who’s who at fft
Andrew Cutler, Artistic Producer †
he/him/his
Andrew Cutler is the Artistic Producer and a co-founder of First Floor Theater. As Artistic Producer, Andrew has helped put up productions of The Secretaries, Botticelli in the Fire, and Hatefuck, and is currently producing Pro-Am and In His Hands for FFT’s 11th season. He also helped create and currently produces the Blueprint Commission. In early 2019, he was named one of the Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago for his work with FFT. Elsewhere, Andrew is the Executive Director and an Instructor at Black Box Acting Studio, a volunteer and an organizer at the Northwestside Solidarity Network, and has been a Lecturer at the University of Chicago. As an actor, he has appeared in many productions at FFT, as well as in productions at Actors Theatre of Louisville, A Red Orchid Theatre, The Artistic Home, and The Sound.
Anastar Alvarez, Director of Production
they/them/theirs
Anastar Alvarez is a self and community taught puppeteer, stage, and production manager born and raised in Chicago. Anastar began at FFT as a stage manager then transitioned to production management. As Director of Production they have helped produce Hatefuck and is currently producing Pro-Am and In His Hands as a part of FFT’s 11th season. They have had the pleasure to work with other companies such as The Sound, Free Street Theater, Concrete Content, The Fly Honey Show, The Chicago International Puppet Festival, 2nd Story, and the Chicago Children’s Theater. They are committed to creating equitable, safe, and inviting collaboration space.
Amanda Fink, Managing Director †
she/her/hers
Amanda Fink is a Chicago-based actor and educator. On stage, she has had the pleasure of working with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Court Theatre, Sideshow Theatre Company, and First Floor Theater, where she is a founding member. In early 2019, she was named one of the Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago in Newcity Stage for her work with FFT. Amanda is a co-owner and Creative Director of Black Box Acting. Originally from Los Angeles, Amanda relocated to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago. She holds degrees in Theater and Performance Studies and English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago. More at amandacfink.com.
Alexander Paredes-Ruíz, Marketing Manager
he/him/él
Alexander "Alex" Paredes-Ruíz is a Chicago-based writer, creative, and cultural worker from Miami, FL, focusing on theater, race, and popular culture, particularly in performance and aesthetics. He is the Marketing Manager at First Floor Theater and supports teaching in Latinx culture as an M.A. student in Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Alex is developing his master’s thesis on pan-ethnic Latinx theatre and Latinidad. He has previously received T. Howard Foundation Final Talent Pool and 4A’s MAIP fellowships alongside a Studio Theatre apprenticeship. Past affiliated organizations include Chicago Latino Theatre Alliance, Steppenwolf, Americans for the Arts, and Actors Playhouse. Alex holds degrees in Theatre Arts Management and History from Ithaca College. www.apareruiz.com
Shelbi Weaver, Production Manager
she/her/hers
Shelbi Weaver is an actor, stage manager, and improvisor based in Chicago. She attended the University of Northern Colorado, where she received a B.F.A. in Acting. Post-Grad, she moved out to the city and has been an involved member of the artistic community ever since. She recently worked as a production assistant with Night Out in the Parks, where she collaborated with local theaters, musicians, and artists to bring hundreds of free shows to our city’s parks. She’s had the pleasure of working for FFT before as a Stage Manager for their Blueprint Commission series. Her recent film credits include McKenzie McCoy and D*cks. She currently works as an in-house stage manager at iO Improvisational Theatre.
First Floor Theater staffing is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
COMPANY MEMBERS
Aurora Adachi-Winter (she/her/hers)
Sid Branca (they/them/theirs)
Mikael Burke (he/him/his)
Alexis Carrie (she/her/hers) †
Caroline Chu (she/her/hers)
Kate Cornelius-Schecter (she/her/hers) †
Micah Figueroa (he/him/his)
Markie Gray (she/her/hers)
Hanna Kime (she/her/hers)
Caitlin McCarthy (she/her/hers)
Gracie Meier (she/they)
Catherine Miller (they/them/theirs)
Hutch Pimentel (they/he)
Omer Abbas Salem (he/they)
Griffin Sharps (he/him/his)
Claire Stone (she/her/hers)
Cole von Glahn (he/him/his)
† denotes founding member
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Riane Kerwin (she/her/hers), President
Bunge Limited, Booth School of Business @ The University of Chicago
Andres Fonseca (he/him/his), Treasurer
Guaranteed Rate
Maria Laftchiyska Schwartz (she/her/hers),
Levin Schreder & Carey, LTD
Lee Barrington Stark (she/her/hers)
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
Ian Williams (he/him/his)
Associate Director of Academic Advising, Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy