Ryan Hake (Tom), he/they. A Columbia College Theatre graduate, Ryan was most recently seen as Prior Walter in Angels in America with Invictus Theatre (Jeff Award Recipient). Other theatre credits include 7 Minutes to Live at Chicago Dramatists (Unexpected Theatre), Lane Call with The Factory Theater and clowning with The Conspirators. Ryan is singer/songwriter in their band Time:Baby, which held residency at Gallery Cabaret (2016-2020) and performed in sketch/improv group Blood Oath (2010-2015) playing Sketch Fest, Donny’s Skybox, The Frontier, etc. TV credits include Chicago Fire (2025). Ryan is represented by Actor’s Talent Group.

Dean Papadopoulos (Jim), he/him. Dean makes his Edge of the Wood debut with The Glass Menagerie. Other pieces of glass from his collection include a dog, (Curious Incident, Lou Award Best Actor), a mouse (The Mousetrap), and a bat (Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors). Thank you to Edge for this dinner invite!

Jeanann Power* (Amanda), she/her. Jeanann holds an MFA from the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. She has appeared in a number of Edge productions, including Inherit the Wind, It Is So (If You Think So!), The Minutes, The Crucible, The Book of Will, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Seagull, She Loves Me, Our Town, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and The Secret Garden. She also portrayed Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst at Edge, and the show then transferred to open the South Haven Theatre Series.

Anne Trodden (Laura), she/her. Anne is thrilled to be working with Edge of the Wood for the first time. She mostly recently appeared in Top Girls at Raven Theatre as Marlene (u/s) and Harper Pitt in Angels in America with Invictus Theatre where she earned a Jeff Award for Best Supporting Performer in a Play. She is currently represented by Big Mouth Talent.

Brian Kulaga (Jim u/s), he/him. Brian is a Chicago-based actor and educator. This winter he was seen playing Basil Hallward/Robbie Ross/James Vane and five other characters in the acclaimed three-hander production of Dorian (Open Space Arts). Other recent credits include understudying the role of Karl/Steve in Clybourne Park (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble) and rustily dancing as Tin Man/Hickory in The Wizard of Oz (Big Noise Theatre).

Max McKune (Tom u/s), he/him. Max is a Chicago-based actor who has appeared onstage with Hell in a Handbag Productions, Rest of the Wood Theatre, The Parker Players Theater, and in several independent film projects. He is an actor/director with Sweetback Productions, and will be directing Sam Shepard’s Geography of a Horse Dreamer this fall. When he’s not acting, you can find him on stage as the frontman of Ivy Drip. He’s thrilled to be making his debut with Edge of the Wood.

Abby Orr (Laura u/s), she/her. Originally from the NE Arkansas Delta, Abby relocated to Chicago in 2025 to pursue acting. Since then, she has appeared in various theatre and film projects. Most recently, she played Brandi Jones in Odds + Ends Theatre Co.’s production of How to Defend Yourself. She has trained at Acting Studio Chicago, Black Box Acting Studio, The Second City, and Atlantic Acting School (NYC), among others. A certified Tennessee Williams fangirl, Abby is beyond thrilled to be part of this production.

JEFF AWARDS

Recognized for excellence

The Resident Theatre at Edge of the Wood produces family-friendly, professional-caliber shows in our community, engaging and inspiring young people as performers and theatre-goers. 

Four Jeff nominations for Bernhardt/Hamlet

• Production (Short Run)
• Design (Short Run) – Elizabeth Niemczyk
• Performer in a Principal Role (Short Run) – Courtney Abbott
• Performer in a Supporting Role (Short Run) – Stephen Loch

The Jeff Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatre. Congratulations to all the nominees!