PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

J. NICOLE BROOKS she/they (Director) is multi-disciplinary artist based in Chicago. Brooks’ practice includes acting, directing, playwriting, screenwriting, movement, fashion, athletics and educational outreach. As a theatre artist Brooks is an ensemble member and Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence at the Tony Award winning Lookingglass Theatre Company. As a playwright and librettist Brooks has created original and adapted works including Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten, Fedra Queen of Haiti, HeLa, Black Moon Lilith, Rainbow Beach, 1919 and the award winning Her Honor Jane Byrne. Brooks has also served as director and associate director mounting successful regional theatre productions. Career honors include TCG Fox Foundation, 3Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, American 2021 Steinberg/ American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award and the Chicago Public Library Foundation 21st Century Award. Brooks has been featured in theatrical productions at Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass, Court Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Theatre at Boston Court. Television and film credits include guest and recurring roles on Chicago Fire (NBC), Emperor of Ocean Park (MGM), South Side (MAX), Power Book IV (Starz), CANDYMAN (Monkeypaw Productions), and the critically acclaimed chapter four of Fargo (FX Network) starring opposite Chris Rock. @doctaslick

SHOKIE TSEUMAH (Scenic design) is a scenic designer and props director residing in Chicago. They graduated from The Theatre School @ DePaul University with a BFA in Set Design, minor in Animation, and concentrated studies in both Props and Production Design. Recent credits include Rabbits in Their Pockets (Scenic and Properties Design) at Lifeline Theatre, Memorabilia (Properties Design) by Teatro Vista, and Both (Properties Design) by Teatro Vista. They have a love of story-telling and strive to spread a little bit of whimsy and laughter in every project. You can view their work at shokietseumah.com

RUEBEN D. ECHOLES he/him (Wardrobe design) is an accomplished playwright, director, choreographer, illustrator, costume and wig designer. He has had the pleasure of working with many theater companies across the country and in the Chicagoland area.  His most recent projects include: Wig Design – A Bronx Tale at The Rev Theater (NY) Smoke at TTO (Boston), Tartuffe at Cleveland Playhouse, Covenant at Goodman Theater (Associate), Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom at The Goodman Theatre (Associate), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at Indiana Repertory Theatre, Hello Dolly at Olney Theater Center, Dreamgirls at Paramount Aurora & North Carolina Theatre Company, Sister Act & Women of Soul (Jeff nomination for Artistic Specialization) at Mercury Theater, Fat Ham at Cleveland Playhouse, Stokely & Lion in Winter at Court Theatre, Costume Design: How I Learned What I Learned at Congo Square Theater, A Lot to Unpack at Eta Creative Arts, Fela at Olney Theater Center, The Color Purple at Pheonix Theater Company, You Cant Fake The Funk at Black Ensemble Theater (Jeff award winner Best Costume Design Large). Rueben has also designed costumes for 4 Episodes for WTTW’s Chicago Stories docu- series, two of which (Ida B. Wells and The History of Gospel) have won Emmys for best production. Rueben would like to Thank Christ his Savior for Everything!

JASON LYNCH (Lighting design) is a Chicago-based lighting designer for theatre, dance, opera, and other live performance art, and he makes his American Blues Theater debut with this production. Additional Chicago credits include work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, TimeLine Theatre Company, Writers Theatre, among others. Recent regional credits include work with Arena Stage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Geva Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Old Globe, and Signature Theatre. Jason was the recipient of the 2022 Equity Jeff Award for his work on Choir Boy at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the 2019 Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award, which recognizes emerging theatrical designers in the Chicago area. He is represented by The Gersh Agency. jasondlynch.com. Instagram: @jasonlynch.design.

WILLOW JAMES (Sound design) is a Chicago-based arts leader, DJ, and multidisciplinary artist working in photography, sound design, and composition. He uses art as a platform for community healing and work that uplifts Black identity–building spaces where art and purpose meet. He currently serves as Civic Engagement Director at Definition Theatre (where he is also an ensemble member), a teaching artist with Court Theatre and Adjunct Faculty at DePaul University. Chicago: You Will Get Sick (Steppenwolf Theatre); Fat Ham (Goodman Theatre/Definition Theatre); A Raisin in the Sun (Court Theatre); The Hot Wing King (Writers Theatre); Hymn (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Regional: American Players Theatre, TheatreSquared, Next Act Theatre, Alleyway Theatre, and others. Representation: Michael Moore Agency. worksbywillow.com | @worksbywillow

BREON ARZELL (Movement director) CHICAGO: Out Here (Court Theatre), The Color Purple (Goodman), Black Excellence Shows & Main Stage Revue (The Second City), American Psycho, The Wiz, Head Over Heels (Kokandy Prod.), Brothers Size, We ARE Proud… (Steppenwolf), & more. REGIONAL: Select: Signature Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, MUNY, The Kennedy Center, Olney Theatre Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. INTERNATIONAL: Italy: A.C.L.E. Theatrino; Germany: White Horse Theatre; Denmark: World Theater Festival; Singapore: LaSalle SIA. EDUCATION: DePaul University, Northwestern University, University of Illinois-Chicago. FILM/TV: The 4400, SouthSide, Whole + Six Feet Apart, Blacksite. AWARDS: 5 Jeff Awards (Joseph Jefferson, Chicago), 2 Black Theater Alliance Awards, Helen Hayes Award for Best Choreography;  www.breonarzell.com @breonarzell

TYSON CARTER (Properties design) is a proud artistic affiliate of American Blues Theater and is thrilled to be back for his fourth production with Blues. Previous American Blues credits include Always… Patsy Cline, Come Back, Little Sheba, and Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues. When he’s not hunting for the perfect prop, Tyson helps students find their voice as an Assistant Coach for the Cary-Grove Speech Team. He sends endless thanks to his incredible wife, Sarah, for 25 years of love, patience, and putting up with his ever-growing collection of “stuff” and to his sons Declan and Phineas for enthusiastically joining him on countless thrift-store adventures.

RICHARD LUNDY (Production Stage Manager) is a proud artistic affiliate of American Blues Theater, having stage managed all productions since the 2023 production of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!. Other Chicago credits include: Raven Theatre: Night Watch. Theater Wit: The Whistleblower. Mercury Theater: Clue. Venus Cabaret: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Company. Timeline Theater: Paradise Blue, The Last Wife, Sunset Baby. Levin Productions: Assassination Theater. Next Theatre:16 productions including The Adding Machine: A Chamber Musical (World Premiere). Writers’ Theatre: Oh Coward!, The Maids. Also: Famous Door, Porchlight, Hypocrites, Northlight, Remains, Victory Gardens, Organic, Halstead Theatre, Wisdom Bridge. National tours: Miss Saigon (First National Company: Cameron Mackintosh). I Love Lucy Live! (David George). Regional: Olney Theatre Center: Miss You Like Hell, Oil. Also: Trinity Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Shakespeare & Company, Folger Shakespeare. 2026 will mark his 40th anniversary as a member of Actors’ Equity, and the 34th as the husband of the remarkable Carmel Carroll.

MICHAEL TRUDEAU (Lighting Supervisor / Facilities Manager) is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater.  Past Blues credits include Lighting Design for Always…Patsy Cline, Misery, Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight, Lead Electrician for Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues and Come Back, Little Sheba, and Technical Director for It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (2015-2017, 2021-2025), The Last Wide Open, Little Shop of Horrors, and Side Man, among others. Other recent credits include Lighting Design for Admissions and A Jukebox for the Algonquin at Citadel Theater.  Outside of American Blues, he works full time at Northwestern University as the Associate Lighting and Sound Supervisor for the Wirtz Center. Thank you for your support of the arts and enjoy the show!

TREVOR HANNAGAN (Technical Director) Trevor’s experience in the theater stretches back over 15 years, all the way to his middle school days. Since graduating from the Sargent Conservatory at Webster University in 2020, Trevor has been busy applying his TD skills across Chicago, working mostly on preservation projects in places like the Chicago Cultural Center and the Art Institute of Chicago. Now going back to his roots, Trevor is very excited to be back with American Blues Theater and is looking forward to dedicating his skills to such a lovely company.

LILY WALLS (Wardrobe supervisor) is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater. Other Chicago companies she has worked with have included Haven (Science Fiction/Double Feature, Titus Andronicus), Midsummer Flight (Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Akvavit (Bad Girls, Rising Temperatures, Family Drama) and City Lit (Hound of the Baskervilles). She would like to thank her friends, family and community for the support and renewal they give, her husband Michael for everything, and August for being a continuing fount of inspiration and joy.

MANNY BUCKLEY (Assistant Producer) is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater. He is a Chicago based director, actor and writer. Manny last directed August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, which won the 2024 Non Equity Jeff Award for best production, at City Lit Theatre. Other directing credits include Driving Miss Daisy, The Bad Seed (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center) Kingdom, an audio play (Broken Nose Theatre); and The One Minute Play Festival. Additional acting credits outside of American Blues include work with Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Court, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Next Theater, House Theatre, Shattered Globe Theater, Cincinnati Children’s Theatre and Studio Theatre. Film and TV credits: Proven Innocent, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and commercials and industrial films for the US Navy, Northwestern University and The Onion. Mr. Buckley has received nominations for the Joseph Jefferson Award, the Helen Hayes Award and the 3Arts Award; he is the recipient of both a Black Theater Alliance Award and Black Excellence Award. Manny returns to City Lit Theatre in the fall to direct August Wilson’s King Hedley II.

EL VALET – they/them (Assistant Stage Manager) is a proud artistic affiliate of American Blues Theater. They are a Chicago based stage manager and technician. Recent credits include Always…Patsy Cline; Come Back, Little Sheba; Things With Friends (American Blues Theater); Sister Act (Drury Lane Theatre); Lobby Hero, Jump (Shattered Globe); Ironbound, Brother Sister Cyborg Space, Night Watch (Raven Theater); and Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale (Oak Park Festival Theatre).

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