PlayGround-Chicago presents Season 3
in association with Theater Wit

MONDAY NIGHT PLAYGROUND

Topic: “Sci Fi”
April 7, 2025 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 2024-25 Monday Night PlayGround Members, whose direct support helps to underwrite artists fees for the Monday Night series across all four regions:

Dr. & Mrs. Sam & Naomi Abramovitz, Sharon Baldwin, Julie Berthold, Tim Bishop, Linda B Breaux-Smith, Emilie T. & Gordon C. Brooks, John Brown, Summer Broyhill, Madeleine Butler, Ben Cain, Sidney Glass & Eleanor Clement Glass, Joan Cleveland, Sheila Collins, Marilyn Berg Cooper, Logan Varas De Valdes, Betsy Dudak, Cathy Earnest, Ann Ehrmann, Krystyna Finlayson, Michael Tonjum & Jan Gilman, Hollis Greenwood, Elizabeth Groenewegen, Gail Hillebrand & Hugh Barroll, Brandy T Jones, Roxy Jones, Jacqueline Whittier Kubicka, Emily Kuroda, Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Le Blanc, Alice Lehmann, Karen & Matt Levesque, Kristy Lin Billuni, Melinda Lopez, Linda G Marks, Dolores Martinez, Dr. Sheila McCormick, Yvonne McIntyre, Cynthia L Morishige, Dan Morley, Molly Noble & Bob Guilbault, Annette Oliveira, Emily Brauer Rogers, George Rose, Jessica June Rowe, Michelle Ruscetta, John J. Ruskin, Miyoko Sakatani, Jennifer Schultz & Eric Rosenzweig, Mark Sherstinsky, Nancy W. Smith, Stan Stone, Cathy M Stonie, Mary Lou Torre, Kim Tram, Vicki Victoria, Dr. Eidell Wasserman, Bex White, Janine Wilburn, and Cindy Womack. Thank you!

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

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

BIOGRAPHIES

PLAYWRIGHTS

ANNE BRADY (A 72-Hour Idea), she/her, is honored to be a first-year Writer’s Pool member. After earning a degree in Creative Writing from Seattle Pacific University, Anne worked as a professional actress and playwright in Seattle before relocating to Chicago in 2012. Her plays have been produced around the West Coast as well as internationally. She studied playwriting with Chicago Dramatists and The Second City and has authored or co-authored over 20 children’s books. She lives in Bucktown with her husband and 2 kids and has an astonishing amount of Bluey committed to memory.

MIKAYLA DE GUZMAN (Reboot), she/her, is a Chicago actor, stage manager, and playwright. As a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, previous credits include Coming of Stars, All’s Well That Ends Well, Polaroid Stories, SOMEWHERE, and Pride and Prejudice. She has since worked on Beyond The Garden Gate (The Impostors Theatre Co.), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Three Crows), BECHDEL FEST 9 (Broken Nose Theatre), Pocket Playfest (Pocket Theatre VR) and THE KASHA OF KAIMUKI (NWaC). Her free time consists of baking, traveling, bubble tea, and naps. She would like to thank her family and friends for their love and support.

BETH KANDER (Vi Chi Sci Fi), she/her, is an author and playwright with tangled roots in the Midwest and Deep South. The granddaughter of immigrants, her writing often explores how worlds old and new intertwine—or collide. Beth has an MSW from the University of Michigan, an MFA in Creative Writing from Mississippi University for Women, and a BA from Brandeis University. A 2024-2025 Dramatists Guild Foundation National Fellow, Beth is known for plays such as Hazardous Materials and Mountain Octopus. Her adult debut novel, I Made It Out of Clay, released in December 2024 (MIRA/HarperCollins). A proud parent-artist, her favorite characters are her two brave, hilarious kids.
For more: www.bethkander.com. Representation: Allison Hellegers, Stimola Literary Studio.

JULIET KANG HUNEKE (Susie, Susie, and Steve), she/they, is a playwright and performer who is passionate about theatre that is larger than life. In 2023, she was awarded the ReImagine: New Plays in TYA grant to develop her new play for young audiences, Hannah and Halmoni Save the World!, with Filament Theatre. Filament is producing the world premiere of Hannah and Halmoni, now running through April 27th. Juliet is also a 24 Hour Plays Nationals alum! Other Chicago writing credits include: Echo’s Inferno (The Understudy), Home for the Summer (Theo Ubique, American Music Theatre Project), Mycelium (Playground Chicago), and Mechanicals (Impostors Theater Co Footholds Vol. 4). Northwestern 2022!

ALEX KINGSLEY (A Question of Legitimacy), they/them, is a writer, comedian, game designer, and playwright. They are a co-founder of the new media company Strong Branch Productions. Their debut novel, Empress of Dust, was published by Space Wizard Science Fantasy in Fall 2024. Their short fiction has appeared in a variety of publications, such as Translunar Travelers Lounge and Radon Journal. In 2023, they published their short story collection, The Strange Garden and Other Weird Tales. Alex’s sci-fi plays have been produced in LA, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Alex’s SFF-related non-fiction has appeared in Interstellar Flight Magazine and Ancillary Review of Books.

KATHERINE SWAN (Kukla), she/her, is a playwright who lives in Chicago. Her plays include Some Other Woman Like Me, a finalist for the Henley Rose Award and semi-finalist for The Bay Street Theatre New Play Festival, and Act V, which was developed at A Red Orchid Theatre’s Incubator Series in Chicago. Her plays have been performed and developed at The Road, The William Inge Theatre Festival New Play Lab, the Reboot Festival, and other theatres nationally and internationally. Her play Pony was a winner of the Carlow Little Theatre’s 2021-22 International One Act Play Competition in Carlow, Ireland. Her work has been anthologized by Smith & Kraus in their collections Best Ten-Minute Plays and Best Women’s Monologues.

ACTORS

GENIE BUSTAMANTE (A Question of Legitimacy, “Lawyer”)

LYNDA CORTEZ (Susie, Susie, and Steve, “Susie”), they/them/she, is an actor, singer, and hospital clown originally from New Orleans. Recent credits include Miranda in The Worm My Sister (Meat Machine Theatre) through A Red Orchid Theatre Incubator Series and Monse in a staged reading of Lumbrada written by Maria I. Arreola and Jazmin Mercado Villalobos. They graduated from Sargeant Conservatory (previously called Webster Conservatory) in 2020 with a BFA in Acting. Lynda’s next project will be at Jarvis Square Theater in the play The Infinity Play (Curious Theatre Branch).

SKYLAR FRISHMAN (A 72-Hour Idea, “Eve”), they/she, is so excited to be back with PlayGround after being gone for most of the winter! They have been a company member with PlayGround for almost a year now, and they enjoy the art and community so much. They also perform with Explore Assemblies, Corn Productions, and Bright Star Touring Theatre.

CHARLOTTE HARRIS (Reboot, “Carrie”), she/her, is thrilled to be joining this production! Some of her more recent credits include Saint Sebastian Players: The Man Who Came To Dinner, The Second City: A Penny for Your Instrusive Thoughts (Ensemble), A Spoonful of Cynicism (Ensemble), and Rhinofest: When Peter Met Wendy (Peter), and Island ETC: Always a Bridesmaid (Kari). Charlotte is also a resident company member at PlayGround Chicago Theatre, credits include: Gibber (Rosa), .PDF Preferred (Sissy), A Truth About Acorns (Dr. Lucy), No More Flowers (O’Keefe). Charlotte would like to thank her friends and family for their continuous support!

LAURA JASMINE (Vi Chi Sci Fi, “Wrigley”)

CARINA LASTIMOAS (Reboot, “Ani”), she/her, is a Filipino-American actor from the San Francisco Bay Area, California; currently residing in Chicago, Illinois. Carina is passionate about fostering new work development, highlighting BIPOC/Asian-American stories. Carina is a recipient of Theatre Bay Area’s TITAN Award. Bay Area credits include theatre companies Magic Theatre, Center REPertory Company, Bindlestiff Studio, and The Cutting Ball Theater. Chicago theatre credits include Definition Theatre, Babes With Blades Theatre Company, and The Plagiarists. Carina is represented by Lily’s Talent Agency.

OCTAVIO MONTES DE OCA (A 72-Hour Idea, “Ian”)

JUSTINE SERINO (Vi Chi Sci Fi, “Logan”), she/her, is delighted to be playing with the good folks at PlayGround Chicago once again. Some of her favorite Chicago credits include work with The Gift Theatre, Artemisia Theatre, Babes with Blades, The Side Project, Stage Left, and The Artistic Home.

PETER STIELSTRA (Susie, Susie, Steve, “Steve”), he/him, originally from San Francisco, is a Chicago based actor and singer, thrilled to be returning to PlayGround-Chicago. Favorite Chicagoland credits include Alice by Heart (Kokandy Productions), The Threepenny Opera (Theo Ubique), and Girlfriend (PrideArts). He is a proud company member of PlayGround-Chicago, glad to be playing again in his second season.

WILLIAM C. THOMPSON (Kukla, “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, Netflix’s Easy, and two major motion pictures, as well as numerous short films. He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association, and is represented by The Rock Talent Agency. He is delighted to be a PlayGround-Chicago Company member.

RACHEL WADE (A Question of Legitimacy, “Client”), she/her, is an actor, writer, and comedian from Des Moines, IA. She studied theater at The University of Iowa and made the move to Chicago shortly after. She is a graduate of Second City’s Conservatory and now performs with her sketch group Communal Beverage. During the day she teaches preschool and children’s theater. Rachel loves writing on whiteboards, devastating movies, her dog Mabel, and YOU for being here!

BRAEDYN YOUNGBERG (Vi Chi Sci Fi, “Anderson”), 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 (Kukla, “Kukla”), she/they, 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 The Tale of the Whale (NTYA), Wake Up, Brother Bear! (NTYA), Across the Sand: A Passover Theatrical Experience (NTYA), Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog Theatre Company), Failure: A Love Story (Oil Lamp Theater), Treasure Island (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.

EMILY ZHANG (Susie, Susie, and Steve, “Computer Susie”), she/her, is a Chicago based actor and is excited to be back at PlayGround! She is currently in Hannah and Halmoni Save the World and Heartstrings at Filament Theatre, and some favorite Chicago credits include Flush at Campfire Repertory, Blood of My Mother’s and RACECAR RACECAR RACECAR at Bramble Theatre Company, Woo Girls at The Factory Theater, and Among the Dead at Jackalope Theatre. She is also a proud member of Asian Takeout Improv! She is a Northwestern graduate and is represented by Gray Talent Group.

DIRECTORS