THE SWALLOW

Michelle McKenzie-Voigt

Michelle McKenzie-Voigt (Emily) is delighted to make her Open Space Arts debut. Off-Broadway/Chicago: GUS AND ALICE (Theatre 31). Chicago: A NEW BRAIN, BEAUTIFUL THING, THE CHILDREN’S HOUR, THE BOY FROM OZ (Pride Arts); BILLY ELLIOT (Porchlight); GYPSY (Harper Ensemble Theatre); MAME, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, GUYS AND DOLLS (Music Theater Works). Regional: STEEL MAGNOLIAS, THE FULL MONTY, CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES 2 (Timber Lake Playhouse). 2019 Chicago Musical Theater Festival Award (Best Supporting Performer). Deep gratitude for the past and red grapes to Ron. Thanks to Laine, David, and Jim.

Jim Nally

Jim Nally (Ray) trained at Green Shirt Studios and performed with Black Sheep Improv (Ohio University). Originally from Cleveland, he has previously appeared in GODSPELL (French Creek Theater), FOOTLOOSE (Frostville Theater), and SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (Radike Playhouse). This production marks his Chicago theatrical debut. When not onstage, Jim works as a men’s clothier with Proper Cloth. He would like to extend special gratitude to his wonderful family and friends for their endless support.

Guillem Clua

Guillem Clua is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and director from Barcelona whose work has been produced internationally and translated into numerous languages. Known for combining strong storytelling with humor, suspense, and emotional depth, he is considered one of the most innovative and versatile voices in contemporary Spanish and Catalan theater.

His plays include THE SWALLOW, SMILEY, JUSTÍCIA, SKIN IN FLAMES, MARBURG, INVASION, KILLER, and TASTE OF ASHES. His writing frequently explores identity, family, politics, love, and the ways public events shape private lives.

In 2020, Clua received Spain’s prestigious National Prize for Dramatic Literature for JUSTÍCIA. THE SWALLOW has received productions around the world, while SMILEY became an international stage success before being adapted into an eight-episode Netflix series. Clua served as the series’ creator and showrunner.

Clua’s work has been praised for making complex social and political subjects immediate, accessible, and deeply human. Open Space Arts previously presented his romantic comedy SMILEY in a successful extended run during the summer of 2026.

https://guillemclua.com/

Laine Rogers

Laine Rogers is a Chicago-based theatre artist whose work includes directing, assistant directing, stage management, dramaturgy, design, marketing, and production. She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and her credits include work with MadKap Productions, Piven Theatre, Raven Theatre, Concert Opera of Greater Chicago, PrideArts Center, Actors Training Center, Muskegon Civic Theatre, and DePaul University. She has worked on productions including A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, BOY GETS GIRL, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, PRIVATE LIVES, TOP GIRLS, LOVE AND INFORMATION, and L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI. 

Jerome Anderson

Jerome Anderson is a stage crew member and occasional actor making his professional debut with this production! When he wasn’t building sets or welding, you may have seen him working backstage on MR. BURNS, PIPPIN, MYTHS AND MEMORIES, and BARKHA PATEL.

As a performer, his credits include HAMILTON STAGED CONCERT, EVERYBODY, FLORIDITA: MY LOVE, YOU ON THE MOORS NOW, ONE DAY WE WILL BE TWO OLD GHOSTS, WITCH, BIG FISH, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, HAMLET, and GENDER PERFORMS ME, his senior thesis, which he also wrote.

His thanks go to Open Space Arts and everyone who made this production possible!

Dominique Favre

Dominique Favre discovered a passion for theatrical costume and wig design during the 2020 quarantine, inspiring a professional pivot that took them to Milan, Italy, for formal training in costume design. Now based in Chicago, they combine their international training with a keen eye for narrative-driven visuals and detailed craftsmanship. Recent credits as a costume designer include SMILEY at Open Space Arts, SWEENEY TODD, JEKYLL & HYDE, and CARMEN. Dominique is thrilled to bring their love of intricate character design to this production. 

Mark Forbis

Mark Forbis (Music Director, he/him) makes his Chicago theatre debut with THE SWALLOW, having moved from Ames, Iowa, in 2024. Mark studied piano and music theory at Iowa State University while pursuing a business degree. He worked on nearly 100 productions as a keyboardist, music director, and director while in Ames and received the 2019 Ames Community Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award. Recent credits include GODSPELL, TOMFOOLERY, and PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES (Ames Community Theater—ACTORS). Mark currently continues his piano studies at the Music Institute of Chicago and volunteers as an usher with the Saints.

Veronica Kloss

Veronica is a communicator, artist, and historian based in Birmingham, Alabama. She previously worked with Open Space Arts as a graphic designer on MR. PARKER, IT’S BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE EVERYONE DIED, and SCANDALOUS BOY. Her previous credits also include work with New York Stage and Film, the Contemporary American Theater Festival, the Glimmerglass Festival, and the Virginia Theatre Festival.

Rick Paul

Rick Paul (Set) is a pioneer of the Off-Broadway and gay theater movements. To paraphrase Ann Sothern, he has designed everything but rodeos. He is happy to be involved in David Zak’s ongoing and extensive service to gay theater in all its manifestations.

R&D Choreography (Victor Bayona and Richard Gilbert)

R&D Choreography (Violence Design) is a Chicago-based violence design company comprising partners Victor Bayona (he/him) and Rick Gilbert (he/him). Our hearts are filled with song to be back at OSA after having had so much fun designing GANGSTA BABY! 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, Oil Lamp, The Paramount, Piven, Steep, Steppenwolf, TUTA, and Theo.

Dorothy Sargent

Dorothy is excited to return to Open Space Arts for her second production, following this summer’s SMILEY! She is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BA in Performing Arts. Her past stage management credits include GREASE – SCHOOL VERSION with Red Line Theatre Company, as well as SWEENEY TODD, FREAKY FRIDAY, and CUT with Lincoln-Way East.  Dorothy would like to thank her family and her very loving partner for all their support. <3

Sean Smyth

Sean Smyth (Sound and Lighting Designer) has expanded his theatre experience by adding lighting design to his credits. Sean has designed sound for SWALLOW and SMILEY (Open Space Arts); HARVEY, NUNSENSE, BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS, and THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Saint Sebastian Players).

His stage management credits include the world premieres of OXY-OHIO, MIA, and INVISIBLE (Her Story); MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, HARVEY, NUNSENSE, BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, and FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS (Saint Sebastian Players); FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Devonshire Playhouse); THE BERLIN DIARIES and SURVIVORS (Art Judaica); INTO THE WOODS, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, LES MISÉRABLES, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, LEGALLY BLONDE, URINETOWN, and OKLAHOMA! (Standing Ovation, FL); THE LION IN WINTER and THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (FL); and THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and OLEANNA (Evening Star, FL).

Sean has also worked on various events with SAG-AFTRA, the Chicago Writers Guild, and Perennial Actors. He is a professional member of the Stage Managers’ Association.

Abbas Tayebali

Abbas Tayebali is a Chicagoland-based photographer who created the promotional imagery for SMILEY and returns to photograph THE SWALLOW. In his spare time, he writes and performs sketch comedy and is currently developing a documentary titled A JOURNEY TO FREEDOM. His work can be found at abbastay.com.