Company
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Sean Graney is the Founding Artistic Director and Founder of The Hypocrites. Sean has directed most of The Hypocrites productions. He was born and raised in Boston. He received his BFA in Theater and Writing from Emerson College in Boston. He won a Joseph Jefferson Citation and After Dark Award as Director of Machinal by Sophie Treadwell. He was nominated for Joseph Jefferson Award a few times for adaptation, but never won. He is a current recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Directors. He was called Chicago’s Best Avant-Garde Director by Chicago Magazine and Chicagoan of the Year (in Theater only) by the Chicago Tribune. He is very approachable, so please send him an e-mail if you feel like it (sean.graney@the-hypocrites.com). Please try to keep the e-mails constructive; receiving e-mails designed to induce shame makes him very sad.
Halena Kays is the new Artistic Director for The Hypocrites. A director, writer and performer from Chicago, she is the co-founder and former artistic director of Barrel of Monkeys where she created and directed the majority of their public performances including their critically acclaimed long-running show: That’s Weird, Grandma, called “the best reason to live in Chicago on a Monday night” by Time Out Chicago. She is a Northwestern grad and a former member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care unit. As a Hypocrite she has performed and directed; most recently seen as Creon in the critically acclaimed three-person adaptation of Oedipus. Halena is equally proud to have worked with many other respectable and disreputable theater companies in Chicago over the years; she was recently on stage in Mud and 4.48 Psychosis (The Hypocrites), The Children’s Hour (Timeline), The Golden Truffle (Redmoon), and Fair Use and Theatrical Essays (Steppenwolf). For the Neo-Futurists she co-created and directed Daredevils and Daredevils Hamlet as well as the premiere of the sight specific extravaganza, Fake Lake. Halena currently lives in Austin where she is finishing her third year as a MFA directing student. At UT Halena most recently directed the premiere of Erin Philiips’ The Death of Beth and a new adaptation of The Trojan Women. For “UT New Theatre” she directed the premiere of Frances Cowhig’s Lidless; for “The New Works Festival” she conceived, co-wrote and directed 101 Ways to…. winning “The Best of the Fest”. Halena has been nominated for a Jefferson Citation for Best Supporting Actress, named one of “30 under 30” to watch by SixOSix magazine, and received a signed letter from Mr. Rogers saying she was “special” in 1978.
Megan Wildebour (Managing Director) is fortunate to be a Hypocrite and work with all these lovely, talented folks. Before moving to Chicago, she resided in New York City working with Lincoln Center Theater, Stuart Thompson Production, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway, and LABrynith Theater Company in various capacities. Prior to that, she was in London working at the Royal Court and Old Vic Theatre. She has served as producer on several independent artistic endeavors and is a proud member of Old Vic New Voices. Feel free to contact her: megan@the-hypocrites.com.
Company Members:
Ryan Bollettino has been a member of The Hypocrites since 2001. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa where he studied theater and is working on his Masters in Teaching from National Louis University. Ryan has performed in 14 Hypocritical productions, including Machinal (Lover), Balm in Gilead (Tig), Leonce and Lena (Leonce), Death of a Salesman (Happy), and The Bald Soprano (Fire Chief). Ryan has worked in Chicago with a plethora of other stalwart companies including A Red Orchid Theater (Abigail's Party), Strawdog (R.U.R., Detective Story), Factory (Bustin' Out of The Hell, Menage a Trailer), and House (The Sparrow, Dave DaVinci Saves The Universe). Ryan currently works as a math teacher at Wells Academy High School teaching the youth of America.
Devin Brain
Geoff Button is always proud to be a Hypocrite. As a company member he has directed our productions of Desire Under the Elms and True West (Jeff Nomination: Best Director) and acted in Ajax, Arcadia, Henry V, Machinal, Balm in Gilead, Equus (Non-Equity Jeff Award: Best Actor) and Mud. He has worked all over Chicago as either an actor, director or assistant director for companies including The House, Lifeline, Apple Tree, Defiant, The American Musical Theatre Project, The Marriott Lincolnshire, Famous Door, Steppenwolf and Chicago Shakespeare. He is just now finishing up his MFA in directing from Northwestern University.
John Byrnes
Kurt Ehrmann
Samantha Gleisten first fell for The Hypocrites a decade ago when she performed in their production of Marat/Sade. Since then she has been seen in many Hypo shows including 4.48 Psychosis, Miss Julie, The Bald Soprano, and Our Town. Sam is also a company member with Barrel of Monkeys and has worked with some other great Chicago theaters including Writers', Steppenwolf, and Redmoon. When not on stage, Sam teaches theater and directs children in plays.
Jennifer Grace has been an ensemble member since 2001. She designed costumes for Hypocrites productions of Balm In Gilead (Jeff Nominated - Best Costume Design), True West, Equus, Edward Gorey's Dispirited Diversion for Christmas, and The Christmas Carol: A Radio Broadcast. As an actor, she appeared in Marat/Sade, Jack or The Submission & The Future Is In Eggs, Arcadia, Ajax, Blood Wedding, Edward Gorey's Dispirited Diversion for Christmas,Balm In Gilead, The 4th Graders Present An Unnamed Love Suicide, The Christmas Carol: A Radio Broadcast, Angels In America Pts. I & II, 4.48 Psychosis,Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, and Our Town (2009 After Dark Award, Outstanding Performance). In 2009, Jennifer relocated to New York in order to reprise her role as Emily in David Cromer's production of Our Town, for which she received a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Debut. Although she is currently working onstage in New York, her heart remains in Chicago with The Hypocrites.
Greg Hardigan
Donna McGough
Rob McLean is a company member with The Hypocrites, and has been seen in their productions of Cabaret, The Hairy Ape (at The Goodman Theatre as part of the Eugene O’Neill Festival), The Three Penny Opera (at the Steppenwolf Garage), Mud, Death of a Salesman, The Glass Menagerie, Equus, Balm in Gilead, Henry V, and Rhinoceros. Elsewhere around town he has worked with Lifeline Theatre (Treasure Island, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, Around the World in 80 Days, Pistols for Two and The Killer Angels); City Lit (The Importance of Being Earnest, Twelfth Night); Theatre Wit (Men of Steel, Feydeau Si Deau); The Griffin Theatre (The Constant Wife); Eclipse Theatre (Spinning Into Butter); Strawdog (Red Noses); as well as understudy stints with Steppenwolf and Writers Theatre.
Mechelle Moe
Jim Moore has worked with The Hypocrites as Technical Director, and occasionally as a designer, for several years now (becoming a proud company member in 2003). He led The Hypocrites in the builds of Henry 5, Machinal, Happy Days, Balm in Gilead, Edward Gorey’s Dispirited Diversion for Christmas, Camille/La Traviata, Leonce und Lena, The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide, Equus, A Christmas Carol: A Radio Broadcast, The Glass Menagerie, Death of a Salesman, 4.48 Psychosis, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches & Perestroika, The Bald Soprano and Frankenstein. Originally from Wyoming, he was lured to Florida by the love of Track & Field (pole vaulting in particular) and the prospect of a good, affordable education. After being cut from the University of Florida Track Team, he received the latter in the form of a B.A. in Classical Languages and Literature from New College of Florida (where he translated and produced the Roman Comedy, Mostellaria of Titus Maccius Plautus).
Stacy Stoltz is a company member with The Hypocrites and The House Theatre of Chicago. She recently performed with Noble Fool Theatricals in Over The Tavern and A Streetcar Named Desire at Writers Theatre in the Spring. Hypocrites’ shows include Frankenstein (@the MCA), Oedipus, The Hairy Ape (@The Goodman Theatre), Miss Julie, Our Town, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 4.48 Psychosis (@Steppenwolf Garage), Henry V, and Blood Wedding. She was also seen off-broadway in Sean Graney’s The 4th Graders Present An Unnamed Love Suicide at 59E59 Theatres. House Theatre credits include The Rocket Man, Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe, Hatfield and McCoy, and Hope Springs Infernal.
Steve Wilson has the distinction of being the very first company member of The Hypocrites. He has performed in over 15 productions. Some of his favorites include the roles of The Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie, Joe in Balm in Gilead, Valentine in Arcadia, Louis in Angels in America Parts 1 and 2, Mr. Martin in The Bald Soprano and most recently as the title role in Sean Graney's original adaptation of Oedipus. Steve earned his BFA degree in theater from Point Park University in his home town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When he is not performing, he keeps himself busy as a director and theater educator. He is a full time acting teacher at North Lawndale College Prep High School. Prior to that, he was a teaching artist all over the city of Chicago with many organizations including Lookingglass, Lifeline Theatre and After School Matters. He is a Founder of A Red Orchid Theatre's Youth Ensemble where he serves as Artistic Director. He made his Chicago directing debut at A Red Orchid Theatre with the Midwest Premier of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant.
Artistic Associates:
Miranda Anderson
Maria DeFabo
Michael Griggs
Jared Moore most recently provided the lighting for The Hypocrites' production of No Exit, and in the past; Frankenstein, Oedipus, The Hairy Ape, Miss Julie, The Fourth Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide, Desire Under the Elms, The Bald Soprano, Mud, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Angels in America and True West. He is also resident designer for NoMi LaMad Dance Inc. and New Leaf Theatre, of which he is a company member. His work has garnered him five Non-Equity Jeff Awards and two After Dark awards. Jared recently became Lighting Director for Luna Negra Dance Theater and is currently touring nationally with them.
Kevin O'Donnell is a musician and composer. Based in Chicago, he has worked regionally at A.C.T. (San Fransisco), Tangent (Montreal), Stages Rep (Houston), Kansas City Rep, CenterStage (Baltimore), The Mark Tapper Forum (LA), and in New York at The
Cherry Lane, DTW, St Ann’s Warehouse, The Public, and 59e59. In Chicago he has worked at Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, Redmoon, Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, The Goodman, and many others, as well as with The Hypocrites (associate artist) and The House Theatre (company member). As a composer and sound designer he has received 5 Jeff Awards (16 nominations), and 2 consecutive After Dark Awards for Outstanding Season. As a musician he has recorded and toured extensively with Andrew Bird, and worked with John Wesley Harding, Nickel Creek, Roger Eno, and Kelly Hogan, amongst many others.
Alison Siple Recent projects include: Company (Griffin), Thieves Like Us (House Theatre), No Exit (The Hypocrites), Cabaret (The Hypocrites), A Separate Peace (Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Adults) and The Mystery of Irma Vep (Court Theatre). Off-Broadway credits: Our Town (Barrow Street Theatre) and The 4th Graders Present an Unnammed Love Suicide (The Hypocrites at 59e59). Upcoming projects: Peter and the Wolf (Lookingglass and Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and Pirates of Penzance (The Hypocrites). Alison won Jeff Citations for Time and the Conways (Griffin) in 2006 and for Leonce und Lena (The Hypocrites) in 2005. She is an Artistic Associate for The Hypocrites and Lookingglass. Check out her other work at alisonsiple.com.
Board Members:
Bob Webb, President
Lawrence Perea, Vice President
Alexander Gail Shermansong, Treasurer
Jeannie Bernier
Odile Compagnon
Bart Lazar
Deb Oestreicher
Erik Schroeder Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Erik has worked for The Madison Repertory Theatre, The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Chicago Children's Theatre, and Lookingglass Theatre Company where he currently serves as Director of Marketing. He holds a degree in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts from St. Olaf College in Minnesota, and has had the pleasure of speaking on the subject of marketing to students at Columbia College, DePaul University, Loyola University, The University of Chicago's Graham School of Management and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Donald Yeh
Chairman of the Honorary Board:
Honorable Richard M. Daley
