Brynne Frauenhoffer (she/her) is a Chicago-based playwright. Past full-length productions of her work include Vape Naysh (First Floor Theater, 2020) and Bury Me (Dandelion Theatre, 2019). The Kilroys selected her play Pro-Am (developed with Sideshow Theatre) for inclusion on The List 2020. Other workshops and readings include The Young Ones (First Floor Theater), Synchronicity (Salt Lake Acting Company; also named 2018 Semi-Finalist for the O’Neill Center’s National Playwrights Conference), Pizza Hut Heartbreaker (Commission Theatre Company), and Shitty Christians (Prop Thtr). Brynne’s short plays have been produced by Broken Nose Theatre, MadLab, American Blues Theater, Commission Theatre Company, and the Chicago One-Minute Play Festival.

www.brynnefrau.com

As of February 2024.

Rebecca Willingham (she/her) is a director originally from Charlottesville, Virginia. She is thrilled to return to First Floor Theater, where she previously directed Killed a Man (Joking), in collaboration with The Sound. Recent credits include Seagulls (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Indecent, Do You Feel Anger?, Much Ado About Nothing, and Lemons (x5) at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Rebecca co-founded The Sound with playwright Beth Hyland, and she directed Fleetwood Mac: The Album: The Musical, Seagulls (at Steppenwolf LookOut), Red Bowl at the Jeffs, and other new works with the company. Rebecca received her MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is an alumna of Emerson College, The National Theater Institute, and the Lincoln Center Directors Lab.

As of February 2024.

Kendyl Meyer (they/them)is an actor and stage manager born and raised in Denver, CO. This is their first time working with First Floor Theater and they are stoked to be part of this production. They have stage managed Jeff Award-nominated/winning productions American Psycho: the Musical, Sweeney Todd, and Cruel Intentions: the 90’s musical (Kokandy Prods). Other SM credits include: Two Gentlewomen of Verona, The Rover (Lakeside Shakespeare); Animal Farm, Fire Island, A Touch of Madness (Chicago College of Performing Arts). They send all their love to family back home in the mountains. IG: @kendylmakenzi

Spencer Donovan (he/him) is a Scenic, Projections, and Props designer who works at theaters around the Midwest! He graduated with his master’s degree in scenic design from Indiana University in 2023 and moved to Chicago soon after. He is currently the resident scenic designer at Timber Lake Playhouse for their 2024 summer season. Some of his favorite projects include The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Three Crows Theatre), The SpongeBob Musical (Northbrook Theatre), and The 39 Steps (Timber Lake Playhouse). He’s excited to be working with First Floor Theater for the first time on Pro-Am!

Persephone Lawrence (she/they) is excited to make her design debut at First Floor Theater. Selected regional credits include The Garbologists, Dear Jack Dear Louise (Northlight Theatre); Stew, Rasheeda Speaking (Shattered Globe Theatre); I Banquo, I Cinna the Poet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); and Emma (Lifeline Theatre). They’ve also worked regularly as a properties artisan at Paramount Theatre Aurora, Court Theatre, and Lookingglass Theatre Company amongst others. Persephone studied technical theater at the University of Northern Colorado followed by an apprenticeship in the Steppenwolf Professional Leadership Program 2017/2018 season, and is currently a proud member of the Society for Properties Managers.

Sonia Goldberg (she/they) is a performer, writer, and educator. Recent credits include American Psycho (Kokandy Productions), Pippin (Music Theater Works), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oak Park Festival Theatre), and Once Upon a Mattress (Theo), for which they received a Jeff Award Nomination for Best Performer in a Principal Role. Sonia has also collaborated with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theatre, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, and many more. They wrote Think Fast, Jordan Chase! (Filament Theatre), which had its World Premiere in 2023. They’re a teaching artist with Court Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, and Playmakers Lab, where they are a company member. Visit www.soniagoldberg.com for more.

Josiah Croegaert (he/him) is excited to make his debut at First Floor Theater! His Chicago credits include Mothers (The Gift), Sondheim Tribute Review, Baked!, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Theo Ubique), and Last Hermanos (Red Orchid). He co-designed Topdog/Underdog at Invictus and served as an associate on productions such as What the Constitution Means to Me (Timeline), Threepenny Opera (Theo Ubique), and RENT (Porchlight). A graduate of Columbia College Chicago in 2021. Visit josiahcrodesign.com for more.

Emily Hayman (she/her) is a Chicago-based sound designer and composer. Recent sound design credits include Seagulls (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Measure for Measure (Montana Shakespeare in the Park); A Town Called Progress (Promethean Theatre Ensemble); Extra Yarn, and Dooby Dooby Moo (Lifeline Theatre). Associate sound design for Ride (The Old Globe); Dream Girls (McCarter Theatre Center). Assistant sound design for Winter's Tale (Hartford Stage); POTUS, Describe the Night, Choir Boy, and Seagull (Steppenwolf); New Stages 2022 (Goodman Theatre); Richard III, The Notebook (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Emily received her BFA in Sound Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Samantha Kaufman (she/her) is an intimacy director, fight director, actor, and teaching artist based in Chicago and working internationally. Samantha is a Certified Intimacy Director, teaching artist, and curriculum developer with Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, as well as a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. She is a Jeff Award-nominated fight choreographer and an award-winning actor. Samantha has been a resident artist with Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Prague Shakespeare Company. Regionally, she has worked with theaters such as Lyric Opera of Chicago, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Cleveland Play House, among others. Find out more at SamanthaJKaufman.com.

Caitlin McCarthy (she/her) is a theater and film artist who works in costume design, production design, and producing. As former Director of Production at FFT, she is thrilled to be back home. Costume design credits include The Gulf at About Face Theatre and short films Agora, Stress Fracture, Clambake, and The Last Stand of Bobby Coe. She has designed props for numerous productions across the city including at Raven Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre (may it rest in peace). She produces short films and music videos alongside her creative/life partner, Liv Caldwell, to whom she sends gratitude.

Andy Cahoon (he/him) is excited to join First Floor Theater for this captivating production of Pro-Am. Previous Technical Direction credits include London Road (Shattered Globe Theater; Jeff Award Winner - Best Musical Midsize); How I Learned What I Learned, Welcome to Matteson (Congo Square Theater); The Writer (Steep Theater); When You Awake You Will Remember Everything, Arabia, Arabia! (The Plagiarists); Hamlet, Caveman Play, Indoor Cats, Vinegar Tom (Red Theater). Upcoming projects include Technical Direction for Romeo and Juliet at Oak Park Festival Theater. He wants to thank his partner, Mary, for all of her continued support and love.

Amanda Fink (she/her) is thrilled to be back onstage at FFT. Select Chicago theater credits include POTUS (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Plano, I’m Gonna Pray For You So Hard, peerless (First Floor Theater); Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Court Theatre); Tilikum, Give It All Back (Sideshow Theatre Company). She is a founding member of FFT and a co-owner of Black Box Acting Studio. She holds degrees in Theatre and English from The University of Chicago and is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. More at amandacfink.com.

Jalbelly Guzmán (she/her) is absolutely thrilled to return to First Floor Theater for the world debut of Pro-Am! Her Chicago credits include Killed a Man (Joking) (First Floor Theater), A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), Anna in the Tropics (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company), Measure for Measure (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Romeo & Juliet(a) (Teatro Vista), Laced (About Face Theatre), Virgins (Jackalope Theatre Company). Regional: West Side Story (Encore Musical Theatre Company). TV: Emperor of Ocean Park. Check out www.Jalbelly.com or @Jalbelly on all social media!

David Stobbe (he/him) is thrilled to join the PRO-AM team. His collective, The Tramps, were recent recipients of the CliffDweller's Club Grant, where he completed his artist residency. Recent credits include Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Marriott Theater), Big River (Mercury Theater), The Aliens (Kaliope Theater), Venus in Fur (The Artistic Home), Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes (Story Theater). He's a writer/actor for @freshhell_sketch, and you can catch him in John Mossman's award-winning feature Good Guy with a Gun on Apple TV. Thank you, DDO Chicago, his wife Becky, and dog Thriller.

Jenni M. Hadley (she/her) is absolutely thrilled and eternally grateful to be returning to work with First Floor Theater in the world premiere of Pro Am! Previously, she was last seen in FFT's Polaroid Stories in 2013. Notable Chicago credits include: Verboten, Pinocchio, Hatfield & McCoy (The House Theatre of Chicago); Seagulls: A New Musical (The Sound); The Ruse of Medusa (The Factory); and The Aristophesathon (The Hypocrites). Regional credits include: Pirates of Penzance (Berkeley Repertory Theatre) and Kitty Hawk (Adrienne Arsht Center). Film credits include: Provo. To stay up to date, please visit www.jennimhadley.com! Xx

Brenna DiStasio (she/her) is excited to work with First Floor Theater for the first time. Credits include Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes, Leave Me Alone! (The Story Theatre); Howard's End (Remy Bumppo); The Book of Will (Northlight); Vanya or That's Life! (Rasaka Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, Other Desert Cities (Arizona Theatre Company); How I Learned to Drive, Lend Me a Tenor (Arizona Repertory Theatre). Film and TV credits include Chicago Med, The Chi, Justified City Primeval, Night Sky, Christmas Again, and The Proposal. Brenna is a co-founder and Governing Ensemble member of The Story Theatre. @brenna.distasio

Peter Ferneding (he/him) is elated to be working with First Floor Theater. Since moving to Chicago, he has been seen in Night Watch (Raven Theater), Arabia, Arabia! (The Plagiarists), Clue (Mercury Theatre), Chagall in School (Grippo Stage Co), Antigone (Redtwist Theatre), Outlaws, and How to Kill a Rodent (Avalanche Theatre Co). He is a graduate of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Represented by Talent X Alexander. Much love to the whole cast and crew for sharing their talent, dedication, and hard work. As always, he owes a great deal of gratitude to his friends and family for their continued support.

Kaylah Crosby (she/her) is so very excited to be a part of her first First Floor Theater production! Previous Chicago credits include: Manual Cinema’s A Christmas Carol (u/s) (Writer’s Theatre); Last Night and the Night Before (u/s) (Steppenwolf Theatre); STEW (u/s) (Shattered Globe Theatre); Paris (u/s) (Steep Theatre); As You Like It (Forest Park Theatre Company). Television: Chicago Fire. Education: BFA, UIC School of Theatre and Music.

Alexandria Crawford (she/her) is an actor, teaching artist, and arts activist. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, she’s now based in Chicago. Alexandria’s training includes a B.A. in Theatre Arts and English from Rollins College, and an M.F.A. in Acting from Northwestern University, where she was a member of the inaugural cohort. Some of Alexandria’s most notable credits include Dance Nation (Northwestern University), Much Ado About Nothing (St. Petersburg Shakespeare Festival), and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (American Stage Theatre Company). Alexandria is also an Equity Membership Candidate in Actor’s Equity. For more about Alexandria visit: www.alexandriacrawford.com.

Robby Justiss (he/him) is thrilled to be in his first production with First Floor Theater. He is a graduate of The ACADEMY at Black Box Acting as well as an alumnus of The Second City Film School and West Virginia University. Recent Credits Include: a decrepit Roger Sterling in Ben Crew's Mad Men Returns! at The Lincoln Lodge and as Will in Like a Kite (Eclectic Full Contact Theatre). He'd like to thank his wonderful castmates, wife Murphy, their cat Rainy, and dog Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. He is represented by 10mgmt.

Lizzy Mosher (she/her) is stoked to be working with First Floor! Recent credits include Muted (Red Theater); Wise Guys, Lane Call, Last Night in Karaoke Town (The Factory Theater); Director’s Haven 6 (Haven); The Caucasian Inner Circle (The Conspirators); Sonder (Corn Productions); The Amazing Adventures of Aesop in the Land of Fables (Raven Theatre). Lizzy has a BFA from Chapman University and is a graduate of The ACADEMY with Black Box Acting. Much love to her endlessly supportive family and friends!