Selena Lopez - Head Neil, TOO MANY NEILS
Selena Lopez is thrilled to participate in Punching LaBute. She is a co-founder and artistic director of Three Crows Theatre and will next be seen in The Danish Play at The Den. She holds a BA from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an MFA from The New School for Drama. Follow her on Instagram @selenalopezactor or visit her website: https://cutt.ly/SelenaLopez.
Selena Lopez is thrilled to participate in Punching LaBute. She is a co-founder and artistic director of Three Crows Theatre and will next be seen in The Danish Play at The Den. She holds a BA from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an MFA from The New School for Drama. Follow her on Instagram @selenalopezactor or visit her website: https://cutt.ly/SelenaLopez.
Mia McCullough- Real Neil, TOO MANY NEILS
Mia McCullough is a playwright, filmmaker, producer, and teacher. Occasionally, she comes out on stage and says words she did not write. This is not typical, though she enjoys it. You can learn more about her work at www.miamccullough.com. The web series The Haven, which McCullough created, wrote, and produced,can be seen on the OTV - Open Television website. And her book Transforming Reality, on the creative writing process, makes a great holiday gift if you're looking for ideas.
Mia McCullough is a playwright, filmmaker, producer, and teacher. Occasionally, she comes out on stage and says words she did not write. This is not typical, though she enjoys it. You can learn more about her work at www.miamccullough.com. The web series The Haven, which McCullough created, wrote, and produced,can be seen on the OTV - Open Television website. And her book Transforming Reality, on the creative writing process, makes a great holiday gift if you're looking for ideas.
Rolanda Barnes - Hollywood Neil, TOO MANY NEILS
Rolanda Barnes loved performing on stage ever since she was 6 years old, performing in many school productions such as A Christmas story and Les Miserables. She has a passion for making people laugh and smile which she attributes to her family, which does improvisation at any given moment. With a degree in nursing, Rolanda has dedicated her career to taking care of others. She has since hung up her nursing cap to concentrate more on acting. She volunteers for many organizations to help make other people lives just a little bit easier and has helped in countless productions at the Goodman Theater a stage in which she recently performed the reenactment of Sandra Bland’s arrest. Rolanda can be seen on TV and Commercials and can be heard every Sunday singing in her church choir. She wants to thank her family for all their support, wisdom and encouragement.
Rolanda Barnes loved performing on stage ever since she was 6 years old, performing in many school productions such as A Christmas story and Les Miserables. She has a passion for making people laugh and smile which she attributes to her family, which does improvisation at any given moment. With a degree in nursing, Rolanda has dedicated her career to taking care of others. She has since hung up her nursing cap to concentrate more on acting. She volunteers for many organizations to help make other people lives just a little bit easier and has helped in countless productions at the Goodman Theater a stage in which she recently performed the reenactment of Sandra Bland’s arrest. Rolanda can be seen on TV and Commercials and can be heard every Sunday singing in her church choir. She wants to thank her family for all their support, wisdom and encouragement.
Cydia Flowers - Moral Neil, TOO MANY NEILS
Cydia Flowers is an actress and filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois. She studied musical theater, various forms of dance, and began her performance career with a traveling tour with PBS kids as well as the Chicago Children's Choir. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Film and Psychology from Howard University and furthered her postgraduate education at the Yale University Conservatory for Actors, where she explored deeper techniques in acting, voice, improvisation, movement, and dramaturgy. Once back in Chicago, she first performed as a lead role of Sandra 1 in Mojisola Adebayo’s The Interrogation of Sandra Bland during the Black Lives, Black Words and The Goodman Theatre’s I Am... Fest. She has since participated in a other pieces involving quick turnarounds of of dynamic, candid characters, inclusive of her most recent role of Madame Stanley in Richard III. In addition to acting, she also produces, writes, and directs. Cydia’s long term career goal is to produce stories that aid the psychosocial development of marginalized people by validating their experience on the stage and screen.
Cydia Flowers is an actress and filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois. She studied musical theater, various forms of dance, and began her performance career with a traveling tour with PBS kids as well as the Chicago Children's Choir. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Film and Psychology from Howard University and furthered her postgraduate education at the Yale University Conservatory for Actors, where she explored deeper techniques in acting, voice, improvisation, movement, and dramaturgy. Once back in Chicago, she first performed as a lead role of Sandra 1 in Mojisola Adebayo’s The Interrogation of Sandra Bland during the Black Lives, Black Words and The Goodman Theatre’s I Am... Fest. She has since participated in a other pieces involving quick turnarounds of of dynamic, candid characters, inclusive of her most recent role of Madame Stanley in Richard III. In addition to acting, she also produces, writes, and directs. Cydia’s long term career goal is to produce stories that aid the psychosocial development of marginalized people by validating their experience on the stage and screen.
Dionne Addai - A NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT
Dionne Addai an actor and teaching artist, local to Chicago. Recently she was seen in Eclipsed (Pegasus/Theater on the Lake), We are Pussy Riot (Red Tape Theatre), Breath, Boom (Eclipse Theater), What of the Night (Cor and Stage Left Theater), Aesops Fables (Raven Theater) and as an understudy with performances at Northlight Theatre, Writer's Theatre, and ETA Creative Arts. For more info on her teaching artist work with youth check out icah.org/fyi. She is represented by Actor’s Talent Group.
Dionne Addai an actor and teaching artist, local to Chicago. Recently she was seen in Eclipsed (Pegasus/Theater on the Lake), We are Pussy Riot (Red Tape Theatre), Breath, Boom (Eclipse Theater), What of the Night (Cor and Stage Left Theater), Aesops Fables (Raven Theater) and as an understudy with performances at Northlight Theatre, Writer's Theatre, and ETA Creative Arts. For more info on her teaching artist work with youth check out icah.org/fyi. She is represented by Actor’s Talent Group.
Ashlyn Elliott- MANTICORE! , SHAKE IT BABY, GOAT SUCKER
Ashlyn is thrilled to be a part of Punching Labute. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University (2018). Her favorite credits include Josephine in Urinetown, and Juliette’s Nurse in Goodnight Desdemona (CCPA). Upcoming: InGENEous webseries and Second City Harold Ramis Film School’s Dr. Zion.
Ashlyn is thrilled to be a part of Punching Labute. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University (2018). Her favorite credits include Josephine in Urinetown, and Juliette’s Nurse in Goodnight Desdemona (CCPA). Upcoming: InGENEous webseries and Second City Harold Ramis Film School’s Dr. Zion.
Shelley DeHouse - ELECTRIC GIRL , HOW I HOLD MYSELF
Shelley DeHosse is excited to perform a show not written by LaBute. She has enjoyed performing in other recent play fests with important content, including Climate Change Theatre Action (Switchboard Ensemble) and FL!P Fest (Pride Films and Plays). Other credits include: Sir Bedevere/ Concorde in Spamalot (Wilmette Center for the Arts), Flo/ Ensemble in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Saint Sebastian Players), Audrey in As You Like It (Hyde Park Community Players), and Antigonus/ Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale (Odd’s Bodkins). Thank you to cast and team, Mom, Alison, and you!
Shelley DeHosse is excited to perform a show not written by LaBute. She has enjoyed performing in other recent play fests with important content, including Climate Change Theatre Action (Switchboard Ensemble) and FL!P Fest (Pride Films and Plays). Other credits include: Sir Bedevere/ Concorde in Spamalot (Wilmette Center for the Arts), Flo/ Ensemble in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Saint Sebastian Players), Audrey in As You Like It (Hyde Park Community Players), and Antigonus/ Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale (Odd’s Bodkins). Thank you to cast and team, Mom, Alison, and you!
Mersedez Hoover- HOW I HOLD MYSELF
This is Mersedez’s first Chicago performance! A Pittsburgh native, Mersedez graduated from Niagara University with a BFA in Theatre. Her most recent roles include: the titular character in Julius Caesar, Marjorie (Extremities), and Second Sister (The Macbeth Insurgency). Mersedez is stoked to be a part of this powerfully feminist and incredibly badass showcase, and would like to especially thank her mother for being a constant role model of what it means to be both feminine and independent.
This is Mersedez’s first Chicago performance! A Pittsburgh native, Mersedez graduated from Niagara University with a BFA in Theatre. Her most recent roles include: the titular character in Julius Caesar, Marjorie (Extremities), and Second Sister (The Macbeth Insurgency). Mersedez is stoked to be a part of this powerfully feminist and incredibly badass showcase, and would like to especially thank her mother for being a constant role model of what it means to be both feminine and independent.
Julia Acquistapace - F*CK NEIL LABUTE
Julia is a Chicago based actor proud to be a part of this kick ass group of female artists for this evening's readings. As a recent grad of the Theatre Department at Columbia College Chicago, Julia was last seen in the main-stage productions of Conference of the Birds, As You like It, Woman on The Edge, Beckoning, and The National Theatre. Punch on, ladies!
Julia is a Chicago based actor proud to be a part of this kick ass group of female artists for this evening's readings. As a recent grad of the Theatre Department at Columbia College Chicago, Julia was last seen in the main-stage productions of Conference of the Birds, As You like It, Woman on The Edge, Beckoning, and The National Theatre. Punch on, ladies!
Zhanna Albertini - LA BEAUTE
Zhanna Albertini is thrilled to take part in Punching LaBute, and is grateful for the opportunity. She has enjoyed working on a number of new works with Steep Theatre, Silk Road Rising Theatre, MMPACT, Other Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and Stage Left Theatre. Zhanna is a proud, recent graduate of the ACADEMY at Black Box Acting.
Zhanna Albertini is thrilled to take part in Punching LaBute, and is grateful for the opportunity. She has enjoyed working on a number of new works with Steep Theatre, Silk Road Rising Theatre, MMPACT, Other Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and Stage Left Theatre. Zhanna is a proud, recent graduate of the ACADEMY at Black Box Acting.
Shira Wilson - LA BEAUTE
Shira Wilson is thrilled to be a part of this fantastic ensemble of patriarchy smashers. She is an actor and comedian, last seen in Footholds with the Imposters Theater company, as well as regularly performing with Baby Wants Candy and the Harold team Dig. Love and thanks to Chris, who’s one of the good guys.
Shira Wilson is thrilled to be a part of this fantastic ensemble of patriarchy smashers. She is an actor and comedian, last seen in Footholds with the Imposters Theater company, as well as regularly performing with Baby Wants Candy and the Harold team Dig. Love and thanks to Chris, who’s one of the good guys.
Nora Hunt- LA BEAUTE
Jerluane ‘Jay’ Jenkins- HIS HAND
Chris Martin - THE MERCILESS
Chris Martin is a Chicago-based actor hailing from Florida. Past credits include Cymbeline, Taming of the Shrew and Countertop at Endstation Theatre Co, Wendigo with (re)Discover Theatre, Red Light Winter Fairlane Theatre Co, Jerusalem at Profiles Theatre, and Bosons at The Gift. He received his BFA at Florida State University/Theatre Academy London.
Chris Martin is a Chicago-based actor hailing from Florida. Past credits include Cymbeline, Taming of the Shrew and Countertop at Endstation Theatre Co, Wendigo with (re)Discover Theatre, Red Light Winter Fairlane Theatre Co, Jerusalem at Profiles Theatre, and Bosons at The Gift. He received his BFA at Florida State University/Theatre Academy London.
Londa Ploetz- THE MERCILESS
Londa Ploetz Is from San Antonio, Texas and got her BFA from The University of Oklahoma, she is an Acting teacher and Actor in the Chicago area. She is also a company member with Child’s Play Touring Theatre. Some of her credits include: The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t, The Shape of Things, and New Voices.
Londa Ploetz Is from San Antonio, Texas and got her BFA from The University of Oklahoma, she is an Acting teacher and Actor in the Chicago area. She is also a company member with Child’s Play Touring Theatre. Some of her credits include: The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t, The Shape of Things, and New Voices.