Any video and/or audio recording of this
production is strictly prohibited. 

Sunday in the Park with George is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).  All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

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Kokandy Productions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. By making a tax-deductible gift to Kokandy Productions, you are assisting the advancement of musical theater in Chicago.

Evelyn Ryan (Conductor/Grand Piano)
Fernando Chapa (French Horn)
Andrew Milliken (Keyboard 2)
Adam Nigh (Woodwinds)
Matt Wolf (Cello)
Micky York (Keyboard 3)

Madeleine Bigler (A2)
Peter Boenish (Associate Projection Designer/Lead Electrician)
Christine Burquest (A1)
Ethan Colish (Assistant Stage Manager)
Michael Coppola (Stage Management Intern)
Alanna Chavez (Assistant Director)
Syd Genco (Makeup Design)
Hannah Kwak (Production Sound Engineer)
G “Max” Maxin IV (Scenic, Projection and Lighting Design)
Kendyl Meyer (Stage Manager)
David Moreland (Technical Director)
Amelia Osborn (Associate Production Manager)
Matt Reich (Sound Design)
Nicholas Reinhart (Production Manager)
Shane Roberie (Casting Director)
Evelyn Ryan (Orchestrations)
Keith Ryan (Wig & Hair Design)
Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Design)
Stone TeSelle (Associate Scenic Designer, Scenic Charge)
Julian Weslander (Properties Design)

Derek Van Barham, Producing Artistic Director
Adrian Abel Azevedo, Leda Hoffmann, Artistic Associates
Scot Kokandy, Executive Producer
Ben Hinc, Technical Consultant
David Rosenberg, Public Relations
Jeff Meyer, Graphic Designer

Board of Directors: Preston Cropp, Danielle Sparklin, Scot Kokandy, Katie Svaicer 

Kokandy Productions was founded in 2012 by Allison Hendrix, John Glover, and Scot Kokandy. 

Nick Arceo is elated to do this dream show that has been a fixture of most of his life. Kokandy: Grand Hotel, CMTF 2024: The Brass Teapot. Chicago area: Assassins (Theo Ubique); On the Twentieth Century, Merrily We Roll Along (Blank); Fame, Bright Lights Big City (The Beautiful City Project); Four Places (4 Chairs); Mary Poppins (Metropolis PAC); Forever Plaid (Skokie); Plaid Tidings (Towle); A Man of No Importance (Pride Arts). Regional: Pippin, Parade, Funny Girl (Revival Theatre Company). All my love to Grethel, Violet, family, and friends!

Danny Andrew Bennett is so excited to be a part of his first production with the wonderful artists at Kokandy! Previous Credits include: Kitty and The Beanstalk & Click Clack Boo! A Tricky Treat (Lifeline Theatre), and Octet (Raven Theatre). Originally from Miami, FL, he is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. Represented by Big Mouth Talent. Instagram: @dankybankett

Brittney Brown is a Chicago based actor, director, and casting director. Recent acting credits include: Passion (Blank Theatre, Jeff Nomination – Best Performer in a Principal Role), Poor People (Hell in a Handbag), brother sister cyborg space (Raven Theatre), Merrily We Roll Along (Blank Theatre), Assassins, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Sweeney Todd (Theo Ubique), Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, and Bonnie and Clyde (Kokandy Productions), All That He Was (PrideArts, Jeff Nomination – Best Performer in a Supporting Role), Kelly Girls (Factory Theater, Jeff Nomination – Best Performer in a Principal Role), and Ragtime and Violet (Griffin Theatre). She co-directed Alice By Heart at Kokandy Productions (Jeff Nomination – Director of a Musical) and was the associate director for Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes (The Story Theatre), May the Road Rise Up (Factory Theater), and Wolves (Exit 63). She is a featured director in Oil Lamp Theater’s upcoming Ignite New Works Festival, Broken Nose Theatre’s Bechdel Fest 7: Momentum and directed a staged reading of Paul Michael Thomson’s Artemis Books & the Well-Meaning Man for Avalanche Theatre as well as the audio drama Primer for Broken Nose Theatre. She has also directed productions of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Calvin Berger. She is incredibly grateful for her mom, her Game Night Crew, and her partner George for all of their truly amazing support.

Rachel Carreras (she/her, The Nurse) is thrilled to be back with Kokandy after making her debut in Amélie as Amandine/Philomene last season! Rachel was most recently seen as Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense and Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act (Drury Lane). Other recent credits: Ms. Navarro in Brighter Futures (Paramount), Bird Woman/Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins and Marie in Cinderella (Metropolis PAC), Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (HPP), Lucy Harris in Jekyll and Hyde (BrightSide), Angela in Honky Tonk Angels (LTOTS), and The Witch in Into the Woods (Summer Lyric). She is also a member of the professional Chicago/Macomb choir withonevoice. Special thanks to her family and friends for their unending love and support! Rachel is represented by Talent X Alexander. Isaiah 55:12. www.rachelcarreras.com 

Ella Carson (she/her, Louise, Randolph) is ecstatic for her first Kokandy show! Recent credits include Best Musical Ever (Corn Productions), Baked Hamlet (420 Shakespeare), and Everybody (Couch Penny Ensemble). Ella received her BFA in Acting from Oklahoma City University’s School of Theatre. She would like to thank Derek, Alanna, and Nick for this incredible opportunity, the cast and crew for their talent and friendship, and her friends, family, and Tyler for their ongoing support.

David Gordon-Johnson (u/s George) is thrilled to be tackling this dream show with Kokandy! Selected Chicago credits include Titanic (Marriott), 9 to 5 (Metropolis), And Neither Have I Wings to Fly (First Folio), The Winter’s Tale (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Hundred Days (Kokandy), Hello Again, The Most Happy Fella (Theo), Southern Gothic (Windy City Playhouse), and Tug of War: Civil Strife (Chicago Shakespeare). He is a
frequent guest soloist with the Ocean City Pops. Represented by Talent X Alexander. Proud AGMA member.

Emily Holland (she/her, Celeste 1, Waitress) is beyond thrilled to be back at the Chopin telling this gorgeous story after last being seen in Kokandy’s Jeff Award winning production of American Psycho. Other credits include: South Pacific (Paramount Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (Fireside Theatre), the love object (The Story Theatre), Children of Eden: in Concert (Broadway in Chicago), Annie, Godspell, Guys and Dolls (MTW), Million Dollar Quartet, 9 to 5: The Musical (Metropolis), Henry V, Merry Wives of Windsor (Door Shakespeare). BFA MT and Dance minor: UWSP. Proudly represented by DDO. All of my love to the entire team, Darian, my friends and family, my agents, and my furbabies, Kiwi and Hattie. If you’re reading this, go forth and bravely discover the possibilities of a blank page or canvas for yourself. The world needs YOUR art and YOUR mind, now more than ever. “Joy is an act of resistance” – Toi Derricotte. www.emilynicoleholland.com, IG: emily_holland01

Gabriel Levi is ecstatic to be making their debut with Kokandy! Having always admired his work, this will be Levi’s first venture into the world of Sondheim! With a musical theatre background, Levi has performed as “Audrey 2” in Little Shop and “Tom Collins” in Rent. Recently, Levi had the premiere of their self-written one-person show “Liar, Liar Pants of Fire” currently touring throughout the Chicagoland area. Levi wants to thank their mother for being so supportive of their theatre journey and their village of friends for believing in them.

Brady Magruder (U/S Jules, Franz, Soldier) is honored to be debuting at Kokandy! CHICAGO: Damn Yankees! (Theo Ubique), An Oak Tree (Couch Penny Ensemble), An Enemy of the People, and In Pursuit Of (Sub Rosa Theatre Co.), Big Time Toppers (Theatre L’Acadie), Bernhardt/Hamlet (Edge of the Wood), Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Northbrook TYA). SPOKANE/CDA: Bare: A Pop Opera (Spokane Stage Left), Sister Act (Lake City Playhouse), The Music Man, and Thoroughly Modern Millie (CCT). Brady hails from Spokane, WA, where his performance as Edward Bloom in Big Fish earned him a ‘19 Jimmy Award nomination. He is a ‘23 Acting BFA graduate from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and a proud core ensemble member of Sub Rosa Theatre Co. All the love and thanks to his family and friends for their endless support. www.bradymagruder.com/  @bradymagruder

Lauren Miller (Old Lady, Blair Daniels) is thrilled to be working with Kokandy! Chicago and regional credits include Follies (Porchlight Music Theatre), Squeamish (A Bump in the Night), Measure for Measure (The Shakespeare Project), Sister Act, Nunsense, Cabaret, Nevermore, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Additional favorites include the Jeff Award–nominated Boeing Boeing, Light Up the Sky, and Steel Magnolias. Lauren is represented by Big Mouth Talent. Visit www.MeetLaurenMiller.com. 

Z Moore (they/he), is electrocuted to make their Kokandy debut. Hailing from the desert of Phoenix, Arizona, they were recently seen in New Faces Sing Broadway 1960 (Porchlight), as a violinist in the pit orchestra for Little Women (Bishop Knoll Institute), and as Angel in RENT (Surging Films & Theatrics). Other favorite credits: I Love You…Now Change (Oil Lamp Theater), Stabbed In The Heart (Factory Theater), and Avenue Q, The Lightning Thief (MadKap), the latter of which summoned Z’s drag persona, Misha Linh Star: the cuisine queen. Z also coaches through their vocal studio and served as the Vocal Director for A Funny Thing…Forum (Marian Theatre Guild). For more on Moore: IG @suddenlyzmoore / suddenlyzmoore.com 

Halli Morgan (she/her) is so excited to be back at Kokandy! Previous Kokandy credits include INTO THE WOODS (u/s Baker’s Wife & Witch) and the 2025 Chicago Music Theatre Festival (QUEEN BEA, Lily). Other favorite credits include IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Oil Lamp Theatre), MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, PASSION (Blank Theatre Company), POOR PEOPLE! (Hell in a Handbag Productions), and PETER PAN (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Proudly represented by NV Talent. All the love in the world for Thomas, her supportive and magnificent husband. 

KyraJo Petit-Walla (they/she, Frieda) is absolutely ecstatic to be making their Chicago debut in Sunday. KyraJo primarily choreographs and directs for local youth programs and community theaters, but her favorite onstage credits include the Narrator in Joseph… (CCT), Constance in The Clockmaker’s Daughter (the Midwest Premiere at Lake Country Playhouse), and Emma in The Prom (Waukesha Civic Theatre). Special thanks to her incredible partner Nathan, her 3 cats, and the entire Kokandy team for making dreams possible. As always, KyraJo dedicates their work in loving memory of Ben Olson.

Samantha Ringor (Celeste 2, Betty) is so excited to be back at Kokandy doing a show she did her freshman year of high school! (Did high schoolers understand this show? No, but that’s okay!) She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Rider University in New Jersey, but was born and raised in Chicago! Proud Filipina. Recent credits: Amelie (Kokandy Productions); Lizzie (Summer Stock Stage); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Indiana Repertory Theater); Miss Saigon (Short North Stage). Represented by Gray Talent Group. All the love to her family and friends!

Nathe Rowbotham (she/they, Yvonne, Naomi) is overjoyed to be making her Kokandy Productions debut! Chicago credits include The Who’s Tommy (Goodman Theatre), Billie Jean (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), 1776, The Snow Queen (Marriott Theatre), New Faces Sing Broadway 1979 (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Threepenny Opera, Once Upon A Mattress (Theo Ubique), Rock of Ages (Metropolis), Camelot (Music Theatre Works), Tick, Tick… BOOM! (BoHo Theatre). Regional credits include Songs for a New World (Berkshire Theatre Group). Nathe is represented by Stewart Talent and is a graduate of CCPA at Roosevelt University. Thank you for supporting live theatre!

Jack Saunders (Soldier, Alex) is so happy to be back with the Kokandy Team for both Hair and Sunday in the Park with George this season!  CHICAGO: The Angel Next Door (Northlight Theatre) Christmas Carol (Drury Lane Theatre) Diana the Musical (Theo Ubique Theatre, Non-Equity Jeff Award Nominee), Frindle (Griffin Theatre), Alice by Heart (Kokandy Productions). REGIONAL: The Play That Goes Wrong (Florida Repertory Theatre) OTHER: Royal Caribbean Vocalist. Endless thanks to his family, friends, and every opportunity to keep creating. For Nan. Represented by Big Mouth Talent. thejacksaunders.com | @thejacksaunders 

Sarah Seidler (she/her) is overjoyed to be making her Kokandy debut. Chicago Credits include: Damn Yankees (Theo Ubique); Hot People Island (Cornservatory); Assassins, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (point2point productions); Proof, Dinner With Friends (Bluebird Arts); The Shaughraun (The Storm Theatre); The Real Inspector Hound (St. Sebastian Players); Alice in Wonderland (Chicago Kids Company) Also involved in the Midwest film community, Sarah is proudly represented by Talent X Alexander. A huge thank you to the Sunday team for this opportunity. Love to Mom, Dad, Griffin, and Squad. Website: sarahseidler.com 

Elexis Selmon (Celeste #1 & 2, Louise US)  is thrilled to be working at Kokandy Productions on such a great musical! Her recent credits include CHICAGO: Birthday Candles (Buffalo Ensemble Theatre) Mary Jane (Northlight Theatre) Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas At Pemberley (Buffalo Ensemble Theatre) Rome Sweet Rome (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). REGIONAL: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati); Hello Dolly (The Carnegie Theatre); The Spongebob Musical (The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati). REGIONAL TOUR: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival); Hamlet(Cincinnati Shakespeare Company). EDUCATION: BA in Theatre, Loyola University New Orleans; BS in Psychology, Loyola University New Orleans. Elexis would like to give a special thanks to her mom, family, friends and Jesus!

Abraham Shaw (Louis, Dennis) is thrilled to be making his Kokandy debut! Previous credits include: Rent, New Faces Sing Broadway 1961 (Porchlight Music Theatre), Tiny Beautiful Things (Max & Louie Productions), The Snowy Day National Tour (Childsplay). Listen to Abe Shaw’s new EP “novice heartstrings” available on all music platforms. Much love to mom for her continued support! @abetshaw, abrahamshaw.com

Kevin Webb (he/him, George) has been seen with Kokandy as the title role in Sweeney Todd, The Baker in Into the Woods and Utterson in Jekyll & Hyde. Chicago credits: Titanic the Musical (Marriott); The Killer, Mother Courage and Her Children, The Pragmatists, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Trap Door); The Secret Garden (Court); The Irish…and How They Got That Way and Sweeney Todd (Porchlight); A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd (Theo Ubique); St. Nicholas, Mary Rose, Shockheaded Peter, Coraline (Black Button Eyes); Marie Christine, Myths & Hymns (BoHo); The View UpStairs (Circle); Songs from an Unmade Bed, Design for Living, Angry F@gs (Pride Films & Plays); Assassins (The Viaduct); The Pitchfork Disney (Interrobang). Kevin is also a proud ensemble member with Trap Door Theatre, with whom he toured Poland performing The Pragmatists in 2025.

Missy Wise Vanderzee (Dot, Marie) Recent Musical Theater credits include: Bright Star (Boho Theater Ensemble) Kinky Boots (Paramount Aurora) A Burning Church (ICE Factory NYC), Million Dollar Quartet (Clarence Brown Theater) Legally Blonde (Paramount Aurora) FLIES! The Musical! (Pride Films and Plays) Sweeney Todd (Theo Ubique) Bonnie & Clyde (Kokandy Productions) and more. Missy was the 2016 Winner of the NATS National Musical Theater Competition & the proud recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards: Best Supporting Actor for her work as “Blanche Barrow” in Kokandy Productions Bonnie & Clyde and for Best Lead Actor for “Alice Murphy” in Bright Star. Missy has a solo show “Let’s Go Girls”, celebrating a century of women in country music and is the founder & owner of Sunburst Vocal Studio in Chicago. For Trevor & Lulu – we’ve always belonged together.

Derek Van Barham (Director and Choreographer) is the Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions. Directing credits include Children of Eden in Concert (Broadway In Chicago), Jekyll & Hyde (BIC/Kokandy), Amélie, Into the Woods, Alice by Heart, Sweeney Todd, American Psycho, Head Over Heels (4 Jeff Awards and 3 Jeff nominations, Kokandy); Spring Awakening (Flint Rep); Rock of Ages (Metropolis); The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre); Miracle by Dan Savage, Poseidon (Hell in a Handbag) Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Carrie, Bat Boy, Merrily We Roll Along (CCPA/Roosevelt University). Choreography credits include Evil Dead (Jeff nomination), Coraline the Musical, Ghost Quartet and Shockheaded Peter (Black Button Eyes). He was previously named one of Windy City Times’ 30 Under 30, and one of Newcity Magazine’s 50 Players 2024 and 2026. MFA: CCPA/Roosevelt University. IG: @dvbarham

Peter Boenish (Associate Projection Designer, Lead Electrician) is so excited to be a part of this team on Sunday in the Park with George! Currently studying Projection Design at DePaul University’s Theatre School, he has recently worked as Assistant Lighting Designer for The Irish… and How They Got That Way (Porchlight), Loki – The End of the World Tour (Lifeline), and Hair (Kokandy). Additional credits include Projection Engineer for Shane (City Lit), and I’m Going to Marry You Tobey Maguire (Refracted), Assistant Lighting for Jekyll and Hyde (Kokandy), and Assistant Projection for Content (DePaul). Peter would like to thank his mentor, Max, and his friends and family for their support!

Alanna Chavez (she/her, Assistant Director) makes her Chicago directorial debut. She is a Chicago-based, Phoenix-bred actor and visual artist. She has performed at The Goodman, Paramount Theatre Aurora, Marriott Theatre, Porchlight, Theo, and Hale Centre Theatre. She is a champion of new work and contemporary musicals and loves that Chicago is too.

Syd Genco (she/her) is always happy to be back with Kokandy Productions!  She’s held the position of Makeup Designer for all their shows in the last 4 seasons, including Sweeney Todd,  Alice By Heart, and returning to BIC Chicago this fall, Jekyll & Hyde! Syd has been Makeup Designer for companies all over the city,  including the last 14 seasons with Hell in a Handbag Productions (Queen for a Day, The Golden Girls Lost Episodes, and more!) Other past favorites include Metropolis (Rock of Ages), Highland Park Players (Kinky Boots),  Haven Theatre (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Trap Door Theatre, Nothing Without A Company, and too many more to list. Syd specializes in Headshot makeup application, as well as special event, and has worked on commercial and event makeup for ABC Chicago, Warner Brothers, Fever Productions, and more. She’s also an actor, and you may have seen her grace the stage a few times around Chicago. Syd is a graduate of the CCPA at Roosevelt University with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance, and is a certified Makeup Artist through Make Up First School Chicago. www.madcbs.com

James Lapine is a playwright and director. On Broadway he has worked with Stephen Sondheim on Sunday in the Park with George; Into the Woods; and Passion. He also conceived and directed the musical review Sondheim on Sondheim. With William Finn he created Falsettos recently revived by Lincoln Center Theater; Little Miss Sunshine; Muscle; and directed Finn’s The25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Other Broadway credits include his play based on Moss Hart’s memoir Act One (also LCT), Amour, The Diary of Anne Frank, Golden Child, and Dirty Blonde. He has written the plays Table Settings, Twelve Dreams, The Moment When, Fran’s Bed and Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. Lapine has been nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning on three occasions. He has also been the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, SDC’s Mr. Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater, and inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

G “Max” Maxin IV (Lighting, Scenic & Projection Design) After over a decade in Chicago, Max (he/him) has created over 300 designs on over 200 professional & educational productions. He is a proud member of the United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE. Max has won 2 Non-Equity Jeff Awards (Lighting – Jekyll & Hyde @ Kokandy & Projections – Angels in America @ Invictus), a Lou Award (Lighting – Into the Woods @ Big Noise), and 3 Equity & 9 additional Non-Equity Jeff nominations. He has also designed on 1 Equity & 6 Non-Equity Jeff Award Winning Musicals/Plays. Max is the Resident Lighting Designer for Roosevelt University’s CCPA & before that was an instructor at Northeastern Illinois University for 7 years (Instructor Excellence Award, 2019). A founding member of Another Door Theatre Project, he worked for 3 years as Head of Production/Resident Scenographer. Max spent 2 summers designing lighting for the touring opera company La Musica Lirica (Novafeltria, Italy). Favorite projects at Kokandy, Porchlight, Paramount, The Gift, Black Ensemble, Invictus, American Blues, Handbag, Cincinnati Shakespeare, Mercury, TATC, Black Button Eyes, BoHo, Steppenwolf Garage, City Lit, ADTP, CCPA, NEIU, Northwestern, & DePaul. ivMaxin.com

Kendyl Meyer (Stage Manager) is just so happy to be back for their fifth Kokandy season. Other Kokandy credits include Jekyll and Hyde (Associate Production Manager), Amélie: the Musical, Into the Woods, American Psycho, Chicago Music Theatre Festival ‘24/‘25 (Production Stage Manager), Sweeney Todd, Cruel Intentions: the 90s Musical (ASM). Other Chicago credits include: Work Hard Have Fun Make History, One Party Consent, Pro-Am (First Floor Theater). Kendyl also recently received the 2026 Non-equity Impressario Stage Management Excellence Award. Anywho, enjoy your trip:) IG: kendylmakenzi

Amelia Osborn (Associate Production Manager) is a theatrical professional with many hats. At present, she is the Finance Manager at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and on occasion can be found in the booth at The Neo-Futurist Theater, in addition to a myriad of other places as a freelance electrician and production manager around Chicago. Most recently, Amelia was on the electrics teams for Theater of the Mind and Iceboy! (Goodman Theatre) and production managed an independent project titled 321 Plays for Trans Futures. Amelia holds a BFA in Theatre Management from DePaul University and is currently serving as an At-Large Representative for the Management Commission of USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology).  

Matt Reich (Sound Designer) is thrilled to be joining Kokandy Productions for his sixth production, having previously designed Hair, Jekyll & Hyde, Amelie, Into The Woods and Alice By Heart. He has sound-designed over sixty theatrical productions and received two Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for his work. He is an A1 for musical theatre and his mixed shows with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Manual Cinema and many other productions. He is currently the Sound Supervisor for Chicago Children’s Theatre and he has a degree in Sound Design for Theatre from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Nicholas Reinhart (Production Manager) is a Producer and Production Manager based in Chicago. NYC: Sentinels: A New Play with Music (A.R.T./New York Theatres), Jungle Jim: A Musical Wildlife Adventure (Theatre Row). KOKANDY: Jekyll & Hyde, Amélie, Into the Woods, Alice By Heart, American Psycho, The Spongebob Musical, Hundred Days, Head Over Heels and two seasons as Festival Producer of the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Nicholas holds a BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University and was previously named as one of Windy City Times’ 30 Under 30, honoring the best and brightest individuals in Chicago’s LGBTQIA+ youth community. He also serves as the Productions Manager at The Den Theatre in Wicker Park

Shane Roberie (Casting Director) Originally from Louisiana, Shane is a Chicago based performer and Casting Director for Kokandy Productions. Previous Kokandy performance credits include Head Over Heels & The Spongebob Musical. He first joined the Kokandy staff as Casting Associate in 2024 for Kokandy’s production of Alice by Heart and has had the pleasure of witnessing Chicago’s incredible talent since. Other recent performance credits include Cabaret & Sunset Boulevard(Porchlight Music Theatre), Evil Dead: The Musical & Nightmares & Nightcaps (Black Button Eyes), and Poor People! A Parady Musical & Poseidon!: The Upside Down Musical (Hell in a Handbag). He is also an avid Knitter. BFA: Acting – University of Louisiana at Lafayette; MFA: Performance & Pedagogy – Texas Tech University. @sroberie @theeknitknight.

Evelyn Ryan (Orchestrations, Conductor/Piano) is brimming with excitement to be playing a musical about hats. Previous endeavors include: as pianist: Into the Woods (Kokandy), Passion (Blank), Jekyll & Hyde (Kokandy), Sondheim Tribute Revue (Theo), The Mad Ones (Blank), Assassins (Theo); as music director: Tell Me On a Sunday (Theo), Hit the Wall (Roosevelt University); as orchestrator/arranger: Never Better (Theo), Passion (Blank), Into the Woods (Kokandy), Sondheim Tribute Revue (Theo). With gratitude to Nick Sula and apologies to Michael Starobin. Look at what you want, not at where you are, not at what you’ll be… get gender-affirming surgery TODAY.

Keith Ryan is the Wig Designer for the Fabulous, and is thrilled to be back designing Hair and Wigs for Sunday In The Park With George! Keith does not perform in front of the curtain, but creates Magic behind it!  Keith is a 2020 Jeff Award winner for Artistic Specialization, Wig Design, for Hedwig and The Angry Inch (Theo Ubique).  Jeff Nominated for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert! (Mercury Theater) 2022-2023; Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater)2023-2024; The Real Housewives of The North Pole (Hell In A Handbag) 2024-2025.With over 200 shows to her credit, she has created magic with Kokandy Productions, for the last several seasons,  as well as Hell In A Handbag Productions, The Black Ensemble Theater, Oak Lawn Park District Theater, Mercury Theater Chicago,  Alex Grelle Productions, Metropolis Theater, Sweetback Productions, Theo Ubique Theatre, Firebrand Theatre, New American Folk Theater, Big Noise Theater, Leyden High School and more.

Nick Sula (Music Director) is an award-winning music director and pianist, proud to return to Kokandy Productions and the Chopin Theater where he served as music director for the Jeff Award-winning productions of Jekyll & Hyde (Jeff Award for Outstanding Music Direction), Sweeney Todd (Jeff Award for Outstanding Music Direction), Into the Woods (Jeff Awards for Outstanding Music Direction and Orchestrations), and the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Other Chicago theatre music direction credits include: Octet (Raven Theatre); Anything Goes (Porchlight Music Theatre); Ghost Quartet (Black Button Eyes Productions). As a professor of musical theatre he serves as a music director, instructor, and vocal coach at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. 

Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night (1954), A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1962), Anyone Can Whistle (1964), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), The Frogs (1974), Pacific Overtures (1976), Sweeney Todd (1979), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday In The Park With George (1984), Into The Woods (1987), Assassins (1991), Passion (1994), Road Show (2008) and HERE WE ARE (2023), as well as the lyrics for West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959), Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965) and additional lyrics for Candide (1973). Side By Side By Sondheim (1976), Marry Me A Little (1981), You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow (1983), Putting It Together (1993/99), Moving On (2001), Sondheim On Sondheim (2010) and Old Friends (2023) are anthologies of his work as composer and lyricist. For films, he composed the scores of “Stavisky” (1974), co-composed the score for “Reds” (1981), and wrote songs for “Dick Tracy” (1990). He wrote songs for the television production “Evening Primrose” (1966), co-authored the film “The Last of Sheila” (1973) and the play Getting Away With Murder (1996) and provided incidental music for the plays The Girls of Summer (1956), Invitation To A March (1961), Twigs (1971) and The Enclave (1973). He won the Tony Award for Best Score for Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and Passion, all of which won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, as did Pacific Overtures and Sunday In The Park With George, the latter also receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1985). Stephen Sondheim was born and raised in New York City. He graduated from Williams College, winning the Hutchinson Prize for Music Composition, after which he studied theory and composition with Milton Babbitt. He served on the Council of the Dramatists Guild, the national association of playwrights, composers and lyricists, and served as its president from 1973 to 1981. In 1983 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and in 1990 was appointed the first Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University. He was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993, the National Medal of Arts in 1996, the MacDowell Medal in 2013 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. His collected lyrics with attendant essays have been published in two volumes: “Finishing the Hat” (2010) and “Look, I Made a Hat” (2011). In 2010 the Broadway theater formerly known as Henry Miller’s Theatre was renamed in his honor, and in 2019 he became the first living artist to have a theatre named in his honor on Shaftesbury Avenue when the refurbished Queen’s Theatre in London’s West End was renamed the Sondheim Theatre to commemorate his 90th birthday, by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.

Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designer) is thrilled to be back with Kokandy! Other companies she has worked with include Goodman, Midsummer Flight, Music Theater Works, Theater Wit, Backstage Breckenridge Theater,  Babes with Blades, Trap Door, Oak Park Festival Theater, Citadel, Black Button Eyes, Hell in a Handbag, Lifeline, Porchlight, Griffin, Strawdog, the Factory and Redtwist. She also has designed at Wheaton College, Governor’s State University, North Central College, St. Patrick’s High School, Indiana University Northwest, Loyola Academy, and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. She is a ten-time Non-equity Jeff nominee, having been awarded two. More info at www.rachelsyp.com

Julian Weslander (they/he, Properties Designer) is thrilled to be working with Kokandy again! Professional credits: Amélie (Kokandy Productions) and Stop Kiss (Loose Cannon Productions). Julian is a long-time visual artist and graduate of Roosevelt University CCPA. Every summer, they can be found working with Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, as Creative Director and Chapter Manager of the Western Kansas program. Email: julianweslander@gmail.com

Matching gifts received from: Caterpillar Foundation, PNC Bank, The Saints

This program is partially supported by grants from: 

Coming soon!