What Audiences Are Saying –

“Acting was stupendous, and the set is super too. I’ll be back again!” – Shannon M.

“Perfect combination of humor and thrills!” – Amy C.

“Amazing!” – Mary

“The stage play version of the movie MISERY at American Blues was a chilling and engaging roller coaster ride that left you on the edge from the opening line ’til the end. It was a vibe!” – Mealda B.

“This is perfect for Halloween audiences!” – John R.

“I loved the movie and didn’t how this would compare. It was so different and exceeded my expectations.” – Beth T.

“So proud this is my neighborhood theater! We loved this show.” – Tom & Judy

“This was my 1st play, and now I want to be an actor. Wandachristine is my favorite actress in the world.” – Josh

“[Wandachristine] was exceptional! Thoroughly enjoyed the show. The tech scenes were off the chain.” – M.S.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

STEVE KEY (Paul) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater and Actor’s Equity. He’s thrilled to return to American Blues for Misery.  Most recently he performed in Steppenwolf’s BUG. His last performance with American Blues Theater was The Rainmaker.  In Chicago he’s worked with; Steppenwolf, Goodman, A Red Orchid, Remy Bumppo, Northlight, Victory Gardens, and Shattered Globe Theatre (where he’s a former Artistic Director). Beyond Chicago, Steve’s performed in Broadway’s Sweat, and its following tour, in the Broadway tour of August: Osage County and he has worked at The Town Hall, in Galway IRL, The Public, in NY, The Ahmanson, in LA and The Kennedy Center, in DC.  Steve has received 6 Jeff Awards and 4 nominations for Principal and Supporting Actor and Ensemble (equity and non-equity). Film: Hayseed, 1,000 Acres, At Any Price, Blackmail, Public Enemies, Salvaging, Three Days. TV: Power: Force, Southside, FBI: Most Wanted, The Good Fight, Elementary, Chicago Fire , Law & Order – SVU, Family Practice, Chicago Code, Boss, and Mob Doctor.

CISCO LOPEZ (Buster) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. He returns to American Blues Theater after appearing as Ritchie Valens in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story! Chicago credits include LUCHA TEOTL (Goodman Theatre); Merrily We Roll Along, Woman of the Year, New Faces Sing Broadway 2001, In the Heights (Porchlight Music Theatre); Bonnie & Clyde (Kokandy); and In To America, Letters Home (Griffin Theatre) among others. TV credits: Chicago PD. Film credits: Boystown, Closet Memories. He holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Baylor University and is represented by Shirley Hamilton.

WANDACHRISTINE (Annie) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater. She has starred on many stages throughout the country in such notable productions as FENCES, THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, GEES BEND, THYESTES, OLD SETTLER, FAMILIAR and A WONDER IN MY SOUL. Recognized for her work in American Blues Theater’s production BEAUTY’S DAUGHTER she was awarded the Ruby Dee/Black Theater Alliance Award for her solo performance. As a playwright she’s been one of the yearly contributors to the American Blues Theater’s Ripped Festival. As an author her fiction novel, “I LOVE YOU MORE…THAN SHOES!” about four actresses over 50, still trying to make it in Hollywood; is currently available on Amazon. For the past 4 years as a Voice Artist she’s recorded over 1800 daily morning messages as way to give hope and laughter to all those in need of a daily smile. She’s also lent her voice to many commercials, video games and animated characters. Wandachristine recently starred in Court Theater’s production of “Stokely…The Unfinished Revolution.” “It is with great pleasure and as a proud Ensemble Member of American Blues Theater, that I have been given this WONDERFUL opportunity to bring Annie Wilkes to life. So Sit back and ENJOY the ride…I know I will. Mama this one’s for you.”

PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

HALENA KAYS (Director) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. She is a founding member of the artistic collaborative, The Ruffians, a former member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care unit, past artistic director of The Hypocrites, former co-artistic curator for Theater on the Lake, and co-founder and former artistic director of Playmakers Lab. Halena is an Artistic Associate with the Neo-Futurists Chicago where she directed Comfortable Shoes, Pop/Waits, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, Burning Bluebeard, Daredevils, Daredevils Hamlet, Fake Lake, and Wildcat! (Jeff nominated for Best Direction, Best New Work, and Best Actor). Selected Chicago directing credits: Endgame, Ivywild, Six Characters in Search of an Author (The Hypocrites); The Magic Play (The Goodman), Lord of the Flies (Steppenwolf); How a Boy Falls (Northlight Theatre); On Clover Road (American Blues Theater); Mothers (The Gift), Feast (part of a collaborative directing effort) with The Albany Park Theatre Project (The Goodman).  Regionally Halena has directed Do You Feel Anger? (Circle X, LA), Shapeshifter (Bard at the Gate with the McCarter Theatre Center), The Magic Play (The Olney Theater Center, The Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Portland Center Stage, and Syracuse Stage), Love Song and The Welkin (Nashville Story Garden), and Secretary (Nashville Rep’s Ingram New Works Festival). Halena has been nominated for Jefferson awards for Best Supporting Actress, Best Direction, Best New Work, and Best Production, named one of the top 50 “players” in Chicago theater by NewCity, is a recipient of the prestigious 3Arts Award, and received a signed letter from Mr. Rogers saying she was “special” in 1978.  She is a UT-Austin and Northwestern grad, a proud member of SDC, and Head of Directing at the University of Michigan. 

SHAYNA PATEL (Scenic design) is grateful to be designing at American Blues Theater. Her credits include Oh The Places You’ll Glow and E.T.C 48 (The Second City), The Kid at The Edge of Everything (COCA) , A View From The Bridge (Shattered Globe), Last Stop on Market Street, Junie B. Jones and Dory Fantasmagory (Young People’s Theatre Chicago), Jocey Y Las Mariachis, That Must Be The Entrance To Heaven, and Sancocho (Vision Latino Theatre Company), and National Merit (Boho Theatre Company). Born in England, she later moved to Chicago for college and fell in love with the city. She holds a BA, Summa Cum Laude- Theatre Design. shaynadesigns.com

MICHAEL TRUDEAU (Lighting design / facilities manager) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater and is thrilled to be working with Blues again.  Past Blues credits include Scenic/Lighting design for Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight and Technical Director for It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (2015-2017, 2021-2024), Yankee Tavern, Little Shop of Horrors, and Side Man, among others. Outside of American Blues, he works full time at Northwestern University as the Associate Lighting and Sound Supervisor for the Wirtz Center.

LILY WALLS (Costume design) is a proud Artistic Affiliate 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 the best.

JOE COURT (Sound design) is a sound designer, engineer, and educator, and an Artistic Affiliate with American Blues. His work has been heard in Chicago (TUTA, A Red Orchid, Mary-Arrchie, Emerald City, and many, many more), New York (59E59, Off-Broadway, NYC), Los Angeles (REDCAT at the Disney Concert Hall), McCarter Theatre Center (Princeton, NJ), The Clarence Brown Theatre (Knoxville, TN.), Great Lakes Theatre (Cleveland, OH), Virginia Stage Company (Norfolk, VA), Actors Theatre of Indiana, and the Idaho, Lake Tahoe, and Illinois Shakespeare Festivals. As an educator he has taught at Virginia Tech, and the University of Chicago. Joe is an artistic associate with TUTA theatre, Chicago. From 2008 until 2016, Joe served as sound engineer for the Chicago production of the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet. He has received 4 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for his design work. Love and gratitude to his wife Amanda.

NICOLAS BARTLESON (Properties design) – This is Nick’s first production with American Blues, he is thrilled to be a part of an awesome team. Nick’s Chicago credits include Properties Designer at Northlight: Little Women, 2 Pianos 4 Hands, Brooklyn Laundry. Young People’s Theatre of Chicago: The Diary of Anne Frank, Last Stop on Market Street. Redtwist Theatre: The Normal Heart. Citadel Theatre: She Loves Me. He also works as an overhire prop artisan for Steppenwolf Theater, Drury Lane Productions, and Kehoe Designs. Regionally Nick has worked with: Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Glimmerglass Opera, Texas Shakespeare Festival, and Tantrum Theatre. He would like to thank Amy Peters for making so much of what you see on stage possible. To see more of Nick’s work you can visit: https://nickbartleson.wixsite.com/nickbartleson

NICK SANDYS (Violence design) is a Fight Master and Certified Teacher with The Society of American Fight Directors, and his fight choreography has been seen all over Chicagoland, including at Steppenwolf, Northlight, Court, Remy Bumppo, First Folio, and over 30 productions at Goodman. He has received four Joseph Jefferson Nominations for fight choreography, winning for Shattered Globe’s Requiem For A Heavyweight (2008). He is a Resident Fight Director at Lyric Opera of Chicago (over 70 productions), and his work has been seen regionally, on and off Broadway, and at The Metropolitan Opera and Canadian Opera. Nick has taught stage combat at The Theatre School @ DePaul since 1995. www.nicksandys.com

TOM DANIEL (Technical Director) is thrilled to be Technical Director for Misery at American Blues Theater. For Tom, there is no greater joy than to transform a two dimensional set design into a three dimension world for artists to create on. Most recent projects include Zac Efron (Token Theatre), and Road Signs both at A Red Orchid. Other set builds include Attempts on Her Life (TUTA Theatre) Turret, In Quietness, Revolution, Is God Is (A Red Orchid) and Right Now (Facility Theatre) which were all Jeff Recommended/Nominated. Tom would like to thank Wendy, Shayna, Halena, Mike, Josh, McManus, and Nate for this opportunity.

RACHEL WEST (Lighting Supervisor) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. Recent Blues credits include The Reclamation of Madison Hemings (co-Lighting Design),  Alma (Lighting Design), and Fences (Associate Lighting Design). She has been the Master Electrician for American Blues since 2018 and is now the Lighting Supervisor for our new home! Rachel is the Lighting Director for Porchlight Music Theatre and the Master Electrician for the Black Ensemble Theater. She is a Chicago-area native and a graduate of the Boston University School of Theatre.

RICHARD LUNDY (Production Stage Manager) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. Chicago credits include: American Blues Theater: It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, The Reclamation of Madison Hemings, & The Last Wide Open. Raven Theatre: Night Watch. Theater Wit: The Whistleblower. Mercury Theater: Clue. Venus Cabaret: Lady Day at Emerson’s…, 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. Famous Door: Suburban Motel, Porchlight: Meet John Doe. Also: 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. 38-year member of Actors Equity. 32-year husband of the remarkable Carmel Carroll.

NATE WALCZYK (Production Assistant) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. Past shows include The Last Wide Open (American Blues Theater), Photograph 51 (Webster University), Angels in America Pt. I & II (Repertory Theater of St. Louis), and The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Lookingglass Theatre Company). Nate is a graduate of The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, Missouri, and is extremely proud of his two perfect cats, Calvin and Ponyo.

MARY SCHORE (Assistant Stage Manager) is elated to return to the American Blues Theater with our production of Misery. She has made appearances on and off the stage at Oakton College, her alma mater, since 2017. Recent credits include The Reclamation of Madison Hemmings at the American Blues Theater and Let Me Down Easy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Next to Normal at the Oakton Performing Arts Center. She thanks her girlfriend, Lauren, for her continued love and support.

MORGAN DUDARYK (Run Crew) – coming soon

WILSON CAIN (Dramaturg) returns to American Blues Theater after having previously worked as the Dramaturg on Beauty’s Daughter. He’s received an ED.D and MS in written communications from National Louis University, an MFA from The Alabama Shakespeare Festival at The University of Alabama and a BFA from the Goodman School. He has worked as adjunct faculty at Columbia College Chicago, Auburn University, and Auburn University at Montgomery. As a professional actor, he has performed extensively in the Chicago, regional, and off Broadway Theatre. Wilson is a recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for “Outstanding Ensemble” for the production The Good Times are Killing Me. “An Awakening,” is his first published work.

GWENDOLYN WHITESIDE (Executive Artistic Director/Director) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater and has served as Executive Artistic Director since 2010. In her tenure, she created the nationally-recognized Blue Ink Playwriting Award and new work development program, implemented community service into the company’s mission in 2010, and adapted the arts education programs. She led American Blues through its reorganization in 2009 and built the operational budget from zero to $1 million. She secured the company’s first-ever operating reserve, endowment, and permanent home. Whiteside served on the National Endowment for the Arts panels and a Board member for Network of Ensemble Theaters and League of Chicago Theatres. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University (BS), The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA), and a Kellogg Executive Scholar in Nonprofit management (Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University). As a producer and director, she’s received 16 Joseph Jefferson nominations or awards. As an actress, she’s received 5 Joseph Jefferson Awards, Citations, and nominations; 2 After Dark Awards; and 1 Broadway World Chicago Award. She directs Chicago’s holiday staple It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! and The Last Wide Open.