Drew Michele - TOO MANY NEILS, MANTICORE!, SHAKE IT BABY, GOAT SUCKER
Drew Michele is an actress, writer, (now) director, and (now) producer working in Chicago. She is so happy to have worked with the awesome women in her casts to bring this work to life! Check out what she is working on next by following her Facebook page or checking out her website: www.drewmichele.com . Special thanks to Sharai for giving her the opportunity to assistant produce this wonderful night, she's learned a lot!
Drew Michele is an actress, writer, (now) director, and (now) producer working in Chicago. She is so happy to have worked with the awesome women in her casts to bring this work to life! Check out what she is working on next by following her Facebook page or checking out her website: www.drewmichele.com . Special thanks to Sharai for giving her the opportunity to assistant produce this wonderful night, she's learned a lot!
Erica Faye Watson - A NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT
Risha Tenae- ELECTRIC GIRL
This is Risha second time directing! The first was Killing of a Gentleman Defender by Carlos Murillo and it
Closed on November 3, 2019!
This is Risha second time directing! The first was Killing of a Gentleman Defender by Carlos Murillo and it
Closed on November 3, 2019!
Sharai Bohannon- HOW I HOLD MYSELF
Sharai Bohannon (she/her/hers) is a writer, dramaturg, theatre technician, and newly minted producer living in Chicago. She’s beyond grateful to be working with the Punching LaBute Volume 1 creatives for making her first attempt at producing so rewarding and she’s over the moon to be directing again. She’s also grateful to all of her friends who braved the elements to be here on a Monday night.
Sharai Bohannon (she/her/hers) is a writer, dramaturg, theatre technician, and newly minted producer living in Chicago. She’s beyond grateful to be working with the Punching LaBute Volume 1 creatives for making her first attempt at producing so rewarding and she’s over the moon to be directing again. She’s also grateful to all of her friends who braved the elements to be here on a Monday night.
Heather Jencks - F*CK NEIL LABUTE
Heather Jencks (she/her) is an actor and burgeoning director. She is thankful to Sharai Bohannon for this opportunity to direct for Punching LaBute. Some of Heather’s directingcredits include Black Box for the One Perspective Asian American staged reading series, Safe Keeping and World Behind the Fence for the New World Play Festival by Nothing Without a Company (NWac), and Healing for NWaC’s 24-hour play festival. Heather is a Company Ensemble Member with NWaC and a proud alumnus of Black Box Acting Studio, The Second City Training Center, The Annoyance Theatre, and iO
Chicago; and has had the pleasure of studying at L’Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq and the summer Shakespeare conservatory at RADA.
Heather Jencks (she/her) is an actor and burgeoning director. She is thankful to Sharai Bohannon for this opportunity to direct for Punching LaBute. Some of Heather’s directingcredits include Black Box for the One Perspective Asian American staged reading series, Safe Keeping and World Behind the Fence for the New World Play Festival by Nothing Without a Company (NWac), and Healing for NWaC’s 24-hour play festival. Heather is a Company Ensemble Member with NWaC and a proud alumnus of Black Box Acting Studio, The Second City Training Center, The Annoyance Theatre, and iO
Chicago; and has had the pleasure of studying at L’Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq and the summer Shakespeare conservatory at RADA.
Daniella Wheelock - La Beaute
Daniella Wheelock is a Chicago-based theatremaker, originally from San Diego,
California. She graduated magna cum laude from the Conservatory for Theatre
Arts at Webster University with a degree in Directing and was an Emerging
Professional Resident at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. She is on the
DirectorsLabChicago Steering Committee and is the founder of the Open
Concept, a theatre collective in Chicago committed to fostering community.
Recent credits include: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (Quincy Community
Theatre); The Great Leap (assistant to dir. Jesca Prudencio, Steppenwolf
Theatre Company); The Process (The Barrens Theatre Co.); Fifty Shades of
Shakespeare ((re)discover theatre). Upcoming: The Roommate (Cardinal Stage)
www.daniellawheelock.com
Daniella Wheelock is a Chicago-based theatremaker, originally from San Diego,
California. She graduated magna cum laude from the Conservatory for Theatre
Arts at Webster University with a degree in Directing and was an Emerging
Professional Resident at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. She is on the
DirectorsLabChicago Steering Committee and is the founder of the Open
Concept, a theatre collective in Chicago committed to fostering community.
Recent credits include: Every Christmas Story Ever Told (Quincy Community
Theatre); The Great Leap (assistant to dir. Jesca Prudencio, Steppenwolf
Theatre Company); The Process (The Barrens Theatre Co.); Fifty Shades of
Shakespeare ((re)discover theatre). Upcoming: The Roommate (Cardinal Stage)
www.daniellawheelock.com
Myesha- Tiara McGarner - HIS HAND
Myesha-Tiara McGarner is pleased to be working on Punching Labute. In Chicago she has associate directed Invisible at Her Story Theater, The Little Foxes at Citadel Theatre Company, directed Skin Deep at Artistic Home Theatre’s Cut to the Chase One Act Fest, Daisies on Harlem’s Doorstep (stage reading) at Pride Films and Plays, Some Day (staged reading) and Crabs in a Barrel (staged reading) at The Rockwell Theatre Bandits and Somewhere in Uptown at Collaboraction’s Peacebook Festival. Upcoming directing work: Black Magic (abridged) at MPAACT Theatre’s Summer Jams and The Bible at Artistic Home Theatre’s Cut to the Chase One Act Fest. She received her degree in Theatre and Directing from Northwestern State University. Louisiana directing credits include Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls… at the Jack Wann Theatre (2014 Bella Awards Outstanding Student Director) The Trip to Bountiful at New Venture Theatre (AD) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Theatre West (AD). Myesha-Tiara will be launching her own theater company, Perceptions Theatre in 2020. She is represented by
NV Talent. myesha-tiara.com.
Myesha-Tiara McGarner is pleased to be working on Punching Labute. In Chicago she has associate directed Invisible at Her Story Theater, The Little Foxes at Citadel Theatre Company, directed Skin Deep at Artistic Home Theatre’s Cut to the Chase One Act Fest, Daisies on Harlem’s Doorstep (stage reading) at Pride Films and Plays, Some Day (staged reading) and Crabs in a Barrel (staged reading) at The Rockwell Theatre Bandits and Somewhere in Uptown at Collaboraction’s Peacebook Festival. Upcoming directing work: Black Magic (abridged) at MPAACT Theatre’s Summer Jams and The Bible at Artistic Home Theatre’s Cut to the Chase One Act Fest. She received her degree in Theatre and Directing from Northwestern State University. Louisiana directing credits include Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls… at the Jack Wann Theatre (2014 Bella Awards Outstanding Student Director) The Trip to Bountiful at New Venture Theatre (AD) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Theatre West (AD). Myesha-Tiara will be launching her own theater company, Perceptions Theatre in 2020. She is represented by
NV Talent. myesha-tiara.com.
Tanise Robnett - THE MERCILESS
Tanise Robnett is beyond excited to be working with the “Punching LaBute” play festival. She is a Chicagoland writer, director and actor. She is the co-artistic director of Talif Productions. She has directed short plays and staged readings with Stockyards Theatre Project, The Writer’s Bloc Festival, Put ‘Em Up and BYOT Productions. As a writer, Tanise focuses on strong women characters who drive their own stories.
Tanise Robnett is beyond excited to be working with the “Punching LaBute” play festival. She is a Chicagoland writer, director and actor. She is the co-artistic director of Talif Productions. She has directed short plays and staged readings with Stockyards Theatre Project, The Writer’s Bloc Festival, Put ‘Em Up and BYOT Productions. As a writer, Tanise focuses on strong women characters who drive their own stories.