Michael Bayler (Tyler Rayburn) is honored to be back at Edge of the Wood Theatre! Recent credits: Judge Hathorne/John Proctor u/s (The Crucible) Edge of the Wood Theatre. Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby), Jim O’Connor (The Glass Menagerie) Cardinal Stage. George Gibbs (Our Town), Rev. David Lee (The Foreigner) Indiana University Summer Repertory Theatre. Michael graduated with his MFA in Acting from Indiana University in 2020. Michael is from Big Rock, IL.

Dakotah Brown (Sven/William H. Gallegher; Carleton Fitzgerald understudy) is thrilled to be returning to Edge of the Wood, previously appearing in The Book of Will as Ralph Crane. He has performed with various companies around the Chicagoland area, such as Oil Lamp Theatre (Frankenstein) and InkWell Arts (A Walk With Joy). If you would like to view more of his work, please visit his website at www.Dakotahbrownactor.com. Dakotah is excited to be a part of such a great cast and crew at Edge and hopes you enjoy the show! 

Valen Lion (Miss Nan Lowell) is thrilled to be a part of Light Up the Sky at the Resident Theatre. Valen comes from a family of farmers in California, and her passion for music and theatre drove her to pursue studies at the American Music and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. Since graduating college, Chicago’s theatre scene has embraced Valen. With a love for creating – she continues to learn, compose, and perform in a multitude of art forms!  

Stephen Loch* (Carleton Fitzgerald) 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 Secret Garden, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Our Town, The Fantasticks, Holiday, Arcadia, Pride & Prejudice, and The Book of Will.

Michael Lomenick (Owen Turner) is delighted to work with Edge of the Wood for a 3rd time, previously appearing in The Book of Will and The Beautiful People.  He most recently appeared in A Walk with Joy at the Morton Arboretum.  Michael has worked at Oil Lamp Theater, Artemisia Theater, Sideshow Theater Co, iO Chicago, The Goodman, The Organic, Victory Gardens, and Zebra Crossing. Michael studied at The University of Oklahoma, The Theater School, DePaul, iO Chicago and received his MFA in performance from Roosevelt University.

Herb Metzler (Sidney Black) is excited to be working with Edge of the Wood again after appearing in The Book of Will and The Beautiful People. He has performed at the Goodman, Theatre Above the Law, and Prop Thtr, and with the now-legendary Practical Theatre Co. He is a co-founder and active member of The Sturdy Beggars, who have been entertaining audiences with The Mud Show© at renaissance faires around the country for over 40 years. When not working, he paints miniature figures and enjoys spending time with his sons Max and Will.

Janet Rourke* (Stella Livingston) is one of the co-founders of Edge of the Wood and an instructor at the theatre school. She has directed and/or appeared on the stage of The Goodman Theatre, the Marriott, the Barn, CenterStage Theatre, and OOCC, where she worked with Rick Snyder, Steppenwolf ensemble member, and Broadway favorite Karen Mason. Janet has appeared in the Resident Theatre’s productions of The Secret Garden (Dreamer/Mrs. Winthrop), Into the Woods (Jack’s Mother), Our Town (Mrs. Gibbs), The Seagull (Arkadina/Polina), Twelfth Night (Maria), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (The Princess Puffer),  Meet Me In St. Louis (Katie), The Beautiful People (Harmony Blueblossom), and Pride & Prejudice (Lady Catherine/Mrs. Reynolds), among others.

Sumit Saurabh (Max/Cop; William H. Gallegher understudy) is thrilled and grateful to be performing in this play, as this is his first ever performance on a professional stage. Prior to this he has been a dedicated and committed student of improv and Meisner acting in Chicago and has performed in 10-minute plays and two short movies. When he is not deeply attached to his characters and researching them, he likes to study the genetics of animal behavior.

Lisa Stran (Frances Black) is beyond delighted to be making her debut with Edge of the Wood! 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. Thanks to the cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication and most of all thank YOU for coming out and supporting Chicago theater!

Skyler Tipton (Peter Sloan) is delighted to have this be his first show with Edge of the Wood. Originally from Tamarac, FL, Skyler moved to Chicago after graduating with his MFA in Acting from Purdue University. Notable previous credits include Jason in Sweat, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, East/Dave in Almost, Maine, and Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest. Skyler would like to thank his beautiful wife Yentl for always supporting him.

Molly Will (Irene Livingston) is thrilled to return to Edge of the Wood. She holds a BFA in Musical Theater from Millikin University and has since truly enjoyed finding a theatre home here at Edge. Her favorite roles include: Jane Bennet (Pride & Prejudice), Rose (Meet Me in St. Louis), and Peggy Sawyer (42nd Street). Molly would like to thank her parents for their endless support, as well as John and the whole Edge team for this opportunity and getting her back on the stage!

Sam Adeoye (Peter Sloan understudy/Tyler Rayburn understudy) is enthusiastic about joining Edge of the Wood for the production of Light Up the Sky. Sam is an aspiring Chicago-based actor, trained in the Meisner technique. Sam has performed improv and participated in multiple 10-Minute Playfests. Sam is truly grateful to Edge for the opportunity to be a part of magic!

Amy Anderson (Stella Livingston understudy) is new to acting. She has appeared in two student films and one television show. This is her Chicago stage debut. She is excited and grateful for this opportunity.

Martin Mahoney* (Stage Manager/Sidney Black understudy) is excited to be back home with the Resident Theatre! Favorite Edge roles include Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Medvedenko in The Seagull, Captain Brice in Arcadia, and Durdles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Martin also stage managed The Belle of Amherst, Pride & Prejudice, and The Book of Will.

Madison Meeron (Miss Lowell understudy) is thrilled to be working with Edge of The Wood for the first time! She graduated in 2021 from Hope College with a BA in Theatre and now works as a K-12 Theatre Teacher for a virtual charter school. Recent regional credits include: Sandy Cheeks in The Spongebob Musical, Soupy Sue in Urinetown, and The Bride in Dracula (Surging Films & Theatrics), Kanga in Winnie The Pooh (Citadel Theatre), and Isabel in SONDER (Corn Productions). Madison would like to thank everyone who has “played pretend” with her both onstage and off! IG:@madisonmeeron

Jeanann Power* (Frances Black understudy) holds an MFA from the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. She has performed in the north and south with repertory companies and in summer stock; and in Chicago in commercials and industrial films.  At the Resident Theatre, Jeanann was the Assistant Director for Arcadia and Pride & Prejudice. Roles at Edge include Mrs. Medlock in The Secret Garden, Mrs. Webb in Our Town, Arkadina/Paulina in The Seagull, Princess Puffer in Drood, Ed Knight/Anne Hathaway Shakespeare in The Book of Will, Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, and Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst, which later transferred to the 2019 South Haven Theatre Series.

Kaela Rosenbaum (Irene Livingston understudy) is a Chicago based actor, comedian, and writer. Born and raised in NYC, Kaela got her degree in Theatre from Northwestern University, and since graduating she has been performing with her improv and sketch group Skip Skip at comedy clubs across Chicago. Follow @skipskipcomedy on Tik Tok and Instagram to check them out. Thank you to everybody on the Light Up the Sky team for allowing Kaela to bring Irene to life!