Ghostlight Productions
Geppetto
Inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio, Geppetto is a new interpretation of the classic story exploring themes of growing up, relationships, and identity. This telling combines Carlo Collodi’s classic allegory with common threads from other familiar stories and myths (such as the biblical tales of the Prodigal Son and Jonah and the whale) as he his loneliness pushes him into a journey of self-discovery. Geppetto’s odyssey, told through puppetry, clowning, masks, and music, will mirror the challenges we face every day as we strive to shake off our own woodenness and become more deeply human.
Ghostlight Productions
Stephen F. Murray (Director) Chicago credits: Laer's Last Prayer (Ghostlight Productions), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Fall of the House of Usher (City Lit Theater), Spring Awakening, Our Country's Good (Promethean Theatre Ensemble), and Dramatic Twerp (Links Hall & Oracle Theatre). His work has been seen at the New York International Fringe Festival where he directed The Darling Children. Other companies he has worked with include 500 Clown, 2nd Story, and Bailiwick Repertory. Currently he serves on the Advisory Committee for the Chicago Chapter of Arts in Sacred Places and is an Associate of the Side Project. He served as the Artistic Director of Promethean Theatre Ensemble from 2005-2009. Before Promethean, he was a member of Strawdog Theatre Company where he directed Brett Neveu's Radio Man for their Radio Series. Much love to Mary and Nora.
Jessie Mutz (Pinocchio) is a performer, director, and storyteller originally hailing from Florida. Some favorite projects include: All Rise (Walkabout Theater), The Pirates of Penzance (Co-Director; Tall Ship Windy 2012 & 2013), Trojan War (Director; Blunt Objects Theater), and Directors Lab Chicago 2012. She frequently teaches and performs with The Unrehearsed Shakespeare Company (Lady Macbeth, Beatrice, Rosalind, Aguecheek), where she also serves as the Managing Director. Outside the theater, she is fortunate enough to play for a living at Chicago Children's Museum.
Elizabeth Bagby (Morgan) has studied physical theater and clowning at the Accademia dell'Arte, the Actor's Gymnasium, and with 500 Clown. She has performed with numerous Chicago companies, including Strange Tree Group (where she is a company member), Signal Ensemble, Right Brain Project, The Ruckus, Talisman, the side project, Raven, Trap Door, Velvet Willies, Sansculottes, and others. She has also composed or arranged music for a dozen or so productions, notablyShakespeare's King PhycusandThe Three Faces of Dr. Crippen(Strange Tree),Tuxedo Love(Theatre 5.2.1), and her own play Practical Anatomy(Sansculottes). Strange Tree recently gave her playThe Half-Brothers Mendelssohna Jeff-recommended production, and her comedyQuartet and Fuguewon the 2013 Mountain Playhouse International Playwriting Competition. Upcoming projects: The Next Thingwith Signal, the remount ofCrippenwith Strange Tree, the workshop of Soon I Will Be Invinciblewith Lifeline, and the October 2014 Arts & Sciences Expedition to the Arctic Circle. When she's not making theater, Bagby plays guitar and drums with The Loudness War, and bass with The Unswept and The Enablers.
Brian Hurst (Faux) Is a graduate of the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University. He's been living and working in Chicago since the summer of 2008 and is a member of Oracle Theatre. Outsideof performing as an actor, he's also an auxiliary percussionist, dj, and slam poet.
Quenna Lené (Kat) is a Chicago native and glad to be back on a Chicago stage, after recently graduating from NYU Tisch and grad school at USC. While she misses the warm LA temperatures, she knows that at this point her heart is home and is thankful for friends and family and for the opportunity to play in this production. Peace, love and KLEO.
Blake Williams (Coachman) A native of Louisiana, Blake has worked with various theater companies in Chicago since moving here in 2006. Some of his favorites have included Promethean Theater Ensemble, Redmoon, AlphaBet Soup, Circle Theater, Theater-Hikes, CircEsteem, and Ghostlight Productions. He currently works for Navy Pier Entertainment, and manages City Running Tours Chicago.
Renee Keen (Producer) Renee is thrilled to be working with Ghostlight Productions! Renee served as Lookingglass Theatre's Production Coordinator as well as a dramaturg for numerous theatre companies throughout the city in the past two years, and now heads the theatre department at Shirley Hamilton's Talent Inc.She graduated with a BFA from Chicago College of Performing Arts and an MA from Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Sean Ewert (Puppet Designer) In addition to previous work with Ghostlight Chicago, Sean's Chicago theater credits include work with: TUTA (associate member), 20% Theater, Chicago Jewish, Torso, Healthworks, About Face, Chicago Opera Vanguard, Mom & Dad Productions, Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, Ravenous Productions, Collaboraction, Von Orthal Puppets, Oracle Theatre and The Chicago Mammals (company member). Sean has studied at Stella Adler’s Acting Conservatory West, Studio Theatre – D.C. and has a degree in the theater from the University of Northern Colorado. He has worked regionally with Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. and Little Theatre of the Rockies in Greeley, CO. Sean also works as a puppeteer and puppet builder in the Chicago area.