Jordan Tannahill (he/him) is a Canadian writer and director. He has been described as being ‘widely celebrated as one of Canada’s most accomplished young playwrights, filmmakers and all-around multidisciplinary artists’ (Toronto Star), and ‘the enfant terrible of Canadian theatre’ (Libération). His plays have been translated into ten languages and widely honored in Canada and abroad. He has twice received a Governor General's Literary Award – in 2014 for Age of Minority: Three Solo Plays, and in 2018 for his plays Botticelli in the Fire and Sunday in Sodom. His plays, performance texts and productions have been presented at venues including The Young Vic Theatre (London), Sadler's Wells (London), The Kitchen (NYC), Festival d'Avignon (Avignon), The Lincoln Centre (NYC), The Deutsches Theater (Berlin), The Volkstheater (Vienna), The National Arts Centre of Canada (Ottawa), Woolly Mammoth Theatre (Washington, D.C.) and on London's West End. He is the author of Theatre of the Unimpressed, a book of essays on theatre. His debut novel Liminal, a work of autofiction, was named one of the best Canadian novels of 2018 by CBC Books and won France’s 2021 Prix des Jeunes Libraires. His second novel, The Listeners, has just been published by HarperCollins. His virtual reality performance Draw Me Close, produced by the National Theatre (UK) and the National Film Board of Canada, was presented at the Tribeca Film Festival and Venice Biennale in 2017, and ran at London's Young Vic Theatre in January 2019. Jordan has also worked in dance, choreographing and performing with Christopher House in Marienbad for the Toronto Dance Theatre, and writing the text for Akram Khan's dance pieces Xenos and Outwitting the Devil, both currently touring internationally. From 2012 – 2016, in collaboration with William Ellis, Jordan ran the alternative art space Videofag out of their home in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighbourhood. Over the four years of its operation, Videofag became an influential hub for queer and avant-garde work in Canada.

Bo Frazier (they/them) is a trans non-binary, queer, and neurodivergent theatre maker interested in new work that tells traditionally excluded narratives in extremely imaginative ways. They are so incredibly excited to be making their Chicago directing debut with First Floor! Since moving to Chicago in 2021, they have worked with Sideshow Theatre, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, BoHo Theatre, Filament Theatre, Mudlark Theatre and was one of nine remaining full-time staff members fighting for Victory Gardens Theater to stay alive. Favorite directing and choreography projects include: Hit The Wall by Ike Holter, Men on Boats by Jaclyn Backhaus, Love & Information by Caryl Churchill, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens, Bright Star the musical, as well as new play productions by Dakota Parobek, C. Meaker, Leigh M. Marshall and KT Peterson. Previously based in NYC and London, Bo has worked with companies such as The National Theatre (UK), Birmingham Rep (UK), Greenwich Theatre (UK), Signature Theatre (NYC), Dixon Place (NYC), Rutgers University (NJ), Theatre167 (NYC), Heartbeat Opera (NYC), Indiana Repertory Theatre (IN) and London Theatre Workshop Off-West End (UK), which they co-founded. They hold an MFA in Directing from University of Iowa alongside the Iowa Playwright’s Workshop and trained with SITI company. This winter, Bo will be directing an all trans and gender non-conforming production of tick, tick…BOOM! with BoHo Theater. www.bofrazier.com

Dionne Addai (she/they) is an actor, writer, director, and teaching artist local to Chicago. Their artistic practice centers on educating in order to encourage political action and mutual aid. As a director, she’s worked on Meeting Our Desires, and Sexuality Out Loud. Recent acting credits include Nina Simone: Four Women (Merrimack Repertory Theatre), The Secret yes (Filament Theatre), Eclipsed (Pegasus/Theater on the Lake), and We are Pussy Riot (Red Tape Theatre). For information on her teaching artist work, check out icah.org/fyi. She is represented by Actor’s Talent Group.

Hilary Rubio (she/her) is thrilled to be making her design debut at First Floor Theatre. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she has made Chicago her home since 2019. Her accolades include working for Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Santa Fe Opera, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Chicago Mascot Company. She studied Theatre Costume Design and Construction at the University of Evansville.

Oswald Avile (he/him) is excited to be working with First Floor on this production with an amazing team. Born and raised in Chicago, Oswald has been working in theatre since high school. Past work includes Tatjana in Color (Prologue Theatre Co), Fefu and Her Friends (Halcyon Theatre), The River (BoHo Theatre), and Hersel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog Theatre). In his spare time, Oswald works in healthcare.

Lauren M. Nichols’ (she/her) design credits include Tiger Style (Writers Theatre); Rose (Renaissance Theaterworks) ; In Every Generation (Victory Gardens); Lighthouses in the Desert (Glass Apple); Falstaff (DePaul Opera); Gloria (UIC); The Pillowman (The Gift); Always Patsy Cline, Queen of the Mist (Firebrand); P.Y.G (Jackalope); Big Fish (Boho); and A Scientific Method (Rivendell). She is a resident designer at Harper College and Northbrook’s Theatre for Young Audiences. As an assistant she has worked with Julliard, St. Louis Opera, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Milwaukee Rep, The Alliance, and Oregon Shakes. She teaches drafting and digital design at The Theatre School - DePaul University. Upcoming projects include Anna in the Tropics (Remy Bumppo) and Cinderella (Village Theatre Seattle). MFA Northwestern. Laurenangeldesigns.com

Caitlin McCarthy (she/her/hers) is a multi-disciplinary artist with emphases in costume design, prop design and visual art. Recent design credits include costume and props design for The Gulf (About Face Theatre), props design and set dressing for Every Brilliant Thing and The Recommendation (Windy City Playhouse), props design for the upcoming Sophisticated Ladies (Porchlight Music Theatre), costumes and set textiles for The Late Wedding (The Neighborhood Theatre) & costume and production design for Nire Nah’s music video, Citizens of Atlantis. She production designed The Care and Keeping of You, a short film by Nina Slesinger and Sammy Zeisel and will design costumes for the upcoming short The Last Stand of Bobby Coe. She is the Director of Production of First Floor Theater and a producer for the Chicago arm of Means of Productions, a video production company that works to bring resources to Chicago artists who want to make low-budget short films.

Learn more about Caitlin’s work at caitlinmccarthy.net.

Willow James (he/him) is a Chicagoland-based theatre artist, photographer, and content creator. He is passionate about new works and amplifying the voices of historically underserved communities– which influence his careers in acting, directing, and sound design. Excited and grateful to be working with First Floor for the first time, Willow’s most recent credits include Magnolia Ballet (Alleyway Theatre), The Clinic Audio Series (Congo Square Theatre), and cullud wattah (Victory Gardens Theater). He is an Artistic Associate and Resident Sound Designer at Artemisia Theatre and is represented by Dream Team Talent Agency. Willow-james.org.

Benjamin Carne (he/him) is a freelance lighting designer and electrician based in Chicago. Ben’s post-pandemic professional credits include lighting design for It Came From Outer Space (TheatreSquared); The Grelley Duval Show; Notes and Letters (Underscore Theatre) and Hertha Nova (Impostors Theatre). As well as assistant lighting design for It Came From Outer Space (Chicago Shakespeare); Body Movement Series (Fever Productions); Sons of Hollywood (Windy City Playhouse). His work has also been seen in Chicago at Strawdog, Prop Thtr and Jackalope. Ben is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. A portfolio of his work can be found at: bcarnedesign.com.

Andres Fonseca (he/him) is honored to participate in this process. He has been involved with First Floor Theater in some way or another since 2014. He thanks his lovely wife Nora for making sure the vocal parts can be sung by humans. He thanks his wonderful son for staying asleep as we worked out the harmony.

Anastar Alvarez (they/them/theirs) is an artist, stage manager, and dog trainer based in Chicago. Previous stage management credits with FFT include Refrigerator, I’m Gonna Pray for You So Hard, Sugar in Our Wounds, and Vape Naysh. They have also had the pleasure of working on Red Bowl at the Jeffs with The Sound, Meet Juan(ito) Doe and The Real Life Adventures of Jimmy de las Rosas with Free Street Theatre, and Wake Up! Brother Bear and Little Jams with The Chicago Children’s Theatre. Anastar is self and community taught and is grateful for all those who have helped them along the way

Neala Barron (she/her) is excited to make her FFT debut! Favorite credits include Merrily We Roll Along, A Funny Thing.., Chicago Sings (Porchlight Music Theatre); 110 In the Shade - Jeff Nomination for Principal Performer, Marie Christine (Boho Theatre); Queen of the Mist (Firebrand Theatre); Ragtime, Titanic (Griffin Theatre Company); Adding Machine (The Hypocrites); Hello Again (Theo Ubique); Assassins, The Full Monty (Kokandy Productions) and other projects with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Circle Theatre, BPB Co., The Inconvenience, Raven Theatre, GRSF, and more. TV credits include Chicago Med (NBC), Night Sky (Amazon).

Yuchi Chiu (he/him) is excited to make his First Floor debut! Chicago credits include Drive-in to the End of the World (Sideshow Theatre); Exercise Your Demons (Victory Gardens Theater); It’s a Wonderful Life (American Blues Theater); How We Navigate Space (Strawdog Theatre); The Miscellany (The Passage Theatre); Baked! The Musical (Underscore Theatre). Film credits include BJ’s Mobile Gift Shop (Sundance Film Festival). Yuchi is a graduate of and teacher at Black Box Acting Studio and is proudly represented by DDO Artists Agency.

Andrew Cutler (he/him) is very glad to be returning to the stage with First Floor Theater, his artistic home in Chicago. Select acting credits include Always Nothing Else, Plano, Killed a Man (Joking), Hooded, or Being Black For Dummies, Refrigerator (First Floor Theater), We're Gonna Be Okay (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Red Bowl at the Jeffs (The Sound), and Solstice (A Red Orchid Theatre). In addition to his work as an actor, Andrew is the Artistic Producer at First Floor Theater, and an acting teacher and the Executive Director at Black Box Acting in Chicago. More at andrewlcutler.com.

Christopher Meister (he/him) is a Chicago-based actor and quite happy to be working with First Floor for the first time. Chris has worked with some of Chicago’s finest theatres, plays include Mother Road (Goodman), Queen (u/a-Victory Gardens), Trust (Lookingglass), Warriors (Gift), Yellowface (Silk Road Rising), Under Construction (Jackalope), and the world-famous Second City. Chris’s film/TV credits including Clarence in Apple+’s Shining Girls, The Life of David Gale, Chicago Fire, Empire, The Chi, and as ASA Lake on NBC’s Chicago P.D. Chris is also an award-winning filmmaker with films playing at Telluride, Sundance, Slamdance, Hamptons, Austin, and SXSW. Big thanks to Grossman Jack Talent & all love to Eviecakes.

Alex Benito Rodriguez (he/him) is dripping with delight to be making his First Floor Theater debut! Chicago credits include: The Brink!, A Persephone Pageant, Monuments, Mother of Smoke (Walkabout Theater Company). Regional Theatre: Gruesome Playground Injuries, The Crucible, Noises Off, Our Town, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Asolo Rep). Film: The Hairy Ape, Left to Live, Hits n’ Clips. Television: Chicago Fire. Education: MFA, FSU/Asolo Conservatory. For Actor Training; BFA, The University of Illinois at Chicago. Special thanks to the team at Big Mouth Talent and to Michael, his muse.

Jenece Upton (Madre Maria; She/Her) is thrilled to be making her First Floor Theater debut! As a Chicago-based actress and vocalist, she has appeared in several stage productions throughout the area. Some of her recent credits include Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (Metropolis Arts); Fences, Too Heavy For Your Pocket (Harper Ensemble Theatre); and Children of Eden (Devonshire Playhouse). Jenece would like to thank her family and friends for their unending support, and in the future, looks forward to the opportunity to continue to tell compelling and diverse stories on stage.

John Payne (they/them) is gratified to be making their First Floor debut in Jordan Tannahill’s Botticelli in the Fire. A Chicago-based performer, Payne is excited to return to the stage, working alongside some of Chicago’s newest and most collaborative minds. Coming off a most recent run as Viola in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (Midsommer Flight), Payne is ready to take on portraying the truly iconic Leonardo da Vinci. They hope to bring life and truth to this remarkable show’s Chicago debut.

Annie Beaubien (she/her) is thrilled to be working with First Floor Theater for the first time! She is a Chicago-based theatre artist with a B.A. in Theatre and Biological Sciences from Northwestern University. Recent credits include Urinetown, The SpongeBob Musical (Surging Films & Theatrics); Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Music Theater Works); The Wizard of Oz (AlphaBet Soup Productions); SHOUT! The Mod Musical, A Christmas Carol (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre); and Ranger Tales (Improv Playhouse). This fall, you can also find Annie performing in The Three Little Pigs with Chicago Kids Company! Much love to her family, friends, and teachers!

Mitchell Reid (they/them) is simply thrilled to be working with First Floor Theater for the first time, no less for being very much an 11th hour addition to the team! They are a Chicago-based actor but have also appeared in plays and movies in Indiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Recent credits include Pro-Am (Sideshow Theatre Company), American Yu (Prologue Theatre), and Labyrinth (Broken Nose Theatre). They are currently seeking both professional representation and a date to a wedding next month.

Gardy Gilbert (he/him) is thrilled to be working with First Floor Theater for the first time! He is a Chicago-based theatre artist. He is a graduate from Ball State University from their Acting BFA program. Some of his most recent credits include The Aliens (Directed by Brent Ervin-Eickhoff); Remote (BoHo Theatre); Scary Stories: Are You Afraid and Dark Web (Random Acts Chicago); and Try to Be (La Vuelta Ensemble). He is incredibly thankful for the never ending support from his friends and family. @gardigras

Elliot Sagay (he/him) is overjoyed to work on this incredible play with First Floor Theater. Recent Chicago credits: The Hungry Ghost Festival (Lifeline Theatre), The Magnolia Ballet (About Face Theatre), The Givens (Theatre L’Acadie). He appeared on TV in Chicago Med this spring. Elliot is also an avid playwright. His most recent play, The Last White Rhinoceros, received a workshop/reading in the 2019 Agnes Nixon Play Festival. Beyond the arts, he enjoys cooking and soccer. He is represented by Big Mouth Talent Agency. B.A. Northwestern University

Dame Grant (he/him) is a recent graduate of The Academy at Black Box Acting Studio. Recent credits include One Thousand Words: A New Musical (Theater Wit). Previously training includes The Annoyance Theater and The Second City. Dame holds a B.A in Theater from Beloit College.

Ua Smith (They/She) is extremely excited to be collaborating with First Floor Theater. This is their first show post-graduation and they could not be more thrilled for you to see their work. They encourage you to have a great time and thank you for supporting this production. Recent credits include Hit the Wall, Twelfth Night, Angels in America (Northern Illinois University)