MAX WOLF FRIEDLICH (Playwright) is an American playwright and screenwriter known for his sharp, psychologically charged work, most notably JOB, a breakout thriller about a tech content moderator sent to therapy after a viral meltdown. The play premiered Off-Broadway at Soho Playhouse in 2023, earning rave reviews, a New York Times Critic’s Pick, and an Outer Critics Circle nomination, before transferring to Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theater in 2024. Friedlich’s writing—darkly humorous and deeply attuned to modern anxieties—has quickly made him one of the most exciting new voices in American theater.
DAVID ESBJORNSON (Director) was the Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company (NYC) from 1992-97 as well as Seattle Repertory Theatre 2005-8, producing and directing eleven seasons of new plays, classics and special events. In the last decade, David was Chair of the Rutgers MGSA Conservatory where he created the 3.5 conservatory program. Directing premieres include: Manifest Destiny’s Child Dennis Trainor, (Edinburgh Festival), The Glass Menagerie (Shanghai, China) Driving Miss Daisy, Alfred Uhry, (Broadway, London and Australia) Edward Albee’s The Goat or Who is Sylvia? (Broadway) and The Play About the Baby (Century, NYC), Arthur Miller’s The Ride Down Mt. Morgan (Broadway) and Resurrection Blues (Guthrie), the world premiere of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and the first staged presentation of Perestroika (Eureka) and Homebody/Kabul (London). The Great Gatsby (the new Guthrie Inaugural Production) and Christopher Hampton’s Appomattox, The Confederacy of Dunces, (Huntington) Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? by Todd Kriedler (Arena Stage DC, Huntington, Boston) The Outsider by Paul Slade Smith, (Paper Mill Playhouse), In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks (Public), Neil Simon’s Rose and Walsh (Geffen), Therese Raquin by Neal Bell (CSC), Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher (Minetta Lane), My Old Lady by Israel Horovitz (Promenade), Ariel Dorfman’s Purgatorio (SRT), Moira Buffini’s Gabriel and Peter Parnell’s Trumpery (Atlantic), Molly Ivins Red Hot Patriot (Arena Stage, The Geffen, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Berkeley Rep), Erma Bombeck: At Witt’s End, by Alison and Maragaret Engel (Arena Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse), Dealer’s Choice by Patrick Marber (Long Wharf). Major revivals include: Lady From Dubuque (NY Signature Inaugural Production), Death of a Salesman (The Gate, Dublin), Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing (NYSF in Central Park), A Few Good Men (London West End), The Normal Heart (Public), All My Sons (Huntington), Hamlet (Theatre For A New Audience), Our Town (George Street), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Summer and Smoke (Guthrie), Twelfth Night, Mud and Drowning (Signature), Endgame, The Maids, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, The Entertainer (Classic Stage Company) and Farmyard (NY Theatre Workshop.).
JACK MAGAW (Scenic Designer) returns to Writers Theatre having previously designed scenery for Rollin’ With the Blues, Buried Child and East Texas Hot Links among many others. Recent Chicago and regional credits include Big White Fog (Court Theatre), The Angel Next Door (Northlight Theatre), Anastasia (Bucks County Playhouse and Cape Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof (Drury Lane Theatre), the US premiere of London Road (Shattered Globe Theatre), the world premiere of Relentless (TimeLine Theatre and Goodman Theatre), Nina Simone: Four Women (South Coast Rep), Misery (Peninsula Players), Waitress (Cape Playhouse), and Porgy and Bess (Musical Theatre Heritage). Jack is an Adjunct Professor of Design at The Theatre School at DePaul University and he resides in Chicago. jackmagaw.com
JESSICA PABST (Costume Designer)
JAMES F. INGALLS (Lighting Designer) designs lighting for Dance, Opera, Theatre and Concerts. Recent dance: David Dawson’s Anima Animus [Paris Opera Ballet], Cynthia Harvey’s Giselle [Norwegian Ballet] and Trey McIntyre’s Mayday [BODYTRAFFIC]. Recent opera: One Morning Becomes An Eternity [Salzburger Festspiele], The Nine Jeweled Deer [Festival d’Aix-en-Provence] and Lyale Chaker’s Ruinous Gods [Spoleto Festival USA]. Recent theatre: Three Verses of Solitude [Zoukak Theatre/Beirut, Lebanon] and Endgame [Druid @ Irish Arts Center/New York]. Recent concerts: Lagrime di San Pietro and Music To Accompany A Departure [LA Master Chorale European Tour].He often collaborates with the Wooden Floor dancers, Santa Ana, CA.
WILLOW JAMES (Co-Sound Designer) is a Chicago-based arts leader, DJ, and multidisciplinary artist working in photography, sound design, and composition. He uses art as a platform for community healing and work that uplifts Black identity–building spaces where art and purpose meet. He currently serves as Civic Engagement Director at Definition Theatre (where he is also an ensemble member), a teaching artist with Court Theatre and Adjunct Faculty at DePaul University. Writers: The Band's Visit, The Hot Wing King. Chicago: The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Goodman Theatre); Black Cypress Bayou (Definition Theatre);You Will Get Sick(Steppenwolf Theatre); Fat Ham (Goodman Theatre/Definition Theatre); A Raisin in the Sun (Court Theatre); Hymn (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Regional: Indiana Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre, TheatreSquared, Next Act Theatre, Alleyway Theatre, and others. Representation: Michael Moore Agency. worksbywillow.com |@worksbywillow
CHRISTOPHER KRIZ (Co-Sound Designer) is an award winning Composer and Sound Designer based in Chicago. Past Writers Theatre designs include Yellow Moon, The Letters, and Hedda Gabler. A winner of 7 Joseph Jefferson Awards, Kriz has designed hundreds of productions for companies in Chicago including Goodman, Steppenwolf, Court, Chicago Shakespeare, Paramount, Timeline, Victory Gardens, Shattered Globe, Remy Bumppo, and many others. Regional design credits: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory, Indiana Repertory, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Nebraska Repertory, American Stage, and many others. Kriz is a proud member of United Scenic Artists 829 and is represented by the Michael Moore Agency. To hear more of his work, visit www.christopherkriz.com
AMBER WUTTKE (Violence and Gun Coordinator) is delighted to return to Writers Theatre with this production. Her work was last seen on the award-winning Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. She has choreographed for movement, dance, and fights for over a decade, including being a co-founder of Violent Delights, an award nominated stage combat and intimacy design team in Chicago. Recent credits include: The Full Monty (Paramount Theatre); Annie, Carousel, Brigadoon, Pippin (Music Theater Works); The Crucible, Macbeth (Invictus Theatre); Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune (Elsinore Ensemble). | @violentdelights_chi
ERIN SHEA BRADY (Dramaturg) is a writer, director and social worker who is thrilled to be back at Writers after dramaturging Every Brilliant Thing last season. Directing credits: Grace, or the Art Of Climbing and Everybody (BPBCo.); Cabaret and The Rise And Fall of Little Voice (No Stakes Theater Project). Erin has worked on productions at the Goodman, Jackalope, TimeLine, Remy Bumppo and A Red Orchid Theatre, as well as interning at Steppenwolf. They hold a Masters in Extension Studies (Creative Writing) at Harvard University. In addition to their work in theater, Erin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice.
DYLAN COHEN (Assistant Director) is a theatre artist and adjunct professor based in Chicago. Their artistic practice blends their wit, digital nativity, and love of media scholarship. Dylan helped establish and serves as Marketing and Community Engagement Lead at Do Process Theatre Company. You can also say hi to Dylan in the Box Office here at Writers Theatre! Thank you. Yes, you! More at dycosmic.com and doprocesstheatre.com.
MIRANDA ANDERSON (Stage Manager) is happy to be back at Writers where she has previously worked as the stage manager for As You Like It, Translations, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, The Band's Visit, Once, and Athena. She has frequently worked with TimeLine Theatre where selected credits include: What The Constitution Means to Me, Trouble in Mind, Campaigns, Inc., and Relentless. Around Chicago she has also worked at Rivendell Theatre, The House Theatre, First Folio Theatre, and The Hypocrites, among others. From 2012 to 2018, she toured with The Hypocrites’ Gilbert and Sullivan productions to regional theaters including Olney Theatre Company, Pasadena Playhouse, Skirball Center at NYU, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and American Repertory Theatre in Boston. Miranda is the Stage Management Advisor at Loyola University of Chicago and is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
BRIDGET KEARBEY (Assistant Stage Manager) is from Aurora IL, and is so excited to join the Writers stage management team! Bridget would like to thank her friends and family for their endless support and love. Stage Management: True West, Million Dollar Quartet - SM Cover (Paramount) Mean Girls Jr. (Paramount PSA), The Music Man in Concert, A Christmas Carol, Xanadu (Metropolis PAC), Twelfth Night (Kane Repertory) Backstage Credits: White Christmas, School of Rock, Little Shop of Horrors (Paramount Theatre) 9 to 5 (Metropolis PAC) IG:@bridgetnkearbeyIG:@bridgetnkearbey
BRADEN ABRAHAM (Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director) joined Writers Theatre in 2022 as the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director. In his first two seasons, he directed Translations and Eurydice. Previously, as Artistic Director of Seattle Rep, Braden directed six world premieres and over 20 productions, including True West, Clybourne Park, Photograph 51, Betrayal, Luna Gale, A View from the Bridge, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. While at Seattle Rep, he revitalized the New Play Program, commissioning and premiering works by playwrights including Anna Zeigler, Samuel D. Hunter, and Cheryl L. West. Many projects developed under his leadership gained acclaim nationwide, including Irene Sankoff and David Hein's Come From Away and the exclusive production of David Byrne's Here Lies Love outside New York and London. His final initiatives at Seattle Rep included 20x30: Reimagine the Anthropocene, commissioning twenty new plays by 2030, and New Directions, a program supporting generative work from directors. Around the country, Braden has developed new work at Ojai, O'Neill, Denver Center, and Perseverance Theatre. He has been a guest artist at Stanford, Gonzaga, and Seattle University. Braden is the co-creator of Sound Place Love, an audio installation about the life and work of Emmy-Award winning sound ecologist Gordon Hempton.
KATHRYN M. LIPUMA (Executive Director, Writers Theatre) joined Writers Theatre as Executive Director in 2007, where she serves as lead producer, overseeing all management, administration, and operations for the company. She led the fundraising, planning and construction of Writers Theatre's new $34 million performing arts center, designed by internationally renowned architect Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects. Prior to Writers, Kate spent nine seasons as Executive Director at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre Company in New York. At Signature, she worked with and produced plays and programs from such acclaimed writers as Edward Albee, Lee Blessing, Horton Foote, Maria Irene Fornés, John Guare, Bill Irwin, Romulus Linney, Arthur Miller, Paula Vogel, August Wilson and Lanford Wilson. During her tenure, she helped create and launch Signature’s groundbreaking $15 Ticket Program. Prior to her time at Signature, she spent six years with Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. Kate currently is the President of the Producers’ Association of Chicago Area Theatres (PACT), an association of Chicago area theatres operating under the Chicago Area Theatre contract; is on the Board of Directors for Arts Alliance Illinois, the statewide advocacy coalition; and the Board of Directors and Past Chair of the League of Chicago Theatres, an alliance representing more than 200 Chicago-area theater companies and producers. She is also the Past Chair of the Board of Directors of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre. She is also the co-creator of DoNorth, an umbrella organization joining four cultural neighbors—Chicago Botanic Garden, Kohl Children’s Museum, Ravinia Festival and Writers Theatre—to attract new audiences to the cultural, environmental and community activities of Chicago’s North Shore. She was born and raised in the West Suburbs of Chicago and is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.