Administrative Staff
James Palmer – Artistic Director
Paul G Miller – Managing Director
Myah Shein – Director of Brand Management, Producer of CFANN
Emily Guthrie – Company Manager
Alex Kyger – Director of Community Engagement
Becky Mock – Production Manager
Molly Mullen – Literary Manager
Meghan Reardon – Director of Loyalty and Retention
Carrie Drapac and Kate Romond – Ensemble Liasons
John Rooney – Associate Artistic Director
Paige Sawin – Casting Director
Mike Tepeli – Third Space Coordinator
Don Markus – Videography
Austin Oie – Photography (www.austindoiephotography.com)
Elise Traver – Graphic Design
Ensemble Members
James Palmer
James directed and adapted Dog in a Manger (2008). Directing credits include Church/Pullman, WA (2011), The Love of the Nightingale (2010 Jeff Award for Best Direction, Nominations for Best Production, Best Choreography, Best Sound, Best Fight Choreography), Enemy of the People (2009), Pugilist Specialist (2008), Endgame (2007), Baden Lehrstuck (2007), FEP: Jesusland (2006), and FEP: Coriolanus (2006). Producing credits at Red Tape include Brand (2011), Tragedy: a tragedy (2011), Obscura: a voyeuristic love story (2010), Mouse in a Jar (2009 Jeff Award for Best Sound Design). Selected readings and workshops with Goodman Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, American Theatre Company, and TUTA Theatre.
He is in his fifth season as Red Tape Theatre Company’s Artistic Director after serving as Managing Director for two years prior. James is the assistant to Martha Lavey and David Hawkanson at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
James is on the Board of Directors at the League of Chicago Theatres and sits on their Finance Committee. He is also on the TCG 2010 Host Committee and chairs a subcommittee. James is a Steppenwolf Peer Mentor. He is a member of the Vestry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
James received his Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Simpson College and graduated Magna Cum Laude. While at Simpson, he was a member of the Alpha Psi Omega theatre fraternity and served as Secretary in 2004. James received the prestigious Senior Award as well as several Irene Ryan nominations.
Paul G. Miller
Paul joined Red Tape Theatre’s ensemble in 2007 and was promoted to Managing Director in 2009. His scripts, Demon’s Crystal and Blue Birds were featured at CFANN. Performance credits include Dog in a Manger, Tragedy a tragedy, Brand (Red Tape), 1776 (Signal Ensemble, Jeff Award for Best Musical), Spring Awakening, The Last Unicorn (Promethean Theatre) and Gross Indecency (BoHo Theatre). He works by day as Development Coordinator for Steppenwolf Theatre. He received a B.A. in Theatre from Reed College in Portland, OR.
Myah Shein
Myah joined Red Tape in 2005 and served as interim Managing Director for the 2007-2008 season before taking on her current position. Myah holds a degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign in International Studies with a minor in French and a post-bac degree from Columbia College in Dance with an emphasis in Dance Studies. Red Tape credits include: Church/Pullman, Wa (Choreographer), The Love of the Nightingale (Choreographer- Jeff Nomination, Itys), Pugilist Specialist (Stage Manager), Endgame (Stage Manager), Merchant of Venice (Choreographer, Assistant Director), and many others. As a dancer, Myah has had the privilege of studying with Carrie Hanson, Paige Cunningham, Dardi McGinley-Gallivan, Margi Cole, Becca Lemme and Kyle Seguin. Outside of Red Tape, she has appeared in works by John Leonard, Ariel Cisneros, Sarah Wattles, Krista Juderjahn, Trista Greco and The Laboratory Dancers. Dramaturgy credits include Fragile (staged reading for TUTA Theatre Company) and The Work (Choreographed by Raquel Monroe). As a scholar, her work focuses on dance and gender economies. Myah is also a makeup artist and has designed for various productions and print work.
Becky Mock
Becky is a proud member of Red Tape Theatre and has served as their Production Manager since the fall of 2009. She has worked at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as the the Production Management Apprentice (09-10) and also assisted on their Garage Rep Series for the 2010-2011 season. Previously, Becky has served as the Assistant Production Manager at Emerald City Theatre and is currently freelancing in the Chicago area.
Paige Sawin
Paige is a graduate of Denison University with a BFA in Theatre Performance. After coming to Chicago in the fall of 2007, Paige was the casting intern at Collaboraction Theatre Company and the Casting Apprentice at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 2008. Casting credits include, Collaboraction’s Stonehenge by Stephen Cone, Project 891 Theatre’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Red Tape’s Enemy of the People adaptation by Robert Oakes and Mouse in a Jar by Martyna Majok. Upon joining Red Tape as their cast director and a company member in Fall 2009, she has cast The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Obscura by Jennifer Barclay, and Church and Pullman, WA by Young Jean Lee. Among her non-casting credits, she was seen most recently playing the role of Constance in Red Tape’s Tragedy: A Tragedy by Will Eno and has been seen on stage at American Theatre Company’s 10X10 festival and Appetite Theatre’s Bruschetta Festival. Current projects include playing the role of Angela in an online series called Rob has to Leave by Elephantville Productions and casting this year’s fall, winter and spring productions at Red Tape Theatre.
Emily Guthrie
Emily joined the Red Tape family in December 2010 after her involvement in The Love of the Nightingale, Obscura and Church/Pullman, WA. Originally from Cincinnati OH, Emily earned a BFA/Scenic Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is a graduate of the Properties Apprenticeship Program at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Emily is a freelance designer and artist in Chicago. Area credits include TimeLine, Redtwist Theatre Company, Highland Park Players, Emerald City Theatre Co, Greenetree Productions, Theatre 7, Harpo Studios, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Emily is currently the properties overhire at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Mike Tepeli
The newest member of Redtape Theatre, Mike joined in 2011 after performing as Michael in Tragedy: A Tragedy. He graduated in 2009 from Illinois State University with BA’s in acting and political science. Chicago Credits include: the title role in The Elephant Man (BoHo Theatre), Young Fool/Harvey Wilkes in Big River (BoHo Theatre, Jeff Nomination 2011). Regional Credits: Troilus and Cressida (Taffety Punk Theatre, D.C.). Mike is a native of the south side of Chicago; he is a diehard Bears Fan.
Alex Kyger
Alex is proud to be a Red Tape company member after joining in August of 2010. Alex served as the Associate Producer of the Provincetown Art House Theatre for two years in Provincetown, Massachusetts before making Chicago his permanent home. He has since been the resident grant writer for A Red Orchid Theatre, Redmoon Theater, and currently works as the Development Associate at American Theater Company. Acting credits include Stray Cats (Theatre Go Round, Saudi Arabia), Shut Up, Sweet Charlotte (Provincetown Art House), No More Dead Dogs, and Letters Home (Griffin Theatre). Alex is a founding ensemble member and the Executive Producer of bouffon troupe Les Enfants Terribles. Alex has performed with Les Enfants at the Chicago Fringe Festival, Redmoon’s Joyous Outdoor Event, the ChiTown Clown Revue, and Prom Night, produced by Red Tape Theatre. Alex received his BFA in Theatre with honors from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Meghan Reardon
Meghan Reardon is an actor, native Kansan and proud Red Tape company member. She has made RT her artistic home since joining the ensemble in the Spring of 2010, and has since been lucky to play Philomele in The Love of the Nightingale, Saliva in Obscura and Tory in Church/Pullman, WA. She has worked around town in parts 1 and 2 of The Nine, The (a)Symmetry Cycle as well as with The Building Stage, Redmoon, Signal Ensemble, and Chicago dell’Arte, among others. Most recently, she has had the opportunity to workshop two new scripts by Chicago playwrights at 16th Street Theatre and The Goodman. Meghan is a graduate of Knox College, where she received the Colton Prize in Performance and Karger Award in Theatre Arts. She was also the recipient of a 2009 CAAP Grant and is now a member of the advisory panel for that award. She is represented by the hard-working women of Paonessa Talent.
Carrie Drapac
Last seen in Red Tape’s Church/Pullman, WA, Carrie joined the company after her involvement in their 2010 production of The Love of the Nightingale. She has had the pleasure of working on a wide variety of projects ranging from devised theatre to feature length horror films. Carrie’s favorite projects include a musical adaptation of the novel Hotel Sarajevo, silent short films about the Iraq War (Red, White and Blue) and metamorphosis (Tropism), and 1940′s musical fluff Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She holds a BFA in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, having focused on musical theatre in the CAP21 program and film acting at Stonestreet Studios. Carrie is a personal trainer, co-founder/owner of Comfy Fitness, and spent much of the last year developing and producing a kids’ fitness television concept.
Kathleen Romond
Kate performed in Red Tape’s 2010 production of The Love of The Nightingale. Other Chicago credits include; Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf at Steppenwolf Theater (Honey Understudy), Blind Date andTalking Pictures as a part of The Horton Foote Festival at The Goodman Theatre, and Beer Don’t Break Your Heart with Two Birds/Collaboraction. Regional Credits include The Cherry Orchard and The Government Inspector at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Kate was born and raised in Kentucky. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy High School in Michigan before hopping across the pond to Glasgow, Scotland where she received her BFA in Acting from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Nicholas Combs
Nicholas Combs joined with Red Tape Theatre in 2009. Originally from Plymouth, Massachusetts, Nicholas holds a B.A. in theatre from Westfield State College where he is a co-founder of the Student Theatre Association. Nicholas studied as an Acting Apprentice at the Actors Theatre of Louisville 07′ – 08′. Currently an Artistic Associate for Two Birds Casting. Red Tape credits; Enemy of the People, The Love of the Nightingale, Obscura; A Voyeuristic Love Story as well as numerous Fresh Eyes readings. Other credits; Rhino Fest. 09′, Hanger9′s Boys’ Life, About Face’s XYZ Festival – Man in Love, U/S for ATC’s annual production of It’s a Wonderful Life; The Radio Play, Sketchbook Festivals X, XI. Upcoming projects – The late night Gumshoe Detective show, Egg & Alfie (originated with Red Tape’s Fresh Eyes Project 11′) in collaboration with Aaron Weissman and my partner in crime Carly Ciarrocchi as Ms. Egg.(Aug.27 @ Flat Iron Building). Gingerbread House directed by James Palmer (Winter 12′)
Kyle Land
Kyle is a freelance Director, Designer, Technical Director, Carpenter/Welder/Scenic Painter, and Stagehand. He has been a member of Red Tape Theatre Company since Technical Directing and Lighting Designing Enemy of the People, and has since served as Lighting Designer for Mouse in a Jar, Obscura, Church/Pullman Wa. and Tragedy: A Tragedy, as well as Assistant Directing for The Love of the Nightingale. Area credits include various work with Steppenwolf, Adventure Stage, Fillament, Last Match, Theo Ubique, Metropolis, New World Rep, Side Project, House, and Timeline; along with technical directing for the National High School Institute “Cherubs” Program for the last three years. Kyle came to Chicago by way of Emporia State University where he received a BFA in Theatre Arts and a BA in English, then stayed on to serve as Technical Director for four years after graduation. Back in Kansas, Kyle co-founded both L.I.T.E. and IF Theatre, and directed the inaugural shows for both companies: How I Learned to Drive andFool for Love. He also directed several shows at ESU including A Bright Room Called Day, The Woman in Black, and My Left Breast, as well as, scenic and/or lighting designing numerous productions including Waiting for Godot, Cabaret, and Urinetown.
Lona Livingston
Lona’s participation in Brand marks her 4th production in a Red Tape show. She was featured in Red Tape’s Enemy of the People, The Love of the Nightingale and Obscura. Favorite roles include Picnic, Isn’t it Romantic. Cabaret, and Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, at theatres in Tennessee and Florida. She founded and directed the Theater for Young Audiences in Gainesville, Florida, adapting children’s classics into a participatory form of theater. Lona heads the Government Relations program at Columbia College Chicago and especially enjoys raising money for the arts. Lona is very proud to be an ensemble member and believes in the mission and artistic vision of the theatre.
Amanda Drinkall
Amanda’s first production with Red Tape Theatre was The Love of the Nightingale, followed by Pullman, WA and The Making of a Modern Folk Hero at CFANN 2011. Chicago credits include; understudying Marie/Stell in Pony at About Face Theatre, The Blessed Child, as part of Halcyon Theatre’s Alcyone Festival and Sex Marks the Spot at the Theatre Building. Regional credits; Michigan Shakespeare Festival’s Comedy of Errors (Luciana) and Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), and North Carolina Shakespeare Festival’s King Lear and Much Ado About Nothing (Ursula). She has studied with Profiles Theatre, and also stage managed their production of The Mercy Seat. Amanda holds a BFA in Acting Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Daria J. Davis
Daria is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University where she completed a BFA in Theater Studies and a minor in Digital Cinema. She is a member of the 2009 DirectorsLab Chicago and is also a graduate of the Apprenticeship program at Steppenwolf Theatre where she apprenticed in the Literary Department, and as seems to be her custom, worked as a rogue dramaturge. Daria is a freelance director in Chicago where she has collaborated with American Theatre Company, Live Bait Theatre, Speaking Ring Theatre and Second Story, where she is also a company member. Daria has assisted at TimeLine Theatre, American Theatre Company and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Upcoming and current projects for Daria include assisting Charles Newell at Court Theatre, producing the 2010 Fresh Eyes Festival and a new collaboration with playwright Martyna Majok, the award winning playwright of Daria’s Jeff nominated MOUSE IN A JAR at Red Tape.
Vic May
Vic May officially joined the Red Tape Theatre Ensemble in 2009 shortly after the first annual CFANN. Vic’s Chicago credits include performances at Lifeline Theatre, Theatre Hikes Chicago, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Chicago Kid’s Company, Piccolo Theatre and Redmoon Theatre. Red Tape credits include Demon’s Crystal at CFANN09, Cliff in Enemy of the People and Tereus in The Love of the Nightingale. Prior to moving to Chicago with his wife Mackenzie in 2007, Vic managed and performed with The Wichita Children’s Theatre’s Midwest Regional tour. While in Kansas he also performed in WCFTA’s production of Romeo and Julietand assistant directed Harvey for WCT. Vic attended Simpson College where he majored in Theatre.