Midsummer Madness |
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| 48 Hour Theatre Festival | ||
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| Michael Bayler Melbin Borrero III |
Leslie Huang George Li |
Matilda Moon Jamie Yerkes |
| Directed by: Elliott Puckette, Jake Schwingshakl, & Gabriella Ashlin | ||
| Written by: Greta Mae Geiser, Kyle David Perry & Deana Velandra | ||
Follow Us:
Nonsense Mission:
In an increasingly illogical world, where even our own choices seem to confound our better judgment, we choose to lean in.
Through theatre that explores, emphasizes, and even exaggerates the nonsense in our lives, Nonsense Productions strives to understand the seemingly absurd ways through which we engage with the world around us, and – for better or worse – how it engages with us.
Through text subversion, artist agency, and exploration of theme and character, we strive to create art that will leave the audience embracing the nonsense of the world around them.
Welcome to the first annual Midsummer Madness Play Festival!
Tonight, you will watch 3 small plays that have just been written, rehearsed and produced in just 48 hours!
Tonight's show's include the following:
1. Which Came First? By Kyle David Perry
Starring:
George Li as Skip Tracer
Matilda Moon as Carrie Keane
Jamie Yerkes as Gemini Holmes (No Relation)
Directed by Elliott Puckette
2. Babe, Do You Love Me Enough to Kill Me (at Mariano's?) by Deana Velandra
Starring:
Michael Bayler as Husband
Vivian Hahn as Wife
Directed by Gabriella Ashlin
3. All Play, No Work by Greta Mae Geiser
Starring:
Leslie Huang as Gwen
Kaitlyn Meylor as June
Melbin Borrero III as Bear
Directed by Jake Schwingshakl
Cast
George Li
Team 1 Actor
Matilda Moon
Team 1 - Actor
Jamie Yerkes
Team 1 Actor
Michael Bayler
Team 2 - Actor
Vivian Hahn
Team 2 Actor
Melbin Borrero III
Team 3 Actor
Leslie Huang
Team 3 Actor
Kaitlyn Meylor
Team 3 Actor
Creative Team
Michael Fleischman
Producer
Elliott Puckette
Director - Team 1
Gabriella Ashlin
Director/Producer - Team 2
Jake Schwingshakl
Director - Team 3
Haily Piorek
Stage Manager
Kyle David Perry
Playwright -Team 1
Deana Velandra
Playwright - Team 2
Greta Mae Geiser
Playwright - Team 3
Meet the Company
George Li
Team 1 Actor
George Li is excited for his debut at Nonsense Theatre! Favorite credits include Cobweb in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BrightSide Theatre), Claude in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Magical Starlight Theater), Dan in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Theatre for Charity), and Mr. Winsky/Bill Walter in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Musical (Raue School Center for the Arts). You can also find him writing, directing, and acting in various playfests at his home acting school, Green Shirt Studio!
Matilda Moon
Team 1 - Actor
Matilda has been acting on and off since she was 8 years old. She has taken theater classes at Columbia College Chicago, and many other places as well. Matilda mostly has performed in some small theatrical productions, and has done a decent amount of background acting as well. Although Matilda works a day job to earn a living, she will to continue to perform as much as possible.
Jamie Yerkes
Team 1 Actor
Jamie Yerkes is a Chicago-based, classically trained actress who graduated from Bradley University with her B.A. in Theatre Performance. Since then, she has worked with and trained at several theatres, such as Second City, Eclectic Full Content Theatre, and CAMP Chicago. Most recently, Jamie could be seen as Chana in Oakton College’s Indecent. Additional credits include Our Town (Stage Manager), Sense and Sensibility(Fanny/Lucy), and The Wolves (#13). Jamie would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and she hopes you all enjoy the show.
Michael Bayler
Team 2 - Actor
Michael Bayler (he/him) is thrilled to be back with the fine folks at Nonsense! He has recently done shows with Nonsense Productions and Edge of The Wood Theatre in Chicago. He has his MFA in Acting from Indiana University and his BA in Theatre Performance from the University of Missouri. He hails from the tiny town of Big Rock, IL. Much love to Nessa, Dad, and Sarah!
Vivian Hahn
Team 2 Actor
Vivian Hahn is excited to be participating in the Midsomer Madness 48-Hour Play Festival produced by Nonsense Theatre. Vivian has previously studied improv at Second City and the Annoyance Theatre, with acting education through Acting Studio Chicago. She is drawn to this new experience of spontaneously and collaboratively performing a written play through Midsomer Madness 48-Hour Play Festival.
Melbin Borrero III
Team 3 Actor
Melbin (He,him,they) is ecstatic to be working on another Nonsense Theater Production.
Originally from the swamp lands of Kissimmee Florida,
Some of his acting credits include
Big Time Toppers, Jimmy Knives U/S
(Theatre L'Acadia )
As you like it, Touchstone (Nonsense)
Boeing Boeing, Robert (Theater Tallahassee)
Space Race (FSU Film school)
He's also had the privilege of performing for Children throughout Illinois with Great works as well as an amazing opportunity to put on an exclusive production of "Much ado about nothing" for the residents at Trulee Evanston, a retirement community.
Leslie Huang
Team 3 Actor
Leslie is so excited to participate in Midsummer Madness for the very first time! She moved to Chicago shortly after graduating from Purdue in 2024, and can’t wait to collaborate with all the wonderful artists in Chicago. In her free time, she likes to nap, yap, and eat. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Kaitlyn Meylor
Team 3 Actor
Kaitlyn Meylor is a Chicago based actress from Iowa! This is her first time participating in Midsummer Madness. She graduated with a BA in theater arts from Iowa State University. When she’s not performing she is hanging out with her two cats and her wonderful fiancé Alyssa.
Michael Fleischman
Producer
Elliott Puckette
Director - Team 1
Elliott Puckette (she/they) is a Chicago-based theatre artist and the Interim Managing Director of Nonsense Productions, where she directed an elevated staged reading of Bloodshot by Elinor T Vanderburg. She trained through internships with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Summer Professional Training Program, American Players Theatre, Forward Theater Company, and the Young Shakespeare Players and has worked with Wisconsin and Chicago theatre companies including Midsommer Flight, Theatre EVOLVE, Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, Whoopensocker, Renaissance Theaterworks, Forward Theater Company, StageQ, and Music Theatre of Madison. Elliott is passionate about creating opportunities for artists at every level. elliottpuckette.com
Gabriella Ashlin
Director/Producer - Team 2
Gabriella Ashlin (She/her) is a theatre artist in the Chicago area. She is the artistic director of Nonsense Productions and directed the inaugural production of Reasons to Be Pretty in Milwaukee, and its second production, As You Like It, in Chicago. She has performed as an actor with Kohl's Wild Theater, Greatworks Theatre Company, Renaissance Theatreworks, Skylight Music Theatre, and Outskirts Theatre Company. She is an independent scenic artist, producer, designer, and director.
Jake Schwingshakl
Director - Team 3
Jake is excited to make his directoral debut with Nonsense Productions in their 48 Hour Show. He has been acting for thirty years and directing for five. This past year he's also taken on the role of producer by producing his own Shakespeare centered drinking game. He would like to thank the cast and crew for all their hard work and their talent. You can follow him on Instagram at jakeschwingshaklacting.com
Haily Piorek
Stage Manager
Hailey Piorek (she/her) is excited to be joining Nonsense Productions! She received a BA in Communication Arts & Theatre from Trinity Christian College. Stage Management credits include Loves’ Labour’s Lost (Midsommer Flight), Director’s Haven 7 (Haven Chicago), Deliriums’ Daughters (TCC), and an original student work, On A Quiet Night In Suburbia (TCC). Assistant Stage Management credits include Romeo & Juliet (Midsommer Flight) and the 37th & 38th Young Playwrights Festival (Pegasus Theatre Chicago). Wardrobe credits include Dear Elizabeth (Remy Bumppo).
Kyle David Perry
Playwright -Team 1
Kyle David Perry (any/all pronouns) is a non-binary, multi-hyphenate storyteller out of Chicago, IL. Kyle is thrilled to be making their debut as a playwright with Nonsense. Recent Nonsense credits include production managing Doctor Faustus, As You Like It, and a staged reading of Bloodshot. In addition to directing and GMing Nonsense’s Table Top Stage: Leap of Fate, Kyle is also a professional game master with Rough Magic Games. Kyle also produces and hosts a TTRPG podcast called Character Build, which is streaming on most platforms.
Deana Velandra
Playwright - Team 2
Deana Velandra (she/her) is a Chicago-based playwright, actress, and theatre artist. Deana has been a company member and contributing writer at Corn Productions since 2019. Her newest original full length, Hot People Island, will premiere at Corn this September. Deana has also had the opportunity to develop and produce original work with Avalanche Theatre Company, Stage Left Theatre Company, Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, and Jackalope Theatre Company. You can find more of her original work at newplayexchange.org.When she’s not on stage or typing away in a dark theatre, she’s at the beach.
Greta Mae Geiser
Playwright - Team 3
Midwest-based playwright originally from the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Her work has been produced in both Chicago and Minnesota, most notably The Pyg Hypothesis (Theatre Above the Law) and Antistrophe to an Andro-Sapphic Tragedy (Minnesota Fringe Festival). You can find her other full-length and short plays on New Play Exchange or gretamae.com/playwright
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