ABOUT

This provocative drama explores the crossroads of Catholic faith and modern psychiatry. After the discovery of a dead infant in a young nun’s bedroom, a court appointed psychiatrist must unravel a web of lies to discover what truly happened. Dr. Livingstone, played by ensemble member Jacqueline Grandt, must navigate young Agnes’ delusions while contending with an overprotective Mother Superior, played by ensemble member Debra Rodkin. When Livingstone’s questions reveal past trauma, all three women must confront the foundations of their faith and the consequences of their actions.

Bios

Soleil Pérez (Agnes)

Soleil is a proud, first-generation, Mexican-American artist from the Bay Area, California. She is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent and holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Michigan. After working as an actor and educator in Mexico City, Detroit, and San Francisco, she is ecstatic to call Chicago her new home and to be welcomed back to Redtwist after Babel. For the occasional life update, follow @rubysoleilperez on IG.

Jacqueline Grandt (Doctor)

Jacqueline is happy to return to the Redtwist stage performing in her 29th show in this wonderful little black box. Starting her Redtwist career in 2004, she became a Company Member in 2006, and has been honored to perform some of the greatest stage roles ever written. With 5 Jeff Nominations for Principal Role, she is truly humbled to be part of Chicago Theatre and the immensely talented people she has worked with throughout these last 19 years! Cheers to another 19.

jmgperformer.wixsite.com/my-site

Debra Rodkin (Mother)

Most recently appeared at Jedlicka as Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy and Miss Fern in The Bad Seed. She was onstage with Citadel Theatre in It Runs in the Family, Violet Sky in Summer and Smoke and The Humans with Redtwist Theatre where she is a long-time ensemble member. Other Redtwist productions include Six Degrees of Separation, Realization of Emily Linder, The American Clock and favorites Equus, Geezers and Cripple of Inishmaan, ISH live zooms including The Laramie Project. Chicago credits include Crossing Delancey (MadKap), Rose Tattoo (Shattered Globe), Vieux Carre (Raven), Beau Jest (Big Noise), Rabbit Hole (BTE), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (NightBlue). She recently filmed a lead role in the award winning film Ginger the movie and a Webisode Series What Did Clyde Hide. Fun fact: also did a zany Webisode for True Blood (HBO).

Hannah McCauley (Agnes U/s)

Hannah is thrilled to be making her Redtwist debut! She is a recent graduate from Ohio University where she received a BFA in acting. Chicago: Macbeth (First Sister/Seyton) Three Crows. Other credits: This is Not What I Expected When I Imagined a Republic *World Premiere (Ilé) Tantrum Theater, You Can’t Take It With You (Essie) Fort Thomas Players, She Kills Monsters (Lilith), The Wolves (#00), Macbeth (First Sister Seyton), Silent Sky (Williamina) Ohio University.

Maren Rosenberg (Doctor U/S)

Born and raised in Washington DC, Maren has called Chicago home since 2012. She is a performer, producer, immersive experience designer, and social justice advocate. Maren has worked in theater, film, and television since the 1990’s. Before moving back to the states Maren performed on tour overseas between 2008 – 2012 working in Europe and the Middle East. 

Maren is the Co-Artistic Director of Uprising Theater (UprisingTheater.org), a theater that focuses on amplifying the voices of the people of Palestine as well as others who are marginalized and systemically silenced. She was last seen on stage playing Sarah opposite Egyptian film star Kal Naga in Uprising’s production of Decolonizing Sarah: a hurricane play. Maren works regularly as a physical theater artist, stilt walker, clown, and/or dancer with NewMoon Chicago. 

Maren is the owner of Escape Artistry (escape-artistry.com) a Chicago-centric escape room company based in Wicker Park. She serves as the VP of the board of directors for the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) and is the Board President for the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce.

 Love and appreciation to Redtwist, Rinska, Rupert, and the rest of the cast and crew.

marenrosenberg.com

Debbie Baños (Mother U/S)

Debbie Baños (she/her) is excited to make her debut at Redtwist. She has an MFA in acting from the University of Arkansas and is proud to be a first-generation American and the daughter of immigrants. Debbie has worked with various Chicago companies, including Babes with Blades, Halcyon, Victory Gardens, Teatro Vista, Still Point, and Erasing the Distance. She recently made her network debut on Chicago Fire. When not acting, Debbie writes about family, love, and immigration. Her solo show American Side Efectos was developed through a grant from the National New Play Network and has received an ALTA (Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists) Award nomination. This show was praised as "a triumphant solo show full of anger, humor, and heart." Debbie would like to thank her husband Jonathan, as well as all the artists, friends, and family who inspire and support her.

debbiebanos.com

Clare Brennan (Director)

Clare Brennan (she/her) is a Chicago-based theater maker and the co-Artistic Director of Red Theater. Directing credits include Red’s fall production of Vinegar Tom by Caryl Churchill, Anthony Neilson’s Stitching (BlackLight Theatre; Dublin, Ireland), Home of Love (Wall to Wall Theatre Festival; Ann Arbor, MI), and Othello (The University of Michigan). Past production credits include Indoor Cats, You Are Happy and Isle of Sugar for Red Theater, Bicycle Thieves for Littlebrain Theatre and RhinoFest, and many an apartment show. Elsewhere in Chicago, she has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Shattered Globe, TimeLine Theatre, Links Hall, The Den, Prop Thtr, The Frontier, RhinoFest, Theatre Evolve, and NON:op. Clare holds a B.A. in Drama and English from the University of Michigan. She is thrilled to collaborate with such a talented team for her first Redtwist production. She would like to dedicate this production to her first mentor, Kate Mendeloff. May her memory be a blessing.

clarebrennancreative.com

Hannah Blau (Assistant Director)

Hannah Blau (she/her) is thrilled to be returning to Redtwist. As a chicago-based theater-maker, she has worked with Oil Lamp Theatre, The Artistic Home, Citadel Theatre, and Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble. Directing credits include Comedy of Errors (Mudlark Theater) and Numbers Game (Whiskey Radio Hour). She is a graduate of the University of Manchester with a BA Hon in Drama, where she produced original research on theatre education’s role in the social and emotional development of high-school-aged young adults.

Taylor Stageberg (Stage Manager)

Taylor Stageberg (she/they) is a former Oregon resident, life long theater lover, and an amateur adult. Since moving to Chicago they have worked at Redtwist Theatre as the assistant stage manager for their production of The Great Khan and as stage manager of Laments of a Brown Bird Summer for Haven Chicago. Aside from stage managing you can find Taylor bartending, reading by the lake with her partner, playing with her cat and dreaming of one day fulfilling her life’s purpose of becoming the eccentric theater teacher - until that day comes she is more than happy to work and immerse herself in the vast world that is Chicago theater.

Rinska Carrasco-Prestinary (Production Assistant)

Rinska Carrasco-Prestinary (she/her) is a Dominican-American who is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Gray Talent Group. Carrasco-Prestinary’s previous Redtwist credits include: Isaac’s Eye, Death Tax and Between Riverside and Crazy. Other credits include Firefly Love (Something Marvelous); The River Ride (Halcyon) with other past selected production credits: Taming of the Shrew (assistant director, Barbara Gaines, director, Chicago Shakespeare) and Romeo and Juliet (directing intern, Marti Lyons, director, Chicago Shakespeare). When she is not directing you can catch her being silly with her baby.

Jesse Boyle (Dramaturg)

Jesse Boyle is thrilled to be making their Redtwist and Chicago theatre debut as a Dramaturg on Agnes of God! They are a recent graduate from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Theatre Studies. At Columbia Jesse worked as a Dramaturg on Bat Boy the Musical directed by Stephanie Shaw. They also stage managed the annual 24-hour Play Festival in December 2022. Jesse is grateful for this experience and would like to thank Redtwist for this opportunity and the cast and crew for being so lovely to work with!

Courtney Abbott (Intimacy Director)

Courtney Abbott (she/they) Redtwist debut. Chicago: Bald Sisters, Choir Boy, Chlorine Sky (Steppenwolf); Tiger Style!, Wife of a Salesman (Writers); Grease (Drury Lane); And Neither Have I Wings To Fly (First Folio); Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley (Northlight); Enough To Let The Light In (Teatro Vista); Hurricane Diane (Theater Wit); Solaris (Griffin). Regional: Murder on the Orient Express (Milwaukee Rep). Film: Paper Planes, Lee Baby, Departing Seniors. Upcoming: Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern. Courtney is a stakeholder in the Back Room Shakespeare Project.

courtneyabbott.com

Rose Johnson (Scenic Designer and Artist)

Rose Johnson (they/them) is a Louisiana born scenic designer and charge artist currently based in Chicago. Previous design credits include The Once and Future Festival, Black Sox on Trial (ISCPC), and The Great Khan (Redtwist Theatre). They are also the scenic designer of Lane Call, which will be running at The Factory Theatre.

rosejohnson.net

Dusty Brown (Artistic Director, Technical Director, and Sound Engineer)*

Dusty Brown (they/them) is the Artistic Director of Redtwist Theatre. Dusty worked as a theatrical administrator and producer for many years in Atlanta, both at LORT and small professional theaters. They are a graduate of Oglethorpe University (BA) and Ohio University (MFA). Directing Credits: Macbeth (Three Crows Theatre), Uffizi, and God Created the Earth and Evan Created Himself (Bottled Lightning). Educational: Pluto, Bug, Evolution of Rattlesnakes, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Finding the Sun, The Choephorii, Bat Boy: The Musical, The Chalky White Substance. Asst. Directing: Cabaret, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play. Thank you for supporting small and intimate Chicago storefront!

www.dustinbrown.net

Evy Burch (Property Designer)

Anna Bodell (Costume Designer)

Anna C. Bodell is an interdisciplinary artist and costume designer of 15 years, based in Cambridge, MA. After graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (BFA ’16 in Fashion Design & Construction), she went on to spend two years as a sponsored resident artist in an Alaskan National Park wilderness. The spirit and science of the wilderness persists in her work. She is especially fascinated in the figurative and literal overlaps of myth and science, like the parallels of metamorphosis and decomposition. This prompted the conception of her ongoing “Winding Cloth” burial shroud project. Bodell is thrilled and honored to be working with Red Twist on another production. Costume design was a first love; the collaboration in theater makes magic.

annacbodell.com

Sam Anderson (Lighting Designer and Master Electrician)

Sam is a Chicago-based lighting designer and actor, and is so excited to make their debut with Redtwist Theatre on this production of Agnes of God! Sam was born and raised in Southeast Iowa, and received their BFA in Musical Theatre Performance at Western Illinois University. While at WIU, they also independently studied lighting design and worked as an electrician. She is a current company member of Theatre L'Acadie, and has designed several shows with Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview, IL. Sam was also recently the guest lighting designer for Iowa State University's production of She Kills Monsters, and would list that production amongst their favorite designs to date. In addition to her design work, she has recently worked with Porchlight Musical Theatre on their production of Ernest Shackleton Loves Me in the role of Assistant Lighting Supervisor. When not working on a show, Sam also enjoys studying psychology, caring for their plants, exploring Chicago, and sipping coffee while cuddling with her cat, Penelope.

Extended Through July 16!

PREVIEW

Jun 1, 2, 3 at 7:30pm

OPENING

Sun, Jun 4 at 3:30pm

UNDERSTUDY

Mon, Jun 26 at 7:30pm

Sun, Jul 2 at 3:30pm

Run Time

2 hours with a 15 minute intermission

Up Next at Redtwist

Stay tuned for announcements about our 2023-24 season!

At Redtwist Theatre we make searing hot dramas, in a tiny black box, with a little red twist, and we could not do that without generous grants from:

The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelly Foundation

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation

The Illinois Arts Council Agency