Goodnight, Gladys

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ABOUT THE ANNOYANCE

For 35+ years, The Annoyance Theatre has created some of Chicago’s finest comedy. Artists at The Annoyance are encouraged to explore and develop their unique voice. Through improvisation and writing, we work collaboratively to create new and original plays, musicals, sketch-comedies, solo shows, and more in a vibrant, uncensored atmosphere.

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Cast

Creative Team

Director's Notes

from Director Ryan Livingston:

Goodnight, Gladys, written by high school graduate Gregory A. Lovelace and Master of Science in Education candidate Ryan Brown, explores fame as we know it today through the lens of the melodramas of the 1950's. Gladys Goodnight is an everywoman. If every woman was an unapologetic narcissistic conniving unloving rude piece of trash. Directed by college dropout Ryan D. Livingston Goodnight Gladys asks the question, "Why do we love celebrities?" and answers, "Because they're better than us."

Meet the Company

Holly Barras

Lilac McKendrie/Ensemble

Holly is so psyched to be a part of another show at the Annoyance with such a wonderful cast and crew! Holly graduated from Columbia College Chicago in the Spring of 2021 with a degree in Comedy Writing & Performance. In her final semester, she was a part of the Comedy Studies program at the Second City. Holly was also a part of iO Chicago's New Team Smell program. When she is not performing comedy or watching sketch and improv shows, Holly loves to make veggie chili and play Dance Dance Revolution via the original Xbox. She is looking forward to meeting more people who share her love of comedy, and who love to laugh and be silly together.

Ryan Brown

Binky Vanderporten

Ryan Brown is thrilled to return to the Annoyance mainstage following his previous roles in Y2Gay: Coming of Age at the End of the Millennium, Steamworks: The Musical, and Strapped In, the latter of which he wrote as part of Annoyance's Triple Feature Series. Ryan is a playwright, actor, vocalist, teacher, tarot reader, and restaurant worker who's proud to call Chicago home for the last decade. This is the third play of his to be produced in town, after Mana and Her Underground Family at Gorilla Tango and 1 to 4 at Fury Theatre. In his spare time, he likes to cook, tend to his house plants, and microdose shrooms and take bubble baths while watching Joni Mitchell's classic Shadows and Light concert.

Zeke Eastman

Officer Biglefan

Zeke is excited to make his annoyance debut, big thanks to everyone involved in this production.

Mary Ferguson

Eunice Vanderporten

Mary is an actor, writer, and choreographer currently living in Chicago. She is a founding member of Trash Improv, a new improv comedy/sketch group. Mary co-wrote “Winner Winner,” a one-act play that premiered this past summer at the Providence Fringe Festival in Rhode Island. She works as a personal stylist and shipment manager. Her handmade craft business “MarFerg Makes Things” can be found on Instagram and Facebook. This is Mary’s first production at the Annoyance and she is so very excited and grateful.

Zack Hacker

Ensemble

Zach Hacker has been performing since he was a kid. He recently has written and performed in the hit musical "When You Wish Upon a Star: A Disney Exploited Musical" he can be found improvising and performing at The Annoyance Theatre, iO Theater, Logan Square Improv. He is a member of the improv teams MAGIC and TRAINS is the host and producer of The Chicago Character Showcase. Follow him on instagram @elzach for updates on all he is doing.

Sierra Kenyon

Gladys Goodnight

Sierra Kenyon (she/her) is a writer, singer, comedian, and IBS survivor who grew up in Delaware and Colorado. She is a part of the Annoyance House Ensembles, the improv team Magic, and performs at theaters across the city. Her CPR certification has expired but her evil hag certification has been renewed. When she’s not on stage she can be found underwater with the fishies, spreading the gay agenda, or recommending ketamine therapy. Sierra would like to thank her Mother, Father, Brother, and Dog for being so supportive of her creative endeavors.

Mason King

Father Wayne O’Gacy

Greg Lovelace

Abe Smegma

Greg Lovelace was voted most artistic in high school and now works in the mortgage industry. He has 3 cats and a large VHS collection.

Jamie McInerney

Gertie Goodnight

A DePaul University alum, Jamie McInerney has now lived in Chicago for seven years. During their time at DePaul, they were introduced to acting, improv, and sketch comedy. Jamie has since enjoyed continuing classes through the Annoyance and iO's student programs. Outside of this show, she performs with improv troupe, "Denim," around the city. Jamie is from Naperville, IL, and plays the role of Gertie Goodnight in "Goodnight, Gladys"

David Resnick

Cock Vanderporten

Zeke is excited to make his Annoyance debut, big thanks to everyone involved in this production.

Erica Salas

Ensemble

Erica Salas is wrapping up her first year on stage with this incredible show! Once described as a "pleasure to have in class" she is now the self-proclaimed "prankster" of the group. (She has yet to pull a prank)

Traer Schon

Percy Twinkle

Traer Schon is an Iowa-born comedian and improviser who launched his comedy career performing for the fledgling farmers of Iowa State University. In Chicago, he has trained at iO Theater, Annoyance Theatre and Second City. Traer has performed stand-up, improv and sketch comedy across the city’s tapestry of comedy institutions, cash-only bars and now-defunct venues. He is currently on an Annoyance House Ensemble and is excited to be making his Annoyance scripted debut in Goodnight, Gladys.

Ryan Livingston

Director

Sam Macnerland

Technical Director

Arne Parrott

Music Director