Jin Ai is grateful to Arts Judaica for the opportunity to reflect on cultural heritage. Raised in Kyrgyzstan, she trained in LA and earned her BA in English and Theatre. Jin has performed in shows such as: Fiddler on the Roof (GOLDE), You Can’t Take it With You (PENNY), West Side Story (MARGARITA), Eurydice (EURYDICE U/S), The Illusion (ELICIA), and a myriad of short film and VO roles. Offstage you'll find her writing poetry, dancing, or crying over Hadestown. @jin.aiyaa

Daniel Boughton (he/him/his) serves on AGMA's Midwest Area Committee and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. He has performed with Goodman Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Kentucky Shakespeare, on Japanese television, in a one-shot Moby music video and as Robin in Star Trek Versus Batman. Daniel has sung with Erin McKeown and Huron Coast. He has also directed and acted for Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, The Whiskey Rebellion Theatre and, internationally, Missoula Children's Theatre. Daniel is a company member and steward of Bring Your Own Theatre Productions. He thanks his partners and friends for their support!

Freya Churchwell is currently based in Portage, Indiana, but is originally from Chicago. Freya is excited to return to theatre after taking theatre in undergrad and acting as director for the college plays. She has appeared in a couple of films; one as a singing extra. Freya enjoys singing and visiting Vegas.

Zach Kunde is a Chicago based improviser, director, and actor with a Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater; he is proud to join the cast of A People and hopes this piece inspires others to ask questions, learn, and grow. Thank you to everyone who has helped him get this far. Zach promises, he didn’t come this far just to come this far. More information: @Zach_The_Actor or ZachKunde.com

Roles include Carl Voldman in Survivors (Arts Judaica), Rabbi/Ensemble in Fiddler on the Roof (Music Theater Works), Mitchell in Little Dog Laughed  (Live Theatre Workshop), Richard Dalloway in Mrs. Dalloway, and Toby Belch (Rogue Theatre), Malvolio, Polonius, and Bottom (Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival), Albert Dussel in Good at Heart (Cleveland Public Theatre). 

Originally from Michigan, Xavier Mattison got his start acting in student films made by friends before pursuing training and performance opportunities in Chicago. He completed both the Improv and Conservatory programs at The Second City and performed with The Kensingtons at The Second City Blackout Cabaret. Xavier has also appeared on NBC’s Chicago Med. He enjoys character-driven work and brings a background in improvisation, physical comedy, and voiceover to his performances.

Haley Schenk is super excited to make her first official Chicago debut! She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 2024 with her BFA in Acting as well as three minors in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Since moving to Chicago she was in a show at The Magnified Gift Theater in Broadview IL and has worked on some miscellaneous short film projects as well. She wants to thank her family, especially her parents, for always supporting her through the hard times, and for encouraging her to always follow her dreams. She is excited and grateful for this new opportunity, and can’t wait to see where this could lead.

New to the Chicago scene, this is Charity’s first project in the city and first show since graduating with her Acting BFA in VA! She’s thrilled and extremely grateful for this opportunity and for the trust instilled in her to help breathe life into this production. May it inspire many to look forwards and backwards to find the true beauty of our present. So many thanks to Yahweh, to my Alex, and to the kindest friends and family who have joined me in celebrating this moment! I’m so blessed to be known by you in this lifetime. 

Avi Hoffman, a child of Holocaust survivors, began his professional career at the age of 10 (1968), in the venerable National Yiddish Theatre-Folksbiene of NY. He was awarded Congressional recognition, was invited to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis and was inducted into the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame for his lifetime work advancing Yiddish and Jewish culture and Holocaust awareness. Nominated (Drama Desk) for his Yiddish language portrayal of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, he is best known for his award winning Too Jewish Trilogy. Avi has performed all over the world, has numerous film, television and theatre acting and directing credits and has received multiple awards and nominations. Visit www.YILoveJewish.org

Elayne LeTraunik is a native Chicagoan and has been involved in the Chicago theatre scene since the 1970s. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with honors in History and Theatre, she continued her acting studies at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. Elayne has worked extensively both as an actress and a producer and starred in the Chicago premieres of “Nuts” and “Extremities.” She also appeared in “Beyond Therapy” which featured Skipp Sudduth and Carmen Roman. She currently works extensively in commercials and independent productions. As a producer, she oversaw a number of award winning and critically acclaimed productions including the Chicago premiere of “A Dybbuk” and a revival of “Class Enemy.” Elayne was the auditions columnist for “Performink” newspaper for 15 years and was the founder and Artistic Director of Red Hen Productions and Chicago Jewish Theatre. Elayne was also a prolific writer and was a weekly columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times as well as contributor to Plays and Players Magazine in London. Elayne currently works as a freelance grant writer and PR person for a number of small theater and arts companies in Chicago. More information about her can be found at elayneletraunik.weebly.com. She was the Associate Artistic Director of Genesis Theatrical Productions but now acts as a consultant, script reader and grants writer and has taken courses in grant writing from the Foundation Center and from the Fundraising Authority.. She is a member of Actor’s Equity and is represented exclusively by Big Mouth Talent.

Katie Mae Ryan (Stage and Production Manager) has previously stage managed the show Female, Ashkenazi with a Sewing Machine for Arts Judaica and is excited to return to support A People. Previous stage management credits include frikiNation (Urban Theater Company), The Tender Trap (asst. Blue in the Right Way), Come Again (Stage Left Theatre). Katie Mae directs, writes, and performs sketch comedy, and they will be directing for the upcoming Trans Scribe play festival.

Zach Stinnett is a Chicago based Sound Designer for theatre and film. He is the former Technical Director of MCL Chicago where he designed Sound and Lighting for the original run of Yippie Ki Yay Merry Christmas a Die Hard Musical. In his spare time, he ruins countless movies for non sound people by explaining what is and is not the sound of a shammy.

Karen Wallace is a lighting artist based in Chicago, IL, and is excited to add Arts Judaica to her credits. She is passionate about making accessible art and is inspired by her community, collaborators, and fellow theatre educators. Her recent design credits include A Devil Comes to Town (2025) with Trap Door Theatre, Hadestown (2025) with After School Matters, Three Viewings (2025) and No Wake (2026) with Third Avenue Playworks, Six! (2025) with Actor’s Training Center, and global lighting design for Frankenstein (2026) and other Jury Experience scripts. Karen is the Assistant Lighting Supervisor for this season at Lookingglass Theatre Company. She graduated from DePaul University with a BFA in Lighting Design. KarenWallaceLD.com.

Dugan Kenaz-Mara (He/Him) is excited to be working on this show as his Arts Judaica and Theater Wit debut! He is a props and puppet designer, stagehand, and TYA artist who can be found backstage at theaters all around Chicago. Dugan has recently worked as a stagehand at The Goodman (Holiday, A Christmas Carol, BUST), Actors Gymnasium (Little Red), and Blue Man Group. Recent prop/puppet credits include Sandbox Theater Collective (Happy Birthday Mars Rover), The Conspirators (Chicago Cop Macbeth), Factory Theater (Kitty James), and many shows for the Evanston Children's Theater. He’s also a long-time cast member at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. You can find more of his creations on Instagram @dkm_creatures. He hopes you enjoy the show!!

Abby is a Jill of All Trades, Master of Fun. She has been working in theatre most of her life, ever since she saw a touring Broadway production and decided she’d even be willing to mop the stage to be part of that magic. She wrangles kids by day as a mom and teacher and enjoys a revolving door of hobbies in her free time. All of her sewing skills come directly from her two grandmothers- her work on this play is dedicated to Shirley and Jean!