph, Ethan, and Makayla).

Tess Ortego (Understudy, The Frau and The Boy) is a fourth year Political Science and Global Studies major. She has previously worked on Welcome Back to My Channel (Martha), Lullaby (Dhalia), When You Know You Know (Counselor), and is currently working on The Quentin Show (Kate). She is honored to be a part of this show and is so thankful to have learned so much about the world of theatre through it!

Lara Sachdeva (Understudy, The Extra and The Man) is a student in the College.

Crew

Kathryn Walsh (Director) is TAPS faculty and a freelance theatre director and coach. Recent directing work includes Measure for Measure for Theatreworks Colorado Springs and Beckett’s Happy Days at Flint Repertory Theatre in Flint, MI, where she is a proud Associate Artist. Kathryn received her MFA in Directing from Northwestern University, where she taught and served as the Program Mentor for the MFA Directing Program. Next up: Twelfth Night at Theatreworks Colorado Springs. Photos and information about her work can be found at kathrynwalshdirector.com.

Eleanor Kahn (Scenic Designer)

Stephanie Cluggish (Costume Designer) A theatre and opera designer based in Chicago, Stephanie is pleased to join TAPS for the first time. Recent credits include: Do You Feel Anger?, Fulfillment Center (A Red Orchid); Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (Steppenwolf); Cry It Out (Northlight); Stories and Songs of Chicago (Lyric Opera Unlimited); The Long Christmas Dinner, In The Penal Colony (Chicago Fringe Opera); T. (American Theatre Company); The Firebirds Take the Field, Winter (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); How We Got On (Haven Theatre); Wolf Play, Good For Otto, Othello (The Gift). Regional: I Am My Own Wife (Theatre Raleigh); The Marriage of Figaro (Wolf Trap Opera); Carmen, The Magic Flute, The Rake’s Progress (Music Academy of the West). She received her MFA from Northwestern University, and is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Costumes at the University of Illinois Chicago. Proud member of USA829. stephanie-cluggish.com

Keith Parham (Lighting Designer)

Steve Labedz (Sound Designer)

Ellie Terrell (Props Designer) is a Chicago-based designer, fabricator, object and installation builder, painter, and educator. Her favorite works to create are immersive spaces and surreal sculptural visual art. She is passionate about using art to connect humans in play. Ellie uses her mastery of material manipulation across many different mediums, and is always up for a new challenge. Her painting, props, and puppets have been seen in theaters across the city. Ellie holds a BA in Literary and Cultural Studies from the College of William and Mary.

Gaby Labotka (Fight/Intimacy Director) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist whose selected Intimacy and/or Fight Direction credits include Paradise Square; WHITE (Definition Theatre); Snow Queen (House Theatre); Kinky Boots (Paramount); This Wide Night (Shattered Globe/Interrobang); The Gulf (About Face Theatre); First Deep Breath (Victory Gardens); Kiss (Haven Chicago); In the Blood (Red Tape Theatre); La Ruta (Steppenwolf); Hamlet (The Gift); and A Story Told in Seven Fights (The Neo-Futurists). She is a Certified Intimacy Director with Intimacy Directors & Coordinators, an Advanced Actor Combatant with the SAFD, and a member of ALTA. www.gabylabotka.com @theatre_warrior

Megan Geigner (Dramaturg) is thrilled to be back at UChicago after serving as the UT/TAPS production manager over a decade ago. Other Chicago dramaturgy credits include Chimerica and Danny Casolaro Died for You at TimeLine Theatre (where she is an artistic associate); The Secret Garden, Three Tall Women, and Year of Magical Thinking at Court Theatre; and Love and Information at Remy Bumppo Theatre, among others. She was the director of the United State Naval Academy theatre program—the Masqueraders—for three years before returning to Chicago to serve as a writing professor at Northwestern. Please check out her book about the history of Chicago theatre, Makeshift Chicago Stages: A Century of Performance. Megan has her PhD in Theatre and Drama from Northwestern University.

Sophia Barron (Stage Manager) is a 2020 graduate of Northwestern University, where she studied Theatre and Psychology. Northwestern stage management credits include: The Waa-Mu Show: State of the Art (SM), Julius Caesar (SM), Hans Christian Andersen (SM), Jane Eyre (SM), Knuffle Bunny (ASM), and The Dolphin Show: Ragtime (ASM). Sophia is thrilled to be back in a rehearsal room with Katy and sends many thanks to Beth and Maya for their immense support during this process!

Beth Koehler (Stage Manager) is a non-Equity Stage Manager based in Chicago, Illinois. Her previous theatrical experience includes A Christmas Carol (Young Performer Supervisor) and Bernhardt/Hamlet (SM Intern) at the Goodman Theatre, Dream (Young Performer Supervisor) at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Where We Stand (PA), Bad Dates (PA), Or (PA), and A Christmas Carol (PA) at Portland Stage Company, and Head Over Heels (SM) at Roosevelt University. Her previous live event experience includes Ear Taxi Festival (PA), Northwestern’s CommFest Gala (ASM) and Northwestern’s Commencement Ceremonies in 2018 (ASM), 2019 (ASM), and 2020 (SM).

Chris Owens (Video Director)

Megan Turnquist (Associate Lighting Designer)

Brandon Zang (Assistant Director) is a fourth year TAPS and anthropology major. In the past, he has worked on The Fields of Asphodel (Director), Welcome Back to My Channel (Writer and Director), The Old Man and the Old Moon (Assistant Puppet Designer), and Company (Pit Band Musician). As an actor, he has acted in My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre (Writer), Ever in the Glades (Z), Bodas de Sangre (Padre de la Novia), Yellow Face (HYH), and Macbeth (Duncan).

Lucia Geng (Assistant Dramaturg) is a student in the College.

Spencer Ng (Assistant Scenic Designer) is a third-year studying Computer Science and TAPS. His past credits include Love’s Labour’s Lost (Stage Manager), My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre (Stage Manager), Waiting for Godot (ASM), and The Winter’s Tale (ASM). Spencer is also the Social Chair on UT Committee. He’s excited to finally be in a design role on a production and would like to thank Eleanor for making the experience so enjoyable.

Katherine Maschka Hitchcock (Assistant Costume Designer) is a student in the College.

Kevin Colbert (Assistant Costume Designer and Wardrobe) is a graduate student in the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH) here at UChicago. He has previously worked as a director in a student-run play festival, during his undergraduate years at Howard University. Kevin is excited to learn more about the behind the scenes process that goes into production formulation and has filled his interdisciplinary program scheme with a host of TAPS courses in hopes of getting his feet wet and finding his niche.

Abby Starr (Assistant Lighting Designer) is a first year (potential) Computer Science major. She has previously worked on Guys and Dolls (Spotlight Operator), Urinetown (Assistant Lighting Designer), and The Drowsy Chaperone (Lighting Designer). She is currently a member of Tech Staff at TAPS and is very excited to be participating in her first show at UChicago!

Abby Beckler (Assistant Sound Designer) is a first year Economics and Math major. This is her first show with TAPS, but she is excited to work on more shows during her four years at the college!

Maya Carlos Doyle (Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year in the college. Previously she worked on Fields of Asphodel (Stage Manager) and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Assistant Scenic Designer).

Andrei Thuler (Assistant Video Director) is a student in the College.

Erica Barnes (Assistant Fight/Intimacy Designer)

Sammi Grant (Dialect Coach) Chicago coaching credits: Goodman Theatre, Timeline Theatre, Drury Lane, Porchlight Music Theatre, Gift Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Windy City Playhouse, Rivendell Theatre, and many more. Film/TV Credits: RESCUED BY RUBY (Netflix); PATRIOT (Amazon Prime); THE EXORCIST (Fox). Sammi is a voice/speech teacher for The Theatre School at DePaul University and Access Acting Academy. Sammi holds an MFA with Distinction in Voice Studies from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

TAPS Production Staff

Neel McNeill (Managing Director)

Brian Maschka (Production Manager)

Ben Caracello (Technical Director)

Nathan Rohrer (Costume Shop)

Heather Sparling (Lighting Manager)

Joyce Murphy (Audio Manager)

Jennifer Pinson (Prop Shop Manager)

Ian Young (Marketing Coordinator and Graphic Designer)