DAWN BACH (Chicago, 1993) Recently performed in ABT’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH! Next she’ll perform in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
ED BLATCHFORD (Los Angeles, 1985, Co-Founding Member) Currently resides in Los Angeles.
MATTHEW BRUMLOW (Chicago, 2001) Currently starring in NOBODY LONESOME FOR ME, a solo show about Hank Williams Sr., at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Next he’ll perform in THE 39 STEPS at Indiana Repertory Theatre and shoot the independent film ADJOINING ROOMS in Austin, Texas.
KATE BUDDEKE (New York, 1988) Currently performing in The New Electric Ballroom at A Red Orchid Theater. Next she’ll perform in Rantoul and Die, here at American Blues Theater.
SARAH BURNHAM (Chicago, 2011) Production Manager for ABT. Recently collaborated, worked, and designed props for LAKE BOAT at Steep Theater, THE REGINA TAYLOR PROJECT: STATE(S) OF AMERICA at Northwestern University, CHICAGO LANDMARK PROJECT at Theater Seven. Next she’ll design props for RANTOUL AND DIE, here at American Blues Theater.
CASEY CAMPBELL (Los Angeles, 2008) Currently in national commercials for Hyundai, Radio Shack, and multiple spots for Cable One in the Southwestern states. He’s writing a project for Logolite Entertainment, independently producing a new “social media” sitcom, and developing a young-adult adventure script for Universal Pictures.
BRIAN CLAGGETT (Chicago, 2011) Recently built sets for JAILBAIT and REASONS TO BE PRETTY for Profiles Theatre. Currently he’s a Production Assistant on WHITE NOISE. Next he’ll design lights for AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECT ONE ACTS and RANTOUL AND DIE, here at American Blues Theater.
RICK CLEVELAND (Los Angeles, 1985, Co-Founding Member) Writer’s Guild, Golden Globe, and Emmy Award Winning writer/producer whose credits include THE WEST WING, SIX FEET UNDER, NURSE JACKIE, & MAD MEN. He is currently working on a mini-series for HBO about Dick Cheney.
DENNIS COCKRUM (Los Angeles, 1988) Recent TV & Film credits include: LAW AND ORDER: LOS ANGELES, HARRY’S LAW, EAGLEHEART, BETTER WITH YOU and a recurring role as Terry Milkovich on Showtime’s SHAMELESS.
LAURA COOVER (Chicago, 2011) Recently appeared in ANOTHER HAPPY DAY, screened at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and the film THE HOUSE OF PURGATORY.
LAURI DAHL (Chicago, 1995) Continues to attend new play readings and festivals in search of dynamic new works for American Blues Theater. Next she’ll attend the Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre in Louisville.
TOM GERATY (Des Moines, 1993) Recently in THE SEAFARER at StageWest Theater and continues to edit his feature film ASH.
CHERYL GRAEFF (Chicago, 2002) Currently appears in three national commercials for Netflix as Mrs. Wrightnow. Next she’ll perform in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS and Rantoul and Die, here at American Blues Theater.
JACLYN HOLSEY (Chicago, 2011) Recently stage-managed IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH!, here at American Blues Theater. On January 31, 2011, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
LINDSAY JONES (Los Angeles, 1998) Recently designed sound for: THROUGH THE NIGHT at Westside Theatre, NYC; RUINED, SOPHISTICATED LADIES, and A TIME TO KILL at Arena Stage, DC; BOOTYCANDY at Wooly Mammoth, DC; and TITUS ANDRONICUS at Stratford Festival in Canada. He recently won an Ovation Award for his sound design of THROUGH THE NIGHT at Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Next he’ll design sound for RANTOUL AND DIE, here at American Blues Theater.
SAMANTHA C. JONES (Chicago, 2011) Recently designed costumes for ABT’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH! Next she’ll design costumes for RANTOUL AND DIE, here at American Blues Theater.
NAMBI E. KELLEY (Chicago, 2011) Recently returned to the role of HARRIET JACOBS Harriet Jacobs at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, which she originated at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. She recently received her master’s degree from Goddard College and is having her writing showcased at LaMama in New York. She will travel to Tibet this summer for a project for the Singapore Arts Festival. Next she’ll perform in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
KEVIN R. KELLY (Chicago, 1993) Recently played George Bailey in ABT’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH! Next he’ll perform in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
STEVE KEY (Chicago, 2011) Director of Graphic Design for ABT. Recently seen in an episode of CHICAGO CODE. Currently performing in the World Premiere of THE BOYS ROOM at Victory Gardens Theater. Next he’ll perform in CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION at Victory Gardens Theater and AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
ED KROSS (Chicago, 1998) Recently played the Announcer in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH!, here at American Blues Theater. Currently he’s performing with the Second City on Norwegian Cruise lines in the Caribbean.
JAMES LEAMING (Chicago, 1985, Co-Founding Member) Recently starred in THIS WONDERFUL LIFE, a solo show based on the film It’s a Wonderful Life and comprised of 38 characters, at Cleveland Playhouse. Next he’ll perform in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
HEATHER MEYERS (Chicago, 1996) Literary Manager of ABT. Recently directed the staged-reading of BEHIND THE GREEN CURTAIN for the VetArt Project. Currently overseeing more than 500 script submissions for the Blue Ink playwriting contest. Next she’ll direct and curate RIPPED: THE LIVING NEWSPAPER PROJECT and co-produce AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
JOHN MOHRLEIN (Chicago, 1997) Recently played Mr. Potter and Clarence in ABT’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH! Next he’ll appear in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
JIM ORTLIEB (Los Angeles, 1998) Currently in the National Tour of BILLY ELLIOT in Toronto, Canada.
WILLIAM PAYNE (Duluth, Minnesota, 1985, Co-Founding Member) Currently Interim Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Next he’ll teach Theater and Global Change, an on-line continuing education course exploring the various ways that theater tells the story of our rapidly changing world, through the New York Times Knowledge Network.
SUZANNE PETRI (Chicago, 1999) Recently performed the sold out, acclaimed CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH MARLENE at the Pritzker Auditorium at Millennium Park, UNDER MILK WOOD with Bernie Sahlins at the Poetry Center, and the independent film WEDNESDAY’S CHILD. Currently she’s working on DUO, 1 is 1, 2 is MATH, an original musical produced by SuzBo Entertainment and A COUPLE OF CHARACTERS at Maxims Chicago. Next she’ll perform in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.
CARMEN ROMAN (New York, 1991) Currently performing in MADAGASCAR at the Next Theater. Next she’ll perform in CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION at Victory Gardens Theater and BROADWAY BOUND at Drury Lane Theatre.
EDITHA ROSARIO (New Orleans, 2001) Currently attending law school at Tulane.
SARAH ROSS (Chicago, 2011) Recently designed the set for THE 99th MAIN STAGE REVUE at Second City and SEX AND THE SECOND CITY with Second City’s Touring Company. Currently she’s designing props for THIS at Theater Wit. Next she’ll design the set for RANTOUL AND DIE, here at American Blues Theater.
GWENDOLYN WHITESIDE (Chicago, 1998) Producing Artistic Director of ABT. Recently, played Mary Bailey in ABT’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH! Currently she’s participating in new-play workshops at the Goodman Theatre. Next she’ll perform in AMERICAN BLUES—COLLECTED ONE ACTS, here at American Blues Theater.