90s, grunge, and denim on denim; welcome to the Trojan War. These crazy kids are trying to figure out what to do with their lives when the Troubles they’ve grown up with start becoming all too real. Troilus and Cressida are trying to fall in love while their world is falling apart; the play takes classic characters like Achilles and Ulysses and turns them upside down, sidekicks in someone else’s story mostly used for (hilarious) sex jokes, and (epic) fight scenes. Come see one of Shakespeare’s least-performed plays, in an angsty new take, set entirely inside one Belfast pub and featuring the music of the Cranberries.

Buy tickets at this link!

Cast

Emma Beane (Cressida) “is a second-year Physics Major. This is her first performance with University Theater and she’s thrilled to be a part of it! She loves music (talk to her about Bruce Springsteen and Chappell Roan), reading, running, and her dog whom she will happily show you pictures of, so please ask. She is so grateful for everyone who has made this show possible, and for all her friends who helped her run lines.”

Logan Carlson (Troilus) “is a 1st year planning to major in economics and political science. Previous shows he’s been in include Much Ado About Nothing (Verges), 12 Angry Men (Juror 7), and Big Fish (Karl the Giant). Outside of theater, he enjoys playing tennis, reading, and the New England Patriots.”

Colton Smith (Pandarus)

Honor Torrance (Narrator/Cassandra/Hellen) is thrilled to be back for a bonus year with the Dean’s Men as an English Lit student in the MAPH program (for which she’s currently writing a thesis on Shakespeare…shocker), having recently graduated from a term on the DM board as Arts Chair! Honor was last seen onstage eating hearts in the marketplace as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing; her other previous roles include Maria (Twelfth Night), Tranio (Taming of the Shrew), Peter Simple (The Merry Wives of Windsor), and Peaseblossom/Robin Starveling (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Honor would like everyone to know that there IS a tape in the tape player on the bar, and furthermore, she’d like you specifically to know that it’s ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?’ by the Cranberries. She would also like to remind everyone that there is absolutely NO smoking allowed in here (but do as she says, not as she does)…

Claudia Sturgell (Hector) is a MAPH student specializing in classics. She has been doing theatre since middle school, and her favorite roles have been in Elektra (translator/dramaturg/musician) at UNCA, and Twelfth Night (Feste) at UNCA. She is currently working on her MA thesis translating and adapting Euripides’ Iphigenia at Aulis for the stage.

Benjamin Tytell (Paris/Patroclus/Ajax) is a second year Political Science and Sociology major. He has been in Much Ado About Nothing (Seacoal/Messenger), as well as two Theater 24 shows as a very French mad scientist and a dog facing an existential crisis.

Kassie Rivera (Achilles/Priam) is a fourth year Psychology and Gender/Sexuality Studies major. They previously worked on A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fairy/Hippolyta), The Arsonists (Fireman/Mrs.Knetchling), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Katherine), Cassandra (Director), and The Ballad of Oedipus (Assistant Director). He’s excited to play half of the most annoying gay couple in Ancient Greek history and also cosplay as cishet old man who bangs too much for his own good. Getting called gay slurs is also a major highlight, Kassie thanks everyone involved for the opportunity!

Sean Moore (Diomedes)

Reilly Pryma (Agamemnon/Servant) is a prospective Sociology and Creative Writing major. He enjoys, of course, writing fiction and worldbuilding, and exploring our modern world through it. This is his second UT show and second show as an actor - he has done lighting design previously for other theaters. His signature skill is Conceptualization.

Tannus Vollmer (Ulysses/Andromache)

Production Staff

Ryan Witter (Director) “is a second year Linguistics, Anthropology, and Gender Studies major. He has previously worked on The Play That Goes Wrong (Props Designer) and Arcadia (Asst. Props Designer) and appeared in Richard III (Clarence/Derby/York) and the Taming of the Shrew (Vincentio/Curtis). They’re thrilled that you’re here to watch this show and so thankful for all the work the cast and crew have put into making this production happen.”

Oliver Zajac (Dramaturg)

Eleni Lefakis (Co-Production Manager) “ is a fourth-year TAPS and RLLT double-major currently serving as 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); and Much Ado About Nothing (Director/Co-Dramaturg). Outside of UChicago, Eleni has also worked on shows with Teatro del Presagio, Lykofos Productions, Berlin Opera Academy, and Reptilian Affiliates Theater Co. This spring she will be Assistant Directing Mickle Maher’s Berlin at Court Theatre. This is Eleni’s last Dean’s Men show and she could not be more proud of all the besties who worked on it, but she’s particularly grateful for Alasdair and Daniel, who are perfect to her!”

Alasdair Dodd (Co-Production Manager) “ is a third year EALC and Religious Studies major. He has previously worked on The Arsonists (lighting designer), Royal Flush (SM), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (SM), and Falsettos (lighting designer). Yay!”

Nayu Shimo (Co-Stage Manager) is a second year who is dismayed that crochet is not a major at UChicago. Her previous UT credits include The Arsonists (ASM) and Welcome Back to My Channel (AD). She has enjoyed many grilled cheeses and iced chais throughout the rehearsal process and thus, would like to thank Logan Cafe exceedingly for their support.

Nate LePelley (Co-Stage Manager)

Ryanne Leonard (Scenic Designer) is a third year Political Science and LLSO major, doing set design for Troilus and Cressida. In the past two years, I worked on Taming of the Shrew and The Play That Goes Wrong, also as a Scenic Designer.

Seth Wang (Props Designer) is a second year Anthropology and Gender Studies major. He has previously worked on The Play That Goes Wrong (Asst. Props), Arcadia (Asst. Props), and Much Ado About Nothing (Asst. Scenic).

Ky Cruz (Costume Designer)

Camila Delgado (Lighting Designer) is a second year Astrophysics and Visual Arts major. They have previously worked on Much Ado About Nothing (Lighting Designer), The Play That Goes Wrong (Assistant Stage Manager), Richard III (Lighting Designer), and Taming of the Shrew (Assistant Lighting Designer).

Kaden Kaden (Sound Designer) “is a second-year astrophysics major/TAPS minor. They would like to thank you for coming to see the Dean’s Men/UT’s production of Troilus and Cressida. They have been on 8 productions at UChicago so far; Muscle Memory (Asst. Lighting), Cassandra (Lighting and Sound), Falsettos (Asst. Stage Manager), Strings Attached (Co-Sound), The Play That Goes Wrong (Asst. Lighting), Much Ado About Nothing (Scenic), Arcadia (Asst. Master Electrician) and, of course, Troilus and Cressida (Asst. Sound).”

Josiah Rubio (Asst. Director)

Daniel Olmo (Asst. Production Manager) is a third year Computer Science major. Troilus and Cressida is Daniel’s first show working with the Dean’s Men!

Jasmine Li (Asst. Stage Manager)

Elisa Gao (Asst. Scenic Designer) is a second-year Astrophysics major with a TAPS minor. She started working with UT as an Assistant Costume Designer for the residents of Falsettoland (Falsettos). She knows that the Duchess of York and Lord Mayor of London must be so proud to see her returning to the FXK Theatre doing Costume/Props/Scenic for Royal Flush without needing to scream at her violent son, Richard III, again. Additionally, she is a costume coordinator for UBallet and a Quasimodo at the Rockefeller Chapel, whose goal is to ring as little atonal music as possible.

Estella Shklyar (Asst. Scenic Designer) is thrilled-delighted-overjoyed-etc. to be working on her first ever UT show! Estella is a sophomore transfer from Vassar College, where she did lots of tech-y things, so she is very excited to continue that at UChicago! When not doing tech she loves to paint/draw, study in Hallowed, and generally philosophize. She hopes you enjoy the show :)

Kaiden Wu (Asst. Props Designer)

Iris Chen (Asst. Costume Designer)

Ian Schmidt (Asst. Lighting Designer)

Will Rehmus (Asst. Sound Designer) “is a second-year astrophysics major/TAPS minor. They would like to thank you for coming to see the Dean’s Men/UT’s production of Troilus and Cressida. They have been on 8 productions at UChicago so far; Muscle Memory (Asst. Lighting), Cassandra (Lighting and Sound), Falsettos (Asst. Stage Manager), Strings Attached (Co-Sound), The Play That Goes Wrong (Asst. Lighting), Much Ado About Nothing (Scenic), Arcadia (Asst. Master Electrician) and, of course, Troilus and Cressida (Asst. Sound).”

Maya Bond (Asst. Sound Designer & Board Op) “is a first year and very excited to be participating in her first ever Dean’s Men show. Though she’s done many theatrical things all her life, you may have recently seen her is the heart-breaking and soul-crushing show, It’s a Doggy Dog World and Dog We Eat. In honor of Garrett Bell, Maya must also share that she feels happiest when eating Twix. Enjoy the show (and hope you think it sounds good)!”

Kelly Mao (Committee Liaison)