(Director; he;/him) THEO: Assassins. Brooks is a Chicago based director, writer and producer. Daryl’s artistic home has been with Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theater for over 20 years, where he has recently begun his tenure as Artistic Director. He has directed and/or written and directed over fifty productions and some credits include: Reasons: A Tribute to Earth, Wind and Fire, Men of Soul, Black Pearl: A Tribute to Josephine Baker, Women of Soul, Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80’s, HITT Records, and Memphis! (Black Ensemble Theater). Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre At the Center), Akeelah and the Bee and Fast Food Chain (Adventure Stage and Northwestern Settlement) The Color Purple, Dreamgirls (Phoenix Theater Company), Sunday In The Park With George, Pippin!, Rent, Grease (Columbia College Chicago) and many, many more!  He was also named one of New City Stages 50 Players in Chicago in 2022, 2024 and 2026. Daryl is a proud member of the Sarah Siddons Artistic Council and a board member of Season of Concern. His most important role to date is being a father to his wonderful, Tik Tok loving daughter Maya!

(Choreographer; he/him) THEO: Working. Christopher Chase Carter is an acclaimed director and choreographer known for multidisciplinary expertise and collaborations. As former Artistic Director of Mercury Theater Chicago and Venus Cabaret Theater, he shaped Chicago’s cultural landscape with bold programming and acclaimed productions. He led Mercury to record Jeff Award nominations, earning recognition for Big River and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. His tenure included Young Frankenstein, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, and the regional premiere of Jersey Boys. Carter champions new work and diverse voices, while maintaining a decorated career with numerous awards, scholarships, and a continued commitment to innovative, transformative storytelling.

(he/him; Music Director) THEO: Evita (2009), Chess (2010), The Threepenny Opera (2023). CHICAGO: 35mm (Circle), Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Citadel), Annie (Citadel). NEW YORK: Flanagan’s Wake (SoHo Playhouse, 2007-08). Adjunct Faculty at Roosevelt University’s CCPA 2009 – 2019.

(he/him; Set Designer) THEO: Diana The Musical. Manuel is a DePaul Theatre School 2012 Acting graduate but was soon drawn into the world of production design and fabrication. His scenic design credits include Macbeth (Invictus) Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog), Pilon (Red Theatre), and Wise Guys (Factory Theater). Manuel extends heartfelt thanks to his incredible family and friends for their constant love and support, with a special resounding cheer for his amazing husband, Corey Mills, the ultimate champion by his side!

(she/her; Lighting Designer) THEO: The Drowsy Chaperone, Urinetown, TL;DR, Tell Me On a Sunday. CHICAGO: Lobby Hero (Shattered Globe Theater), Turn of the Screw (The Music School at DePaul University), The Sugar Wife, Superior Donuts, By the Way Meet Vera Stark, & Witch (The Artistic Home), The Unknown Variable (Momentary Theatre), Here Be Sirens & Fizz and Ginger (Chicago Fringe Opera), MedeaMedeaMedea (Theatre Evolve), Side by Side by Sondheim & The Lifespan of a Fact (Oil Lamp Theater), The Cottage (Citadel Theatre), Prelude to a Kiss (Theater Above the Law). Ellie graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 2023 with a BFA in lighting design. She has received two Jeff Award nominations for Outstanding Lighting Design for Lobby Hero and Witch. www.elliemfeydesigns.com

(she/her; Costume Designer) THEO: Assassins and Tell Me on a Sunday. CHICAGO: Fun Home (Porchlight Music Theatre); Blue Heaven, Hitt Records, and The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s (Black Ensemble Theater). The Real Housewives of the North Pole and Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer (Hell in a Handbag). Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Clue (Mercury Theater). REGIONAL: Slave Play and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Short North Stage, Columbus, OH). TV: Chicago Stories (WTTW). She received the 2022 Black Theater Alliance Award for Sister Act the Musical (Mercury Theater) for Best Costume Design.

(they/them; Properties Designer) THEO: Tell Me on a Sunday, TL;DR, Urinetown, The Drowsy Chaperone. CHICAGO: Veal, Six Men Dressed Like Joseph Stalin (props, A Red Orchid Theatre), A Tale of Two Cities (props, Shattered Globe Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, Carousel (props), Annie, Guys and Dolls, Little Shop of Horrors (wardrobe, run crew; Music Theater Works), Time is a Color and the Color is Blue (co-scenic design, Avalanche Theatre). Ab is originally from Maryland and graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2023 with a double major in Illustration and Theater Design and Technology. They can be found throughout Chicagoland stitching, painting, building sets, creating props, and running around backstage.

(they/she; Sound Designer) THEO: TL;DR, Tell Me on a Sunday. INTERNATIONAL: make The Bed (Edinburgh Fringe Festival) Take Me Somewhere Festival (Center for Contemporary Arts), Cryptic Nights (Cryptic). Graduate of Falmouth University in Technical Theatre Arts. Outside of working as a freelance engineer & designer, you’ll find them practicing yoga or reading a new book.

(she/her; Director of Production) THEO: Debut. Emily is honored to step into this role on Damn Yankees. Emily has an extensive background in directing, stage managing, producing and writing new works. She has worked with many Chicago based theatre companies and schools throughout the Chicagoland area, most recently working just down the road at The Factory Theater as their production manager for Two Out of Three Falls- running this Summer. To Stephanie- thank you for offering me this job at the perfect time. To Abby- I love you and I’m so excited to call you my wife this September. To friends, family and audiences- thanks for coming! Enjoy the show!

(they/she; Intimacy Director) THEO: Debut. ILLINOIS: Bridges of Madison County (Timberlake Playhouse), Waitress (Timberlake Playhouse), Little Shop of Horrors (Music Theater Works), Camelot (Music Theater Works), MEXODUS (American Music Theatre Project). MISSOURI: Fun Home (Talking Horse), Show Me Missouri Women (Columbia Historical Society). IOWA: Clue:Onstage (Okoboji Summer Theatre), Urinetown: The Musical (Okoboji Summer Theatre).

(she/they; Stage Manager) is a Loyola University Chicago graduate who hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is ecstatic to return to Theo for their production of Damn Yankees! THEO: TL;DR: Thelma Louise; D*ke Remix (Stage Manager). CHICAGO: Much Ado About Nothing, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Inherit the Wind (Edge of the Wood Theatre), Sweet Charity (Wheaton Drama), The Scarlet Pimpernel, We Will Rock You, Jesus Christ Superstar (The Beautiful City Project), Sofa King Queer (Nothing Without a Company). She would like to thank her family, friends, and mentors for their love and support. @katienowaktheatre

(she/her; Asst. Stage Manager) THEO: The Drowsy Chaperone (SM), Urinetown (ASM), Diana: The Musical (ASM). CHICAGO: Tuck Everlasting (SM, Actors Training Center), Lobster (SM, The Wirtz Center), HAIR (PSM, Columbia College Chicago), Sunday in the Park with George (ASM, Columbia College Chicago). REGIONAL: Footloose: The Musical (PSM, Robertson County Players). Mags can also be found around Chicago working on Wardrobe teams and Playwriting. (@melodious.mags)

(he/him; Technical Director) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Oak Park Festival Theater, Oil Lamp Theater, Steep Theater, First Floor Theater, Congo Square Theater, Loyola Academy, NEIU, Red Theater, Shattered Globe Theater, and The Plagiarists. PHOENIX: Southwest Shakespeare Company, Stray Cat Theater, Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, The Phoenix Theater Company, Childsplay, and Actors Theater of Phoenix. Formerly represented by Ford/Robert Black agency Phoenix. (www.andycahoon.com @actually_andycahoon)

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Bio coming soon!

(he/him; Production Electrician) THEO: Diana the Musical (Ensemble), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Swing), and season production electrician since Fall 2023. CHICAGO/PERFORMER: Into the Woods (Kokandy), The Snow Queen (Marriott), Ragtime (Metropolis), and The Wild Party (Blank). Represented by Talent X Alexander. Catch him hanging lights, singing lil diddies, and queening out in a storefront near you. www.jacksonmikkelsen.com