Julia Alvarez

Allison/Lisa

Julia has performed with theatre companies in Boston, the Twin Cities, and is looking forward to her Chicago debut with Theater Wit. She has trained at Emerson College and in sketch comedy at Second City. She toured with the non-profit “Speak About It” to teach and promote consent education across the U.S. She wrote and produced the sketch show “The Great American Lobster Cruise” with Royal We troupe members and performed improv at HUGE Theatre. Additionally she is a classically trained violinist and has enjoyed performing in orchestras and chamber groups.

This is Julia's first appearance at Theater Wit

Ben Faigus

Eli

Ben spent ten years in Los Angeles working in television and independent film before relocating to New York in 2018. Ben made his New York theatre debut last year with the Eden Theater Company’s production of Complicity (World Premiere). Television credits include Jane The Virgin, Workaholics, and Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous. Training: American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NYC. Thank you to the creative team for this opportunity. Ben is thrilled to be working with this ensemble. Melissa, you are my best friend, partner in life, and my heart. Thank you for your unwavering love, support and encouragement. Love to my family and friends, and special thanks to Nicholas.

This is Ben's first appearance at Theater Wit

Rae Gray

Sophie / Rebecca / Eleanor

Rae grew up performing on the stages of Chicago theaters such as Steppenwolf and The Goodman, and has since performed at Chicago Shakespeare, Writers, Lookingglass, La Jolla Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse, and as far away as the Druid and Gate Theatres in Ireland. She can currently be seen in Amazon's series reboot A League of Their Own and was a series regular on Amazon’s original pilot Sea Oak alongside Glenn Close, Jane Levy and Jack Quaid. She has recurred on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, ABC’s For the People and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Her guest star credits include FX's Justified: City Primeval, Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, Cartoon Network's Adventure Time, NBC’s Chicago P.D and Chicago Med, and Fox's The Resident. Rae is the voice of the reindeer Roller on Nickelodeon's upcoming animated series Bossy Bear. She starred in the film The Robbery, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. She also stars opposite Chance the Rapper in A24’s feature film Slice. Rae is a graduate of the University of Chicago and is an ensemble member at Rivendell Theatre in Chicago.

Theater Wit Credits: Completeness by Itamar Moses

Andrew Jessop

Max

Andrew is delighted to be returning to Theater Wit! Andrew was last seen as Professor Plum in CLUE at Mercury Theater Chicago. Other past notable theatre credits include A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Goodman); THE SUN KING (Elements Ballet); ELLING; BUG; LOBBY HERO*; PILLOWMAN* (Redtwist) (*Jeff Nominated); and UNCLE SAM’S SATIRIC SPECTACULAR (Actors Theatre of Louisville). Film/TV credits include Death to Metal; Chicago Med.

Theater Wit Credits: Completeness by Itamar Moses, Mr Burns: a post-electric play by Anne Washburn, Naperville by Mat Smart

Michael Kostroff

Richard / Joseph

Michael is an established television and stage actor best known for his five seasons on HBO’s legendary series, The Wire. His long list of television credits includes recurring roles on The Blacklist, Law & Order: SVU, Billions, Damages, 911 Lone Star, and several HBO projects including The Plot Against America, Wizard of Lies, and The Deuce. Kostroff was an original cast member in the first national tour of THE PRODUCERS, understudying the role of Max Bialystock (a role he has since played in six productions of the show). He also toured with LES MISÉRABLES as the comic villain and “Master of the House,” Thénardier, and has starred at regional theatres all over the country in such shows as HAIRSPRAY, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, LEND ME A TENOR, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, CLUE, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, and many more. He’s authored several books about show business including his latest, The Stage Actor’s Handbook: Traditions, Protocols, and Etiquette for the Working and Aspiring Professional (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022). Kostroff is an instructor, audition coach, and mentor.

This is Michael's first appearance at Theater Wit

RjW Mays

Hannah

RjW is pleased to be working with Theater Wit. Her Theatre credits include MARY’S SEACOLE (Griffin Theatre) THIS IS ONLY A TEST, KINGDOM (BTAA Recipient) and PLAINCLOTHES (Jeff Recipient/Ensemble) at Broken Nose Theatre. She was Mama Bea in LEAVINGS (Polarity)and Nettie K. Doe in KATRINA MOTHER-IN-LAW OF ‘EM ALL (Interrobang). She has understudied at Lookingglass Theatre, 16th Street Theatre and Victory Gardens, She went on to perform as an understudy at Northlight for SKELETON CREW (Faye) Steppenwolf’s TRUE WEST (Mom), Timeline Theatre TO CATCH A FISH (Brenda) and Raven Theatre HOODOO LOVE (Candy Lady) She has worked at several Chicagoland Theatres such as ETA, FJT, Polarity, Profiles, Halcyon and Three Cat Theatre. She was the face of Trident Gum and the Lunch Lady for Lunchables. Her television credits include The Chi, Chicago PD Southside (seasons 1-3) and Power Book IV Force. Determination never Quits.

This is RjW's first appearance at Theater Wit

William Anthony Sebastian Rose II

Dan/Jed (Eli U/S)

William is returning to The Wit after most recently getting to play Lyons in The American Blues Theaters production of FENCES, his most recent credits include; Arthur Brooks in Timeline Theater’s BOULEVARD OF BOLD DREAMS (u/s), David in The Rivendell Theaters A MILE IN THE DARK, giving new life to King Christophe in THE TRAGEDY OF KING CHRISTOPHE. (BTAA Winner Best Actor in a Play) John in Broken Nose Theaters production of LABYRINTH (BTAA Nominee Best Actor). Represented by Big Mouth Talent IG @HisWillness

Building Credits: Fences by August Wilson (American Blues Theatre)

Jeremy Wechsler

Director

Jeremy is the founding Artistic Director of Theater Wit where he has directed the Chicago premieres of HURRICANE DIANE, ADMISSIONS, THE REALISTIC JONESES, THE ANTELOPE PARTY, 10 OUT OF 12, NAPERVILLE (Jeff Award), THIS WAY OUT OF SANTALAND, THE NEW SINCERITY, THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE (Best of 2015 - Sun Times), BAD JEWS (Best of 2015 - New City), MR BURNS: A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY (Time Out Peoples’ Choice Award for Direction, Best of 2015), SEVEN HOMELESS MAMMOTHS WANDER NEW ENGLAND (Sun Times Best of Year 2014), COMPLETENESS, TIGERS BE STILL, THIS, THE FOUR OF US, FEYDEAU-SI-DEAU, MEN OF STEEL, THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING) (Jeff Award - Best Solo Peformance), TWO FOR THE SHOW and many many productions of THE SANTALAND DIARIES. Under Jeremy’s leadership over the last fifteen years, Theater Wit has emerged as the go to destination for cutting edge contemporary work, gaining national recognition for excellence. He has directed over sixty shows in the last twenty years at various theaters, including TRAGEDY A TRAGEDY, THE FLU SEASON, A TASTE OF HONEY (“US Best of 2008” in The Wall Street Journal), NOW THEN AGAIN (Jeff Award - Best New Work), THE PLAY ABOUT THE SQUIRREL, THE WHITE DEVIL, THIS IS NOT A PLAY ABOUT CANCER, PEER GYNT, THE REAL THING, SZINHAZ, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, TRAGEDY A TRAGEDY, TITUS ANDRONICUS, THE ROARING GIRL, FLIGHT, THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVERY TOLD, THIS IS THE RILL SPEAKING, HAY FEVER, A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, EUROPE, HENRY VI: BLOOD OF A NATION, THE PROMISE, SPIN, UN ROBOT, HORROR ACADEMY, KIND LADY, PLAYING BY THE RULES, THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO, SOLITAIRE, THE COARSE ACTING SHOW, LIFE IS A DREAM, THE PRISONER'S DILEMMA, CABARET and THE THREEPENNY OPERA. His productions have been nominated for and won multiple awards for design, performance, adaptation and best new work.

Founded in 2004, Theater Wit is a cultural hub of the Chicago Theater landscape, specializing in contemporary works of comedy, intellect and heart. Under a unique, playwright-centric second production process, Theater Wit has become a nationally-recognized producer of new work by writers like Anne Washburn, Will Eno, Itamar Moses, Joshua Harmon and Madeleine George.

Under Jeremy’s leadership, Theater Wit has grown from a small $40K annual budget to a leader in the Chicago landscape with an annual budget of $750K. In 2007, he supervised and designed a new home for Theater Wit, a 3-theater facility that hosts both our own award-winning work and gives a home to a number of Chicago's best neighborhood theaters with over 500 performances/year from 20+ companies in a typical season.

Itamar Moses

Playwright

Itamar is the Tony Award-winning author of the full-length plays OUTRAGE, BACH AT LEIPZIG, CELEBRITY ROW, THE FOUR OF US, YELLOWJACKETS, BACK BACK BACK, COMPLETENESS, and THE ALLY, the musicals NOBODY LOVES YOU (with Gaby Alter), FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE (with Michael Friedman), THE BAND’S VISIT (with David Yazbek), and AN AMERICAN TAIL (with Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler) and the evening of short plays LOVE/STORIES (OR BUT YOU WILL GET USED TO IT). His work has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway and elsewhere in New York, at regional theatres across the country and in Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Venezuela, Turkey, Chile, the UK and Japan and is published by Faber & Faber, TCG and Concord Theatricals. Other awards for his work include Lucille Lortel, New York Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle, and Obie awards in New York, as well as awards from the Portland, San Diego, Dallas, and Bay Area Theatre Critics Circles. He’s received new play commissions from The McCarter, Playwrights Horizons, Berkeley Rep, The Wilma Theater, South Coast Rep, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lincoln Center, and The Goodman. Television work includes Men of a Certain Age, Boardwalk Empire, Outsiders, The Affair and Brave New World. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU and has taught playwriting at Yale and NYU. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and a New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect. Born in Berkeley, CA, he now lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Previously at Theater Wit: The Four of Us, Completeness

Richard Lundy

Stage Manager

Mercury Theater Chicago: CLUE. Venus Cabaret Theater: LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL, COMPANY (Grand Opening of Venus Cabaret). National tours: MISS SAIGON (First National Company: Cameron Mackintosh). I LOVE LUCY LIVE! (David George). Regional: Olney Theatre Center: MISS YOU LIKE HELL, OIL (North American Premiere), Barrington Stage Company: TIME FLIES AND OTHER COMEDIES. Trinity Repertory Company: THE MELANCHOLY PLAY, Over a dozen productions at: The Cleveland Play House, The Folger Shakespeare and Shakespeare & Company. Chicago credits include: Timeline Theatre: PARADISE BLUE, THE LAST WIFE, SUNSET BABY. Hypocrites Theatre: DRACULA. Levin Productions: ASSASSINATION THEATER. Next Theatre:16 productions including THE ADDING MACHINE: A CHAMBER MUSICAL. Writers’ Theatre: OH COWARD!, THE MAIDS. Famous Door: SUBURBAN MOTEL, Porchlight Music Theatre: MEET JOHN DOE. Also in Chicago in The Bad Old Days: Northlight Theatre, Remains Theatre, Victory Gardens, Organic Theatre, Halsted Theatre, Wisdom Bridge. 36-year member of Actors Equity. Married to the remarkable Carmel Carroll for 30 years.

This is Richard's first show at Theater Wit