PlayGround-Chicago presents Season 2

MONDAY NIGHT PLAYGROUND

Topic: “RECLAIMING HERSTORY”
April 1, 2024 7pm CT
Theater Wit & Simulcast

Acknowledging the Legacy of the Land We Inhabit

PlayGround-Chicago acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the people of the Council of Three Fires, including the Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa, the original inhabitants of the Chicago metropolitan area. As the past and present Indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Council of Three Fires have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. We recognize the historic injustice of the forcible removal of the Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa people from their ancestral lands, and that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the Ancestors, Elders and Relatives of the Council of Three Fires Communities and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. We honor the storytellers of the Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa and are grateful for our ability to share and uplift Indigenous stories and those of other historically marginalized communities. In working with artists and audiences from all over the country, PlayGround-Chicago asks that each member of the PlayGround-Chicago community representing a different geographical space respectfully acknowledge the legacy of the land they inhabit.

To learn about the legacy of the land you inhabit, visit Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land. To read the complete Land Acknowledgment Policy, click here.

PlayGround-Chicago’s Anti-Racist Policy

PlayGround recognizes the impact of racial oppression within society and the American Theater and that we have been complicit in White Supremacy culture. Our goal is to co-create safety for our community by identifying and interrupting instances of racism and all forms of oppression when we witness them, through specific actions rooted in the principles of anti-racism and accessibility. In its endeavor to address the implications of our history, PlayGround is committed to its compliance with the following fundamental rights:

• The recognition of inherent dignity and worth of each human being.
• The recognition of equality of all human beings.
• Recognition of rights of ethnic, racial, cultural, linguistic and religious groups.
• Equality and non-discrimination.

PlayGround’s Anti-Racist Policy applies to: all members of the PlayGround community, including employees, independent contractors, volunteers, audience members, donors, and general members of the community.

To read the complete Anti-Racist Policy, click here.

Monday Night PlayGround Memberships

We are deeply grateful to our 2023-24 Monday Night PlayGround Members, whose direct support helps to underwrite artists fees for the Monday Night series across all four regions: Sam & Naomi Abramovitz, Tanvi Agrawal, Linda Amayo-Hassan, Sharon Baldwin, Jaisey Bates, Tim Bishop, Ms. Linda B Breaux-Smith, Emilie Brooks, Robyn Brooks, Summer Broyhill, Madeleine Butler, Ben Cain, Julie Campbell, Sidney Glass & Eleanor Clement Glass, Joan Cleveland, Ms. Marilyn Berg Cooper, Sandra Cruze, Dodds Delzell, Hillary DeMartino, Sharon Ebehardt, Ann Ehrmann, Ms. Cherielyn Ferguson, Krystyna Finlayson, Sheri Flanders, Conde Freeman, Michael Fried, Dr. Jan Gilman, Lara Gilman, Michael Tonjum & Jan Gilman, Hollis Greenwood, Ruben Grijalva, Regina Guggenheim, Dana Hall, Rachel Harner, Sharlene Hartman, Gail Hillebrand & Hugh Barroll, Lucy Hsu, Brandy T Jones, Ms. Anne M. Krause, Emily Kuroda, Douglas Le Blanc, Ms. Kristy Lin Billuni, Mr. John Lindner, Jonathan Luskin & Leslie Katz, Rhea MacCallum, George Maguire, Brian Markley, Linda Marks, Dr. Sheila McCormick, Bacilio Mendez II, Ms. Cynthia L Morishige, Dan Morley, Molly Noble & Bob Guilbault, Annette Oliveira, Maryl Olivera, Ms. Vicki Oswald, Bridgette Dutta Portman, Mrs. Elizabeth Poston, Madeline Puccioni, Mr. George Rose, Jessica June Rowe, Michelle Ruscetta, John J. Ruskin, Kathryn Ryan, Miyoko Sakatani, Louel Senores, Mark Sherstinsky, Nancy W. Smith, Stan Stone, Cathie Stonie, Mr. Richard Dana Swart, Mary Lou Torre, Kim Tram, Jeffrey Trescott, Michael E Tuton, Dr. Eidell Wasserman, Michael Waterson, Bex White, Christian Wilburn, Janine Wilburn, and Maury Zeff. Thank you!

To learn more about the Monday Night PlayGround membership program, click here.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

Weekend at Wilson’s
by Daniel Arzola
Directed by Tyler Struble
Woodrow…………….Braedyn Youngberg
Edith……………………….Ilsa Morales
Nurse………………Carmia Imani
Al……….………Scott Gryder

Oral History
by Tanuja Devi Jagernauth
Directed by Myesha-Tiara
Mom……………….Anita Chandwaney
Phoolan………………….Baneet Chawla

Look Closer
by Gabriella Bonamici
Directed by Leanna Oliveira
Frances.…………….Shelby Brown
Mother…………….Diana Simonzadeh
Father………………….William Thompson
Husband/George………………Harold Dennis

And Now I Know How Joan of Arc Felt
by Marnie Monogue
Directed by Eileen Dixon
Joan……………Skylar Frishman
Sophie….………………….Juliana Liscio
Jailer………………..Peter Stielstra

Bacchae
by Shail Modi
Directed by Kendall Phillips
Manservant/Agave………….Andrea Conway-Diaz
Pentheus…………………….Jordan Zelvin
Dionysos…………….Ariya Hawkins
Ino……………….Sheri Flanders

The Sea and Its Keeper
by Zach Barr
Directed by Kezia Waters
The Sea..…………….Diana Simonzadeh
Ida Lewis……………Valerie Butler-Newbern

Stage Manager: Michelle Levinson

This live stream is produced under a SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreement.

PlayGround is a member of Theatre Bay Area, League of Chicago Theatres, and Theatre Communications Group.

People’s Choice Award

Following tonight’s performance, we invite your participation in this month’s People’s Choice Award. Through the People’s Choice Award, our audience can play a direct impact in furthering the career of a promising new playwright. To vote, make a People’s Choice Award tax-deductible donation on behalf of your favorite play(s)/playwright(s) from the evening. Every donated dollar counts as a vote while directly supporting PlayGround’s award-winning incubator programs.

Cast your vote for your favorite play(s) by making a People’s Choice donation via Zelle (info@playground-ch.org), Venmo (our account ID is @playgroundsf and if they ask for the last four digits of my phone, it’s 8541) or on our website at https://tickets.playground-sf.org/TheatreManager/1/online?donationquick=180 (you can also visit the Monday Night PlayGround page for the People’s Choice donation button). Add a note/memo with your gift to indicate your favorite play(s) or email your selection to boxoffice@playground-sf.org.

At the end of the week, we’ll tally up the top vote-getter and automatic semi-finalist for our season-ending Best of PlayGround. It’s a powerful way of showing your support for new writers and their work, while helping PlayGround continue doing what we do!

Biographies

PLAYWRIGHTS

DANIEL ARZOLA (Weekend at Wilson’s), he/they, is a Mexican-American playwright born and raised in the Chicagoland area. They frequently work on several productions in regional theaters and is currently working on several new works, including a new play recently selected as a National Playwrights Conference Semifinalist at the O’Neill and a brand new musical that combines American folk music with various genres of Latin music. They also work as a director, frequently working on new play developments.

ZACH BARR (The Sea And Its Keeper), they/them, is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Chicago. They are currently a member of the Three Brothers Theatre Playwrights Residency. Zach’s play NEW OLEANNA received a reading at Red Theater in September 2023, and their adaptation of WINNIE-THE-POOH received a staged reading at the Den Theatre in July 2022. Additionally, Zach is the creator of the video essay series AND NOW THEY SING, discussing the history of the performing arts (youtube.com/@andnowtheysing). They are aro/ace.

GABRIELLA BONAMICI (Look Closer), she/her, is a Chicago playwright with a passion for telling stories that are equally humorous and horrifying. Her plays often center around mental health, magical realism, and strong female casts. Her work has been produced in Chicago, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Massachusetts. This is her second year with PlayGround-Chicago’s writers pool.

TANUJA DEVI JAGERNAUTH (Oral History), she/her, is an Indo-Caribbean playwright and dramaturg who believes in the necessity of creation during times of destruction. In 2016, she shifted career paths from Traditional East Asian Medicine to theatre in hopes of practicing four frameworks for collective liberation and wellness through theatre: self/community care, harm reduction, trauma awareness, and body positivity. Inspired by healing justice and PIC abolition, Tanuja employs comedy, magical realism, the fantastic and the absurd to raise questions around how we heal and fight back against internal and external oppressions and build a prison- and police-free world.

SHAIL MODI (Bacchae), he/him, is an actor and playwright who is hoping for blue skies and hot days. His dream is to make friends with some people who play pickleball, and that they might invite him to play pickleball with them, to which he would say “i guess… if you insist…” because secretly he believes he would be very good at pickleball, but he doesn’t want to put himself through the embarrassment of seeking out pickleball.

MARNIE MONOGUE (And Now I Know How Joan of Arc Felt), she/her, is a playwright, author, and visual artist. She graduated from Grinnell College in 2021 with a BA in English. Originally from rural Wisconsin, she has lived in Iowa, London, and Colorado, but now calls Chicago home. Tonight marks her Chicago stage debut. Her writing and art have appeared in Beaver Magazine and Hidden Peak Review and her plays have been developed by Make/Shift Theatre and performed at West Texas A&M University. You can find more of her work on New Play Exchange.

ACTORS

SHELBY BROWN (Look Closer, “Frances”), she/her, is thrilled to be collaborating with PlayGround-Chicago! Regional: RENT (The MUNY) Aida (Ensemble, Weathervane Playhouse) Amusement Parks: Cedar Point’s Swell Tones, Come See About Me (Amber), and The Shrieks (Vampira), Carowinds’ Winterfest Cool Yule. Ball State University Grad. Much Love! Instagram: @shelbyebrown_

VALERIE BUTLER-NEWBERN (The Sea And Its Keeper, “Ida Lewis”), she/her, is happily returning to PlayGround-Chicago as Ida Lewis in The Sea and Its Keeper by Zach Barr. Her Playground-Chicago credits include Boomer in Stay Humble by Ian Michael Minh, the Storyteller in How The Owl Gained Her Wisdom by Zach Barr and Natalie in Tomato Tattoo by Rammal Chan. She’s performed in the Indie films Just a Cup of Coffee, Identity and Bosom. See her in Lume, Senior Lifestyle and Cano Health commercials. Valerie studies at Acting Studio Chicago, The Green Room and Vagabond School of the Arts. She’s a native Chicagoan who loves learning & having fun.

ANITA CHANDWANEY (Oral History, “Mom”), she/her, after a BFA in Drama from Illinois Wesleyan University, Anita got her union card working in Chicago, then gave NYC a go for 4 years and LA for 3 (back in the day of getting a ‘Maria’ nametag on a commercial shoot – yeah a loooong time ago!). Giving the industry time to get with the times, she moved back to Chicago, started a South-Asian Theater company-Rasaka, coproduced and played Navi Masra in “The Masrayana”, (which won 2 Jeff awards) Her latest and greatest creations are currently 13 year old twins. And it’s not just double the fun, it’s exponential! Anita is also a writer. Her play Gandhi Marg got 2nd place in the Writers Digest Stage Play Competition. She co-wrote “Thirst” with MEH Lewis, which advanced at the O’Neill, and won the Ecodrama prize, and got Honored Finalist in the Women’s Collaboration Award. She’s recently started tv writing. Her first pilot “Falling In Line” quarter-finalled and semi-finalled in several contests. Her 2nd pilot, “Aunty” is getting some final tweaks.

BANEET CHAWLA (Oral History, “Phoolan”), they/them, is a Chicago-based artist and aspiring theatrical jack-of-all-trades. They have recently joined Albany Park Theater Project’s Company25 ensemble, in their immersive production, “Port of Entry.” When they are not performing, they can be found crocheting, writing, and feeding string cheese to their cats, Spider and Worm.

HAROLD DENNIS (Look Closer, “Husband/George”), he/him,  has trained now for more than 20 years. He’s an acting teacher, taught “Acting On Camera” at the Second City Training Center for 2 years. Harold is currently teaching 2 hour acting workshops online. He has appeared in over 200 films.

SHERI FLANDERS (Bacchae, “Ino”), she/her, is a Chicago based writer, comedian, and actor whose work has been featured in many publications including McSweeney’s, The Chicago Sun-Times and The Chicago Reader. She has performed at the Black Women in Comedy Laff Festival in New York City and in many reputable and disreputable establishments in Chicago.

SKYLAR FRISHMAN (And Now I Know How Joan of Arc Felt, “Joan”), she/they, is so excited to be back with Playground! They have been acting for over fifteen years, and they are currently working with Playground, Corn Productions, Explore Assemblies, and more!

SCOTT GRYDER (Weekend at Wilson’s, “Al”), he/him, most recently joined the cast of the national television show Svengoolie as the devilishly ingratiating, and slightly grating, sly trickster lMP (WCIU). Other appearances include the Jeff-Award Winning Buyer & Cellar (Pride Films & Plays) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyric Opera Chicago). He has performed in a multitude of cabarets, including SIMPLY SCOTTY (with Nick Sula), WOZ: A Rock Cabaret, and Life Is A Cabaret – The Music & Words of Kander & Ebb, at Davenport’s, Skokie Theatre, and Auditorium. MeTV’s Green Screen Adventures earned him three National Daytime Emmy Awards. www.thescottgryder.com

ARIYA HAWKINS (Bacchae, “Dionysos”), she/they, is a Chicago-based actor, singer, and teaching artist. Born and raised in the city of Chicago, she began her training at ChiArts and The Goodman Theatre, graduating from Millikin University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Recent credits include touring productions of both A Raisin in the Sun and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Olney Theatre Center for the National Players. Other recent credits include Cabaret (Studio Theatre Tierra Del Sol); Haven (Outer Loop Theatre Experience); a hit dog will holler (Artemisia Theatre); The Bikinis and Vanities: The Musical (Canterbury Summer Theatre).

CARMIA IMANI (Weekend at Wilson’s, “Nurse”), she/her, is a Chicago-based theatre artist who is passionate about advocating for radical change and integrating anti-racist theatre practices into her artistry and work. Her regional credits include: brother sister cyborg space (u/s) (Raven Theatre), Skeleton Crew, Death of a Salesman (The Black Rep), and Much Ado About Nothing (u/s) (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company). Carmia has participated in new work readings and workshops with Pocket Theatre VR, The Artistic Home, Obsidian Theatre Festival, and PlayGround-Chicago where she is also a Producing Fellow. She is a proud graduate of Ball State University where she holds a BFA in Acting.

JULIANA LISCIO (And Now I Know How Joan of Arc Felt, “Sophie”), she/her, is a playwright and actor. Current: The Diary of Anne Frank (The Young People’s Theatre of Chicago). Recent: A View From the Bridge (Shattered Globe Theatre, u/s); Space Station Safety (The National Theatre for Children); Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Brighton Beach Memoirs (Citadel Theatre). Juliana is a writer with the Inclusive Playwright Project, and has had her work read as a part of Steppenwolf’s LookOut series, among other readings. Juliana trained at Loyola University Chicago and the Fordham London Dramatic Academy, and is represented by Shirley Hamilton.

ILSA MORALES (Weekend at Wilson’s, “Edith”), she/her, is a Chicago-based comedian and actress. She is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory program and an improv performer for the Otherworld theater. When she isn’t performing on stage you can find her co-hosting her podcast and YouTube channel Relatable Nerds.

DIANA SIMONZADEH (Look Closer, “Mother”; The Sea And Its Keeper, “The Sea”), she/her, is thrilled to participate in PlayGround-Chicago’s Monday Night Reading for the 5th time! Theatre credits include: The Corpse Washer at Actors Theatre Louisville’s 43rd Humana Festival of New American Plays; Perfect Mendacity at Asolo Rep; Night Over Erzinga and Scorched at Silk Road Rising; Homebody/Kabul at Steppenwolf Theatre; and Return To Haifa at Next Theater. Film work includes: Necro 101; The Glass House; Qwerty; The Cancer Card; Oops! I’ve Been Driven Mundane; The Reunion; The Origins of Wit and Humor; and Remote Viewing. She Is a recipient of an Equity Jeff Award.

PETER STIELSTRA (And Now I Know How Joan of Arc Felt, “Jailer”), he/him, is a Chicago based actor and singer. He is glad to be returning to the Playground. Recent credits include HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS (Max/Guitarist) with Strawdog, THE THREEPENNY OPERA (Ensemble, u/s Macheath) with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, and GIRLFRIEND (Mike) with PrideArts. Before moving to Chicago from San Francisco, some of his favorite credits include: AS YOU LIKE IT (Orlando u/s and ensemble) with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS (Barrabas) at UC Berkeley.

WILLIAM C. THOMPSON (Look Closer, “Father”), he/him, has worked on stage, film, radio, television, & street theatre since he was sixteen. Since moving to Chicago in 2016, he has appeared in Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Netflix’s Easy, two major films “For Prophet,” & “The Christmas Pitch,” as well as numerous short films, an international law firm’s training programs, the SAG-AFTRA Senior Radio Players, and “At The Table” staged readings. He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. William is represented by The Rock Talent Agency and is delighted to once again be a part of PlayGround-Chicago.

BRAEDYN YOUNGBERG (Weekend at Wilson’s, “Woodrow”), he/him, is thrilled to be joining PlayGround-Chicago in their mission to develop local playwrights! Regional theatre credits include “Don Armado” (Loves Labors Lost), “Roderigo” (Othello), and “Antonio” (Twelfth Night) with Marin Shakespeare Company, “Orlando, et al” (As You Like It) with SF Shakes, “The Monster” (Young Frankenstein) with Spreckels PAC, and “Brad Majors” (The Rocky Horror Show) with Sixth Street Playhouse. Braedyn has trained locally with The Second City and iO Chicago, as well as regionally with Shakespeare & Company.

JORDAN ZELVIN (Bacchae, “Pentheus”), she/her/any, is a Chicago teaching artist and proud company member of PlayGround Chicago with a love of improv, collaboration, and storytelling. Some of her favorite Chicago credits include WAKE UP, BROTHER BEAR (Northbrook TYA), ACROSS THE SAND: A PASSOVER THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE (Northbrook TYA), HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS (Strawdog Theatre Company), FAILURE: A LOVE STORY (Oil Lamp Theater), CHICAGO WOMEN’S FUNNY FESTIVAL (Stage 773), and various comedy shows at The Second City, The Annoyance Theatre & Bar, and iO Theater where she is a company member of Malarkey Comedy performing in COMEDYSPORTZ, IMPROVISED DCOM, and TWO BIRDS 1 SCONE every Thursday-Saturday. She’s thrilled to be back with PlayGround Chicago and supporting free and accessible theatre.

DIRECTORS