this is as good as it gets is an original musical following seven seniors at an all-girls high school as they try to write the ultimate guide to high school success. Led by their enthusiastic and extremely determined class dean, the girls tackle expectations, anxiety, and growing up (whether they’re ready or not) to a score inspired by current singer-songwriters. In one whirlwind hour, this is as good as it gets asks us to rethink what we would tell our younger selves–and whether it even matters.

Get tickets

this is as good as it gets includes references to disordered eating and suicidal ideation.

Physical accessibility information can be found at Logan 501's information page.

Cast

Lauren Dockman (Ms. Peters) is third-year Art History major. Previously she has performed with UT in If/Then (Ensemble) and The Tempest (Ariel). Some of her favorite musical credits include The Prom (Mrs. Greene), High School Musical (Ms. Darbus), and Matilda (Amanda Thripp). She is grateful for everyone who has helped bring this show to life, and would especially like to thank her castmates, the incredible Katie, and everyone on the production team! Lauren’s high school superlative was Most Likely to Destroy the Patriarchy.

Millie Walsh (Izzy) Is a second year Biochemistry major. As a member of UT, she has previously been a part of If/Then, Our Town, 35mm, and Antigone: The Burden of Burial. Other favorite roles include Hope Cladwell (Urinetown) and Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet). Her senior superlative was and continues to be Most Basement.

Eden Anne Bauer (Sophia) is a fourth-year French and Neuroscience major. This is her first UT show, and she couldn’t be more excited to be part of an original work by our own Katie Keeley! You can usually find her in her research lab; rehearsals for Aag, UChicago’s South Asian Fusion a cappella group; writing a song; or trying out a new recipe. Her high school superlative would probably be “Most Likely to Host Her Own Cooking Show” or “Most Likely to Make a Friend Along the Way.”

Tricia Ho (Ryan) Tricia Ho (Ryan) is a second-year molecular engineering & economics double major. She would like to thank the cast, crew, and creative team for making this such a fun and welcoming process!

Abigail Ngan (Pippa)

Ash Kim (Molly) is a first year triple major in Chemistry, TAPS and Music. This is their first MainStage, and they’re honored to be playing Molly in This Is As Good As It Gets. Previously, they’ve directed and acted in Theater [24], directed a staged reading, played Antigone in The Burden of Burial: Antigone Reimagined, a short play showcase, and performed in the winter pro show, Sharing The Story. They’re also a member of one of UChicago’s a cappella groups, Voices in Your Head! They give their greatest thanks to the cast, crew, and staff, and their friends for forever supporting them and coming to all of their performances. Their high school superlative would be Most Random!

Maggie Banks (Harper) is a second-year MENG major. In UT, she’s been in Our Town (Mrs. Webb), El cepillo de dientes (PM), If/Then (Chorus), and Royal Flush (Cassie). Outside of UT, she’s played such featured roles as a door. Her high school superlative would be “Most likely to derail the conversation with a side tangent about cartoons.”

Antonia Romm (Clare) Antonia is a first-year Astrophysics and Creative Writing major. This is her first UT production but she hopes to be involved in many more. As an alumn of an all-girls school in DC, she hopes to bring honesty to her character. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Production Staff

Katharine Keeley (Director) is a third-year Creative Writing and Public Policy major. Her previous UT mainstage credits include Spelling Bee (VD), 35mm (AVD), and If/Then (Chorus). She also serves on UT Committee. She’d like to thank basement practice rooms, her notes app, and everyone in the company for taking a leap on new work and having infinite patience with her as she figured out what she was doing. Her real life high school “in 20 years…” was that she turned into a mermaid and is working on her fifth novel, both of which she still hopes will happen.

Maya Miller (Production Manager) Maya is a second-year Cognitive Science major. She has worked on The Arsonists (ASM), Cactus Flower (PM), and Our Town (PM) and she is PMing This is as Good as it Gets! Her high school superlative would be The Most Likely to Get Lost.

Amalia Benghiat (Stage Manager) Amalia is a second-year Linguistics and Comparative Human Development double major and Chemistry minor. Her UT credits are If/Then (fall ‘24/winter ‘25) (ASM), 35mm A musical Exhibition (spring ‘25) (ASM), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (fall ‘25/winter ‘26) (Stage Manager). She is excited to be part of this brand-spaking-new, never-seen-before production! Her senior superlative was “most aura,” but according to Google AI Overview, the slang term “aura” only really went viral summer ‘24, and her superlative was issued late spring ‘24, so she’s not entirely sure those in charge knew what it meant, and fears if they could go back in time, they might have not actually agree she has the “most aura.”

Sebastian Altomare (Music Director & Keyboard) is a second-year Linguistics/Computer Science major and TAPS minor. His UT/TAPS credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Music Director / Keyboard); 35mm: A Musical Exhibition (Cello); If/Then (Assistant Music Director / Bass); the 2026 B.A. Thesis Joelle & Katy’s Musical Showcase; the 2025 B.A Theses Fresco (Piano) and The White City (Piano); Outside of UT, he can be found performing around campus with the Dirt Red Brass Band. My high school superlative would be Most Likely to Never Miss Saturday Morning Brunch.

Elisa Gao (Scenic Designer, Props Designer) is a third-year Astrophysics and TAPS major. She designed costumes for Swan Lake (Ballet), Pericles, Giselle (Ballet), As Y’all Like It, Coppélia (Ballet), 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, Sylvia (Ballet), Royal Flush, and Falsettos (Asst.). She worked on scenic design for Red Rex, The Tempest, Troilus and Cressida (Asst.), and Royal Flush. She performed as an ensemble member in the TAPS pro show Happy Birthday Mars Rover and On the Back of Before. She is also a dancer, stager, and Creative Director of UBallet.

Evan Stuart (Costume Designer) is a first-year Media Arts & Design major. He has previously worked on Our Town (Assistant Costume Designer), Red Rex (Assistant Director), and El Cepillo de Dientes (Costume Designer). His high school superlative would be “most likely to join UT in college and have no answer to a bio question”.

Max Jervis (Lighting Designer) is a third year physics and philosophy major with a visual arts minor. He is thrilled to be doing lighting for TIAGIG and wishes the best of luck to the cast and other crew members. This is his fourth time doing lighting for UT with previous credits: Weekend of Workshops Winter ‘24, If/Then Winter ‘25, We’re Live Fall ‘25, and now TIAGIG Spring ‘26. He’s also done lighting for UBallet’s Giselle and Swan Lake! Enjoy the show!

Jack Zirin-Hyman (Co-Sound Designer) is a first-year mathematics and music double major. He has previously worked on As Y’all Like It (Assistant Sound Designer), El Cepillo de Dientes (Sound Designer), and The Burden of Burial (Sound Designer). His high school superlative would be “Most likely to be bitten by a squirrel in college”!

Sam Doepker (Co-Sound Designer)

August Petry (Dramaturg)

Faer Son (Assistant Director)

Millie Walsh (Assistant Vocal Director) Is a second year Biochemistry major. As a member of UT, she has previously been a part of If/Then, Our Town, 35mm, and Antigone: The Burden of Burial. Other favorite roles include Hope Cladwell (Urinetown) and Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet). Her senior superlative was and continues to be Most Basement.

Charlie Carden (Assistant Stage Manager) is a first-year Psychology and TAPS major. This is his fourth UT show. They worked on Our Town(Assistant Stage Manager), The Burden of Burial (Scenic and Props Designer), Pericles (Assistant Stage Manager). Outside of UT, his theater experience includes Mamma Mia (Stage Manager), Our Place (Stage Manager), Legally Blonde (Assistant Stage Manager), Keepers at the Edge of the Sea (Director), and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Stage Manager). His high school superlative was most likely to be the voice of reason.

Will Rehmus (UT Committee Liaison)