Cast

Joseph Adlesick (Beverly Carlton/Henderson) is very excited to appear in his first production with SSP. Some of his most recent credits in the Chicago area include It’s a Wonderful Life (Clarence), The Play That Goes Wrong (Jonathan Harris/Charles Haversham), Present Laughter (Hugo Lyppiatt), Arsenic and Old Lace (Dr. Einstein), You Can’t Take It With You (Martin Vanderhof) and And Then There Were None (Sir Lawrence Wargrave). He studied Theatre at UIC and Roosevelt University. When he is not hamming it up, he spends his time as a retiree doing whatever he feels like. He dedicates this performance to his grandsons, Grayson and Oliver.

Jered Becker (Bert Jefferson) made his Chicago debut in SSP’s production of Bell, Book and Candle this past fall. Having moved from Wichita, Kansas, his previous credits include acting in/directing Guildhall Players’ production of The Country Girl and Wichita Community Theater’s production of Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. Previous acting roles include Guildhall Players’ Three Sisters and Wichita Shakespeare Company’s Much Ado About Nothing and Murder on the Orient Express at the Forum Theater. He is grateful SSP would have him back for another show, especially such a funny one with so many new people/characters to get to know.

Bill Chamberlain (Sheridan Whiteside) is thrilled to return to SSP, where he last appeared in The Book of Will (Ben Jonson). Other recent credits include The Secret Garden (Ben Weatherstaff) with Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Ragtime (Grandfather) with Highland Park Players, The Laramie Project (Ensemble) with Albright Community Theatre, The Minutes (Mr. Oldfield) and The Crucible (Giles Corey) with Edge of the Wood Theatre and The Devil and Daniel Webster (Daniel Webster) with City Lit Theater.

Jill Chukerman Test (Mrs. Ernest W. Stanley) is happy to work with Sean Michael Barrett, longtime SSP pals and new partners in crime. Among her favorite roles of the 30+ SSP productions she has performed in are Barefoot in the Park (Ethel Banks), You Can’t Take It With You (Penny), Social Security (Barbara) and As You Like It (Celia)—all earning her Sebastian Awards—as well as Love, Loss and What I Wore (Gingy), Steel Magnolias (M’Lynn), Crossing Delancey (Isabelle), She Loves Me (Amalia), The Fantasticks (Luisa) and the world premiere and revival productions of Jonathan Hagloch’s musical Elvicula (April). She currently serves as president of SSP’s board of directors. She sends special thanks and love to TT and JET.

Melinda “MJ” Deamon (Lorraine Sheldon) is thrilled to be a part of The Man Who Came to Dinner and work with Sean Michael Barrett…again! Previous work with SSP includes Jeff-nominated It’s Only a Play (Virginia Noyes), The Shady Lady (Melinda), Love, Loss and What I Wore (various), Born Yesterday (Mrs. Hedges) and Little Stones (Clarice) to name a few. MJ is grateful to be playing such fun roles with such a great cast. “Special shoutout to my Stage Daughter, my Scarecrow, #mygayson, my Best Friend and my partner…for everything.”

David R. Feiler (Mr. Stanley) was previously seen at SSP in Bell, Book and Candle (Sidney Redlitch), An Enemy of the People (Mr. Aslaksen), The Book of Will (John Heminges), Charlie’s Aunt (Sir Francis Chesney), Our Town (Mr. Webb), The Front Page (Bensinger) and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Claudius). You might have caught him at one of these other area venues in recent years: CenterStage: Shakespeare in the Park, Edge of the Wood Theatre, Big Noise Theatre, Starlight Theatre in Wilmette, E.D.G.E. Theatre, Center for the Arts in Wilmette and Quest Ensemble. He acknowledges the love and devotion of his family for their unwavering support as he pursues his passion.

Russ Gager (Dr. Bradley) is not a doctor, even though he plays one in this production, a respectable profession for a change, such as Brassett the butler (Charley’s Aunt), and not such nefarious characters he’s played for SSP including a corrupt tannery owner (An Enemy of the People), a possibly murderous but musical minister (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), a scheming publisher (The Book of Will), a drunken choir director (Our Town), a conniving mayor (The Front Page) and finally a corrupt senator (Born Yesterday).

Charlotte Harris (Sarah) is thrilled to join the cast in her first production at SSP! Some of her more recent credits include The Second City: A Penny for Your Intrusive Thoughts (Ensemble) and A Spoonful of Cynicism (Ensemble), Rhinofest: When Peter Met Wendy (Peter) and Island ETC: Always a Bridesmaid (Kari). She is also a resident company member at Playground Chicago Theatre, where her credits include Gibber (Rosa), PDF Preferred (Sissy), A Truth About Acorns (Dr. Lucy) and No More Flowers (O’Keefe). She thanks her friends and family for their continuous support! Instagram: @charrischarlie

Zach Kunde (Adolph Metz/Banjo) is pleased to be making his debut with SSP in a role he’s had his eye on since college. A proud graduate of UW-Whitewater, he earned his BFA in theatre performance and has been making his way across Chicago-area stages ever since. Some favorite credits include Buffalo Ensemble’s The Outsider (A.C. Petersen), Oil Lamp Theater’s Almost, Maine (East/Steve/Lendell/RandyDaniel) and Music Theater Works’ The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Doug Panch.) IG: @Zach_The_Actor or ZachKunde.com

Harper McCoy (June Stanley) is a Chicago-based actor and model with more than a decade of experience. She recently graduated from DePaul University and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Her recent credits are Julian Boryszewski’s I’d Tell You but it Might be Too Late (Niles) and The Conspirators’ Commedia Divina: It’s Worse Than That (Ensemble, Karen 2, Vanna White). She will also be in Avalanche Theater’s Time is a Color and the Color is Blue (Tilda) in the spring. She is ecstatic to portray June Stanley in such a classic show with SSP.

Jack Mitchell (Sandy/Westcott/

Claire Rutkowski (Maggie Cutler) is incredibly excited to be back on stage after closing Bell, Book and Candle, in which she played Gillian. Her past SSP credits include Boeing, Boeing (Gloria), The Shady Lady (Madison), The Real Inspector Hound (Felicity), Our Town (Emily) and Lunch at the Akropolis (Kristin). Other Chicago credits include the staged reading of The Shady Lady (Madison) at Rhinofest 2020 and A Christmas Carol (Fan/Belinda/Want) at Metropolis. Once again, she thanks her SSP family for the endless love, support and education.

Ellen Shaw (Miss Preen) is delighted to appear with SSP for the first time! Some of her favorite credits include The Language Archive (Alta), The Bog Witch Variety Hour (Shirah), Lighthouses in the Desert (Gail), The Trip to Bountiful (Carrie Watts), The Gin Game (Fonsia Dorsey) and Love Letters (Melissa). She is a Florida transplant who is happily making Chicago her new home.

Trey Sorensen (Richard Stanley/Expressman) performs in his first show with SSP and his first show in Chicago overall! He relocated here in the fall of 2024 from northwestern Wisconsin, where his previous credits on stage include Clue (Wadsworth) and Silent Sky (Peter Shaw) with the Chequamegon Theatre Association, as well as The Nerd (Rick Steadman) and The Lion in Winter (Philip II) for the Stage North Groundlings. In addition to stage acting, he is also a filmmaker and stars in his own upcoming short film Wide Shot, set for release later this year.

Renae Stone (Harriett Stanley/Mrs. McCutcheon) is excited to return to the SSP stage as these two quirky characters in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Favorite credits include Invictus Theatre, Three Sisters (Anfisa) and Network (u/s Louise and Ensemble); Q Artistry, Cabaret Poe (Morella); Subtext Theatre, Mic Father, Like Son (Beatrice) and Orion’s Belt (Doris); SSP, An Enemy of the People (Katrine Stockmann), The Book of Will (Emilia Bassano Lanier), Love, Loss and What I Wore (Nancy, Rosie, Lynne, Mary and Lisa’s Mom), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Gertrude), Measure for Measure (Mistress Overdone/Francisca), The Real Thing (Charlotte), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Germaine), Fools (Dir.) and The Celebration from Chekhov Shorts (Dir.). “Much love to my family at home, at school and on the stage. You all mean the world to me!!!”

Vito Vittore (John) is glad to return to SSP for his fourth production after understudying for Hell in a Handbag’s Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer. He has also appeared with the Chicago Bulls with their heavyset dance team for three seasons.