Open Space Arts
Presents
SCANDALOUS BOY
by David Atfield
Directed by Benjamin Mills
Featuring
Antonio Cruz, Emiliano Flores, Jordan Gleaves, Jinyue Yuna Hu,
and Jose Alexander Martinez
Antinous..........Jose Alexander Martinez
Hadrian..........Jordan Gleaves
Sabina..........Jinyue Yuna Hu
Lucius..........Antonio Cruz
Marcellus..........Emiliano Flores
Lighting Design Lex Newman
Set Design Dylan Tye Davis
Costume Design Brett Morgan
Sound Design Santiago Quintana
Production Stage Manager Marz Allswede
Intimacy Coordinator Christa Retka
Graphics Veronica Kloss
Social Media Coordinator Tadhg Mitchel
Public Relations John Olson
SCANDALOUS BOY is presented through special arrangement with the author.
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.
Content Warning: This production contains depictions of sexual content, nonconsensual acts, and physical violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
Open Space Arts. 1411 W. Wilson, Chicago
Opening Night May 23, 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.
Follow Us:
Monday, July 21 |
Door Palace, Restaurant & Bar — 2229 S Michigan Ave, Chicago's at 6 PM, Show at 7 PM
AUTHENTICALLY YOURS
A Variety Show Fundraiser for Open Space Arts
Join us for a fierce and fabulous night of music, dance, drag, and dazzling talent at AUTHENTICALLY YOU, a one-of-a-kind variety show celebrating the power of being seen, heard, and true to yourself.
The talent line-up includes Becky Menzie, Kevin Wood, Melissa Young, Robert Ollis, Jill Renn, Andy Lanmros, Luc Ami, Male Spice and others. The host for the evening is Shalita Cake!
This unforgettable evening at Lips — Chicago’s iconic drag show palace — will raise funds to support Open Space Arts’ bold new season, including the American premiere of GANGSTA BABY, the acclaimed British stage hit making its U.S. debut this fall.
Expect a glittering lineup of performers across genres, surprise guests, a splash of sass, and a whole lot of heart — all in support of queer creativity and culture.
✨ Tickets:
- $100 – Superstar (priority seating, cocktail voucher, program listing, and exclusive OSA thank-you gift)
- $175 - Superstar Duo (all of the above for a couple)
- $50 – Fabulous Friend (general seating and shoutout in the program)
- $25 – Standing Proud (bar seating)
100% of proceeds benefit Open Space Arts’ mission to uplift marginalized voices through theater, film fests, and community-driven arts.
Be bold. Be brilliant Authentically Yours.
OPEN SPACE ARTS, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to combating homophobia and transphobia through the transformative power of creativity and cultural expression. Our mission is to foster inclusivity, promote understanding, and empower marginalized communities by utilizing various artistic mediums to challenge discriminatory beliefs and attitudes.
OSA won some of the top honors in the Joseph Jefferson Awards for work produced in 2024, including Production of a Play – Short Run (COCK), Direction of a Play – Short Run (Michael D. Graham- LIGHT SWITCH), Performer in a Principal Role – Short Run (Philip Andrew Monnett – LIGHT SWITCH), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Short Run (Sonya Robinson – COCK) .
OSA showcases powerful LGBTQ+ storytelling through five exciting components:
- Full productions of bold and innovative plays.
- Staged readings of classic and new plays.
- Staged readings of winners from our QUEER EXPRESSION WRITING CONTEST FOR STAGE AND SCREEN.
- In-person screenings of feature films at FACETS in Chicago.
- A virtual selection of short and mid-length films, available for streaming anywhere.
Share the magic of live performance with someone special. Choose an OSA StagePass for One ($30) or StagePass for Two ($60), and let your recipient enjoy admission to any Open Space Arts production. Passes can be emailed directly for an easy, thoughtful gift.
Cast
Creative Team
Marz Allswede
Dylan Tye Davis
Veronica Kloss
Benjamin Mills
Tadhg Mitchel
Lex Newman
Santiago Quintana
Christa Retka
Meet the Company
Antonio Cruz
Antonio Cruz is so excited to bring this show to life. He most recently understudied for Theatre L'Acadie's The Swan, part of the Fey in The Impostors Theatre's Beyond the Garden Gate, and Hanschen in Steel Beam’s Spring Awakening. Other recent credits include Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), Don Alfonso (Cosi Fan Tutte), Craig McDermott (American Psycho), Uncle Billy/Peter/Bert/Ernie/Foley (It's A Wonderful Life), and the swing for Stop Kiss and Urban Theater’s Chicago Lore(s). Antonio is also a writer, most recently penning the musical The Path with music by Indigo Egger and Priscilla Sabourin. He thanks the endless list of people that have supported him up until now and the new members of his theater family he added here!
Jacob Dorris
Jacob Dorris is delighted to make his Open Space Arts debut here in Chicago! He was most recently seen making his Chicago area theatre debut as Timothy (Hand to God) with Elsinore Ensemble. Other credits include, Bill Lowry (The Spell of Red River), Paul Sheldon (Misery), Jimbo (Fairview), Detective Kimball/Ensemble (American Psycho), Swing (Violet), all of which he did while receiving his BFA in Acting from Millikin University. Jacob would like to thank his parents, friends, girlfriend, roommates, and the folks at Open Space Arts for this amazing opportunity.
Emiliano Flores
Originally from South Texas, Emiliano has honed his acting abilities in both theatre and commercial settings. Upon moving to Chicago, he explored diverse artistic avenues including music production, fashion modeling and design, alongside pursuing his education in Latino Studies. In the past year Emiliano has eagerly returned to his acting roots, grateful to share this moment with the creative artists behind Scandalous Boy
Jordan Gleaves
JORDAN GLEAVES is making his Open Space Arts debut. Chicago/Chicago-area credits include Seven Guitars (Jeff Award-Production (Play), City Lit); Blues For An Alabama Sky (Remy Bumppo); Relentless (Goodman & TimeLine); Ride Or Die and Ezekiel’s Wheel (MPAACT); The Swan (Theatre L’Acadie); Sunset Baby (Fleetwood-Jourdain). Touring credit is with Othello and Loves, Labours, Lost (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks). Other regional credits include Macbeth and Julius Caesar (The Nashville Shakespeare Festival). Jordan is represented by Stewart Talent. He holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA in Drama from Morehouse College.
Jinyue Yuna Hu
Jinyue "Yuna" Hu (she/her) is a Chinese actor and a proud graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. With performance experience across the U.S., China, and Korea, Yuna has appeared in over twenty short films screened throughout China and performed in more than ten plays.
Recent stage credits include First Comes Love at Perceptions Theatre and The Long Christmas Dinner at TUTA Theatre. In 2019, she joined the international tour of Tosca in China. In 2023, she made her directorial debut at the University of Chicago with a Mandarin-language production of The Pillowman.
Yuna is not only an actor, but also a director, producer, translator, teacher, and dreamer!
@jyunahu
Jose Alexander Martinez
Jose Alexander Martinez is thrilled to make his Chicago acting debut in this production of Scandalous Boy. Jose has been a professional Scenic Painter and designer for the last few years and has painted some of your favorite shows. Recent credits include Timeline Theatre Company, Albany Park Theatre Company, Theo Ubique Theatre and currently teaches Scenic Painting at Roosevelt University. Thank you to Benjamin for seeing this role in me and bringing me through this process. To his friends and family for the support on this journey. And the fellow cast and crew for the love. You can do anything
Marz Allswede
Marz Allswede comes to Chicago from Oklahoma and has stage managed multiple productions in each location. Recently he was the stage manager on "Right Now" with Facility Theater (2023), "The Delivery" with Trap Door Theater & The Inclusive Playwright Project (2024), and "The Ship and the Sea" during the 2023 Rhino Festival. Outside of stage managing he has worked as a technician for the Athenaeum Center, produced Minerva University’s first ever 10 Minute Play Festival, and performed in the drag show "Helluva Cabaret" produced by Vicious Mockery. Lastly, his favorite Studio Ghibli movie is "Porco Rosso".
Dylan Tye Davis
Veronica Kloss
Veronica is a graphic designer and house manager currently living in Alabama. She previously did graphic design for Mr. Parker and it's been ten years since everyone died with Open Space Arts. Veronica has previously worked with New York Stage and Film, The Contemporary American Theater Festival, and Glimmerglass Festival. She is currently in her final semester at the University of Montevallo.
Benjamin Mills
Benjamin Mills is an actor, designer, director, and Chicago theatre jack of all trades. Benjamins design work has been seen at Theatre L’Acadie, Open Space Arts, and Big Noise Theatre. Most recently seen on stage in SPRING AWAKENING, GREY GARDENS THE MUSICAL, THE LEARNED LADIES, BONNIE AND CLYDE THE MUSICAL, and a three show tour with Great Works Touring Theatre. Benjamin is a proud Company Member/Resident Costume Designer with Theatre L’Acadie. SCANDALOUS BOY marks Benjamin's Chicago directorial debut.
Tadhg Mitchel
Tadhg Mitchel (he/him) is excited to continue his work with Open Space Arts as the Social Media Director! Previous OSA shows include Light Switch, Mercy Killing, Mr. Parker, and it’s been ten years since everyone died. He has a background in theater, filmmaking, and digital production, and will be earning his Master’s degree in Communication this June from DePaul University. Alongside his work at OSA, he is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Gender Fucked Productions and can be found at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in the box office. Outside of work, he enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, scrapbooking, writing, and spending time with his husband and five cats.
Lex Newman
Lex Newman (they/them) is so happy to be returning for their fourth production with Open Space Arts! Their previous shows with OSA include Mercy Killing, Mr. Parker, and It's Been Ten Years Since Everyone Died. Other technical theatre credits include Alice Gerstenberg Festival 2024 at Gerber House (production assistant) and Five Women Wearing The Same Dress with Saint Sebastian Players (lighting design). When they're not doing tech, Lex can be found reading many books, going to live music shows, or gaining yet another crafting hobby.
Santiago Quintana
Christa Retka
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, 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.
Open Space Arts Presents the American Premiere of the London Pub-Theatre Hit GANGSTA BABY in September-October 2025
Open Space Arts is thrilled to co-produce the American premiere of GANGSTA BABY, a powerful, autobiographical drama from London’s Hope Theatre. Directed by the renowned UK artist Rikki Beadle-Blair (MBE), GANGSTA BABY will run at Open Space Arts from September 19 to October 5, 2025, in our intimate 25-seat theatre at 1411 W. Wilson Avenue.
Written and performed by Cameron Raasdal-Munro, GANGSTA BABY tells the gripping story of Junior, a young gay sex worker living in the working-class city of Hastings, UK, and his complex relationship with his homophobic gangster father. The play explores urgent and often overlooked issues such as sex work, addiction, classism, and internalized homophobia, all through the lens of queer identity and masculinity.
After a successful run at London’s Hope Theatre, GANGSTA BABY won numerous accolades, including "Fringe Show of the Year" and "Best Male Performer of the Year" for Raasdal-Munro’s powerful portrayal of Junior. Critics have praised the play for its raw honesty and its unflinching exploration of life on the margins, particularly for queer individuals in working-class environments.
This American premiere, featuring a Chicago-based cast alongside Raasdal-Munro, will bring this hard-hitting, socially important piece of theatre to a new audience. Co-producer G. Riley Mills said, “Chicago’s stages have long been home to fearless storytelling, making it the ideal home for a narrative that pushes boundaries and challenges societal norms. We’re honored to bring GANGSTA BABY to a city that values bravery and creativity.”
Tickets are available starting July 7 for $30 general admission, or $25 for students and seniors.
Don’t miss this remarkable production in one of Chicago’s most unique venues.
========================================================================
THE REAL BLACK SWANN by Les Kurkendaal-Barrett
What happens when you uncover a secret piece of history — and realize it’s part of your own story?
In THE REAL BLACK SWANN: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen, acclaimed solo artist Les Kurkendaal-Barrett dives deep into the extraordinary life of William Dorsey Swann — a formerly enslaved man who became the first known drag performer and LGBTQ+ activist in the U.S.
What begins as Les getting a text before he goes into surgery turns into a captivating journey across time. As Les learns more about Swann — who organized drag balls in Washington D.C. in the 1880s and fought for queer freedom decades before Stonewall — he begins to see reflections of his own life and the power of reclaiming lost stories.
A funny, moving, and timely solo performance that weaves history, identity, and personal discovery, THE REAL BLACK SWANN will leave you inspired to reimagine the heroes of our past.
🏆 AWARD-WINNING SOLO SHOW
THE REAL BLACK SWANN has been recognized at festivals across the globe:
- Patrons' Pick - Orlando Fringe
- Audience Pick - Prague Fringe
- Best International show - Colchester Fringe
- Doric Wilson Award Dublin international Theatre Fest
-
🌟 WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING:
“Powerful, heartfelt, and completely engaging… Les Kurkendaal-Barrett is a master storyteller.”
— Hollywood Fringe Festival
“A fascinating and emotional tribute to an unsung hero of LGBTQ+ history. The audience was riveted.”
— Orlando Fringe Festival
“Kurkendaal-Barrett brings humor, depth, and sincerity to a story that needs to be told.”
— Minnesota Fringe
👤 ABOUT LES KURKENDAAL-BARRETT
Les Kurkendaal-Barrett is a veteran solo performer and writer whose work has been showcased at top fringe and theater festivals around the globe, including the Edinburgh Fringe, Hollywood Fringe, and San Francisco Fringe. Known for his witty, heartfelt storytelling, Les explores themes of identity, race, and resilience with disarming honesty and humor. His past shows include Terror on the High Seas, Walking While Black in Moscow, and The Attack of the Roller Coaster of Love.
📅 Runs July 18–27, 2025
Friday, Saturday 7:30 and Sunday at 6:00 with an additional performance on Thursday July 24 at 7:30
