The Threepenny Opera

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March 10 – April 30, 2023

”" The Threepenny Opera is the "mother" of all Cabaret shows. Weill's music is sexy, bold and powerful. This will be Theo's third Kurt Weill production and audiences have always been very enthusiastic with our attempts in re-imaging his work."
- Fred AnzevinoArtistic Director

Previews: March 10-18, 2023
Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 6:00pm

Run: March 23-April 30, 2023
Thursday-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 6:00pm

By Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill
In collaboration with: Elisabeth Hauptmann
Based on “The Beggar’s Opera,” by John Gay
English translation: by Marc Blitzstein

The Threepenny Opera is a biting satire of the post-war rise of capitalism, wrapped up in Kurt Weill’s jazzy score, and the tale of Macheath, a debonair crime lord on the verge of turning his illegal empire into a legitimate business. Songs from Threepenny have become classic standards, including “Pirate Jenny” and, most notably, “Mack the Knife,” which has been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble. Theo’s Artistic Director Fred Anzevino will direct this production for our 25th Anniversary Season, in honor of the many Kurt Weill revues that were part of the company’s founding years.

Special Thanks to our Production Sponsors Mary Alice & Peter Costello.

Buy Tickets Now!

Click Here for the Show Program

Photo credit: Time Stops Photography

Production Team

Director – Fred Anzevino

(he/him; Director) THEO: Co-Founder & Artistic Director, Fred is honored to be celebrating this 25th Anniversary Season. Through the years he has directed/produced several critically acclaimed productions with Theo, as well as receiving 5 Jeff Awards (Non-Equity) for Best Direction of a Musical. He is thrilled to be re-visiting the music of Kurt Weill and exploring the challenges of Bertolt Brecht’s Threepenny Opera with a new generation of talented Chicago artists. “A very special thank you to our patrons, donors, Theo’s Board of Directors, City of Evanston and our hard working staff. Always moving forward with love, compassion, forgiveness and concern, through the eyes of everyone! Enjoy!”

Music Director – Ryan Brewster

(he/him; Music Director) THEO: Music Director for Evita (2009) and Chess (2010), receiving Jeff Awards (Non-Equity) for both. CHICAGO: Annie (Citadel), 35mm (Circle), and Christmas with Christine (Silk Road Rising). Ryan has provided musical direction for theatrical productions from Chicago, to New York, to New Hampshire, and Guatemala. He also served as a Music Director on Adjunct Faculty for Roosevelt University’s Theatre Conservatory from 2010 to 2019.

Choreographer/Associate Director - Jenna Schoppe

(she/her; Associate Director/Choreographer) THEO: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Godspell and Once Upon a Mattress (Choreographer). CHICAGO: Yank! A WWII Love Story (2018 Jeff Award for Best Choreography, Pride Films and Plays); Nunsense, Call Me Madam, Do Re Mi and The Rink (Porchlight); Mamma Mia (Highland Park Players); Bobbie Clearly (Steep); and The Producers (Jeff nom, Nightblue).

Scenic Designer – Mara Ishihara Zinky

(she/her; Scenic Designer) THEO: Once Upon A Mattress and 8-Track. CHICAGO: Routes (Remy Bumppo), Last Hermanos (Red Orchid), Cruel Intentions (Kokandy), Bob: A Life In Five Acts (Chicago College of Performing Arts). EDUCATION: BFA in Scenic Design, The Theatre School at DePaul University. mizinky.com

Lighting Designer – Maggie Fullilove-Nugent

(she/her, Lighting Designer) THEO: Cabaret & Godspell. CHICAGO: The Magic Play (Goodman); Too Heavy for Your Pocket (TimeLine); Sunset Boulevard & Rent (Porchlight); Endgame, Six Characters in Search of An Author & The Threepenny Opera (Hypocrites); Burning Bluebeard (Ruffians); Roustabout, Fake Lake, Wildcats & 44 Plays for 44 Presidents (Neo-Futurists). Maggie is currently Director of Production at TimeLine Theatre, a leader of the Chicago Green Theatre Alliance, and a director of For The Group. She is dedicated to moving the Chicago Theatre Community towards safer, more sustainable and equitable practices, while lighting them beautifully. She would like to thank her supportive friends and family, and especially Josiah, the best lighting partner in town.

Properties Designer – Lonnae Hickman

(she/her; Properties Designer) THEO: Godspell and 2022/23 Season Designer, including Refuge, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Passing Strange (upcoming). Lonnae graduated from DePaul’s Theatre School with a double major in Theatre and History. She has worked as a props designer with American Players, Steep, Definition, Teatro Vista, among others, and is honored to be Theo’s season props designer. She’s also passionate about finding to tell stories that not only need to be told but have slipped through the cracks of the theatre world.

Costume Designer – Cindy Moon

(she/her; Costume Designer) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Twelfth Night (Midsommer Flight); Little Shop of Horrors, Picasso at the Lapin Agile & Outside Mullingar (Citadel); Shout! (Metropolis); She Loves Me (Blank Theatre Company); Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Young People’s Theatre). REGIONAL: Hello, Dolly! & The Mock Marriage & The Pirates of Penzance (Ohio Light Opera); Million Dollar Quartet (Tuacahn). Education: MFA in Costume Design and Technology, Virginia Tech.

Sound Designer – Daniel Etti-Williams

(they/he; Sound Designer) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Run The Beast Down, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins and On The Greenbelt (Strawdog); Beatrix Potter’s Holiday Tea Party (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Haus of Atreus (Mudlark); Peerless (Northwestern); At The Vanishing Point (The Gift); Paris and Light Falls (Steep); Private Lives (Raven); The Island (Court). An up-and-coming Sound Designer and Engineer, Daniel studied Acting at Oklahoma City University, then moved to Chicago to participate in Steppenwolf’s Apprenticeship Program. Since then, they have had the opportunity to work all over Chicago: making theatre, telling stories and expressing their passion through design.

Intimacy & Violence Director – Charlie Baker

(he/they; Intimacy & Violence Director) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Othello (Court); Man of the People (Stage Left); Twelfth Night (Midsummer Flight); Fences (American Blues); Big Fish, A Christmas Story, & Kiss Me Kate (Marriott); Romeo & Juliet (UIC); Into The Woods (Northwestern). REGIONAL: Unseen, Once on This Island, & How I Learned What I Learned (Oregon Shakespeare). Xploringgender.com

Dialect Coach - Kathy Logelin

(she/her, Dialect Coach) THEO: Grey Gardens, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Bridges of Madison County. CHICAGO: Court, Marriott, Northlight, Lookingglass, Porchlight, Rivendell, Raven, Steep and Red Orchid. REGIONAL: Clarence Brown Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare, Indiana Rep and TheatreSquared. INTERNATIONAL: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Jane Austen Festival in Bath, The Camden Fringe & The Buxton Fringe.

Stage Manager – Caitlyn Birmingham

(she/her; Stage Manager) THEO:Debut. CHICAGO: Young Playwrights Festival 36 (Pegasus); Peabody (Young People’s Theater); The Wild Party (Blank Theater Co.); Sex Tips For Straight Women From a Gay Man (Matt Murphy Productions); Solaris (Griffin Theatre Company); And Away We Stared (Trap Door Theatre). REGIONAL: Little Shop Of Horrors (Skylight Music Theatre); Unnecessary Farce (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); The Potting Shed (Acacia Theater.; Education: BA in Theater Arts with a minor in Digital Media from Marquette University.

Production Manager – Matthew R. Chase

(he/him; Director of Production) THEO: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Associate Sound Design). CHICAGO/Production Manager: Spring Awakening and Broadway in your Backyard (Porchlight) & Mary’s Seacole and Heisenberg (Griffin). CHICAGO/Sound Design: Cabaret, The Apple Tree, Rent, Clear, Spring Awakening, Passing Strange & Nunsense (Porchlight); Who’s Holiday (Theater Wit); Anyone Can Whistle, Cooking With Bubbie & Veronica’s Room (Skokie Theatre); 9 to 5 & Mamma Mia! (Golden Ticket Productions). Matthew is Director of Production here at Theo, and the resident Production Manager at Theater Wit, where his credits include Mr. Burns, a post-electric play; Who’s Holiday; Hurricane Diane and the upcoming Whistleblower. matthewrchasedesign.com

Dinner

Add a 3-course prix fixe meal when you purchase your tickets for just $30!

Arrive early and enjoy dinner before the show! Dinner service commences 90 minutes prior to showtime (it is not served during the performance) and must be reserved 1 week in advance. Please ensure you contact the box office at the time of purchase to request the vegetarian option if preferred. (Drinks & gratuity not included.)

Dinner provided by Badou Senegalese Cuisine

Veggie Pastel
Mixed veggies cooked with tomatoes, garlic and onions wrapped in a pastry

Veggie Peanut Butter Stew
Peanut Butter cooked with sweet potatoes and yam served over saffron rice.

– OR –

Jollof Rice
Jasmine broken rice served with cabbage, carrots, plantain and grilled chicken

Chocolate Cake

Cast

Carl Herzog

(he/him; Macheath) THEO: The Bridges of Madison County (Jeff nom) and My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. CHICAGO: Cabaret (Paramount) and Sinatra Under the Stars (Aire Rooftop; returning this summer). TV/WEB: “Chicago Med” (NBC) and “Live@ the Treehouse” (YouTube). Honored to be a part of this talented cast, Carl is also an active Technical Director in the Chicago storefront scene. BLM. Antifa, Her Zu Uns. Thanks to Fred and Chris for always believing in him. Love to LSMNJMBI&E. IG:carlherzog_ | carlherzog.com

Thomas M. Shea

(he/him; Mr. Peachum) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Tom has been a fixture on the musical theatre scene in Chicagoland for 30 years, appearing with Porchlight (Company, The Teapot Scandals, Call Me Madam), Drury Lane (H2$) and the Mercury (Urinetown, The Christmas Schooner), among others. He has extensively toured the UK with Chamber Opera Chicago in their adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. He is also the author of a book, Broadway’s Most Wanted, which you can find on the Internet any old time. Thanks for coming.

Megan Elk

(they/she; Mrs. Peachum): THEO: Sweeney Todd (The Beggar Woman), Hello Again (The Whore), and Saint Hildegard (Jutta von Sponheim). CHICAGO: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Porchlight Music Theater), The Fantasticks (Quest Theatricals), and countless cabaret shows. Mx. Elk is proud to serve as the Engagement Producer for Lyric Opera of Chicago, and even prouder to serve on the Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's Board of Directors. Love to Rachel. IG: @megantheeelk

Chamaya Moody

(she/her; Polly Peachum) THEO: The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, 8-Track, Godspell. CHICAGO: Sweeney Todd (Kokandy), Into the Woods (Big Noise), The SpongeBob Musical (Surging Films and Theatrics), The Black Monologues (Victory Gardens), and All Shook Up (Williams Street Rep). Chamaya graduated with a Theatre degree from Northwestern University as well as from the Musical Theatre Certificate Program. She has also performed live for the Obamas. Other than performing, she likes making TikToks and speaking about disability rights. Represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent Inc. IG: @chamayamoody

Michael Mejia

(they/them; Tiger Brown) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: The White Plague, Love and Information, The Killer, The Old Woman Broods & Monsieur d’Eon is a Woman (Trap Door); Proxy & Notes and Letters (Underscore); Kingdom (Broken Nose); Little Shop of Horrors (Stoughton Village Players); and Passage (Remy Bumppo). DIRECTING: The Ugly One, ALAS, “̈Decomposed Theatre” (Episode 3) and Queen C (Trap Door). Michael studied acting and music performance at Indiana University. They are the Company Manager for Trap Door Theatre, where they are also a proud ensemble member. Michael is also a visual artist and musician who plays guitar and piano. Represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent Inc. mejiah.com

Nathe Rowbotham

(they/them; Lucy Brown) THEO: Once Upon A Mattress (Ensemble, u/s Jester & Wizard). CHICAGO/REGIONAL: Camelot (“Lancelot,” Music Theatre Works), Songs For A New World (Berkshire Theatre Group), Tick, Tick...Boom! (“u/s Susan,” BoHo), and New Faces Sing 1979 (Porchlight). An actor and theatre artist based in Chicago, Nathe is proudly represented by Stewart Talent and is a graduate of CCPA at Roosevelt University. Thank you for supporting live theatre! IG: @nathe.row | natherowbotham.com

Liz Bollar

(she/her; Jenny) THEO: A New Brain and Honky Tonk Angels. CHICAGO: Queen of the Mist (Firebrand), The Last Session (Jeff nom, Refuge), Marry Me A Little (Porchlight), 35MM (Circle), Hair (American Theatre Company), Reefer Madness (Circle) and many others. Thanks to K8 and BenniDryll for their support and endless laughs. “This performance is dedicated to my sister Kyle Lyndee Bollar, who is with me most when I'm singing.”

Tyler DeLoatch

(he/they; Ensemble, u/s Mr. Peachum & u/s Tiger) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Sweeney Todd (Kokandy), The Virginian (City Lit), Rent (Possibilities Theatre), America’s Best Outcast Toy (PrideArts), and The One: A Matrix Parody Musical (The Den Theatre). An actor, singer, and improviser, Tyler is also a member of musical improv groups Riff (Annoyance Theatre), Shamilton and Baby Wants Candy (Second City Skybox).

Isabel Garcia

(they/them; Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Peachum & u/s Jenny) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Sweeney Todd (“Beggar Woman,” Kokandy) An actor and musician, they are relatively new to Chicago. Select St. Louis credits include Be More Chill (“Jenna Roland”) and Luchadora! (“Vanessa”), along with multiple Production Assistant positions with the St. Louis Repertory Theatre and New Jewish Theatre. “Mucho amor to my family, born and chosen, for their endless love and support. TQMM!”

Peter Stielstra

(he/him; Ensemble, u/s Filch & u/s Macheath). THEO: Debut. CHICAGOLAND: include Girlfriend (“Mike,” PrideArts) and Next to Normal (“Henry,” Dunes Summer Theatre). Before moving to Chicago from San Francisco, some of his favorite credits include: As You Like It (“u/s Orlando” & ensemble, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival), The House of the Spirits (“Barrabas,” UC Berkeley), and Pool of Unknown Wonders (“Gorkys,” Ubuntu Theater Project, now Oakland Theater Project).

Luizi Vitucci

(she/her; Ensemble, u/s Polly & u/s Lucy) THEO: Debut. REGIONAL: Desperate Measures (“Bella Rose”), Beehive (“Pattie”), and Disaster! (“Sister Mary Downey). As a new resident of the windy city, she’s so grateful to the Chicago theatre community for welcoming her with open arms. She’d also like to thank her friends and family for their undying support. “The rest is confetti!”

Danielle Kerr

(she/her; Swing) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Dooby Dooby Moo (Lifeline), National Merit (Boho), A Grand Night for Singing (Dunes Summer Theatre), and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (Improv Playhouse). Danielle is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, where she studied Theatre and English. Much love to
Mom, Dad, her roommates, and that mouse. Represented by Stavins Talent. daniellemkerr.com

Larry D Trice II

(they/them; Swing) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Shrek (Windy City Performs), Once On This Island (That Was a Show Theatre Co.), The Rocky Horror Show (Stage Wright Productions) and countless other shows, readings and cabarets, including work at Boho, Lifeline, Haven Chicago, Music Theatre Works. They are also the Artistic Director of Trans Voice Cabaret Chicago and a company member of Blank Theatre. Love to friends, fam, and Mika. IG/Twitter/TikTok: @LtriceBelts

Grant Carriker

(he/him; Filch/Rev. Kimball) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Malapert Love, Rock ‘N’ Roll, & School for Lies (The Artistic Home); Newsies (Paramount Theatre); A Chorus Line (Porchlight Music Theatre); Dutchman/TRANSit & Origin Story (American Blues Theatre). DIRECTING: Newsies, Cinderella, & The Light in the Piazza (American Gothic Performing Arts Festival). BFA in Acting, Chicago College
of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Represented by Big Mouth Talent.

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