An aging nurse. Her playboy boss, who she’s in love with. His uncomfortably-younger girlfriend, who thinks he’s married with kids. And her playwright neighbor, who saved her life.

Dr. Julian Winston has a lot of relationships to juggle: Work wives, fake wives, really-wanna-be wives. And he’s not equipped to handle half of one of those relationships. When his girlfriend, Toni, tries to kill herself because their relationship isn’t going anywhere, he proposes to her. But she thinks he’s married—because that’s what he told her. When he says he’s getting a divorce, she insists on meeting his wife (so she won’t be a ‘home-breaker’), and he must enlist his lovelorn, all-business assistant, Stephanie. But, of course, Toni can tell that Stephanie’s in love. And from here, the lie snowballs…

This screwball comedy, adapted from a French play by Barillet & Grédy, has been described as “funny,” and as having “flower power.” Don’t believe us, or don’t know what that means? Come find out for yourself, either way!

Buy tickets at this link!

Cast

Gabriel Brumberg (Julian) is a third-year Fundamentals and TAPS double major. Previous academic credits include: TAPS Department: The Ballad of Oedipus (Oedipus); UChicago Dean’s Men: Twelfth Night (Feste); Edmund Burke School: Urinetown (Bobby). Other credits include: Shakespeare Theatre Company: Noura (Yazen); Pallas Theater Collective: Assassins (Billy); Variations Theater Company: Capriccio Radio (Noah); Fire Escape Films: The Scottish Play (Leo); and several workshopped readings of new plays. His fake family members are famous cheese-makers in the French countryside who excommunicated him for inadvertently sharing secret recipes with a rival family…

Caroline Lopez (Stephanie) is a fourth year chemistry major who might be frantically editing her thesis backstage at this very moment. In her time with UT, she has acted in 13th Morning (Viola), Much Ado About Nothing (Borachio), Dead Fun Society (Aspen), Queen of Spades (Bishop), Marian (Guard), and The Trail to Oregon (u/s Mother) and directed The Play that Goes Wrong. She met her very best friends through theater, people who have laughed with her, cried with her, kept her sane after 13 hours in a reg room, driven her a little closer to insanity, and generally made her a better human. She is incredibly grateful to all of them and most especially to everyone who has made this production such a joy. She would love to introduce you to her fake wife, really, she’s a lovely woman, but, uh, she’s from Canada, they met on a road trip, and all of their photos together were destroyed in a freak Frog Incident. So you can see why she’s not fielding any inquiries at this time.

Ilie Sturhan (Toni Simmons) began acting as a child in Texas, appearing in her first feature length film, Shilo, at the age of ten. At UChicago she has previously appeared in Arcadia (Valentine Coverly). She currently is pursuing both her acting career and her undergraduate degree in Chemistry. Big thanks to her family, friends, and the cast and crew of Cactus Flower for making this production an incredible experience. If she had a fake family, they would be the family from Schitt’s Creek because they’re always very present in their own lives.

Griffin Bonnin Jones (Igor) is pleased as hell to be playing Igor in this show. They have previously appeared in Dean’s Men’s productions of Romeo and Juliet (2022), Twelfth Night (2023), Richard III (2024), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2024). They were also an assistant stage manager on Muscle Memory (2023) and they directed The Arsonists this past fall quarter, but this is their first non-Shakespeare UT acting role. Their fake family is just horrible. One of the worst fake families out there, just absolutely abysmal.

Simon Tsuchiya Lenoe (Harvey) is a first-year PhD student in East Asian Languages and Civilizations, playing the lecherous actor, Harvey. His fake family includes FKA Twigs (sister), Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (second cousin) and Spencer O’Brien (formerly vassaled to).

Spencer O’Brien (Señor Arturo Sánchez) is a highly lauded acting swiss army knife. Not only can he do three consecutive standing back flips, but having performed in two UT productions thus far, he is excited to be following his role of Jason in Strings Attached and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing with his crowning acting achievement, Señor Arturo Sánchez. Now, add him on LinkedIn to help him get to 500 connections.

Ellie Levy (Mrs. Dixon Durant) is a first year TAPS and Political Science Double Major. With UT she has previously been in Royal Flush (Aurelia) and Theater[24] (Crystal). Her fake husband is a prince but without all the family baggage.

Eleni Lefakis (Botticelli's Springtime) is a fourth-year TAPS and RLLT double-major and former UT Treasurer. Her UT mainstage credits are The Heirs (Stage Manager); The Trail to Oregon! (Assistant Director/Dramaturg); Romeo and Juliet (Co-Production Manager); Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood (Assistant Director/Dramaturg); MacBeth in Space (Dramaturg); The Laramie Project (Stage Manager Collective™); Be More Chill (Co-Director); Twelfth Night (Pre-Production Manager); The Taming of The Shrew (Stage Manager/Assistant Dramaturg); Falsettos (Dramaturg); Richard III (Assistant Costume Designer); Strings Attached (Co-Director); The Play That Goes Wrong (Committee Liaison/Stagehand); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Dramaturg); Much Ado About Nothing (Director/Co-Dramaturg); Troilus & Cressida (Co-Production Manager); and 35MM: A Musical Exhibition (Co-Production Manager). She is also currently assistant directing Court Theatre’s world premiere production of Mickle Maher’s Berlin and hopes that you go see a performance of that (when you’re not seeing Cactus Flower, of course). Eleni cannot overstate how delighted she is to have THE Joseph DePaula directing the only UT show she’s ever acted in and her fake husband is the closeted gay heir to a Greek shipping empire. Their lavender marriage has produced two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, via surrogacy, and their prenup states that in the event of a divorce she gets the kids, the mansion in Ekali, the megayacht, the Paros island beach house, and the membership to the Tatoi Club.

Nate LePelley (Music Lover) is a second year Cognitive Science major. He has previously worked on Strings Attached (Assistant Stage Manager), Much Ado About Nothing (Stage Manager), and Troilus and Cressida (Stage Manager). My fake family lives in Oberlin, Ohio in a grouping as follows: gramma, grampa, 5 minute drive later uncle uncle cousin cousin, 30 minute drive later mom (she is a Tim Horton’s regional manager).

Carrie Semmel (Customer & Waiter) is a second-year Political Science and Psychology major. This is her first show at UChicago! In her fake family, she was raised by very interesting parents, and was always traveling around filming various animal and nature documentaries for PBS Kids. After growing up, she now lives as a devout hippie, taking some inspiration from her parents, and takes good care of her various wildlife rescues, including octopi, flying squirrels, and even a racoon! Who needs an immediate family when you’ve got critters to take care of?

Crew

Joseph DePaula (Director) is a third-year Medieval Studies & History major and (tentatively) a TAPS minor. Primarily an actor, his UT credits include “Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood” (Little John), “Dead Fun Society” (Mark Hellebrand), “The Taming of the Shrew” (Grumio), and “Strings Attached” (Walt), as well as assistant directing Much Ado About Nothing in the fall and directing Cactus Flower…right now! He also serves on the UT Committee as Outreach Chair, the Cup of Theater Council as Artistic Director, and the Attori Senza Paura/UChicago Commedia Board as Production Manager! He’d like to thank the whole of this lovely company, in particular Sara & Maya, but absolutely everyone did amazing, and he’s so thankful to have worked with them! And, of course, his wonderful roommates Emily & Rachel, for their help throughout this process! His fake family is comprised of 7 singing children: Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, and Gretl. They tour the world with their delightful rhythms and harmonies being enjoyed by all, and he is in talks of adapting their story to stage & film (title TBD).

Zachary Leiter (Choreographer) is a fourth year studying political science and TAPS. This is, amazingly, his first UT show, though at UChicago he has been a frequent contributor to Theater 24 and other small student works. In his free time, he writes, dances, and covers theater for the Chicago Maroon.

Eleni Lefakis (Dramaturg) is a fourth-year TAPS and RLLT double-major and former UT Treasurer. Her UT mainstage credits are The Heirs (Stage Manager); The Trail to Oregon! (Assistant Director/Dramaturg); Romeo and Juliet (Co-Production Manager); Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood (Assistant Director/Dramaturg); MacBeth in Space (Dramaturg); The Laramie Project (Stage Manager Collective™); Be More Chill (Co-Director); Twelfth Night (Pre-Production Manager); The Taming of The Shrew (Stage Manager/Assistant Dramaturg); Falsettos (Dramaturg); Richard III (Assistant Costume Designer); Strings Attached (Co-Director); The Play That Goes Wrong (Committee Liaison/Stagehand); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Dramaturg); Much Ado About Nothing (Director/Co-Dramaturg); Troilus & Cressida (Co-Production Manager); and 35MM: A Musical Exhibition (Co-Production Manager). She is also currently assistant directing Court Theatre’s world premiere production of Mickle Maher’s Berlin and hopes that you go see a performance of that (when you’re not seeing Cactus Flower, of course). Eleni cannot overstate how delighted she is to have THE Joseph DePaula directing the only UT show she’s ever acted in and her fake husband is the closeted gay heir to a Greek shipping empire. Their lavender marriage has produced two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, via surrogacy, and their prenup states that in the event of a divorce she gets the kids, the mansion in Ekali, the megayacht, the Paros island beach house, and the membership to the Tatoi Club.

Maya Miller (Production Manager) is a 1st year in her 2nd UT show! She previously worked as Assistant Stage Manager on The Arsonists in Autumn quarter and is super grateful she got the opportunity to work as Production Manager on Cactus Flower!

Sara Romai (Stage Manager) is a second year Political Science major. In UT she has previously worked on Much Ado About Nothing (Assistant Production Manager) and If/Then (Assistant Stage Manager). She doesn’t know what her fake family is like, but hopefully not too much like whatever Stephanie, Julian and Toni have going on in this show.

Aneth Rodriguez (Scenic Designer) is a third-year Public Policy and Psychology major. In UT she has worked in The Play That Goes Wrong (Scenic Designer), Much Ado About Nothing (Asst. Stage Manager), Dead Fun Society (Asst. Director), and Macbeth in Space (Asst. Scenic Designer). Her fake family consists of Roman Reign as her husband and her secretly billionaire parents who give her access to their fortune after she has her first “child”, a Canadian horse.

Emma Linderman (Props Designer)

Belle Nahoom (Co-Costume Designer) is a fourth-year TAPS/Data Science double major. Her previous theatre credits at the University include UT Committee, The Heirs (ASM), Marian (ASM), The Intruder Workshop (Costume Designer), Scientific Method (Costume Designer), Macbeth in Space (Hair & Makeup), Queen of Spades Workshop (SM & PM), The Laramie Project (SM Collective), the B.A. Thesis, Yivdak (Jared), 12th Night (Hair & Makeup), Be More Chill (Costume Designer), The Wolves (Asst. Costume Designer), Theatre24, The Play That Goes Wrong (Costume Designer), Falsettos (Costume Designer), Arcadia (Asst. Costume Designer), On The Back of Before (Co-Costume Designer), If/Then (Costume Designer). Additionally, she is artistic director of the Commedia Dell’Arte improv troupe on campus and of Medusa A Capella. My fake family would be 10 cats who love me and cuddle with me all day and no one else. She would like to thank the phenomenal Shanthal for all her help!

Shanthal Ramos Bueno (Co-Costume Designer) is a second year majoring in RDI and minoring in Mathematics. She was previously worked on the Winter 2025 production of “If/Then” as the assistant costume designer!

Nayu Shimo (Sound Designer) is a third-year Psychology major and TAPS minor (unfortunately crocheting was not an offered major.) She has previously worked on Welcome Back To My Channel (AD), The Arsonists (ASM), If/Then (APM), Troilus and Cressida (Co-SM), and 35mm: A Musical Exhibition (SM). She would like to thank Spotify for their aid in music selection as well as the Logan Cafe Staff for providing (nearly) endless amounts of grilled cheeses and iced chais.

Will Rehmus (Lighting Designer) is a second-year Astrophysics major/ TAPS minor. They have worked on many UT shows in various roles, including Falsettos (ASM), Strings Attached (Sound), The Play That Goes Wrong (Asst. Lighting), and Much Ado About Nothing (Scenic). Their fake family is them and their partner in a cabin in the forests of BC. They hope you enjoy Cactus Flower!

Kaden Kaden (Associate Lighting Designer & Master Electrician) is a second-year History and Linguistics major. They have previously worked on Troilus and Cressida (Sound Designer), The Play That Goes Wrong (Lighting Designer); Strings Attached (Assistant Costume and Assistant Lighting Designer); Much Ado About Nothing (Assistant Scenic Designer); Arcadia (TAPS Pro-Show) (Lighting Programmer and Board Operator); Muscle Memory (Lighting Designer); and six Theater [24]s (Lighting/ Sound Designer).

August Petry (Assistant Production Manager & Assistant Lighting Designer) is a first-year TAPS and Statistics major. Previous UT credits include If/Then (Assistant Director), Theater [24], and Fall Staged Readings, and they are currently serving as the UT Secretary! Their fake family would live in some remote, inaccessible location, so it would be essentially impossible to visit.

Roma Uzzaman (Assistant Director) is a first-year MAPH Creative Writing student. While this is her first show with UT, she has previously worked on over fifteen productions in various roles and served as president of the RC Players.

Jasmine Li (Assistant Stage Manager) is a second-year Mathematics and (possibly) Anthropology major. She has previously worked on Troilus and Cressida (ASM), Strings Attached (APM), and Taming of the Shrew (ASM). She will maybe finally take on a full role next season. She would love her fake family to include someone who knows how to throw and flip small knives (she would love to learn but is scared).

Madonna Ghabour (Assistant Stage Manager) is an exchange student from The American University in Cairo, where she studies Economics and actively engages in the performing arts. She previously performed in Marriage on Divorce Papers and took a leading role in a UChicago visual arts thesis film. Madonna believes in art as a powerful tool to deliver meaningful messages and shift perceptions, both on stage and behind the scenes. She is excited to support this production and contribute to the storytelling process through her work in stage management.

Gavin Robalino (Asssistant Scenic Designer)

Panav Pallothu (Asssistant Scenic Designer)

Emily Curran (Committee Liaison) is a third-year undergrad studying public policy and TAPS. She currently serves as UT Committee Chair and as a Theater[24] Curator. Her previous UT/TAPS credits include: 35mm: A Musical Exhibition (Vocalist); 2025 TAPS BA Thesis Projects (Lighting Designer); 13th Morning (Lighting Designer/Asst. Director); If/Then (Committee Liaison); Margaret (Much Ado About Nothing); Arcadia (Asst. Lighting Designer); Strings Attached (Lighting Designer); Falsettos (Charlotte); Twelfth Night (Lighting Designer); Be More Chill (Asst. Lighting Designer); Macbeth in Space (Lighting Designer); Romeo and Juliet (Asst. Lighting Designer); and 9 Theater[24] Festivals. She would like to thank her lovely roommates Joseph and Rachel for being amazing as always as well as the entire amazing Cactus Flower team for making this show happen! Her fake family is massive and has connections across the entire world. You could not walk down the street and not run into one of them (totally real and definitely how it is right now).