Antonio Cruz is incredibly excited to jump into the complicatedly simple mind of Demetrius! Antonio graduated from Millikin University with degrees in Theater and Human Services, despite daydreaming 70% of the time. Recent credits include Johnny in 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love Suicide (Bump in the Night), Lucious in Scandalous Boy, the Fey in Beyond the Garden Gate (Impostors Theatre), Hanschen in Spring Awakening (Steel Beam), Kevin US in The Swan (Theatre L'Acadie), Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte (Millikin Uni.) and the swing for Chicago Lore(s) (Urban Theatre), and Muffed (Factory Theatre). Antonio is also a playwright, focusing on stories that delve into magical realism. They most recently penned Sunkissed, Fifteen, and the musical The Path. When not creating, Antonio works as a self-directed assistant for families with special needs and adores spending time adventuring with/annoying his friends. 

They thank the endless list of people that have supported him and the new members of his theater family he found here!

Courtney Marie is thrilled to be making her Shakespeare debut as Snout/Fairy! Courtney proudly serves as the operations director for The Impostors Theatre Co. (ITC). Most recently, she performed as Dr. Eliza Babbage in ITC’s STATIC-HEAD after having the privilege to direct for FOOTHOLDS VOL. 3 – 7. Courtney is proud to serve on the board of ITC and to be an ensemble member of both ITC and the Chicago Reader’s Best Storefront Theatre Company of 2025, Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre! Courtney is eagerly anticipating the fall when she will have the privilege of starring in Ghostlight’s AMERICAN SON by Christopher Demos-Brown, running September 17 - October 4 in Jefferson Park. When not on or behind the stage, Courtney works as a corporate contracts manager in Chicago. Courtney sends her everlasting love all the way across state lines to her husband and fur family back home. 

Steph is a swampy little word witch and performer who emerges from her hovel once every season with an offering to the creative collective. She often takes the shape of an ensemble member with the Impostors Theatre Company (ITC) in Chicago. She’s been spotted playwrighting, performing, and directing, depending on what her malfunctioning meatsuit allows. Previous Impostors stories Steph collaborated on include Caged: An Allegory, Tippy: Stories From The River, Hertha Nova: A Radio Reading, The House of Baba Yaga, and Footholds Vol.7. Her first short play, Agita, featured in Footholds, ITC’s new play anthology. When the muses beckoned again, Steph answered with Monstrous (ITC), a play about the legendary gorgon Medusa directed by Rachel Borgo this past fall. Fellow myths and monsters: embrace your divine oddities. The world needs your magic. Make it as only you can. So may it be. 

Tom Mizell is so excited to welcome you to A Midsummer Night's Dream! Tom is the co-founder and Managing Director of Schoolhouse Shakespeare Company. He is so proud to be able to share the work of this wonderful cast and creative team with you all! Tom is a BFA Acting Grad of CCPA at Roosevelt University. He has performed professionally with Shakespeare's Motley Crew and Edge of the Wood Theatre. He is also a writer, whose works have recently been found at JD Drama Publishing, Mushroom Cloud Press, and as a staged reading with Schoolhouse Shakes this past April!

Máire Witt O'Neill (pronounced “Maura”; she/her) is an interdisciplinary theater and performance artist and educator. Máire holds a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA in Performance from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she currently teaches as an Assistant Professor, Adjunct in the Performance Department. Máire is the head of the Theater program and Musical Theater Director at Music House Chicago. Maire is also one half of the collaborative duo Mia+Máire who started Soft Pants Studios, a parafictional production company that is best known for their web series Sad Girls Club TV. Máire is delighted and grateful to be a part of this inaugural show at Schoolhouse Shakes!

Grace Sopko (she/her) is thrilled to be a part of Schoolhouse Shakespeare’s inaugural production! Playing Hermia has been a dream of hers since she started acting as a teen. Grace graduated from Drake University with a BFA in musical theatre where favorite roles include Sister James (Doubt) and Amy (Little Women). Professional credits include Lucille (Junie B’s Essential Guide to School) at Memphis Playhouse, Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland) with Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre, and Marcy (25th Annual…Spelling Bee) at Baker Playhouse. All my love and thanks to Jess!!