mission

Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theater to tell complex and challenging stories with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theater artists and new musical theater works while raising the profile of Chicago’s storefront musical theater community.

staff

SCOT T. KOKANDY (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)

Scot was one of the “People of Godspell” who produced Godspell on Broadway in 2011. Scot began his theater career as an actor while earning a BS from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA from Purdue University. In 2010, Scot fused his business acumen and love for the theater to found Kokandy Productions, which has gone on to mount 10 mainstage productions and garner 28 Jeff Nominations and three wins. Scot also co-produced 2011’s Good Boys and True with Hammond Indiana’s Towle Theater, and 2013’s Musical of Musicals: The Musical with Zachary Gipson at the 4th Street Theater in Chesterton, Indiana. Email Scot at scot@kokandyproductions.com

DEREK VAN BARHAM (PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR)

Derek is a member of the Red Tape Theatre ensemble. He previously served as Artistic Director of The Ruckus and Associate Artistic Director of Pride Films & Plays. For PFP, he has directed HOMOS, or Everyone in America, Perfect Arrangement, Angry Fags (Steppenwolf Garage Repertory), Songs from an Unmade Bed (Jeff nomination: Best Director of a Musical or Revue), PRISCILLA, Queen of the Desert: The Musical and Terrence Mcnally’s Some Men. He also wrote, directed and choreographed BITE: A Pucking Queer Cabaret and Kill Your Boyfriends. Other directing credits include The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre), Three Days of Rain (Boho), Miracle! by Dan Savage and Skooby Don’t (Hell in a Handbag), Trash and HOT PINK, or Ready to Blow (New American Folk Theatre) and From These Fatal Loins (The Ruckus). He has performed with BoHo Theatre (Hauptmann), Red Tape Theatre (The Skriker, Stadium Devildare, The Life & Death of Madame Barker) and The Island Theatre (Wallace Shawn’s The Fever). He has choreographed for Black Button Eyes (Coraline the Musical, Goblin Market, Amour, Shockheaded Peter, Nevermore), Permoveo (Albert Cashier), The Plagiarists, Inappropriate Theatre, Brain Surgeon Theatre and Salonathon. He was named one of Windy City Times 30 Under 30, recognizing individuals from Chicago’s LGBTQ community. MFA: Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. ​Email Derek at derek@kokandyproductions.com

ADRIAN ABEL AZEVEDO (ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE)

Originally from Southern California, Adrian is a freelance director, producer and teaching artist in the city. He has worked with Chicago theatre companies including Goodman Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Steep Theatre, and Teatro Vista creatively and administratively. Adrian is a full-time staff member for Goodman Theatre in the Education and Engagement Department. He is a Columbia College Chicago graduate with a degree in Theatre – Directing concentration. ​Email Adrian at adrian@kokandyproductions.com

LEDA HOFFMANN (ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE)

Leda is a Chicago based director who has directed across the Midwest at Milwaukee Rep, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Mudlark Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theater, Renaissance Theatreworks, Door Shakespeare, the Alchemist Theater, Max & Louie Productions and Riverside Theater (Iowa City). In addition to her directing work, Leda is a teaching artist with Mudlark Theater and Skyline Studios. Before moving to Chicago, Leda spent six years on Milwaukee Rep’s Artistic staff and served as Milwaukee Rep’s founding Director of Community Engagement. Leda is a proud graduate of Grinnell College, a former Milwaukee Rep directing intern, SDCF Observer, and a member of Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. Upcoming: A Christmas Carol (Milwaukee Rep), The Amish Project (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center), Joan of Lowell (Mudlark Theater). www.ledahoffmann.com ​Email Leda at leda@kokandyproductions.com

JEFF MEYER (GRAPHIC DESIGNER)

In addition to being a graphic designer, Jeff is an actor from LA, having received his BA in Music Theatre and Asian and Middle Eastern History from Northwestern University. He played the “Proprietor” in Kokandy’s 2014 sold out production of Assassins (Jeff Award Nominations – Best Musical, Best Ensemble) and “Robert” in their 2017 production of LaChiusa’s Little Fish. To view his recent credits and see more of his acting work, visit: jeffmeyeractor.com. To view more of his design work, visit: jeffmeyerdesigns.myportfolio.com. You can contact him through either of his websites.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Preston Cropp, Danielle Sparklin, Scot T. Kokandy, Katie Svaicer

contact us

PRESS CONTACT
David Rosenberg
david@drpublicrelations.com

ALL OTHER BUSINESS
Scot T. Kokandy

Kokandy Productions
1200 N. Ashland Avenue Suite 500 PMB 6011
Chicago IL  60622

​(773) 904-0642

​or email scot@kokandyproductions.com