Cast (listed alphabetically)
Tamara Bodnar is so excited to be working with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre again, where she was previously seen in A Christmas Carol. A Chicago native, Tamara holds a B.A. in Theatre from Butler University, along with minors in vocal performance and English literature. Recent credits include: Little By Little (Towle Theater), The Polar Express (Rail Events Productions), Stalker: The Musical (Chicago Musical Theatre Festival), and E.R. (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center). You're likely to catch Tamara swing dancing around the city, enjoying good coffee or working on her first full-length musical. Much love to Arturo, family and friends for their continued love and support! Learn more at: www.tamarabodnar.com.
Danny Bradley is thrilled to be a part of EFCT’s DEAR BRUTUS. Previous work with Eclectic includes last year’s NAKED BOYS SINGING at Theatre Wit and the Katherine Seigel helmed A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Metropolis Performing Arts Center. Other Chicago credits include THE HEIDI CHRONICLES (Cuckoo’s Theatre Project), THE SUBMISSION (Pride Films& Plays), and work with Alphabet Soup Productions, The Public House Theatre, and the Prop Thtr. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Danny is a BFA graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Love and gratitude to the cast and production team, Adam, and his family.
Richard Bronson is a recent graduate of Central Michigan University, and is very excited to be working on this production with such an amazingly talented cast and crew. He recently appeared in Broad Shoulders Production’s Stuffing the Turkey, and directed SixEleven Theatre’s production of Never in My Lifetime. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support.
Jessica Lauren Fisher* is a founding member of Eclectic Full Contact Theatre and she's thrilled to be back onstage with her Eclectic Family! She was last seen with Eclectic as Celia in their production of As you like it. She has performed throughout the Chicago and Indiana area in theatre, musicals, and opera playing everything from mice to men. Favorite roles include Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, Adele in Die Fledermaus and Sarah Daniels in Spinning into Butter. She has been a teaching artist for over 10 years and has directed and choreographed shows for people of all ages. She is ever grateful to her family and her partner in everything Andrew. LVYA Mom!
Frank Gasparro* is incredibly excited to be part of Dear Brutus. He has spent the past four years in Chicago pursuing his dreams. Frank has had the privilege to work on a number of shows in the city, such as Fuddy Meers (Kenny) and Dog Sees God (Matt) previously with Eclectic, and The Explorer’s Club (Luigi) with Citadel Theatre. Other credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio), and Rabbit Hole (Jason). Frank sends his thanks to his friends and family for supporting his lunacy, and his mentors at OTC Comedy for starting him down the path of professional make-believe.
Randolph Johnson is honored to be cast in the Eclectic Full Contact Theatre production of “Dear Brutus”! He has recently played Paul in The Story Theatre’s production of “Leave Me Alone” and received excellent reviews for his portrayal of “Horse” in Kokandy’s “Full Monty, and Blood in ETA’s production of “Every Night When The Sun Goes Down”: received BTAA nomination for the role of “Cousin Acey” in “The Clara Ward Story”. His other Chicago performances includes Theo Ubique as The Bartender in “Lonesome Losers of The Night”, “Amonasro”, Aida’s father in the Bailiwick Chicago’s “Aida”: “Philmore” in the Pegasus Players production of “Jitney”. Other Chicago credits also includes: Booker T. Washington in “Ragtime” with the Porchlight Music Theatre & Big Noise Theatre: Bailiwick’s “Parade” as Newt Lee and “Kiss Of The Spider Woman. He has a B.S. & M. S. in Music Ed. (Vocal & Instrumental) from the University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana).
Noelle Klyce holds an Acting BFA ('18) from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She recently played Camilla in THE WINTER'S TALE and Gadshill/Westmoreland in HENRY IV, PART ONE at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. At UIUC, she played Adlean in BARBECUE, Judge Irwin in ALL THE KING'S MEN, Nurse in ROMEO & JULIET, and Mom in DONTRELL, WHO KISSED THE SEA among other roles. She's also worked with ETA Creative Arts Foundation, Bernard Productions, in the green show for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in the Parks, and in Season 3 of NBC's Chicago PD. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Jean Marie Koon - This is Jean Marie’s first appearance in an EFCT production. Yay! Most recently she appeared as the suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst in The Good Fight with Babes With Blades. She has also performed with Idle Muse Theatre, Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, Pride Films and Plays, and Runcible Theatre. She has understudied for productions with Erasing The Distance, Piven Theatre Workshop, Eclipse, The Gift, Theater Wit, Steep, and Jackalope theatres. Thanks to Katie for the opportunity and to Rob for his loving support.
Nathaniel Negron is a Chicago based actor. He’s a co-founder and company member of Three Crows Theatre. With Three Crows he’s been seen as Ketch/Ross (OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD), Menelaus (THE TROJAN WOMEN), Peter (SILENT SKY), Amante (ESPRESSO) and Pato (THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE) Other favorite roles include The Visitor (PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE), Jim Tennyson (DR. COOK’S), and Evans (TERRA NOVA.) He studied theatre performance at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Katherine Schwartz is thrilled to be making her Eclectic Full Contact Theatre debut as Mabel in Dear Brutus! Recent credits include Lucrece in Promethean Theatre's "The Liar," Bessie in Signal Ensemble's "The Drowning Girls," which was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson award for Best Ensemble, and Zoya in "Zoyka's Apartment" with Bluebird Arts. Additional credits include “Fault Lines” with Broken Road Theatre, “Tale of Two Cities” with Lifeline Theatre Company, “In Pigeon House” with The Irish Theatre of Chicago, Viola in "Twelfth Night" with Leftend Productions, as well as work with Shattered Globe Theatre, Mary Arrchie Theatre, Factory Theater, Circle Theatre, and more. All performances are dedicated in loving memory of Kasey.
Julian Serna is incredibly excited to be back working with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre! Since graduating last year from Northern Illinois University with his BA in Theatre Studies with an emphasis in Acting, he is always looks for new and different works to get involved in. This is his third production with Eclectic, previously seen in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and As You Like It. He has also participated in devised work as well, performing in May Day at Rhino Fest and Stage Managing Stories of the Body over with Theatre Y. He thanks the wonderful cast and director Katie for giving him such a eccentric character to play with!
Jessica Surprenant is tickled pink to be making her debut with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre in this magical, thought provoking show! Jessica has her BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Utah and her favorite past credits include Luisa in "The Fantasticks" (Ogorod Productions), Gretel in "Hansel and Gretel" (Piccolo Theatre), Minnie Fay in "Hello Dolly!" (University of Utah) and Martha in "The Secret Garden" (Centerpoint Legacy Theatre). While musicals are the love of her life, she has relished the opportunity to delve a bit deeper into text and expand upon her knowledge as an all-around performer. Special thanks to her friends and family for their unwavering love and support!
Sophie Vitello is through the roof (over the river and through the woods too) to be making her Eclectic Full Contact Theatre debut. She is going into her senior year at Columbia College Chicago. Other Chicago theatre credits include Atta-girl in "Bullets Over Broadway" (Nightblue Performing Arts Co.) and Virginia Poe in "Nevermore" (Jedlicka Performing Arts Co.) Much love to family, friends, teachers, and just humanity in general. Special thanks to cast and crew of "Dear Brutus" for their dedication and energy.
Production Team
Katherine Siegel* (Director)
Katherine Siegel is a Chicago based director, writer, and performer. A graduate of the University of Miami, she is the Co-Artistic Director at Eclectic Full Contact Theater as well as the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Lost Girls Theatre in Miami, FL. Past shows include As You Like It, Trojan Women, Gidion’s Kot, The History Boys, Juliet Among the Changelings, An Evening of Comedy Without James Franco, Quest for the Perfect Woman, Heavenly Evening, and Don’t Blink: A Doctor Who Burlesque. Katherine is a graduate of The Second City Conservatory. She is a lover of all things nerdy and magical. To learn more visit www.KatherineSiegel.com.
Rachelle R. Kolecke (Stage Manager)
Rachelle R. “Rocky” Kolecke – Stage managing is like riding a unicycle! SM credits: J.P.A.C., RedTape, Bailiwick Chicago, Mime Company, Neo-futurists, Geek Girl Burlesque, City Lit, 16th Street, & Ghostlight. Rocky also designs props and giant puppets, most recently seen in Sylvia at The Raue Center and in Nevermore with B.B.E.P. at The Edge. You might have her puppets in A Christmas Carol with E.F.C.T. at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre where she also designed Into the Woods, Peter and the Starcatcher, 16th Street’s Enfrascada, many A Christmas Carol, and many Camp productions. Rocky has also worked with Glimmerglass Opera, Chicago Shakespeare, & Victory Gardens. Huzzah!
Lori Eyre* (Production Manager)
Lori Eyre, having spent the last ten years as an enthusiastic stage mother, is excited to lend her support to Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. Using skills she honed getting her Masters in Creative Writing at SUNY-Brockport, she has written several monologues for her actor son to perform in various venues. More recently, she has studied sketch writing at Laugh Out Loud Theater and Second City. After decades without publicly presenting her work, she participated in Sidesplitter’s story-telling event presented by Laugh Out Loud Theater. An avid theatre-goer, she is eager to champion Eclectic’s mission to produce fascinating, sometimes challenging, always entertaining works.
Andrew J. Pond* (Producer)
Andrew J. Pond is a founding member of Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, where he most recently appeared as Limping Man in Fuddy Meers. He has worked with MadKap Productions, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Redtwist, and Theo Ubique, among others. He has worked extensively as an actor, director, and playwright with several children’s theatres, is an Elvis impersonator, juggler, magician, balloon artist, plays with puppets, does Muppet voices, performs stand-up comedy, teaches drama and stage combat classes, and has a degree in philosophy so he can use words like “epistemology” at parties. Thanks to Jessica, his partner in all things.
Rachel Lake* (Lighting Design)
Rachel Lake is excited to be returning to Eclectic Full Contact Theatre! She is a company member of Eclectic Full Contact Theatre (EFCT), the Master Electrician at Lookingglass Theatre Company, and a graduate of West Virginia University. Other Design works include: L’imitation of Life (Hell in a Handbag); As You Like it (EFCT); Our Country’s Good (Three Crows Theatre); Yasmina’s Necklace (Goodman Theatre (Asst. Lighting Designer)); The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (EFCT); Gideon’s Knot (EFCT); Lady X: The Musical (Hell in a Handbag); Deep in the Heart of Tuna (New American Folk Theater).
Frank Gasparro* (Scenic Design)
Frank Gasparro is incredibly excited to be part of Dear Brutus. He has spent the past four years in Chicago pursuing his dreams. Frank has had the privilege to work on a number of shows in the city, such as Fuddy Meers (Kenny) and Dog Sees God (Matt) previously with Eclectic, and The Explorer’s Club (Luigi) with Citadel Theatre. Other credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio), and Rabbit Hole (Jason). Frank sends his thanks to his friends and family for supporting his lunacy, and his mentors at OTC Comedy for starting him down the path of professional make-believe.
Jeremy Hollis (Scenic Painting)
Jeremy Hollis is a Chicago-based set designer. Credits with Eclectic include Fuddy Meers, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and As You Like It. Recent Chicago credits include Prometheus Bound (City Lit), Boeing Boeing (Metropolis), The Nanceand Priscilla, Queen of the Desert(PFAP), and Nevermore (Black Button Eyes). Much love to Jason Heyward and the Wignall lab. jeremyhollisdesign.com.
Cathy Tantillo* (Costume Design)
Cathy Tantillo is thrilled to be working on her 16th show with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre Company where some of her designs include Fuddy Meers, As You Like It, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Gidion’s Knot, Naked Boys Singing, The History Boys, A Christmas Carol (co-production with Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Make Me a Song, The Shape of Things, & The Seagull. Other area theaters she has worked with include Metropolis Performing Arts Centre (Resident Designer), Dog & Pony Theatre Company (Company Member), The New Colony, the side project theatre, and more. She is currently the staff costume design assistant at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Auden Granger (Properties Design)
Auden Granger (Properties): While new to the Chicago area, Auden is hardly new to theatre, having graduated from Arizona School for the Arts with a degree in theatre technology/design and the Arizona School for the Arts Commended Theatre Student Award. Their recent Chicago credits include Grease costumes and Shrek hair/makeup at Windy City Performs, Ofrenda wardrobe at Albany Park Theater Project, and The Green Book stage management at Pegasus Theatre Company. They would like to thank Jess Fisher for this opportunity and send all their love to Shay, Sarah, and Estlin for their constant kindness and support.
L.J. Luthringer (Sound Design)
L.J. Luthringer is so grateful to be back to do another show with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre! The winner of the 2012 KCACTF Outstanding Sound Design has worked on shows such as Blue Over You, The Awake, Alias Grace, Last Days of Judas Iscariot, ENGAGE!, The Tragedy of He-Manlet, and Cabaret. He is also the Sound Mentor and Designer for Niles West High School. His portfolio can be found on a broken harddrive buried in his closet out of frustration.