OUR TEAM
Welcome to the American Blues team. Learn more about our Staff, Ensemble, Artistic Affiliates, and Board of Directors. Originally founded in 1985, we are the second-oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago. Reorganized in 2009, we are a multi-generational company committed to our mission of telling stories of American identity and serving our community.
Leadership
click for staff directoryGwendolyn (Wendy) Whiteside joined the Ensemble in 1998 and has served as the executive artistic director since 2010.
Ensemble Members
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
DAWN BACH
Joined 1993
Currently coaches high school speech and continues to run Eye to Eye Interiors.
AUDREY BILLINGS
Joined 2022
Next, she will appear in It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! at American Blues.
MATTHEW BRUMLOW
Joined 2001
Recently served at Executive Producer of the short film “The Model” and is currently producing the feature “Lone Wolves”.
MANNY BUCKLEY
Joined 2012
Recently he directed and acted in the 2023 Blue Ink Festival at American Blues.
DARA CAMERON
Joined 2013
Currently plans events for the Jewish United Fund. Next, she returns to It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! at American Blues.
CASEY CAMPBELL
Joined 2008
Currently the voice over for “Cubs Cornerstones” on the Marquee Sports Network and the voice of “The General” for General Auto Insurance.
DARREN CANADY
Joined 2016
Currently he’s commissioned for a 4-play collection at American Blues Theater.
.LIZ CHIDESTER
Joined in 2023
Currently, she’s touring and playing music.
DENNIS COCKRUM
Joined 1988
Currently in “Pretty Freekin’ Scary” on Disney+ playing Theodore Snickering. He can also be seen as Terry Milkovich in “Shameless” on Netflix.
AUSTIN COOK
Joined 2013
Currently working Keyboard 1 and Assistant Music Director of Broadway’s Some Like it Hot.
IAN PAUL CUSTER
Joined 2016
Recently he played in Grant Park for Chicago’s “Switch on Summer” to turn on the iconic Buckingham Fountain.
ELYSE DOLAN
Joined 2018
Associate Artistic Director for American Blues. She recently directed in the 2023 Blue Ink Festival at American Blues.
JARED GOODING
Joined 2018
Current light designs: (Regional) Milwaukee Rep & First Stage Theater; (Chicago) Court. Recently nominated for Jeff Award for lighting design on Fences at American Blues.
MARTY HIGGINBOTHAM
Joined 1991
Currently, he’s the Director of Marketing and Audience Engagement at Virginia Samford Theater in Birmingham, AL.
PHILIP EARL JOHNSON
Joined 2018
Currently touring the United States with MooNiE.
JOSLYN JONES
Joined 2023
Recently, she appeared in Zoom readings at American Blues Theater.
LINDSAY JONES
Joined 1998
Current sound designs: (Regional) Utah Shakespeare Festival, Old Globe Theatre, Contemporary American Theatre Fetival, and Alley Theatre.
STEVE KEY
Joined 2011
Recently he appeared in the 2023 Blue Ink Festival at American Blues.
_ED KROSS
Joined 1998
Currently, he’s creating a series of video teasers to show the journey of constructing of new permanent home.
WARREN LEVON
Joined 2012
Recently he understudied for Fences at American Blues.
MICHAEL MAHLER
Joined 2013
Recently, his musical adaptation of An American Tail with Alan Schmuckler and Tony Award-winning playwright Itamar Moses ran at Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company.
HEATHER MEYERS
Joined 1996
Recently she wrote for the 2023 Ripped Festival at American Blues Theater.
CHRISTOPHER J. NEVILLE
Joined 2016
Next, he’ll design costumes for It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! at American Blues.
CARA PARRISH
Joined 2020
Recently, she stage managed August Wilson’s Fences at American Blues.
SUZANNE PETRI
Joined 1999
Recently she worked with Pathways Summer Camp with youth from Blind Service Association and participated in readings with Ubiquitous Players and Perennial Theatre Chicago.
CAMILLE ROBINSON
Joined 2020
Recently, she performed at Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
EDITHA ROSARIO-MOORE
Joined 2001
Recently she wrote for the 2023 Ripped Festival at American Blues Theater.
CHUCK SMITH
Joined 2018
Next he’ll direct a Chicago premiere in Season 38 at American Blues Theater.
J.G. SMITH
Joined 2022
Recently she appeared in feature film “The Dancing Monkey” which won Best Feature and Best Director at Rhode Island’s Block Island Film Festival.
ZACHARY STEVENSON
Joined 2022
Recently released a debut EP of original music celled “Listen to the Oh Boys” with his Chicago-based trio, The Oh Boys.
MICHAEL TRUDEAU
Joined 2022
Facilities Manager at American Blues Theater. Next he is the technical director for It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!
DENZEL TSOPNANG
Joined 2022
Currently he’s the principal standby on the 1st national tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
WANDACHRISTINE
Joined 2018
Recently she wrote for the 2023 Ripped Festival at American Blues Theater.
GWENDOLYN WHITESIDE
Joined 1998
Exec. Artistic Director for American Blues Theater. Next she’ll direct It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! at American Blues.
EMERITUS MEMBERS
Rick Cleveland, Lauri Dahl, Kevin Kelly, James Leaming, William Payne, and Carmen Roman.
THE NEXT ACT
John Mohrlein
Artistic Affiliates
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
ERIC BACKUS
JOE DEMPSEY
PAUL DEZIEL
TOM GERATY
MACKENZIE JONES
HALENA KAYS
ZACH KENNEY
CISCO LOPEZ
MANNY ORTIZ
JIM ORTLIEB
WILLIAM ANTHONY SEBASTIAN ROSE II
EILEEN ROZYCKI
GRANT SABIN
RICK SIMS
JAMES STILL
CHRISTINA TELESCA
ANA VELAZQUEZ
ADRIENNE WALKER
LILY WALLS
RACHEL WEST
Richard Shavzin
Board of Directors
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024MANNY BUCKLEY
DAVID COFFIN
KIMBERLEE HEROLD
KEITH KARLSON
MICHAEL LEVINSON
CHRIS MOTOGAWA
RAMA RANGANATHAN
EDITHA ROSARIO-MOORE
GWENDOLYN WHITESIDE
JEREMY ZEDNICK
BURT X. ROSENBERG
CHIP PRINGLE
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