Seth Kobs (Alex)

Seth Kobs (he/him) recently appeared in A VERY STEAMWORKS CHRISTMAS, SLAY!, and THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE at The Annoyance Theatre. Other credits include RIPE FOR THE RECKONING and WE DID IT, JOE! at The Second City. Seth holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Nebraska Wesleyan University and has trained in the Second City Conservatory and Grad Revue programs. When not onstage, he enjoys drawing, gardening, and recording his podcast: Scored For Your Pleasure.

Ayden Lopez (Bruno)

Ayden Lopez (Bruno) has recently appeared in TWELFTH NIGHT (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) at the Albright Community Theatre. Other notable stage credits include COLUMBINUS (Dylan/Loner) and CLUE (Mr. Green), also at the Albright, where he is currently on the Executive Board. Ayden holds an MFA in Acting from Long Island University. When not working in the theatre, he enjoys riding roller coasters, playing volleyball, and reading books.

Lucas Becker (Bruno, u/s)
Lucas Becker (Bruno u/s) recently appeared in ICEBREAK at Eclectic Full Contact Theatre as part of the Patchwork New Play Festival and THE MERCENARY SAVANT at Sub Rosa Theatre Collective 24 Hour New Play Festival. Film: Hearts, One Last Question. Lucas has trained with the Second City Improv Program, Acting Studio Chicago, iO's Training Center, and he holds a BFA in Scenic Design from UNCSA. When offstage, Lucas enjoys cooking new recipes and building expensive LEGO sets.

lucas__beckerr

Guillem Clua (Playwright)

 Guillem Clua is a playwright from Barcelona, Spain. He is considered  one of the most innovative voices in the Spanish theater scene and part  of a new generation of playwrights born in the seventies who are  transforming the Catalan stage with their plays. Critics have described  his work as multidisciplinary, eclectic, and very much concerned with  narrative structure and plot. Storytelling is at the heart of his style,  which combines elements of comedy, thriller and melodrama, a vibrant  rhythm, and the unabashed influence of other media, such as television  and cinema.

Guillem Clua holds a degree in Journalism from the Autonomous  University of Barcelona (Spain) and started his theatre training at the  London Guildhall University (UK) in 1994. In 2000 he completed his  theatre studies in the prestigious Obrador de la Sala Beckett, where he  was taught by Jordi Galceran, Enric Nolla, David Plana, Sergi  Pompermayer, Martin Crimp and Juan Mayorga, among others.

His first play, INVISIBLES, won the 2002 Theatre Prize Ciutat  d’Alcoi, one of the most important awards for new plays in Spain. He  also wrote the stage adaptation of Thomas Mann’s DEATH IN VENICE (Sala  Muntaner, 2002). In 2004, his play LA PELL EN FLAMES (SKIN IN FLAMES)  (Villarroel Teatre, 2005) won the Ciutat d’Alcoi for the second time and  the 2005 Critics Choice Award for Best Play of the Year. Its English  translation premiered in several American cities as well. Clua is also  the author of numerous and celebrated short plays, such as GOLIATH,  ANDROMEDA OR DORIS DAY, ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, presented at the Sala  Beckett. In 2006, the playwright moved to New York, where he presented  the English version of GUST DE CENDRA (TASTE OF ASHES) at the Spanish  Repertory Theatre. His last play MARBURG, the most ambitious so far,  premiered at the National Theatre of Catalonia in May 2010, making Clua  the youngest playwright that’s ever had the chance to premiere in that  venue. His first musical, KILLER, premiered in Barcelona in January 2011  (Sala Muntaner) and transferred to a bigger venue after its run  (Villarroel Teatre) due to the great success. Clua is currently working  on his last full-length play, LA TERRA PROMESA (PROMISED LAND), a farce  about climate change that will be produced in Barcelona in 2012.

In recent years he has worked as scriptwriter for the television  series EL COR DE LA CIUTAT(TV3), of which he became the head writer for  the 2005/06 and 2007/08 seasons. Clua is currently working for other  Spanish TV shows like 90-60-90 and LA RIERA, and is writing the big  screen adaptation of his play MARBURG.

https://guillemclua.com/

Cory Busch (Scenic Designer)

Cory Busch (Scenic Designer, SMILEY) is thrilled to make his Chicago theatre debut with Open Space Arts and their production of SMILEY. In his hometown of Kansas City Cory started the Dreamline Theatre Company to design and produce: WAITING FOR GODOT, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, and an original work written for KC Fringe Festival THE CARDBOARD KNIGHT. Since moving to Chicago, Cory is also dealing with the temptation of being a Cubs fan over a Royals fan. www.corybusch.com

Jack Dugan Carpenter (Director)

Jack Dugan Carpenter  (Director) is delighted to return to Open Space Arts after  directing the staged reading of BREAKING THE CODE last April. Jack is a  distinguished director and actor with extensive experience in the  Chicago theater scene. He has collaborated with numerous theater  companies, including The Plagiarists, where he served as Managing and  Development Director from 2011 to 2025. His directorial credits with The  Plagiarists include productions of WHEN YOU AWAKE YOU WILL REMEMBER  EVERYTHING, MÜNSTERSPIEL, SOME LIKE IT RED, GILGAMESH, THESE SAINTS WILL  BURN, WAR SONG, MATRYOSHKA, and CAESURA: A BUTCHERY. Beyond The  Plagiarists, Carpenter directed THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, BELL BOOK  AND CANDLE, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, CHARLEY’S AUNT, THE WOMAN IN BLACK,  MEASURE FOR MEASURE, and FIGMENTS with Saint Sebastian Players, as well  as THE ALCHEMIST and THE ARMAGEDDON DANCE PARTY with Nothing  Special Productions. He also co-directed THE LIVING CANVAS: RX. www.jackdugancarpenter.com 

Dominique Favre (Costume Designer)

Dominique Favre discovered a passion for theatrical costume and wig design during the 2020 quarantine, sparking a professional pivot that led them to Milan, Italy, to formally study costume design. Now based in Chicago, they blend international training with a sharp eye for narrative-driven visuals. Their recent credits as Costume Designer include Smiley with Open Space Arts, Sweeney Todd, Jekyll & Hyde, and Carmen. They are thrilled to bring their love for intricate character design and craftsmanship to this production.

Ellie Humphrys (Lighting Designer)

Ellie Humphrys (Lighting Designer) graduated with a BFA in Lighting Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University and has been working the Chicago theatre scene ever since. Recent and notable design credits include Twelve Ophelias and The F*ck House (Strawdog Theater Company), Sweet Charity and A Bright Room Called Day (Blank Theatre Company), Wise Guys and Last Night in Karaoke Town (The Factory Theatre), Gather (Filament Theatre), Detour Guide (Silk Road Rising/Stage Left Theatre), Valhalla and When You Awake You Will Remember Everything (The Plagiarists), and Evolution of a Sonero (Urban Theater Company/Latino Theater Company) in both the Chicago and Los Angeles productions. Outside of theater, she enjoys spending time with her partner and their pet rabbit.  https://www.ellielightstheatre.com/

Dorothy Sargent (Stage Manager)
Dorothy is excited for her first show with Open Space Arts, as well for her Chicago theatre debut! She is a recent BA Performing Arts graduate of Iowa State University. Some past stage managed productions that she's done include SWEENEY TODD, FREAKY FRIDAY, and CUT with Lincoln - Way East. Dorothy would like to thank her family and very loving partner for all their support <3

sockmonkeyblue

Sean Smyth (Sound Designer)

Sean Smyth (Sound Designer), Sean is happy to be working with Open Space Arts in this production of Smiley. Sean has Sound Designed: Nunsense; Bed, Book and Candle; The Man Who Came to Dinner; An Enemy of the People; Harvey; and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (St. Sebastian Players). His previous experiences include: Stage Manager of: Harvey; The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Nunsense; Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (St. Sebastian Players, Chicago); Survivors; Berlin Diaries (Arts Judaica Theatre, Chicago); world premieres of Oxy-Ohio (The Side Project Theatre, Chicago); MIA, INVISIBLE, and Driving the Dream (Her Story Theatre, Chicago); Uncle Carlos Knows (Subtext Theatre, Chicago); Into the Woods; How to Succeed in Business; Les Misérables; High School Musical; Legally Blonde; Urinetown; Oklahoma; (Standing Ovation, FL); The Lion in Winter (FL); The Complete Works of William Shakespeare; A Christmas Carol; Oleanna; Around the World in 80 Days (Evening Star Productions, FL); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Entr'acte Theatre, FL); Paint Your Wagon; Urinetown (Lake Worth Playhouse, FL) Fidler on the Roof (Devonshire Playhouse, IL); and various events with the Chicago Writer’s Guild; SAG/AFTRA, and Perennial Actors. Sean is a professional member of the Stage Manager’s Association. Sean thanks his children and his partner for all their support and understanding.

Abbas Tayebali (Photographer )

Abbas Tayebali is a Chicagoland-based photographer who created the promotional imagery for this production. In his spare time he writes and performs sketch comedy and is currently developing a documentary called "A Journey to Freedom." https://www.abbastay.com/