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Run Time
120 Minutes, One 15 Minute Intermission
Previews
August 14th, 15th, and 16th at 7:30 PM
Opening
August 17th at 3:30 PM
Understudy Performances
Sunday, August 31 at 3:30 PM
Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 PM
Closing
Sunday, September 21st at 3:30 PM
Now Extended through October 4th
About the Show:
George is meandering through the American dream - she has a house in the suburbs, a loving husband, and a young daughter. What more could she want? Isn’t she on the road to a happy ending? In How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, Sarah Ruhl (Chicago native and author of Eurydice and In The Next Room [or the Vibrator Play]) challenges the white picket ideal, blurs the line between friends and lovers, and asks us to grow beyond the constraints of monogamy.
Meet the Team
*denotes Redtwist Ensemble Member
Playwright
Sarah Ruhl
(she/her) is an award-winning playwright, poet, and essayist. Her plays include The Clean House (Pulitzer Prize finalist), In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play (Pulitzer Prize finalist, Tony award finalist for best play), Eurydice (named one of the best productions over the past 25 years by the New York Times.) Her plays have been translated into fourteen languages, and have been performed around the world, on Broadway, off-Broadway, and across the country. She has been the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant, a Whiting Award, a PEN award, and a Susan Smith Blackburn award. Her books include Letters from Max (with Max Ritvo), Smile, a memoir, 44 poems for you, 100 essays I don’t have time to write and Love Poems in Quarantine. Her play Eurydice has been made into an opera, performed at the Metropolitan opera, and she’s currently working on a musical with Elvis Costello. She has taught at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale for the past twelve years, and has also taught courses at Yale College in theater studies. She has had the honor of premiering five of her plays at Yale Repertory theater under James Bundy. She is currently working on a book called Lessons from My Teachers, portraits of her teachers from preschool to the present day, including portraits of the excellent students who have taught her so much at Yale. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.
For more information, sarahruhlplaywright.com
Director
Elizabeth Swanson
(they/she) is a director and playwright specializing in rehydrating classic works and developing new plays and musicals. Recent directing credits include A Streetcar Named Desire (Paramount Theatre, featured in Chicago Tribune’s “Top 10 Chicago theater of 2024), The Importance of Being Earnest (co-adapted with Dusty Brown, Strawdog Theatre), Head Over Heels (Kokandy Productions), and I Know My Own Heart (North American Premiere, Pride Arts Center). They are co-writing the award-winning musical-in-development Saint Hildegard. Elizabeth teaches in Columbia College Chicago’s Musical Theatre Program and holds an M.F.A. from the Lir National Academy of Dramatic Arts at Trinity College, Dublin.
Movement and Intimacy Director
Sarah Scanlon
(she/her) is a certified Intimacy Director and Coordinator (IDC, SAG registry), movement specialist, and actor with a career spanning theatre, television, and higher education. Her intimacy work includes Showtime’s The Chi, Apple TV+’s Shining Girls, and FX’s Fargo. Onstage, she has collaborated with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane, and Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, creating artist-centered spaces rooted in trust and transparency. Sarah holds an MFA in Acting from the American Repertory Theater Institute/Moscow Art Theatre School at Harvard and has taught at nearly every major university theatre program in Chicago. She is passionate about empowering bold, authentic storytelling and is thrilled to reunite with Elizabeth Swanson following their award-winning A Streetcar Named Desire. Learn more at sarahscanlon.com.
Assistant Director
Kendall Phillips
(she/they) is a Chicago-based director and playwright. Originally from Houston, they fell in love with the Chicago theatre scene. She is thrilled to be working with Redtwist and this amazing team for the first time! When not writing, they direct as a company member of PlayGround Chicago. And if not doing those two things, she is probably sticking another DIY project to the walls of her studio apartment with command strips. Much love to her own transcendent love square of Spencer and their two cats, Puma and Sophie.
Production Stage Manager
Shay Gordon
(they/them) is thrilled to be the PSM for Redtwist’s How To Transcend A Happy Marriage! A Long Island native now based in Chicago, Shay is a new Ensemble Member with Strawdog Theatre and works full time on the Development Team at Writers Theatre. Stage management credits include Theo Ubique (Assassins, A Little Night Music), Greenhouse Theatre (Sex Tips), and Raven Theatre (Right To Be Forgotten, A Lie of the Mind). Shay is also a freelance actor, currently workshopping Succulents by Leah Barsanti and directed by Lynsy Folckomer, and has directed Euphoria by Emma Goldman-Sherman, Romeo & Juliet , and Terminating by Tony Kushner. Favorite assistant directing credits include Peter and the Starcatcher and Measure for Measure. Offstage, Shay loves cooking, watching Drag Race, pulling tarot, and lounging with their cats and a cup of coffee—or wine. Special thanks to Elizabeth, Sarah, Kendall, and the Redtwist team!
Costume Design
Marquecia L. Jordan
(she/her) is making her Redtwist debut with How To Transcend a Happy Marriage! Other Credits: Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery (Pegasus Theatre Company); Tell Me on a Sunday and Assassins (Theo); Fun Home (Porchlight Music Theatre); Hitt Records, The Time Machine: A Tribute to the 80s, and A Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater); Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer (Hell in a Handbag); Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Clue (Mercury Theater).
REGIONAL: Slave Play and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Short North Stage, Columbus, OH).
TV: Chicago Stories (WTTW). She has received two 2023 Jeff nominations for Big River and Clue, and a 2022 Jeff nomination and 2022 Black Theater Alliance Award for Sister Act the Musical (Mercury Theater) for Best Costume Design.
Dramaturg
Korey Pimental*
(he/him) is a Redtwist ensemble and staff member, currently serving as the Development Director. Redtwist credits include Titus Andronicus and Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus (you had to be there!). He is a director, producer, dramaturg disability consultant, and actor. As an actor, he's represented by BMG Talent. Korey spent four seasons as the Executive Artistic Director of Glass Horse Project in New Bedford, MA.
Scenic Designer
Rose Johnson*
(they/them) is a Chicago based scenic designer. Previous credits include: Bottle Fly (Jeff Nominated), Wolves, Agnes of God (Jeff Nominated), The Great Khan (Redtwist Theatre), Big Time Toppers (Theatre L’Acadie), The Secret Garden (Theo Ubique), S. Paradox (BWBTC), Hamlet (Red Theatre), Murder Rewrote (Hell in a Handbag), MedeaMedeaMedea, The Hatmaker’s Wife (Theatre Evolve), Party at the Pantheon, Lane Call (Factory Theater), On the Twentieth Century (Blank Theatre). Rose is an ensemble member at Redtwist Theatre.
Up next: TL;DR with Theo Ubique.
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Technical Director
Caleb McAndrews
(he/him) Bio to come!
Production Manager
Raine DeDominici*
(they/she) is thrilled to be on staff at Redtwist as ManagingDirector, and Production Manager for Redtwist's Defiant Femmes season. They also work as a stage manager and librarian.
Production Management: Bottle Fly, The Normal Heart (Redtwist Theatre).
Stage Management: Titus Andronicus, Wolves (Redtwist Theatre), Spamalot, Big Fish, A Chorus Line (The Theatre Lab; Washington, D.C.), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ohio Valley Summer Theatre; Athens, OH), Krapp’s Last Tape, Angels in America Part One - Millennium Approaches, Pluto (Ohio University). Raine holds a Master of Library & Information Science from Dominican University and a BFA in Stage Management from Ohio University.
Props Designer
Paige Lutter Bosler
(she/her) is proud to make her theater debut with Redtwist Theatre on a show with so many fun props! She has previously worked in props and art direction across film and television, including Superman (2025), King of the Apocalypse (2025), and The Art Of Vintage (2021-22). She graduated from Smith College in 2022 with a B.S. in Film & Media Studies, and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Design at UIC.
Lighting Designer
Eric Watkins
(he/him) is a lighting designer for theatre, opera, and dance who has been based in Chicago for more than a decade. In that time he has designed for many theatres including: Raven, Chicago Children’s, Timeline, Chicago Shakespeare, Steep, Rivendell, Remy Bumppo, About Face, First Floor, Definition, Northlight, Jackalope, The Gift, and Lifeline among others. Recent highlights include Tambo and Bones at Refracted Theatre Company (for which he won a Jeff Award for best lighting), Ironbound at Raven, and A Slow Air at Steep. Outside Chicago, Eric works across the country in both regional theatre and grand opera with select recent / upcoming engagements at Trinity Rep, Opera San Jose, Minnesota Opera, Mercury Chamber Orchestra (Houston), Theatreworks (Colorado Springs), Indiana Rep, and Peninsula Players. He received his MFA from Boston University and is a proud member of USA 829 - the theatrical design union. ericwatkinsdesign.com
Sound Design
Harper Justus
(she/her) Selected Credits Include: MEDEAMEDEAMEDEA (Theatre Evolve), Vinegar Tom, Romeo & Juliet, The Promise, The Winter's Tale, Dance Nation (UC San Diego), The Half-Life of Marie Curie, The Ferryman (New Village Arts), CLYDE's (Moxie Theatre), The Great Comet of 1812 (Tantrum Theatre) Harper is extremely jazzed to be a part of Redtwist Theatre!
Master Electrician
Piper Kirchhoffer*
(she/her) Is a Jeff Award nominated lighting designer. Previous work includes- We Are Proud to Present... at Theatre Y, Titus Andronicus, Gary, Wolves and The Great Kahn at Redtwist Theatre, Tick, Tick... BOOM! at BoHo Theatre, Beauty Queen of Leenane and Macbeth at Three Crows Theatre, Hurricane Diane at Theatre Wit, 8-Track and Once Upon a Mattress, at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. She is also an IATSE lighting technician touring with productions such as Bluey’s Big Play, the first national tour of Company, and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. You can find more of her previous work and find upcoming projects at piperlighting.com.
Music Director
Caroline Kidwell*
(she/her) is thrilled to join the team of How To Transcend A Happy Marriage after music directing Bottle Fly last fall. Other Redtwist credits include Titus Andronicus, Babel, and Man Cave. Enjoy the show! carolinekidwell.com
Casting Director/Producing Artistic Director
Eileen Dixon*
(she/they) is a proudly Queer, Chicago-based director, producer, and actor with a focus on creating and directing new work. Eileen serves as the Producing Artistic Director at Redtwist. She received her MFA in Acting and Directing from UMKC in 2022 and spent the following summer at Ojai Playwrights Conference, before moving to Chicago to embrace her dream of having a career in new work development. Eileen has worked at The Coterie Theatre, Ensemble Stage, Oil Lamp Theater, and Kansas City Repertory Theatre.
Last season, Eileen directed the world premiere of Jacqueline Goldfinger's Bottle Fly at Redtwist Theatre (Jeff Recommended, Nominated for Set Design by Rose Johnson). This season at Redtwist, Eileen will direct Jen Silverman's Collective Rage: A Play In 5 Betties. Next summer, she is excited to direct the world premiere production of Caroline Kidwell's Man Cave as the mainstage of Twisted PlayFest 2026. Eileen was recently honored as one of the Windy City Times 30 Under 30 Award for 2025.
eileendixon.com
Executive Artistic Director
Dusty Brown*
(they/them) is the Executive Artistic Director of Redtwist Theatre. They began their career as a stage hand in Atlanta, Georgia, working on everything from Shakespeare to new works, and everything in between. They received their MFA in Directing from Ohio University in 2021. Notable productions include: Steve Yockey's Wolves at Redtwist and Pluto at Ohio University; William Shakespeare's Macbeth at Three Crows and Ohio University; Tracy Letts' Bug at Ohio University; Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd at DramaTech in Atlanta; Uffizi at Bottled Lightning in Atlanta; and Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park at Vox Populi Productions in Chattanooga.
Last season, Dusty directed Melanie Coffey's Deserted for Twisted PlayFest, their adaptation of Titus Andronicus. This season Dusty is excited to continue to develop Deserted and to direct Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize-winning 'night, Mother.
Meet the Cast
George
Tatiana Pavela
(she/her) is an actor, writer, teacher and all-around theater maker. Chicago theater: The Cave (Bonnie u/s, A Red Orchid Theatre), DOGS (Carol, Red Theater - Jeff Nom., Best Ensemble), Hamlet (Lead Player, Red Theater), Twelfth Night (Maria, Midsommer Flight), Hurricane Diane (u/s Pam & Carol, Theater Wit). Film: Lucy Is A Loser. TV: Chicago Fire. MFA from University of Washington PATP; BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Repped by DDO Artists Agency; www.tatianapavela.com
Jane
Monique Marshaun*
(she/her) is an actor from the south side of Chicago who believes in the healing power of our imaginations and is drawn to work that blends the mundane with the magical. She is proud to have worked with Steppenwolf, Pulse, Redtwist and Invictus theatres. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and THE ACADEMY at Black Box Acting, where she teaches Meisner. Representation: Lily’s Talent Agency. Contact: MoniqueMarshaun.com.
Michael
Joe Zarrow
(he/him) is an Evanston-based actor and playwright and is delighted to be working with Redtwist for the first time. Stage Left and Theater Seven of Chicago produced the premiere of his play Principal Principle (Jeff Nomination, Best New Work). His plays have also been produced or developed by Jackalope, the Gift, the Ernestines, Red Theater, the Theater School at DePaul, Invulnerable Nothings, the New Coordinates, and Collaboraction. Stage work, Chicago: the Goodman, Congo Square, [producingbody], Theater Wit, Midsommer Flight, Windy City Playhouse, Pavement Group.
Regional: The Watson Intelligence (Open Book Theater - Wilde Award, Best Lead Actor). Television: Emperor of Ocean Park, 61st Street, and Chicagos Fire, PD, and Med. Joe trained at the School at Steppenwolf. Learn more about all this at joezarrow.com.
Usually for these bios, Joe doesn’t say anything personal, but for this script it feels important to declare: love to Mary and Solly, always.
Paul
Carlos Treviño
(he/him) As a screenwriter, playwright, theater director, and performer originally from Austin, Carlos is new to Chicago’s theater scene and open for adventure—and representation! Screenwriting credits include Rogers Park (NYT Critic's Pick—available on the Amazon), Wild Nights (optioned by ICM), and Fourplay (Sundance, Cannes, SXSW, Libercine Outstanding Writing Award, Iris Prize Special Commendation). Playwriting credits include Not Clown (New York’s Soho Rep, published in Yale’s Theater Journal) and The Kindermann Depiction (Mark David Cohen Award). Directing credits include Not Clown at Soho Rep, Have You Ever Been Assassinated? at Rude Mechanicals, the U.S. premiere of Wallace Shawn's A Thought in Three Parts at Rubber Repertory, as well as numerous new works at Physical Plant Theater, his artistic home for 15 years, where he was Co-Artistic Director for five. Find his film and live performance credits at carlostrevino.net. Thank you for supporting storefront theater! Transcendent love to Kyle.
Pip
Shaina Toledo
(she/her) is thrilled to return to Redtwist Theatre for her second production, having previously appeared as Penny in the world premier of Bottle Fly. She was most recently seen in Kid Prince and Pablo at Lifeline Theatre. She is grateful to the Redtwist team for their continued belief in her, and to the friends who held her through this past year.
David
Joshua Servantez*
(he/him) is jumping back onto the Redtwist stage, having last appeared as Saturninus in Titus Andronicus. Previous Redtwist credits include The Normal Heart, Wolves, and Isaac’s Eye. Other Chicago theatre credits include The Playboy of the Western World (City Lit Theater), Blue Stockings (Promethean Theatre; Jeff Award nomination: Best Ensemble), The Kelly Girls (The Factory), and Stateville Voices: An Evening of Short Plays (Goodman Theatre).
Freddie
William Delforge
(he/him) is excited to be returning to Redtwist after appearing in Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus this spring! His Chicago credits also include shows at Barrens Theatre, Steep Theatre, Victory Gardens, and Rhinofest among others. Film: Kim's Big Date. William holds a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul. Special thanks to Sophie and Frankie for all their love and support!
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Jenna
Elonie Quick
(she/her) is thrilled to be making her Redtwist Theatre debut in How to Transcend a Happy Marriage. As a hater at heart, she understands Jenna and cannot wait to channel her inner contemptuous teen to bring Jenna to life on stage.
George Understudy
Emilie Soghomonian
(she/her) is a Boston University conservatory trained actor with extensive experience in Shakespeare, Meisner, and Ivana Chubbuck techniques. With the majority of her acting credits from Los Angeles based indie films, she is pumped to be making her Chicago theatre debut at Redtwist Theatre! She is currently in preproduction for a thriller feature film which she wrote, is producing, and will be starring in that shoots this October. She loves making fresh carrot juice, collaging, writing poetry that makes her friends question her wellbeing, and advertising her angry chihuahua on Instagram.
Jane Understudy
Arabella DeLucco
(she/her) was born in the Philippines and grew up in New Jersey before spending almost 20 years of her life in California. A recent transplant to Chicago from San Francisco, she fell in love with the local storefront theater scene and practices myriad types of art-making, including writing, oil painting, and filmmaking. She is also the founder of WeXL, a nonprofit that empowers underserved youth to be more creative. In her spare time, she travels abroad with her husband and loves to learn about and drink wine. Arabella is a member of SAG-AFTRA and is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent.
Michael Understudy
Jeff Brain*
(he/him)is a Chicago-area performer and designer that is excited to work on another show with Redtwist! He has recently appeared in Bloodshot (Nonsense Theatre Co.), When There are Nine (Pride Arts), and Hamlet (Fleeing Artists), and will soon be appearing in episode of Eclectic Theatre Co's audio drama, "Half Hour Audio Hour".
As a props designer and scenic carpenter, his work has been seen in Chicago at Redtwist Theatre, City Lit Theatre, Nonsense Theatre Company, and more. He has also been lucky to work with The Alley Theatre (Houston, TX), American Players Theatre (Spring Green, WI), and Fireside Dinner Theatre (Fort Atkinson, WI) in a number of roles. He is currently the Assistant Technical Director in the theatre department at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside, where he will soon be Scenic Designer for their fall '25 production of Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play.
He is a proud ensemble member of both Redtwist Theatre Company and Nonsense Theatre Company. Thanks for supporting the arts!
Paul Understudy
Sam Ramirez
(he/him) is thrilled to be an understudy in How to Transcend a Happy Marriage. He was last seen in the That Must be the Entrance to Heaven at Vision Latino Theater Company. Previous credits include:
El Bacalao at Lifeline Theater, My Father’s Keeper (Tirsio) Latinx Theater Commons,
She Lights the Fire (Allal) Three Cats Productions,
Nuevas Voces (God) Stage Center Theater, Factory After Dark (Eric) Factory Theater.
Sam has also had the good fortune to work with Latino Chicago Theater, Theater on the Lake, Excalibur Shakespeare Company and Hidden Stages.
He would like to thank all the cast and everyone at Redtwist Theatre who have made this production possible.
Pip Understudy
Aneshia Morishita
(she/her) is a new Chicago actress! Having moved her 1 year ago from Boise Idaho she is exploring the amazing Chicago performance community. She is a part time teaching artist with Playmakers Laboratory, and loves working with kids but also admires when she can have more ‘adult’ shows like what you’re about to witness! She would love to extend a huge thank you to Red Twist Theatre for her experience and the audience for attending this amazing performance!
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David Understudy
Jeremy Neale Cox
(he/they) is excited to be making his Redtwist debut in Sarah Ruhl’s How To Transcend A Happy Marriage. This group has been wonderful to work with and has enjoyed creating with them. Some other Chicago credits include: Ioné in Ioné at Athenaeum and Muddles in Sleeping with Beauty at PrideArts. They have an MFA in Acting from Western Illinois University and have loved creating here in Chicago. He hopes you enjoy the show and thanks you for supporting the magic of live theatre!
Freddie Understudy
Drake St Pierre
(he/him) is a Chicago based actor and improviser. He excited to be working with Redtwist Theatre for the first time. His past projects include being in The Play That Goes Wrong (Three Brothers Theatre), Peter Pan (Chicago Kids Company), and being part of Sketchtest Playlist at IO theatre with the sketch team Open Tabs.
Jenna Understudy
Kelcy Taylor
Kelcy is thrilled to be back at Redtwist with this stunning production. You may have recently seen this Columbia College graduate as Nickie in Blank Theatre Company’s Sweet Charity. Other credits include Kokandy Productions’ Cruel Intentions, Strawdog Theatre’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Redtwist Theatre’s world premiere of Bottle Fly.
Kelcy wants to send all of her love to her family, the messiest baddies group chat, matcha lattes with oat milk, and all her beautiful friends that continue to put up with her. Insta: @kelcytay