Theatre Seven of Chicago

Marisa is a founding member of Theatre Seven. Her play, The Butcher of Baraboo, was produced in Steppenwolf Theatre's First Look Repertory in 2006, premiered Off-Broadway at Second Stage in 2007, and was published in the Smith & Kraus anthology New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2008. The play returned to Chicago in a production at A Red Orchid Theatre in 2012. Other Chicago productions include: Hickorydickory and Ten Cent Night at Chicago Dramatists where she is a resident playwright and Psalms of a Questionable Nature at Rivendell Theatre. She has been commissioned by Steppenwolf and Yale Repertory Theatre. Her work has been produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Geva Theatre Center, Lucid by Proxy, Washington University in St Louis, HotCity Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Victory Theatre Center, The Road Theatre, kef Productions, CENTERSTAGE Baltimore. Chicago Reader named her Best Playwright in the 2008 "Best of Chicago" issue, and she received the 2009 Wendy Wasserstein Playwriting Prize. T7: Is Chicago (Writer - Diversey Harbor), Killing Women (Writer), Diversey Harbor (Writer), The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - State and Madison: The Grid). (Updated January 2012)

Brian Golden is the Managing Artistic Director and a founding member of Theatre Seven of Chicago. During his time as Artistic Director, Theatre Seven’s work has been seen by 10,000+ patrons and the company has been nominated for three Jeff Awards, two Black Theatre Alliance Awards, been three times named a finalist for Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theatre Award, and paid over 200 artists for their work. Brian was the Co-Coordinator of Theatre Seven’s 2011 production of The Chicago Landmark Project, 12 World Premiere short plays about 12 specific Chicago landmarks. For T7, Brian has directed In the Heart of America, The Water Engine: An American Fable, Hunting and Gathering, Diversey Harbor, The Sand Castle, Killing Women and Is Chicago. His play Cooperstown was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award, and he was one of eight co-authors of We Live Here, which was nominated for 2 Jeff Awards, including for Best New Work. Brian works for Catharsis Productions as the company’s Literary Manager, developing new artistic programs with an emphasis on social justice and violence reduction. Brian is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, a two-time winner of the A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Contest, and recipient of the Leota Diesel Ashton Playwriting Prize and John J. Jutkowitz Award. T7: Is Chicago (Director), Killing Women (Director), Boys & Girls (Frank - Never Swim Alone), Yes This Really Happened to Me (Writer), The Sand Castle (Director), Diversey Harbor (Director), Lies & Liars (Dramaturg), Cooperstown (Writer), Mimesophobia (Man Who Speaks...), Hunting and Gathering (Director), The Water Engine: An American Fable (Director), The Chicago Landmark Project (Co-Coordinator; Writer - 63rd & Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge; Director - 63rd & Kedzie: Arab American Community Center), We Live Here (Writer), In the Heart of America (Director). (Updated April 2012)

Tracey Kaplan is a proud founding member of Theatre Seven of Chicago. She recently appeared in The Invasion of Skokie at Chicago Dramatists. She has worked in film and commercials, most recently she was seen in the Special K Challenge web Campaign.  T7: Is Chicago (Stephanie - Diversey Harbor, Deborah - Sexual Perversity in Chicago), Killing Women (Gwen), Yes, This Really Happened To Me (Megan & Ensemble), The Sand Castle (Sasha), Diversey Harbor (Stephanie), Cooperstown (Dylan), Hunting and Gathering (Ruth), The Chicago Landmark Project (Irene - State & Madison: The Chicago Grid System), Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Nan).  (Updated January 2012)

Brian Stojak is a founding company member of Theatre Seven of Chicago and spent four years as its Director of Marketing.  He has worked as an actor and director in Chicago for Theatre Seven of Chicago, Pavement Group, 2nd Story/Serendipity Theatre Collective, Briar Street Productions, the Abbie Hoffman Festival, Columbia College and The Side Project's Children's Theatre.  T7: Is Chicago (Dennis/Danny), Killing Women (Everybody Else), Boys & Girls (Bill - Never Swim Alone), Election Day (Assistant Director), Diversey Harbor (Dennis), Lies & Liars (Michael), Cooperstown (Director), Mimesophobia (Aaron), The Water Engine: An American Fable (Ensemble/Foley), The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Ohio & The Lake: Navy Pier). (Updated July 2011)

Charlie currently lives in Maryland. His Chicago credits include working as house carpenter for Chicago Shakespeare Theater and a freelance technical director with such companies as Lifeline Theatre, CityLit Theater, A Red Orchid and Bohemian Ensemble Theater. *Updated December 2011

T7 Credits: Is Chicago (James - Diversey Harbor; Bernie - Sexual Perversity in Chicago; Set Designer; Technical Director), Killing Women (Mike Sanders; Technical Director), Boys & Girls (Set Designer); Diversey Harbor (Set Designer, Technical Director, James)

Robin is a native of Riverwoods and a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in acting. She was formerly the company’s Director of Development and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

T7: Is Chicago (Grace - Diversey Harbor; Joan - Sexual Perversity in Chicago), Killing Women (Lucy), Election Day (Brenda), The Sand Castle (Joan), Diversey Harbor (Grace).

(Updated January 2012)

Justin Wardell has been designing lighting for theatre, dance, and special events for over 10 years. He has had the opportunity to work in many Chicago Landmarks, including the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Union Station, and many more. Justin was an early addition to Theatre Seven of Chicago, and has been the resident lighting designer since its inception. In his role as an Account Executive for Intelligent Lighting Creations, Justin now has the opportunity to design lighting for trade shows, galas, corporate events, and permanent installations. In addition to design work, Justin has had the honor of guest-lecturing on lighting design and lighting technology for several colleges, universities, and professional organizations. Other theatrical credits include work at the Springfield Municipal Opera, the Building Stage, Flamenco Sin Limites, Porchlight Music Theatre, and many other talented companies.  T7 Credits: ls Chicago, Killing Women, Boys & Girls, Diversey Harbor, Lies and Liars, The Water Engine: An American Fable, The Chicago Landmark Project (Lighting Design); Yes, This Really Happened to Me, Election Day, The Sand Castle (Lighting Design & Technical Director).  (Updated Feb 2012)

Brenda Winstead loves Theatre Seven and is a proud company member! Her Chicago area design credits include Guys and Dolls, The Wiz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Man of La Mancha, Crazy for You, Leading Ladies, The Producers, Hello Dolly and Fiddler on the Roof (Theatre at the Center); Ragtime (Drury Lane); It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play (Noble Fool); Kingsville (Stage Left); and The Price (Shattered Globe). Regional Credits include Born Yesterday, Rumors and Mousetrap (Peninsula Players); All Shook Up, High School Musical (Forestburgh Playhouse). Brenda has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut. T7 Credits: Killing Women, Boys & Girls, The Sand Castle, Diversey Harbor, Cooperstown, Hunting & Gathering, We Live Here, In the Heart of America, Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Costume Designer), The Chicago Landmark Project (Supervising Costume Designer). (Updated February 2012)

Miles is a sound designer, composer and musician in Chicago, IL. He is a company member and music director with 2nd Story and a company member with Collaboraction. He is also composer, musician and DJ. Since moving to Chicago six years ago Miles has had the pleasure of working with many Chicago theatre companies. Favorite past credits include Uncle Vanya (TUTA), Cadillac ( Chicago Dramatists), A Christmas Story (Noble Fool), Talk Radio (The Gift Theatre), Dr. Egg ( Redmoon), The Hairy Ape (The Hypocrites/Goodman Theatre), Diversey Harbor (Theatre Seven), Bloody Bess (Backstage Theatre), and Of Mice and Men (Steppenwolf Theatre).

T7: Is Chicago, Killing Women, Election Day, The Sand Castle, Diversey Harbor, & Mimesophobia (Sound Designer)

(Updated June 2010)

Dan McArdle is a proud Theatre Seven of Chicago company member. T7 credits include stage managing Yes, This Really Happened to Me, Diversey Harbor, Lies & Liars and substitute stage managing single performances of Hunting and Gathering (1st preview) and The Chicago Landmark Project (closing night). Other artistic credits include writing/directing Time and Success Has A Thousand Fathers (Penny Dreadful Players). Dan is the Managing Director for The Neo-Futurists, a quintessential Chicago theatre ensemble in Andersonville. He is a graduate of the DePaul Theatre School’s MFA/Arts Leadership Program and also holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois. Dan previously served as Theatre Seven’s General Manager, and has held arts management positions with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Forestburgh Playhouse and the Penny Dreadful Players. T7: Yes, This Really Happened to Me (Stage Manager), Diversey Harbor (Stage Manager), Lies & Liars (Stage Manager), Hunting and Gathering (Assistant Stage Manager), The Water Engine: An American Fable (Ensemble, Foley Artist), The Chicago Landmark Project (Stage Manager). (Updated January 2012)

Greg Wenz earned his BFA in performance from Ohio University in 2004 and has worked in Chicago ever since. Favorite Chicago credits include; Things We Said Today (Profiles), Macbeth (Greasy Joan), Cloud Tectonics (Halcyon Theatre), Embedded (Prop Theatre).  

T7: Diversey Harbor (Understudy - Dennis)  

(Updated May, 2009)

Mouzam Makkar credits her global upbringing for the person she is today. Born in India and raised in the United Arab Emirates, she lived in four US states before calling Chicago her home. Although a student and performer of Indian classical dance and voice since the age of four, her acting debut wasn't until after her big move to the United States when she was twelve. Even though throughout high school she felt at home on stage, she decided to get her B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. From there she tackled the very competitive fields of investment banking and private equity and even wrote a monthly financial column for a building products magazine. But during a soul-searching trip to Africa, she realized it was time to change career paths and pursue her first love, acting. Since then, she has worked with The Side Project, Theater Seven, Rasaka Theater Company and Curious Theater Branch for Rhinofest as well as in several independent films and commercials. Mouzam is a graduate of the Improv and Sketch Comedy Writing programs at Second City and is currently in their Conservatory program. She is also a Meisner student at Black Box Acting Studio.  In her rarely found spare time, Mouzam likes to hike (ascended Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2007), read (currently working through the Modern Library list of top 100 books), play guitar and piano, cook and try new restaurants (she's a foodie), and travel (New Zealand and Australia are next on the list). More information can be found at www.mouzam.com.  T7:  Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them (Actor), Diversey Harbor (Female Understudy).  (Updated April 2012)

Brett Lee hails from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He has been performing in Chicago for three and a half years. In the Summer of 2009, Brett performed in SiNNERMAN's Days of Late, and (a)Symmetry Cycle’s Numbfeel. *Updated December 2010

T7 Credits: Diversey Harbor (Male Understudy), The Water Engine: An American Fable (Ensemble)