Courtney Abbott, they/she

Sarah Bernhardt

Edge of the Wood debut. Chicago: Philoctetes (Proboscis); The Jigsaw Bride, As You Like It (First Folio). Film: Maggie in Fall. Audio: Immunities, Companions, Phantom Nirvana. Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern. Courtney is a Stakeholder in the Back Room Shakespeare Project.  CourtneyAbbott.com 

Rusty Allen, he/him

Raoul

Rusty is thrilled to return to Edge after appearing in The Language Archive! He made his Chicago debut as Malvolio in Twelfth Night with Midsommer Flight. He’s a founding member of the theatre company Madness Most Discreet; they produce four-person Shakespeare adaptations where the actors learn every role and the audience randomly casts each performance. Other favorites include The Chinese Lady, Hold These Truths, The SantaLand Diaries, The Producers, and Great Expectations. Visit rusty-allen.com.

Tony DiPisa, he/him

François

Tony is thrilled to be returning to Edge of the Wood having recently appeared in It Is So (If You Think So!). Past credits include: Dying For It (The Artistic Home); The Virginian, The Wind In The Willows, (City Lit Theatre); The Cleanup (Prop Thtr); Winter Garden (Tin Drum Theatre); Mic Father Like Son (Subtext Theater); 4000 Days (PrideArts Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (First Folio); and It’s Beginning to Look…(TATC), among others. He is represented by Ambassador Talent.

Sydney Hamill, she/her

Rosamond

Sydney is thrilled to be making her Edge of the Wood debut with Bernhardt/Hamlet. She is a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University where she got her BFA in acting. Some past favorite credits are Katrina and ensemble in Sleepy Hollow (GreatWorks), Jack and ensemble in Fractured Fairy Tales (GreatWorks), Ms. Allison in Hershey’s Unwrapped, and Titania in Midsummer (NIU). She wants to give a big thanks to her family and friends who all are the biggest sources of love and support.

Amanda Hays, she/her

Lysette

Amanda is excited to make her Edge of the Wood Theatre debut! Recent theatre credits include Macbeth (The Back Room Shakespeare Project), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (The Gift Theatre), & Antigone (Redtwist Theatre). Amanda received her BA in Theatre from Northwestern College and continued her training at the American Conservatory Theater. She is proudly represented by NV Talent. Thanks to this wonderful cast & crew and to Warren for being her biggest supporter.

Jack Hradecky, he/him

Edmond Rostand

Jack is excited to return in his second production with Edge of the Wood. Regionally, Jack has worked with Milwaukee Rep, and the Arkansas and Illinois Shakespeare Festivals. Recent credits include Akrasia (Ego Death Theatre), An Enemy of the People (Sub Rosa Theatre), and Edge of the Wood’s The Minutes, for which he received a Jeff Award. All his love to Savannah and his family.

Aneesah Jemei, she/her

Ensemble, Lysette u/s

Aneesah, graduate of Illinois State University (B.S. in Musical Theatre), is excited to be making her Edge of the Wood debut with the wonderful cast of Bernhardt/Hamlet! Recent productions include Oil Lamp Theatre’s Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [“Daniel” U/S] and Perceptions Theatre’s (revival) Panther Women: an Army for the Liberation [Woman 1/Angela Davis]. At ISU Aneesah also played Natalie in Next To Normal. Aneesah, based in Chicago/Chicagoland, sends her love to family/friends.

Stephen Loch*, he/him

Constant Coquelin

Stephen is an actor and graduate of the Theater School at DePaul University. He has appeared in many Edge of the Wood Theatre productions, including The Language Archive, Light Up the Sky, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Our Town, The Fantasticks, Holiday, Arcadia, The Minutes, and The Book of Will.

Brady Magruder, he/him

Ensemble, Raoul/Maurice u/s

Brady is thrilled to debut with Edge of the Wood! Recent theatrical work includes An Enemy of the People (Sub Rosa Theatre Co.), Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: The Musical! (Northbrook TYA), and A Wrinkle in Time (Chicago Playworks). He is a ’19 Jimmy Award Nominee, and a ’23 Acting BFA graduate from The Theatre School at DePaul University. IG: @bradymagruder  bradymagruder.com

Herb Metzler*, he/him

Louis

Herb is a Resident Artist at Edge, appearing in It is So (If You Think So!), The Minutes, Light Up the Sky, The Book of Will and The Beautiful People. He’s performed at the Goodman, St. Sebastian Players, Theatre Above the Law, Prop Thtr, and The Practical Theatre Co., and is co-founder and active member of The Sturdy Beggars, entertaining audiences with The Mud Show© at Renaissance faires around the country for 44 years.

Skyler Tipton, he/him

Alphonse Mucha

Skyler is delighted to be returning to Edge of the Wood after appearing in last spring’s production of It Is So (If You Think So!) as Signor Ponza. Originally from Tamarac, FL, Skyler moved to Chicago after graduating with his MFA in Acting from Purdue University. He has worked with Inkwell Arts & Learning, Theatre West Virginia, and The Upstate Shakespeare Festival. Skyler would like to thank his beautiful wife, Yentl, for her love and support. 

Sam Waddell, he/him

Worker/Ensemble, Edmond u/s

Sam is excited to be back on stage at Edge of the Wood after an understudy performance in last spring’s It Is So (If You Think So!). Across Chicago Sam has worked with The Beverly Arts Center, The Theatre Lab, and Cornservatory Theatre. He would like to thank his friends and family for all their love and support.

Kevin Woodrow, he/him

Maurice

Kevin is a Chicago-based actor excited to be working with Edge of the Wood for the first time! Recent credits include Grimm (Theatre Above the Law), Cock (Open Space Arts), and Malapert Love (The Artistic Home). 

Carl Chadek, he/him

Louis u/s

Carl returns to Edge having previously appeared in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and as the harpist in The Fantasticks.  Favorite roles include Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers (Savoyaires – Evanston) and Murray in Trunk Songs (Off the Wall Theatre – Milwaukee).  Carl is also an active cabaret artist with recent appearances at Drew’s and Davenport’s. 

Will Fisher, he/him

Constant u/s

Will is thrilled to be returning to Edge, having previously understudied and performed the role of Laudisi in It Is So (If You Think So!). He is excited to be working with this talented cast and crew. Having performed numerous roles throughout the area, his favorites have been Dysart (Equus), Franklin (1776), and Narrator (The Rocky Horror Show). Will is grateful for Robert’s encouragement and to his three kids: Tristan, Andy, and Liam! Enjoy!

Lisa Stran, she/her

Sarah Bernhardt u/s

Lisa is delighted to return to Edge where she has appeared as Frances Black in Light Up the Sky, Signora Cini in It Is So (If You Think So!), and the Instructor in The Language Archive. Lisa has most recently worked with Invictus Theatre, the Cornservatory, Prologue, Waltzing Mechanics, and Broken Nose, to name a few. Lisa graduated from Northwestern University in 1996 and has been making Chicago storefront theater ever since.

Bethany Weise, she/her

Rosamond u/s

Bethany is thrilled to be back at Edge of the Wood after previously appearing in The Language Archive, It Is So (If You Think So!), Pride and Prejudice, and the ill-fated Middletown. Bethany has worked with the Asolo Repertory Theatre, South Brooklyn Shakespeare, Banyan Theatre, and Akvavit Theatre to name a few. She has trained in London and with the Barrow Group in New York. She proudly holds an MFA from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. bethanyweise.com