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ILESA DUNCAN
Producing Artistic Director
Presents the World Premiere of
Ghost Gardens
By Steven Simoncic
Directed by Ilesa Duncan
Presented by special arrangement with the Robert A. Freedman Dramatic Agency, Inc.
Scenic Design
Sarah Lewis
Props Design
Mealah Heidenreich
Lighting Design
Claire Chrzan
Technical Director
Jim Grodek
Sound Design
Mikey Moran
Master Electrician
Wade Holliday
Costume Design
Raquel Adorno
Production Stage Manager
Amber R. Dettmers
Ghost Gardens was developed in part at Chicago Dramatists, Russ Tutterow, Artistic Director
Press Opening Friday, May 1, 2015
Pegasus Theatre Chicago’s main stage productions are generously supported by the Chicago Community Trust,
MacArthur Fund at the Richard Driehaus Foundation, the Arts Work Fund, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley
Foundation, City of Chicago/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Illinois Arts Council
Agency. Education programs are generously supported by: The Polk Bros. Foundation, The Leo S. Guthman Fund,
The Seabury Foundation, and The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Photographing,
videotaping or other audio/visual recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
Ghost Gardens
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CAST
Lorelie............................................................................................................................... Elizabeth Birnkrant
Tryg.............................................................................................................................................Chris Cinereski
Myra......................................................................................................................................Anna Maldonado
Helen........................................................................................................................Gilmary Doyle-Andrews
Powder................................................................................................................................ Willie B. Goodson
Lonnie.................................................................................................................................Nathaniel Andrew
There will be one ten-minute intermission.
P R O D U C T I O N S TA F F
Scenic Design................................................................................................................................Sarah Lewis
Lighting Design......................................................................................................................... Claire Chrzan
Sound Design............................................................................................................................. Mikey Moran
Costume Design.....................................................................................................................Raquel Adorno
Props Design..................................................................................................................Mealah Heidenreich
Technical Director.........................................................................................................................Jim Grodek
Master Electrician................................................................................................................... Wade Holliday
Production Stage Manager........................................................................................Amber R. Dettmers
ASM Interns....................................................................................... Shain Longbehn & Sarah McCanna
BIOGR APHIES
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Nathaniel Andrew
(Lonnie) Nathaniel
Andrew is new to the
Chicago theatre
community, and is a
graduate of the
ACADEMY at Black Box
Acting. Nathaniel has worked with
Cuantica Pictures, and most recently filmed
with Chaotic Good Productions.
Sis3ters (Roadworks), and work with
Theater on the Lake, Chicago Dramatists,
Pine Box Theater, City Lit Theater, Stage
773, CIC, the MN Fringe Festival, and First
Floor Theater. Television: Chicago Fire.
Elizabeth is a graduate of The University of
Chicago and trained at The School at
Steppenwolf, The William Esper Studio in
New York, and Black Box Acting, where she
is now an instructor.
Elizabeth Birnkrant
(Lorelie) collaborates
again with Ilesa
Duncan following last
year’s Darlin’ by Joshua
Rollins’ (Step Up
Productions). Other
Chicago and regional credits include The
Berlin Circle, The Water Engine
(Steppenwolf ), The Revenants (Wildclaw
Theatre), The Gacy Play (Sideshow Theatre),
Chris Cinereski (Tryg)
has worked with such
theatre companies as
Steppenwolf, Piven,
Redmoon Theatre and
Chicago Dramatists.
Chris is a B.F.A. acting
graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul
University.
Pegasus Theatre Chicago
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
Gilmary Doyle (Helen)
Gilmary is a long time
veteran of Chicago
stages whose theater
credits include, Pegasus
Theater/Young
Playwrights Festival,
Chicago Dramatists, Northlight, City Lit,
and Prop Theater. She is the recipient of a
Jeff Award for ensemble for her work in “A
Piece of My Heart” at Circle Theater.
Gilmary is also a singer/songwriter,
performing solo at local venues and as a
member of the band, The Ramova Brothers.
For more information, visit www.
gilmarymusic.com
Willie Goodson
(Powder) has previously
worked with Pegasus
on The State of
Mississippi vs. Emmett
Till and Bronzeville.
Other credits include
Congo Square: Elmina’s Kitchen, Before it
Hits Home and A Soldiers Story;
Steppenwolf: Wendell Green, The Horn and
Master Harold and the Boys; ETA:
Conversation on a Dirt Road, Father and Son,
Night, The Last Apple, Riffs, Dream of
Ophelia, Checkmates, and The Lifting; Onyx
Theater: East Texas Hot Links and Sty of the
Blind Pig; and with Chicago Theater
Company: Pill Hill and Little Tommy Parkers
Colored Minstrel Show. He’s appeared in
numerous films and television shows.
Goodson is a native of Cleveland, Ohio
where he started his acting career at the
Karamu House Theater.
Anna Maldonado (Myra)
is originally from Texas
where she studied
Theatre and received a
Bachelor of Fine Arts
from the University of
Texas at Austin where
she was cast in many plays. Favorite theatre
credits include, the titular role in Medea
and touring with Idaho Theatre for Youth.
She has also appeared in various
commercials and industrial films, and
appeared in the popular web series, “The
Onion.” Anna is represented by Gray Talent
Group.
Steven Simoncic
(Playwright) Simoncic’s
past theatrical
productions include
Broken Fences, Heat
Wave, Black Coffee, Day
Care, The Space Behind
Your Heart, A Moderate Threat, Something
Blue, and Discovery Channel. His plays have
received productions, readings and
workshops at The Goodman, Steppenwolf,
Victory Gardens, The Second City, Ballybeg,
16th Street Theater, Stageplays Theatre New
York, and Soho Theatre in London. Steven
was recently nominated for a Pushcart
Prize, the Arts & Letters Susan Atefat Prize,
and has won an Emmy for short form
comedy. Steven was recently selected as a
featured writer for RIPPED, a short play
series co-produced by American Blues
Theatre and the University of Chicago, and
his play Words With C was selected as a
finalist for Play Lab at the 22nd Last Frontier
Theatre Festival. He is a Chicago Dramatists
Resident Playwright and Writer in
Residence with Pegasus Theatre Chicago,
16th Street Theatre and Step Up
Productions. His plays and fiction have
appeared in The Chicago Reader,
Hippocampus Magazine, Conclave, The
ABT Anthology, New Millennium Writings,
Spork Magazine, Ampersand and Drift
Magazine. Steven holds BBA from the
University of Michigan, an MFA from
Warren Wilson and an MLA from the
University of Chicago.
Ghost Gardens
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BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
Ilesa Duncan (Director)
recent directing
includes Josh Rollins’
Darlin (Step Up
Productions) Blacula
(Pegasus) and Broken
Fences at 16th Street
Theater (co-directed with Ann Filmer), The
Nativity (Congo Square), and Jar The Floor
at ETA. Also at Pegasus: If You Split A Second,
In The Continuum and Jeff Recommended
productions of Shape Of A Girl and Tick, Tick
Boom. Locally, Duncan has worked with
Rivendell, Writer’s Theatre, 16th Street
Theatre, Lifeline, Chicago Dramatists,
Victory Gardens and The Goodman. She’s
also worked with The Alliance Theatre,
Arena Stage, and Lincoln Center (Director’s
lab) in New York. Ilesa is a member of the
Lincoln Center Theatre Director’s Lab, and a
NEA/TCG Directing Fellow. Pegasus Theatre
Chicago’s producing artistic director, Ilesa
is also Associate Artist with PanAmerica
Performance Works (formerly Latino
Chicago at the Firehouse) and Chicago
Dramatists (where she serves as Education
and Community Engagement Director).
Dana Lynn Formby (Dramaturg) is a Resident
Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and
Artistic Associate/Dramaturg at Pegasus
Theatre Chicago. Her play American
Beauty Shop was read at Steppenwolf’s
First Look 2014. It was also nominated for
Kilroy’s 2014’s “The List”. Her plays have
been produced, work shopped, or read by
The Goodman, Pegasus Theatre Chicago,
Mortar Theatre Company, Steep, PICT,
Victory Gardens, WordBRIDGE, Florida
Studio Theatre, The Alliance Theatre of
Atlanta, The Kennedy Center and New
York Theatre Workshop. Her play Until
Death was recently produced this season
at Concordia University in association with
Chicago Dramatists. She is represented
by The Robert A. Freedman Dramatic
Agency in New York. She holds an MFA in
playwriting from Ohio University.
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Pegasus Theatre Chicago
Raquel Adorno (Costume Designer) is
a costume designer and stylist whose
recent credits include Genius, The Other
Place, Hellcab, The Cryptogram, Reasons to
be Happy, Annapurna, Cock, Gidion’s Knot,
Wrecks, In God’s hat, In the Company of Men,
and The Dream of the Burning Boy (Profiles
Theatre); Desperate Dolls (Strawdog
Theatre), HoliDAZE, Dead Accounts, Darlin’
(World Premiere), and The BenchMark
(Step Up Productions); Angry Fags, Book of
Merman, The Submission, Some Men, Songs
from an Unmade Bed, and The All-American
Genderf*ck Cabaret (Pride Films and Plays);
Princess Mary Demands Your Attention,
CARRIE: the musical (Bailiwick Chicago),
RAW (Deluge Theatre Collective), Trafford
Tanzi and Patria Libre (Prologue Theatre
Company); Gambit (Artemisia). Raquel is
an Artistic Associate with Profiles Theatre
and Step Up Productions, and an Ensemble
Member with Pride Films and Plays.
Claire Chrzan (Lighting Designer) Past
design credits include Definition Theatre
Company’s A Doll›s House, Harry and The
Thief (Pavement Group), Boy Gets Girl (The
Raven), Uncle Bob (Mary Arrchie), and
Best Beloved, The Just So Stories with Forks
and Hope. Claire is an artistic associate
with Interrobang Theatre Project where
her designs have been seen in many past
productions including Owners, and Really
Really. Claire is also resident lighting
designer with Emerald City where she has
designed Fancy Nancy, Elephant and Piggie:
We Are In A Play! And BFG: The Big Friendly
Giant. Upcoming productions include
InFusion Theatre’s Another Kind of Love and
Cor Theatre’s Love and Human Remains.
Mealah Heidenreich (Props Design) Previous
designs include Pegasus’ 28th Young
Playwrights Festival, Caged Dames with Hell
in a Handbag Productions, Magic Flute and
Street Scene with Northwestern University
Opera, Hello Dolly, Pirates of Penzanze and
Carousel with Light Opera Works, Equus
and Pillowman with Redtwist Theatre
BIOGR APHIES
c o n t.
and Memory of Two Mondays with Eclipse
Theatre. In between hunting for hidden
treasures, Mealah spends her time in the
land of live music.
Sarah Lewis (Scenic Design) Previous
Pegasus credits include Blacula: Young,
Black, & Undead and the 28th Annual
Playwright’s Festival. Sarah has designed for
Piccolo Theatre, JCC Mayer Kaplan, Forget
Me Not Theatre, and Promethean Theatre
Ensemble. Other designs include The
Diary Of Anne Frank, Our Country’s Good,
Oklahoma!, Time To Burn, A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, Smash, and The Love
Of Three Oranges. She has painted for
Lookinglass Theatre, American Theater Co.,
Chicago Scenic Studios, and Crosstown
Scenic. Sarah studied Theatrical Design
at Southern Utah University where she
worked as the department’s Scenic Charge
Artist and Scenic Artist for the Utah
Shakespearean Festival.
Mikey Moran (Sound Designer) A Chicago
composer, sound designer and musician,
he has worked with Victory Gardens,
Teatro Vista, Kokandy Productions, The
Den Theatre, Collaboraction, Mary-Arrchie,
Jackalope, Emerald City, Trap Door Theatre,
Factory Theater, and Wildclaw Theatre,
among others. He has received a Jeff
Award and nominations. In addition, he
performs in orchestra pits on a variety of
instruments. Moran holds a BFA in Sound
Design from The Theatre School at DePaul
University.
Amber R. Dettmers (Production Stage
Manager) holds a B.A. in Theatre from
Loyola University Chicago and has worked
as a House Manager with Steppenwolf
Theatre. Recent stage management credits
include A Bright Room Called Day with
Spartan Theatre and Scenes From an
Execution with Runcible Theatre.
Thanks & Appreciation to Ancien Cycles for hosting our Sneak Peak
Ghost Gardens
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ABOUT US
PEGASUS THEATRE CHICAGO’s mission is to produce boldly imaginative theatre, champion new and authentic voices and illuminate the human journey.
Our Core Values:
• Community Engagement - We build community through respect, honesty and trust,
ensuring connection and accessibility for all.
• Social Relevance – We reflect social issues through creative and fearless storytelling.
• Audacious Boldness - We reserve the right to rock the boat in a purposeful and
imaginative way.
• Adventure – We will explore the new, the extraordinary, or the unusual to give our
audiences an exciting experience.
• Excellence – We choose important stories to tell, and with great attention to our
theatrical artistry, create memorable experiences for our artists and our supporters.
The founding company was created in 1978, growing out of original student writings
performed by both faculty and students in the City Colleges. From 1984-2010, the theatre was in residence at the O’Rourke Center for the Performing Arts at Truman College
in the heart of Uptown. Pegasus then became theatre-in-residence at the Hull House’s
Leo Lerner Theater on Beacon Street from 2011-2013, which has since been demolished.
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs recognized the Young Playwrights Festival
with a special cash award for “Outstanding contribution to the arts and outreach efforts
to expand the accessibility of high quality arts experiences.” Pegasus’ has received 79 Joseph Jefferson Non-Equity Awards and countless nominations. Currently in residence at
Chicago Dramatists in West Town, the new Pegasus Theatre Chicago is Where Epic Stories
Take Flight.
B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S
Michael Radzilowsky...................................................................................................................... President
David Barr, III.............................................................................................................. Secretary & Treasurer
Montie Apostolos.................................................................................................................. Board Director
Elizabeth Chadri..................................................................................................................... Board Director
Ilesa Duncan ........................................................................................................................... Board Director
Gerry Messler.......................................................................................................................... Board Director
P E G A S U S S TA F F
Producing Artistic Director....................................................................................................Ilesa Duncan
Literary Manager............................................................................................................ Reginald Edmund
Resident Dramaturg.................................................................................................... Dana Lynn Formby
Producing Associate............................................................................................................Melissa DuPrey
Development Associates.................................................................................................... Onicia Mueller
Marketing Intern..................................................................................................................Bree Magnuson
Artistic Interns.........................................................................................................................Erin Crenshaw
Graphic Design/Website............................................................................................. Topher McCullogh
Public Relations....................................................................................................... Brava Public Relations
Legal Services...................................................................................................................... Radzilowky, LLC
Insurance Service....................................................................................... Paczolt Financial Group, Inc.
Usher Services.................................................................................................................................The Saints
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Pegasus Theatre Chicago
GHOST GARDEN SPECIAL DONORS
Pegasus Theatre gratefully acknowledges
our Ghost Gardens supporters:
BEETLEGUISE - $75.00 DONORS
Sarah Howard
GHOSTBUSTER - $150 DONORS
Elizabeth Antonucci
Jim Goodridge & Joan Riley
Therese Nevins
Vince Teninty
SLEEPY HOLLOW – $250 DONORS
S. Darragh
Gerry Messler
Scott Mulcahy
FIELD OF DREAMS – $500 DONORS
Paul & Gilmary Andrews
Special thanks to Steven Simoncic,
Samara Harris Anderson, Dave Barr,
and our friends at Ancien Cycles
for your love and support!
Ghost Gardens
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F O U N DAT I O N , C O R P O R AT E & G OV E R N M E N T S U P P O R T
The Arts Work Fund
The Chicago Community Trust
City of Chicago, Department of Cultural
Affairs & Special Events
John Crewdson Memorial
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley
Foundation
MacArthur Fund at The Richard H.
Driehaus Foundation
Leo S. Guthman Fund
The Illinois Arts Council Agency
The Polk Bros. Foundation
The Seabury Foundation
Anonymous
I N D I V I D UA L S U P P O R T E R S
$500-1500
Paul & Gilmary Andrews
David Barr, III
Gerry Messler
Michael Radzilowsky
$100-$499
Elizabeth Antonucci
Lois Barliant
Martin Colchamiro
Susan Darragh
Lisa Finch
Joan Riley & Jim Goodridge
Scott Mulcahy
Therese Nevins
Lawrence W. Nobles Jr
Arch Pounian
Cynthia Safford
Vince Teninty
$50-99
Anonymous
Travis Boggs
Gabe Caruso
Ilesa Duncan
Sarah Howard
Hunter Koerner
Alex Levy
Chris, Mike & Meg Lowey
Paul McCreery
Michelle Underwood
Oliver Moore Sr.
$25-$49
Samara Anderson
Susan Bowen
William Bullion
Todd Buckton
Clair Chaney
Suzanne Davis
Phillip Dawkins
Dina Delsol
Diana Delsol
Lisa Dillman
Niki Dreistadt
Marsha Estell
Harold Estell Jr.
Cynthia Frahm
LeVan D. Hawkins
David Hansen
Geralyn Hebert
Gary Houston
Trina Kakacek
Robert Koon
Maria Liubin
Kate Masiak
Jason Posthumus
Celia Sanchez
Melissa Sanders
Penelope Walker
$10-$24
Terry Arter
Patricia Curtis
Zenobia Black
Katharine Densmore
Warren Holmes
Amanda Mehelich
Mary Lynn Mennicke
Allison Pope
Sarah Silva
P E G A S U S A R T I S T I C A S S O C I AT E S
Erin Crenshaw
Melissa Duprey
Rachel Dubose
Mike Durst
Reginald Edmund
Dana Lynn Formby
Denise Karzcewski
Christopher Kriz
Justin Hauke
Mildred Langford
Jess Leesburg
Coco Lemery
Delali Potakey
Steven Simoncic
Lauren Stremmel
Amanda Toledo
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks: Anna Bahow, Daniel Bryant, and the many amazing actors who made this production possible through many readings and workshops!
Also: Ancien Cycles, Topher McCullogh, Chicago Dramatists, Stephanie Kulke and Diane Testa.
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Pegasus Theatre Chicago