Cast
Natali Chavez (Mrs. Dudley) is excited to be a part of her first play in the Chicago theatre community! She started her theatre journey starring in four high school musicals, including Bye Bye, Birdie! (Mae Peterson). She earned a B.S. in biology from DePaul University and an M.S. in medical biotechnology from UIC Medical School and spent 15 years working as a scientist in research and medical diagnostics. She most recently starred in a production of The Cover of Life (Addie Mae) by The Greenman Theatre Troupe. She loves to listen to history podcasts, paint, read, sing karaoke and play all kinds of games, from video games to TTRPGs. She thanks her loved ones, for giving her the courage to make such a drastic career change, and her cat, Lyanna, for keeping her grounded by reminding her that she does, in fact, have to wait on someone.
Tony DiPisa (Luke Sanderson) is thrilled to be making his SSP debut. Recent credits include It Is So (If You Think So!), Bernhardt/Hamlet, (Edge of the Wood Theatre); Dying for It (The Artistic Home); The Virginian, The Wind in the Willows (City Lit Theater); Winter Garden (Tin Drum Theatre); Mic Father, Like Son (Subtext Theater); The Crucible (PlayTime Theatre Company); 4,000 Days (Pride Arts); and The Cleanup (Prop Thtr), among others. He sends many thanks to Greg, Colls, Ash, TEA, Daniel, Rusty, and his family for being comedic and thespian inspirations and helping him find his inner Luke. He is proudly represented by Ambassador Talent. Enjoy the show!
David R. Feiler (Dr. Montague) was previously seen at SSP in The Man Who Came to Dinner (Mr. Stanley), Bell, Book and Candle (Sidney Redlitch), An Enemy of the People (Mr. Aslaksen), The Book of Will (John Heminges), Charley’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 wishes to acknowledge the love and devotion of his family for their unwavering support as he pursues his passion.
Russ Gager (Arthur Parker) is pleased to be working again with director Jack Dugan Carpenter, for whom he played Brassett the butler (Charley’s Aunt). Last season, he was the malpracticing Dr. Bradley (The Man Who Came to Dinner). Some nefarious characters he has played for SSP include a corrupt tannery owner (An Enemy of the People), a scheming publisher (The Book of Will), a corrupt senator (Born Yesterday), a drunken choir director (Our Town), a possibly murderous but musical minister (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and finally a conniving mayor (The Front Page).
Siena Merlin Moraff (Eleanor Vance) is thrilled to be making her debut with SSP. She recently appeared in The Moors (Mastiff), The Scariest Thing in the World (Alex), Hotbed (Jane Byrne) and Love’s Labour’s Lost (u/s Moth, Katharine). Her plays have been produced by Foaming @ The Mouth Festival and Interpolated Theatre. She has a soft spot for haunted houses and queer love stories.
Japo Parcero (Theodora) is a Filipino-American actor and improviser with credits in film, television and theatre in the Philippines and the U.S. On stage, she has performed in the Elgin Fringe Festival’s production of That Woman (Jacqueline Kennedy), Greenman Theater’s Gary The Bold (Mandy) and multiple sketch productions including The Gods Will See You Now, Clown Thesis and If It’s Not Broken We’ll Break It at the Second City Training Center, where she completed the Conservatory and Grad Revue programs. She has trained extensively in Meisner, Chubbuck, Morris and improvisation with master teachers in Chicago and Manila. Beyond performance, she is also a licensed pilot, martial artist and adventurer who loves animals and volunteers at shelters and beach cleanups.
Jill Chukerman Test (Mrs. Montague) is happy to work again with Jack Dugan Carpenter, along with this fun cast. 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 directed last spring’s Sebastian Award-winning Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, and she is president of SSP’s board of directors. She sends special thanks and love to TT and JET.