Since we worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for many years, we’ve seen a number of UIUC students who subsequently became actors in Chicago. We thought it’d be fun to make a list of those actors and some memorable performances. (For some memorable UIUC student productions, see our list of favorite college productions.)
Check out Nick Offerman’s two-minute video about his Theatre Department mentors when he was a student at UIUC. (Fellow-alum Joe Foust can also be seen in the video, in a non-speaking role.)
Interesting note: 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts not only UIUC student productions but also a full slate of world-renowned visiting artists each year. The anniversary prompted a number of retrospective articles, including:
How a Performing Arts Center in the Middle of Illinois Became One of America’s Cultural Hubs
Grand-opening Attendees Recall Krannert Center’s Glitzy Early Days
And now, we celebrate professional performances of UIUC alums (most of whom we initially saw at the Krannert Center) …
(in alphabetical order by the actor’s last name)
Aurora Adachi-Winter: Hannah in Mutt by Christopher Chen at Theater Wit (co-production by Stage Left Theatre and Red Tape Theatre Company) in 2016; M in peerless by Jiehae Park, produced by First Floor Theater in 2017; Put Your House in Order by Ike Holter, produced by The Roustabouts (in coordination with A Red Orchid Theatre) in 2017; Tori in Lottery Day by Ike Holter, part of the Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival in 2017; Tong in Vietgone by Qui Nguyen at Writers Theatre in 2018; Tori in Red Rex by Ike Holter, produced by Steep Theatre in 2019 and reprised at Theater on the Lake; Lucy in Lucy and Charlie’s Honeymoon by Matthew C. Yee at Lookingglass Theatre in 2023
Samuel Ashdown: Title role in Tom Jones adapted by Jon Jory from the novel by Henry Fielding at Northlight Theatre in 2014, along with fellow UIUC alums Cristina Panfilio and Eric Parks
Kevin Asselin: Frid in A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in 2003; Man of Thebes in Oedipus Complex adapted by Frank Galati at the Goodman Theatre in 2007 (also as fight choreographer for many shows at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, American Players Theatre, Writers Theatre, and more); in 2014, he became the executive artistic director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks
Ninos Baba: Actor 1 in I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright, produced by About Face Theatre in 2016 (normally this play is performed by a single actor, but playwright Doug Wright gave his blessing to this production featuring a transgender woman in the lead and three additional actors; interestingly, Wright worked with About Face Theatre in 2003 on the original development of the play, which in 2004 won the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for drama); Shahid in Miranda by James Still, produced by Indiana Repertory Theatre in 2017
Neala Barron: Sara Jane Moore in Assassins by Stephen Sondheim, produced by Kokandy Productions in 2014; Daisy in Adding Machine: A Musical by Schmidt and Loewith, produced by The Hypocrites in 2016; Emma Goldman in Ragtime by Ahrens and Flaherty, produced by Griffin Theatre in 2017; Mary Flynn in Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim, produced by Porchlight Music Theatre in 2018; Lizzie in 110 in the Shade by Schmidt and Jones, produced by BoHo Theatre in 2018; Jane in Queen of the Mist by Michael John LaChiusa, produced by Firebrand Theatre in 2019; Clarice Orsini in Botticelli in the Fire by Jordan Tannahill, produced by First Floor Theater in 2022; John Wilkes Booth in Assassins by Stephen Sondheim at Theo Ubique in 2023; Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn, produced by Music Theater Works in 2024
Kevin Blair: Michael Kane in White Desert by Maxwell Anderson, performed by First Flight in 2019
Stephen Boyer: Manny in Master Class by Terrence McNally, produced by TimeLine Theatre Company in 2018 (Stephen was also Assistant Music Director)
Rafe Bradford: Eddie in Pump Boys and Dinettes, produced by Porchlight Music Theatre in 2021
Kona Burks: Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, adapted by Frank Galati from the novel by John Steinbeck, at The Gift Theatre in 2016
Jonathan Butler-Duplessis: Eddie Souther in Sister Act by Mencken and Slater at Marriott Theatre in 2016; Sebastian in The Little Mermaid by Menken, Ashman, and Slater at Paramount Theatre in 2016; Jim Conley in Parade by Jason Robert Brown at Writers Theatre in 2017; Conductor and Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man by Meredith Willson at Goodman Theatre in 2019
Clara Byczkowski: Harriet in Born Ready by Stacie Barra, produced by the Factory Theater in 2017
Andrew Carter: David Frost in Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan at TimeLine in 2010; Robert in The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall at TimeLine Theatre Company in 2011
Curt Dale Clark: And the World Goes ‘Round by Kander and Ebb at Drury Lane Evergreen Park in 2000; Billy Crocker in Anything Goes by Cole Porter at Skylight Opera in Milwaukee in 2004; Roger DeBris in The Producers by Mel Brooks at Beef and Boards in Indianapolis in 2008; in 2013, he became the artistic director of Maine State Music Theatre
Paige Collins: Cheryl in Stick Fly by Lydia Diamond at Windy City Playhouse in 2015 (with fellow UIUC alum Tyrone Phillips)
Laura Coover: Sandy in Blue Surge by Rebecca Gilman, produced by Eclipse Theatre Company in 2009 (for which she won a Jeff Award for Actress in a Principal Role)
Carley Cornelius: Lula in Dutchman by Amiri Baraka, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2013; Dora in An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2017; title role in Becky Shaw by Gina Gionfriddo at Windy City Playhouse in 2017
Jordan Coughtry: Posthumus/Cloten/Belarius in Shakespeare’s Amazing Cymbeline adapted by Chris Coleman, produced by the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in 2017; Marlowe in Shakespeare in Love by Tom Stoppard at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in 2018
Esteban Andres Cruz: Tacho in Into the Beautiful North by Karen Zacarías at 16th Street Theater in 2017; Rene (and others) in Time Is on Our Side by R. Eric Thomas, produced by About Face Theatre in 2018; Ryan in Small Jokes about Monsters by Steven Strafford at 16th Street Theater in 2019
Jon Cunningham: Charley Kringas in Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim, produced by White Horse Theatre Company in 2004; Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors by Menken and Ashman, produced by Theatre at the Center in 2012; Fredrik Egerman in A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim at BrightSide Theatre (Naperville, IL) in 2023
Chris Daley: Jim O’Connor in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams at Redtwist Theatre in 2012; Ted in American Hero by Bess Wohl, produced by First Floor Theater in 2017
Bilal Dardai: (ACTING) Samir in Language Rooms by Yussef El Gundi, produced by Broken Nose Theatre in 2019; (ADAPTATION) G. K. Chesterton’s The Man Who Was Thursday, which we saw at Lifeline Theatre in 2019
Joe Dempsey: Lloyd Dallas in Noises Off by Michael Frayn at Milwaukee Rep in 2013; Douglas Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn, produced by Drury Lane in 2014; Merrick in The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence by Madeleine George at Theater Wit in 2015
Donovan Diaz: Jax in the world premiere of Prowess by Ike Holter, produced by Jackalope Theatre Company in 2016 (with UIUC alum Julian Parker); Espinosa in The Little Flower of East Orange by Stephen Adly Guirgis, produced by Eclipse Theatre in 2016; Carlos in the world premiere of La Havana Madrid by Sandra Delgado, produced by Teatro Vista in 2017
Sara Dolins: Imelda Thornton, Dr. Johnson, and ensemble in On the Twentieth Century by Coleman, Comden, and Green, produced by Blank Theatre Company in 2024
Aaron Todd Douglas: (ACTING) Agamemnon in Iphegenia 2.0 by Charles Mee at Next Theatre in 2012; (DIRECTING) Ruined by Lynn Nottage, produced by Eclipse Theatre in 2014; in 2019 he was named Director of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program
Amanda Drinkall: Estella in Great Expectations adapted by Gale Childs Daly at Strawdog Theatre Company in 2013 and 2014; Faye in Rest by Samuel D. Hunter at Victory Gardens Theater in 2013; Kate Middleton in King Charles III by Mike Bartlett at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in 2016; The Mistress in the world premiere of Wife of a Salesman by Eleanor Burgess at Writers Theatre in 2022; Margot Wendice in Dial M for Murder, written by Frederick Knott and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, at Milwaukee Rep in 2023; Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams at Copley Theatre in 2024
Ny’ajai Ellison: Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, produced by Invictus Theatre in 2020; Camae in The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, produced by Invictus Theatre in 2023
Esther Fishbein: Yael in In Every Generation by Ali Viterbi, produced by Victory Gardens Theater in 2022; Ride or Die by Shepsu Aakhu, produced by MPAACT in 2022; title role in The Diary of Anne Frank by Goodrich and Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman, and produced by Young People’s Theatre of Chicago in 2024
Stacey Flaster: Stage Director for the 2021 Music Theater Works production of Ragtime by Ahrens and Flaherty
Joe Foust: Todd in Unnecessary Farce by Paul Slade Smith at First Folio Theatre in 2012; Richard in Making God Laugh by Sean Grennan at Theatre at the Center in 2012; The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence by Madeleine George at Theater Wit in 2015; solo performer in The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by James Lecesne, produced by American Blues Theater in 2019
Ricardo Gamboa: Amado in his play The Wizards, as part of Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival in 2018, and in a full production in 2022 at the A.P.O. Cultural Center
Theo Germaine: Minnie Fay in The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder at the Goodman Theatre in 2016; Bud Henderson in Welcome to Jesus by Janine Nabers at American Theater Company in 2017; Adam Turner in Boy by Anna Ziegler, at TimeLine Theatre Company in 2018
Jimiece Gilbert: Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, produced by Invictus Theatre in 2020
Michael Gillis: Harry Bright in Mamma Mia! by Andersson, Ulvaeus, and Johnson at Paramount Theatre in 2016
Linda Gillum: Linda in Holiday by Philip Barry, produced by Remy Bumppo Theatre Company in 2002; Ruth Carson in Night and Day by Tom Stoppard, produced by Remy Bumppo in 2010; Bus in Both Your Houses by Maxwell Anderson, produced by Remy Bumppo in 2014; Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, adapted by Tanika Gupta and co-produced by Remy Bumppo and Silk Road Rising in 2017; Tracey in Sweat by Lynn Nottage at Copley Theatre in 2022
Jordan Gleaves: Bill Riddick in Best of Enemies by Mark St. Germain at Open Door Repertory Company in 2019; Ride or Die by Shepsu Aakhu, produced by MPAACT in 2022
Dan Gold: Elder Jacob Braithwaite in The Book of Merman by Leo Schwartz produced by Pride Films and Plays in 2015; The Producers by Mel Brooks at Mercury Theatre in 2016; Vernon in They’re Playing Our Song by Hamlisch, Sager, and Simon, produced by Brown Paper Box Co. in 2017; Tateh in Ragtime by Ahrens and Flaherty produced by Music Theater Works in 2021
Luke Michael Grimes: Gary in the world premiere of The Paranoid Style in American Politics by Emmett Rensin, produced by First Floor Theater in 2015
Anne Gunn: Jeff Award-nominated Woman One in Side by Side by Sondheim at Light Opera Works in 2008; Mama Mizner in Road Show by Stephen Sondheim at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in 2014
Michael Halberstam: (ACTING) Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw at Writers Theatre in 2002; Narrator in In the Woods by Stephen Sondheim at Writers Theatre in 2019; (DIRECTING) Days Like Today by Schmuckler and Eason at Writers Theatre in 2014; A Minister’s Wife by Schmidt and Tranen at Writers Theatre in 2009; State of the Union by Lindsay and Crouse at Milwaukee Rep in 2008; The Savannah Disputation by Evan Smith at Writers Theatre in 2007; Rough Crossing by Tom Stoppard at Writers Theatre in 2003
Nancy Hays: Mama Rose in Gypsy by Styne and Sondheim at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in 2017; Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams at Jedlicka in 2017
Erica Cruz Hernandez: Belinda in Project Potential by Isaac Gomez at Theater on the Lake in 2019
Jack Hickey: Sheriff Heck Tate in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, adapted by Christopher Sergel, at Oak Park Festival Theatre in 2015; John Tarleton, Sr., in Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw at ShawChicago in 2016; in 2002, he became artistic director of Oak Park Festival Theatre
Charence Higgins: Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansbury at American Players Theatre in 2022; Alma in a staged reading of The Housing Situation on Neptune by NJ Draine, presented in 2023 as part of The Story Theatre’s new play festival “The (W)rites of Summer”; Ava in brother sister cyborg space by Paul Michael Thomson at Raven Theatre in 2024
Jon Michael Hill: The Unmentionables by Bruce Norris at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2006 (when he was a senior at UIUC); Franco Wicks in Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts at Steppenwolf in 2008; Moses in Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu at Steppenwolf in 2017; Nazareth Jasper in Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins at Steppenwolf in 2024
We first saw Jon Michael Hill when he was a freshman, in Ain’t Misbehavin’ by a Champaign-Urbana group called The Zoo Theatre Company in 2004 (performed at The Virginia Theatre, home of the annual Roger Ebert Film Festival). Not surprisingly, he was a standout in that show, as in many subsequent UIUC Theatre Department productions (title role in Gint, Paul in Six Degrees of Separation, Richie in A Chorus Line, and more).
Volen Iliev: Buric and Naustin in The City & the City by Miéville, adapted by Walsh, produced by Lifeline Theatre in 2013; Worker/Ensemble in Bernhardt/Hamlet by Theresa Rebeck at the Goodman Theatre in 2019
Christopher Johnson: Gabey in On the Town by Bernstein, Comden, and Green, produced by Highland Park Players in 2018; Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim, produced by Kokandy Productions in 2022; Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim, produced by Blank Theatre in 2023
Evan Johnson: Philip in The Lion in Winter by James Goldman, produced by Promethean Theatre Ensemble in 2016
Randolph Johnson: Booker T. Washington in Ragtime by Flaherty and Ahrens, produced by Porchlight Music Theatre in 2007; Paul Lebedev in Leave Me Alone! by Paul Michael Thomson, produced by The Story Theatre in 2018; Charlie in The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown at Theo Ubique in 2019
James Earl Jones II: Crown in Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin at Court Theatre in 2011; Sondheim on Sondheim at Porchlight Music Theatre in 2015; title role in Carlyle by Thomas Bradshaw at the Goodman Theatre in 2016 (world premiere); Harry in Company by Stephen Sondheim at Writers Theatre in 2016; Haywood Patterson in The Scottsboro Boys by Kander and Ebb at Porchlight in 2017; Ladislav Sipos in She Loves Me by Bock and Harnick at Marriott Theatre in 2017; Eat Moe in Five Guys Named Moe by Clarke Peters at Court Theatre in 2017. James also made our list of memorable understudy performances, playing Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime at Drury Lane in 2010.
Martasia Jones: LD in Winter by Julie Jensen, produced by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble in 2017 (with fellow UIUC alum Barbara Robertson); Nakeesha in Megastasis by Kia Corthron, produced by Eclipse Theatre in 2017
David Kaplinsky: Adolph Fischer in Haymarket: The Anarchist’s Songbook by Higgin-Houser and Kornfeld, produced by Underscore Theatre Company in 2016
Margaret Kellas: Sophie/Natasha in Red Bowl at the Jeffs by Beth Hyland, produced by The Sound in 2018
Chris Khoshaba: Shavi and others in I Call My Brothers by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, produced by Interrobang Theatre Project in 2019; Franco de Medina and others in The Tragedy of King Christophe by Aimé Césaire, adapted by Lanise Antoine Shelley, produced by The House Theatre in 2022; Reece in A.L.P by Felicia Oduh, part of Jackalope Theatre’s 2023 Living Newspaper Festival
Rachel Klippel: Clara in The Light in the Piazza by Guettel and Lucas, produced by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in 2012 (for which she received a Jeff Award nomination for Actress in a Principal Role – Musical); Sophie in Master Class by Terrence McNally at Theo Ubique in 2013; Barley in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder by Lutvak and Freedman, produced by Porchlight Music Theatre in 2019
Noelle Klyce: Alice in Dear Brutus by JM Barrie, produced by Eclectic Full Contact Theatre in 2018; Julie Dunn in Voice of Good Hope by Kristine Thatcher, at City Lit Theater in 2020
Kelly Lamont: Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet by Escott and Mutrux at the Goodman Theatre in 2008 (and subsequently during the show’s eight-year run at the Apollo Theatre in Chicago)
Ashleigh LaThrop: Darlene in Balm in Gilead by Lanford Wilson, produced by Griffin Theatre Company in 2015 (for which she received a Jeff Award nomination for Actress in a Principal Role); fellow UIUC alum Adam Shalzi was also in the cast
Ryan Leonard: James/Alan Campbell in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, adapted by Paul Edwards, at City Lit Theater in 2018
Kristina Loy: Sally and Margaret in Miss Buncle’s Book, based on the novel by D. E. Stevenson and adapted by Christina Calvit, at Lifeline Theatre in 2015; Lady Ianthe, Alice, and ensemble in Sylvester by Heyer, adapted by Calvit, at Lifeline Theatre in 2017; Jane Bennet in Pride and Prejudice: A Virtual Play by Jane Austen, adapted by Calvit, produced by Lifeline Theatre in 2020
Sandra Marquez: Beatrice in A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller, produced by Teatro Vista in 2014 (for which she received the Jeff Award for Actress in a Supporting Role); Frida in the world premiere of The Wolf at the End of the Block by Ike Holter, produced by Teatro Vista in 2017
Ben Mathew: Andrej and Bank Manager in Once by Hansard, Irglova, and Walsh at Writers Theatre in 2023; Imran in Hatefuck by Rehana Lew Mirza, produced by First Floor Theater in 2023
Kelson McAuliffe: Collin in Genesis by fellow alum Mercedes White, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2014; Ratts in An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2017
Thom Miller: Robert in Company by Stephen Sondheim at Writers Theatre in 2016; Iachimo/Arviragus/Queen/2nd Captain in Shakespeare’s Amazing Cymbeline adapted by Chris Coleman, produced by the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in 2017
Izis Mollinedo: Charlotte Corday in The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson, produced by Strawdog Theatre Company in 2018
Danyelle Monson: the project(s) by PJ Paparelli and Joshua Jaeger, produced by Stage Left Theatre in 2020; Sapphire in Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes by Terry Guest, produced by The Story Theatre in 2022
Frank Nall: Captain Jack Boyle in Juno and the Paycock by Sean O’Casey at The Artistic Home in 2008; Cornelius Melody in A Touch of the Poet by Eugene O’Neill at The Artistic Home in 2011; Phischbreath in Malapert Love by Siah Berlatsky, produced by The Artistic Home in 2022
Monica Lopez Orozco: Ariela in the world premiere of Charm by Philip Dawkins, produced by Northlight Theatre at Steppenwolf in 2015 (with fellow UIUC alum Julian Parker); Vivien in Lottery Day by Ike Holter, part of the Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival in 2017; Bernadette Perez in the world premiere of Six Corners by Keith Huff, produced by American Blues Theater in 2018; Nina Esposito in the world premiere of Rightlynd by Ike Holter, produced by Victory Gardens Theater in 2018
Cristina Panfilio: Julia in Fallen Angels by Noel Coward at Indy Rep in 2012 (with Eric Parks also in the cast); Rita in Educating Rita by Willy Russell at Renaissance Theatreworks in 2013; Gwendolen in Travesties by Tom Stoppard at American Players Theatre in 2014; Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams at American Players Theatre in 2015 (with Eric Parks as Stanley Kowalski); Caroline in I and You by Lauren Gunderson at Next Act Theatre in 2018;
Eleni Pappageorge: Tessa Kendrick in Chimerica by Lucy Kirkwood at TimeLine Theatre in 2016; Annie in Apartment 3A by Jeff Daniels at Windy City Playhouse in 2016; 1 in hang by Debbie Tucker Green, produced by Remy Bumppo in 2018
Julian Parker: Fish in The Royale by Marco Ramirez at American Theatre Company in 2015; Donnie in the world premiere of Charm by Philip Dawkins produced by Northlight Theatre at Steppenwolf in 2015; Yank in The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neill at Oracle Theatre Company in 2016 (for which he won the Jeff Award for Actor in a Principal Role); Mark in the world premiere of Prowess by Ike Holter at Jackalope Theatre in 2016; Kitch in Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu at Steppenwolf in 2017; Jackson in Smart People by Lydia Diamond at Writers Theatre in 2018; Watchman Who Becomes Messenger in Antigone by Sophocles, translated by Nicholas Rudall, at Court Theatre in 2024
Eric Parks: Willy in Fallen Angels by Noel Coward at Indy Rep in 2012 (along with Cristina Panfilio); Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams at American Players Theatre in 2015 (with Cristina Panfilio as Stella Kowalski)
Tyrone Phillips: (ACTING) Kent in Stick Fly by Lydia Diamond at Windy City Playhouse in 2015; Torvald in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, adapted and directed by Michael Halberstam, at Definition Theatre Company in 2015; (DIRECTING) Byhalia, Mississippi by Evan Linder in 2016, which made our list of definitive productions
Maya Prentiss: Dido in An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2017; Wife Number One in Eclipsed by Danai Gurira, produced by Pegasus Theatre Chicago in 2018; Riley in the world premiere of How to Catch Creation by Christina Anderson at Goodman Theatre in 2019; Sambo in Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes by Terry Guest, produced by The Story Theatre in 2022
David Rice: (ACTING) Sandor Turai in Rough Crossing by Tom Stoppard at First Folio Theatre in 2014; (ADAPTATION) Rafael Sabatini’s Captain Blood, premiering in 2017 at First Folio Theatre (where David is Executive Director and co-founder)
Brandon Rivera: Atomiko in Into the Beautiful North by Karen Zacarías at 16th Street Theater in 2017, Son in The Leopard Play, or sad songs for lost boys by Isaac Gomez at Steep Theatre in 2020
Barbara Robertson: Charlotte in The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard at Court Theatre in 1999; Stevie in The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? at the Goodman Theatre in 2003; Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Court Theatre in 2004; Babs in Life Sucks by Aaron Posner at Lookingglass Theatre in 2016; Anna Edson Taylor in Queen of the Mist by Michael John LaChiusa, produced by Firebrand Theatre in 2019
Xavier Roe: Sam in Shakespeare in Love by Tom Stoppard at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in 2018
Sarah Ruggles: Margot Wendice in Dial “M” for Murder by Frederick Knott at Indy Rep in 2017
Omer Abbas Salem: (ACTOR) Dr. Shankar in The Little Flower of East Orange by Stephen Adly Guirgis, produced by Eclipse Theatre Company in 2016; Actor 9 in the world premiere of In to America by William Massolia, produced by Griffin Theatre Company in 2017; (ACTOR and PLAYWRIGHT) Pretty Shahid (formerly titled Being Julia Roberts), produced by Jackalope Theatre in 2020; (PLAYWRIGHT) Mosque4Mosque as part of Steppenwolf’s SCOUT program in 2021; (PLAYWRIGHT) The Secretaries, produced by First Floor Theater in 2022
Sari Sanchez: Flirt in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs by William Inge at American Theater Company in 2006; Fade by Tanya Saracho, a 2017 co-production of Teatro Vista and Victory Gardens Theater
Kathy Scambiatterra: (ACTING) The Princess Kosmonopolis in Sweet Bird of Youth by Tennessee Williams at Artistic Home in 2010; (DIRECTING) The Petrified Forest by Robert Sherwood at Artistic Home in 2006
Anna Schutz: A New Brain by Finn and Lapine, produced in 2014 by Brown Paper Box Co. (which she co-founded)
Raffeal Sears: Pianist/Lady/Cornelius in Shakespeare’s Amazing Cymbeline adapted by Chris Coleman, produced by the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in 2017
Adam Shalzi: Martin in Balm in Gilead by Lanford Wilson, produced by Griffin Theatre Company in 2015 (with fellow UIUC alum Ashleigh LaThrop); Assistant Director in 10 out of 12 by Anne Washburn at Theater Wit in 2017; Eddie Fenton in Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress, produced by TimeLine Theatre in 2022; Derril Lark in Right to Be Forgotten by Sharyn Rothstein at Raven Theatre in 2023
Christopher Sheard: Krogstad in A Doll’s House by Anton Chekhov, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2015; Valentine in Arcadia at Writers Theatre in 2016 (the inaugural production in their award-winning theatre designed by UIUC alum Jeanne Gang); Andrei/Philip in The Columnist by David Auburn, produced by American Blues Theater in 2017; Playwright, Wahnotee, and Lafouche in An Octoroon by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2017; Sergei in The Last Match by Anna Ziegler at Writers Theatre in 2021
Drew Shirley: Benjamin in The New Sincerity by Alena Smith at Theater Wit in 2016; Eddie Brock in Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin, produced by Remy Bumppo Theatre Company in 2017
Mindy Shore: Rehearsal by Dolores Diaz, part of Bechdel Fest 7 by Broken Nose Theatre at Steppenwolf
Abbey Siegworth: Constance Neville in She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith at Northlight Theatre in 2007; Jennifer Dubedat in The Doctor’s Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw at American Players Theatre in 2014
Julia MacMillan Skeggs: Olga in Cosmic Events Are Upon Us by Keely Leonard, produced by Waltzing Mechanics in 2016
Ryan Smetana: Frederic in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, produced by Saltbox Theatre Collective in 2018
Bri Sudia: Charlotte in Shining Lives: A Musical by Pluess, Dehnert, and Thebus at Northlight in 2015 (world premiere); Ruth in Wonderful Town by Bernstein, Comden, and Green at the Goodman Theatre in 2016 (fellow UIUC alum James Earl Jones II played Speedy Valenti); Anne de Bourgh in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley by Gunderson and Melcon at Northlight Theatre in 2016 (world premiere); Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim at Paramount Theatre in 2017; Saleswoman and Maud Dunlop in The Music Man by Meredith Willson at Goodman Theatre in 2019; Mona Juul in Oslo by J. T. Rogers, produced by TimeLine Theatre in 2019; Hélène in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 by Dave Malloy at Writers Theatre in 2024
Jake Szczepaniak: Burn This by Lanford Wilson produced by Shattered Globe Theatre in 2012 (with fellow UIUC alums director Linda Gillum and cast member Brad Woodard); Luke in TRANSit by Darren Canady produced by American Blues Theatre in 2016
Daniel Tatar: The Baker in Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, at Music Theater Works in 2018
Meg Thalken: Marla in I Am Going to Change the World by Andrew Hinderaker, at Chicago Dramatists in 2012; Shrink, Ed, Pat, and Rich Woman at Party in Domesticated by Bruce Norris, at Steppenwolf in 2016; Peggy in Four Places by Joel Drake Johnson, produced by the Den Theatre in 2019; Wynn in Wipeout by Aurora Real de Asua, produced by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble in 2024
Adam Thatcher: Peter Shaw in Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson at Citadel Theatre in 2024
Colette Todd: Clara in Passion by Stephen Sondheim, at Theo Ubique in 2014; Diana in Next to Normal by Yorkey and Kitt, produced by BoHo in 2016; Desiree in A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim, at Theo Ubique in 2024
Jessica Dean Turner: Valerie in Season on the Line by Shawn Pfautsch, produced by the House Theatre in 2014; Nurse in A Kid Like Jake by Daniel Pearle, produced by About Face Theatre in 2015; Fear and Misery in the Third Reich by Bertolt Brecht, produced by Haven Theatre in 2018; Nicole in Red Rex by Ike Holter, produced by Steep Theatre in 2019 and reprised at Theater on the Lake; Letter Writer #2 in Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, at Victory Gardens Theater in 2019; Elizabeth in Richard III by William Shakespeare at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2024
Greg Vinkler: Ned Newley in The Outsider by Paul Slade Smith, in a staged reading by Route 66 Theatre Company in 2015; Title role in Butler by Richard Strand at Northlight Theatre in 2016
Pat Weber: The Gift Theatre’s 2018 presentation of Ten, their annual festival of ten world premiere ten-minute pieces
Jillian Warden: Elma in Bus Stop by William Inge, produced by Eclipse Theatre in 2018
Allie Wessel: Goldstar by Cleo Shine, part of Broken Nose Theatre’s 2018 Bechdel Fest at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre
Mercedes White: Lena in Genesis, which she also wrote, produced by Definition Theatre Company in 2014; the production garnered four nominations for Black Theatre Alliance Awards (outstanding stage production, lead actress in a play, lead actor in a play, and set design)
Celeste Williams: Christine in Mies Julie by Yaël Farber at Victory Gardens Theater in 2018; Ruth Jones in the world premiere of The First Deep Breath by Lee Edward Colston II at Victory Gardens Theater in 2019; Claudia in Wipeout by Aurora Real de Asua, produced by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble in 2024
Vincent Williams: Junior in Between Riverside and Crazy by Stephen Adly Guirgis at Redtwist Theatre in 2019
Jonathan Wilson: Chef, Country Boy, and ensemble in The Most Happy Fella by Frank Loesser at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in 2017
Brad Woodard: Burton in Burn This by Lanford Wilson, produced by Shattered Globe Theatre in 2012 (with fellow UIUC alums Linda Gillum directing and cast member Jake Szczepaniak); Harvey Oberst/Purdy in In the Heat of the Night by John Ball, adapted by Matt Pelfrey, produced by Shattered Globe in 2016
