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Open Space Arts
David Zak, Director
Presents The American Premiere of
GANGSTA BABY
by Cameron Raasdal-Munro
Directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair (MBE)
Featuring
Bryan Nicholas Carter, Jensen Knudsen, Josh Odor, and
Cameron Raasdal-Munro
Junior Cameron Raasdal-Munro
Mitch, Jonno, & Rebecca Bryan Nicholas Carter
Senior Josh Odor
Pete & Remy Jensen Knudsen
Production Stage Manager Marz Allswede Assistant Director Seneca Sims
Lighting Design Lex Newman Set Design Phoebe Huggett Costume Design Jade Andrews Graffiti Artist David Flores Dialect Coach Jason A. Fleece
Sound Design Zach Stinnett Original Music Rikki Beadle-Blair, MBE
Intimacy Coordinator Christa Retka Violence Design R&D Choreography
Props Alex Tuscanes Social Media Coordinator / Photography Tadhg Mitchel
Casting Aaron Holland Public Relations John Olson Graphic Design/Marketing Jo Mills
Producers G. Riley Mills Kate Garassino
GANGSTA BABY is presented through special arrangement with the author.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.
No Photography or Recording: Unauthorized video, photo, or audio recording is strictly prohibited and violates U.S. copyright law. All devices must be turned off and put away. Suspected use will stop the performance immediately—and it will not resume.
Advisory: This production includes sexual content, non-consensual acts, physical violence, flashing lights, and non-toxic theatrical haze.
Open Space Arts. 1411 W. Wilson, Chicago
Opening Night September 19, 2025
Support Open Space Arts openspacearts.org
Open Space Arts is a member of the League of Chicago Theaters, Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals, LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and the Uptown Chamber of Commerce.
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Cast
Creative Team
Meet the Company
Bryan Nicholas Carter, (Mitch) is making their Open Space Arts debut in GANGSTA BABY. Recent Chicago credits include KID PRINCE & PABLO and MIDDLE PASSAGE (Lifeline Theatre), DONTRELL WHO KISSED THE SEA (Pegasus Theatre Chicago), THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS (Chicago International Puppet Theatre), THE SALON (Black Ensemble Theatre), and CHAMPION (Lyric Opera of Chicago). Film work includes RAFFLE (Two Scoops Productions), OCTOBER STORM (New London Films), COUNTERFEIT (Dashford Media), DREAM BOY (Good Fight Films) and a featured role in season two of the award winning narrative podcast, INCOMING (Past Tense Future Perfect). Carter is a National Best Actor recipient at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and an alumnus of The School at Steppenwolf. Learn more at bryannicholascarter.com.
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Jensen Knudsen (Pete, They/Them) was most recently seen in TWELFTH NIGHT at Oak Park Festival Theatre. Other credits include AS YOU LIKE, THE STUDY OF THE WELKIN and SEQUENTIAL CHAOS (Roosevelt University CCPA). Jensen is currently pursuing a BFA in Acting At Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts. They would like to thank their family for all their continued support and hopes you enjoy the show!
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Josh Odor (Senior, he/him) was recently seen in Lisa Dillman's NO SUCH THING at Rivendell Theatre, Facility Theatre's Jeff winning RIGHT NOW, went on in Steppenwolf's NO MAN'S LAND and was in Nathan Allen Davis' world premiere of ORIGIN STORY at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. TV/Film: The Chi, Chicago PD/Fire/Med and Boss. Josh has been acting in Chicago for over 20yrs.
Cameron Raasdal-Munro - He/Him - recently appeared in GANGSTA BABY (Junior) at the Hope Theatre in London. He was the writer, actor and co-producer. Cameron was awarded ‘Actor of the year 2024’, ‘Writer of the year 2024’, and the play itself ‘Fringe play of the year 2024’ by Pink Prince Theatre. Cameron trained as an actor at Arts Educational Schools London between 2018-2020 under the Dance and Drama scholarship. Outside of acting and writing, Cameron enjoys the gym and connecting with the LGBTQIA+ and working-class communities through activism.
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Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE is a writer, director, composer, choreographer, designer, producer and performer working in film, theatre, television and radio. Having written and directed 40+ plays over the last 20 years along with several feature films, shorts and tv episodes and series, he has won several awards including the Sony Award, the Los Angeles Outfest Screenwriting and Outstanding Achievement awards, plus both a MBE for contributions to drama and an honorary doctor of letters from the University of Warwick. Rikki’s passion for encouraging wellness, creativity and business sense in others has made a committed and effective mentor to a great many writers, actors, composers and directors around the world. As week as hosting the Annual UK Black Pride Event, Rikki has hosted Voguing balls around the country for the last 15 year
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This is Marz’s second production stage managing with Open Space Arts. In Chicago he has been the stage Manager for Scandalpus Boy at Open Space Arts, The Delivery at Trap Door Theater, and Right Now with Facility Theater. In Oklahoma he stage managed a A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Reduxion Theater and Everybody Love’s Opal with the Jewell Box Theater. Outside of stage managing he produced the first Minerva 10 Minute Play Festival in San Francisco, performed as Moxxie in Helluva Canaret produced by Vicious Mockery, and had performed his own prose and poetry in Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chicago. His favorite Studio Ghibli movie is Porco Rosso.
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Jade Andrews (she/her, Costume Designer) recently designed CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY at Deerfield Family Theater. Some of her previous credits include BIG FISH (Deerfield Family Theatre), OUR TOWN (Deerfield Family Theater) SOMETHING ROTTEN (Big Deal), GREASE (Big Deal) & THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (The Skokie Theater). Jade is originally from Upstate, NY, and has been costuming in the Chicagoland area since 2021. She is passionate about telling stories through fashion and upcycling clothes to give them a new life. You can check out her fashion chronicles on instagram @juicyjade13
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This is Jason's first time working with Open Space Arts. He has served as a dialect coach for Stage Left Theatre, Babes With Blades, Jackalope, Strawdog, and Blank Theatre Company. Also a director, Jason has directed for Stage Left Theatre, BoHo Theatre, Blank Theatre Company, RedTwist, and Pegasus Theatre Chicago, among others. Jason holds an MFA in Directing from the Theatre School at DePaul University. Thanks as always to Alex!
Aaron Holland has been creating Theatre on both sides of the table in Chicago for over 20 years Working with everyone from the Goodman and Steppenwolf to TUTA and Chicago Children's Theater. Aaron is also a published playwright , " For Colored Stoned Gay Bois" as part of the Black Lives/ Black Words Anthology. In Drag , Aaron is known as Shalita Cake - Hosting and producing their own cabaret shows as well as Pulling the Same duties for others. Aaron was last seen on stage in Red Orchid's 33 to Nothing and in Drag with Maureen Sandiego in A Star is Aborted. Future projects include Directing Open Spaces next show, DORIAN, and sound designing around Chicago storefronts, for now.
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Phoebe Huggett (Scenic Designer, she/her) recently graduated with a BFA in Scenic Design from Carnegie Mellon University, with credits there including her as the Scenic Designer of GHOSTS and PENELOPE. She grew up in Chicago and is excited to return to design her first show in the city and particularly so because of the embodied world the team has built for the show.
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Jo Mills is a freelance graphic designer who has been creating marketing collateral for the stage since 2000. Mills’ poster designs include Jeff-award winning plays, NOT ABOUT NIGHTINGALES and STREETERVILLE for TimeLine Theatre; DAMN YANKEES and THE KING AND I for Bailiwick’s Casting Auction series; LIFT EVERY VOICE and TRIAL IN THE DELTA for Collaboraction Theatre; BROKE DOWN DRONE for NY Chain Theatre One Act Festival, as well as the film poster design for the multi award-winning short film. Jo is thrilled to be a part of Open Space Arts’ American premiere of GANGSTA BABY.
Tadhg Mitchel (Social Media Director, he/him) is excited to start his second season with Open Space Arts as the Social Media Director! Some of his previous OSA shows include LIGHT SWITCH, MR. PARKER, and SCANDALOUS BOY. He has a master’s degree in Communication from DePaul University and a background in theater, filmmaking, and digital production. Alongside his work at OSA, he is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Gender Fucked Productions. Outside of work, he enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, scrapbooking, writing, and spending time with his husband and five cats.
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Lex (Lighting Design) is excited to work on their fifth production with OSA. Previous lighting design credits with Open Space Arts include SCANDALOUS BOY, IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE EVERYONE DIED, MR PARKER, and MERCY KILLING. When they're not doing theatre, Lex can be found reading, working on collage art, or lifting heavy things for fun.
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Christa Retka (she/her) is a Chicago-based stage director and intimacy director. She received her BA in Theatre Directing and Management from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Her recent credits include: intimacy director for HAIR, ROMEO AND BERNADETTE (MadKap Productions), AT THE TABLE, INDECENT (Oakton College), TICK, TICK…BOOM!, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, TALLEY'S FOLLY (Dunes Summer Theatre), XANADU, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Metropolis Performing Arts Center). She would like to give her friends and family a special thanks for all their support. To view more of her work, visit her website at www.christaretka.com.
R&D Choreography (Violence Design) is a Chicago-based violence design company comprising partners Victor Bayona (he/him) and Rick Gilbert (he/him). We are right chuffed to be working with Open Space Arts for the first time! R&D was founded in 1997 for the purpose of improving the power and effectiveness of Chicago area theatre through the art of violence design – choreographing better fights for better shows. We have designed violence for nearly four hundred productions and films. Our work has been seen at dozens of Chicago area theatres, including American Blues, Backroom Shakespeare Project, Chicago Opera Theatre, Citadel, Factory, Goodman, Haven, Hell in a Handbag, Lifeline, Lookingglass, Metropolis, Oak Park Festival, Oil Lamp, The Paramount, Piven, Steep, Steppenwolf, TUTA, and Theo.
Seneca Sims feels immense joy and privileged to have been included in this process. They'd like to thank all of the beautiful-ugly-important people who made this beautiful-ugly-important play available to this community. What a blessing to have watched this prickly piece be produced with such tenderness. Please open your eyes, your hearts, and your minds, and accept this offering of vulnerability and love. senecasimsJ@gmail.com
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Zach is the former Technical Director of MCL Chicago holds his MA in Sound Arts from Northwestern University. He is a Chicago voice actor and sound designer for theatre and film.
Alexander Tuscanes (he/they) has a wide range of creative experience. He has done everything from construction and house painting to digital art as a videographer, editor and graphic artist with Rocky Mountain PBS, where he was nominated for a regional Emmy for his segment with the show Arts District. As a commercial painter he received an award of recognition from Planned Parenthood for his work with their Rocky Mountain chapter. Combining his love of building things with his love of art, Prop Design is where he comes alive. When not building props for Open Space, he enjoys collecting patches, tinkering with electronics, cooking and watching baseball.
Kate Garassino (Producer) has stepped back into the theater world after a 5 year hiatus of motherhood. She was previously the Executive Director of Bailiwick Chicago and The Chicago Casting Auction. Jeff Award winning actress, Kate performed for many years and was proud of the shows and projects she worked on at Marriott Theater, Mercury Theater, Porchlight, Silk Road Rising, and many others. Being a part of bringing this incredible story by the raw and talented Cameron Raasdal-Munro to the American audiences is an honor.
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G. Riley Mills is an Emmy Award-winning playwright based in Chicago. His musical, THE HIUNDRED DRESSES (co-written with Grammy-nominee Ralph Covert), premiered Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City. His play, LIFT EVERY VOICE (co-written with Willie Round), was published by Dramatic Publishing and won the 2022 Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. has twice won the Jeff Award for Best New Work for his plays SAWDUST AND SPANGLES and STREETERVILLE (co-written with Covert), and in 2022, he won Emmy Awards for THE LOST STORY OF EMMETT TILL: TRIAL IN THE DELTA and THE LOST STORY OF EMMETT TILL: THEN & NOW (co-written with Round). He is a producer on the new movie BLOOD SHINE which premiered in London. grileymills.com
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David Zak recently directed MR. PARKER, SUNSETS, and MASSAGE THERAPY with OPEN SPACE ARTS. His career spans more than 40 years, including productions of ANIMAL FARM, JERRY SPRINGER – THE OPERA, and THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER. A six-time Joseph Jefferson Award winner, David was also inducted into the City of Chicago’s Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. He produced the award-winning short film COUNTING and currently is Director of Open Space Arts, producing film fests and theater events.
Donors
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Marz Allswede Jerry Flood Wayne Hall and Marvin Levin Jo Mills Tadhg Mitchel Lewis Pedi Pinnacle Performance Company |
Join us for OSA Theater and Film Events
OSA Films presents SAUNA at Facets on October 27
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OSA Presents DORIAN opening November 28
OSA Presents FUSION: A HOLIDAY HAPPENING at Lips on December 3
Enjoying the show? Stay in touch! We’d love to keep you updated on future productions, special events, and behind-the-scenes news.
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