By Eric Coble
October 15 – November 1, 2026
Greenhouse Theater Center
PROGRAM CONTENTS
Meet the Cast Understudies Production Team About the Playwright About Tin Drum Special Thanks Our Donors
Meet the Cast
Renzo Vicente
Earthworm
Renzo Vicente [he/him] is a Chicago-based actor and playwright with Paonessa Talent Agency who studied at Illinois State University. He has brought a wide range of characters to life, including Melchior in Spring Awakening (Point2PointProductions), Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web (The Young People’s Theatre of Chicago), all 5 Somebodies in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody (Couch Penny Ensemble), Rocko in the space adventure Moonwatchers (Lazy Susan Theatre Co.), and Arty/Jay in Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers, in which Renzo was directed by ISU alumni Jane Lynch (Illinois State University). At Theo Ubique Cabaret in Evanston, Renzo’s original play with music, New Line, was produced as part of their WinterFest in January of 2025. Recently, Renzo wrapped production on his first feature film with Take Care Productions titled Crimson, and was reunited with Couch Penny Ensemble as The Father in Tim Crouch’s An Oak Tree. In July and August of this year, Renzo got to step into the iconic role of Romeo for Fools of Sound and Fury’s inaugural production of Romeo and Juliet, and also got to originate the role of Harrison in Ashley Rose Wellman’s new play Willed Bodies at Lookingglass. Renzo is ecstatic to take on Earthworm in this ambitious new play with Tin Drum Theatre Co. and could not be more grateful for his team, his family, and the opportunity to bring a new work by Eric Coble to life.
Carlos Andrés Mai
Montrose
Carlos [he/they] is delighted to be returning to Tin Drum Theatre Company after his debut last year in The Unseen. Previous credits include The Duchess of Malfi (Babes With Blades Theatre Company), The Winter’s Tale (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Desire in a Tinier House (Pride Films and Plays), and The Merchant of Venice (Seattle Shakespeare Company). Carlos studied at Cornish College of the Arts, where he earned his BFA in Original Works. He would like to thank his family, friends, and cat for their constant encouragement and support.
Learn more about Carlos’s work at: https://carlos-andres-mai.com/
Shannon Leigh Webber
Miss Vivian
[she/her] Shannon returns to Tin Drum following her appearances in Incognito and Southern Rapture. She appeared recently in Bottle Fly at Red Twist Theatre. Other Chicago theatre credits include Babel at Red Twist Theatre, Harrow House with Rough House Theatre, Blue Island in the Red Sea with Collaboraction and Perfect Arrangement at Pride Arts. Outside of Chicago, Shannon has appeared at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, AR and The Warehouse Theatre in Greenville, SC. When Shannon is not acting, she can be found teaching Drama to middle schoolers in Wilmette, learning new vegan recipes, doing yoga, tending to her many houseplants or snuggling with her pigeon, Pidgey.
Delaney Vallese
Hummingbird
Delaney [she/her] is making her Tin Drum Theatre debut! *hummingbird noises*
Chicago: Trans Scribe (Gender F*cked Productions, Steppenwolf Theatre), The Good Girls (Artemisia Theatre), Laser Scorpions v. The Patriots (Stage 773). Regional: Almost Mary (Mirrorbox Theatre), IV Pole (Syracuse Stage, Playwright’s Festival), NCPCLAB (New City Players). Other roles include Ruth Hunsdorfer in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Becky in Slowgirl. TV/Film: “Chicago Fire”, “Chicago PD” (NBC), “Patriot” (Amazon Prime).
Awards: Young Entertainer’s Award Nom, National Hanford Monologue Finalist. Training: Syracuse University, The Juilliard School.
Website: www.delaneyvallese.com
Raúl Alonso
Dipper
Raúl [he/him] is thrilled to be working with Tin Drum Theatre Company in A Dark Wood. Recent and selected credits include: Anatomy of a Suicide (Jamie, The Metal Shop Performance Lab and JunkHeart Theatre); The Blood Countess (János Újváry, Idle Muse Theatre Company); The Winter’s Tale (Polixenes, Invictus Theatre Company); A Bright Room Called Day (Vealtninc Husz, Blank Theater Company); Pilot Island & Her Keepers (Peder Pedersen/Martin Knudsen/Frank Drew, The Imposters Theatre Company); Peter Malmö (Janssen/Ronny, Destinos 6th Chicago International Latino Theatre Festival); The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, St. Patrick’s Summer Theatre). Raúl thanks the cast, crew, and creative team for this beautiful collaboration.
Marlee Feacher
Armadillo
Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Marlee Feacher [she/her] recently earned her BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Her Chicago credits include keerah (Lucy u/s) with Definition Theatre, as well as Assistant Directing Anatomy of a Suicide by Alice Birch with JunkHeart. Marlee is so excited to be a part of this production and to continue growing as an artist in Chicago. She loves connecting with fellow artists, exploring new stories, and creating work that brings people together. She is represented by ATB Talent for TV/Film, Commercial, and Theatrical work, and by Grossman Jack for Voiceover. To see what she’s up to next, follow her on Instagram @marleefeacher.
Understudies
Eric Hinkle
Understudy — Earthworm
Eric [he/him] is thrilled to be making his debut with Tin Drum Theatre Co. He has been featured in other Chicago theatre productions, including If the Moon Never Came Back (Lazy Susan Theatre Co.) and Fallen Angels Hotel (Frantic Theatre Co.). When he’s not acting, you can find him learning a new skill (training to be an electrician), nerding out about Star Wars, or listening to house music somewhere in the city. Huge thanks to family, friends, and Tayvia.
Dimitri Marinakos
Understudy — Montrose
Dimitri [he/him] is a Chicago-based actor and a proud graduate of Illinois State University with a B.A. in Acting. He is thrilled to be launching his acting career with this professional debut. At Illinois State University, Dimitri played Maniac in The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Cal in The Art of Dining, Everybody/Evil in Everybody (Irene Ryan Nomination), and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He received the Sutter Scholarship which allowed him to perform in the Illinois Shakespeare Festival’s company as Francis Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Guildenstern in Hamlet, and a Servant in The Importance of Being Earnest.
Chelsea Bria
Understudy — Miss Vivian
Chelsea Bria [she/her] is a St. Louis native making her Tin Drum Theatre Company debut. Recent Chicago credits include Advance Man (Strawdog Theatre Co.), The Sugar Wife (The Artistic Home), Miss Spence’s Play (Fleetwood-Jourdain), and Yes, Deep in My Blood (Oil Lamp). Notable roles: Mallory in Lottery Day and Calypso in The Trials of Odysseus (Hydrama Arts Center). She earned her MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University and serves on staff at Black Ensemble Theater. Offstage, she is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor and a Judith Leibowitz Award recipient. She is a proud 2026 Shattered Globe Protégé.
Bryce Ranee
Understudy — Hummingbird
Bryce Ranee [she/her] is thrilled to be making her Tin Drum Theatre debut in A Dark Wood by Eric Coble, understudying the role of Hummingbird! She is a Chicago-based actor and graduate of Illinois State University, where she earned her B.S. in acting with a minor in film studies.
Some of her Chicago theatre credits include Roxane in Cyrano (Theatre Above the Law), Aria in Renzo Vicente’s original work New Line (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre), and Ginette and Marvalyn in Almost, Maine (Point2Point Productions). While at Illinois State University, Bryce took on the role of Bella in Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers, directed by ISU alum and acclaimed actor Jane Lynch, as well as Arugula in Space Girl and Sumner in Men on Boats. Bryce has also worked on camera in a variety of short films, student films, and commercial projects.
Bryce is ecstatic to continue building her artistic community in Chicago, extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with this amazing team, and endlessly thankful for the unwavering love and support of her friends and family who make this journey all the more meaningful.
Michael Stejskal
Understudy — Dipper
Michael [he/him] is thrilled to be back home with Tin Drum! Recent credits include Bill Cooke, Advance Man (Strawdog Theatre Co.) Donald Sherman, Southern Rapture, (Tin Drum Theatre Co.), Warren, Four Places (4 Chairs Theatre), Leontes, The Winter’s Tale (Invictus Theatre), and David Lewis, Gods & Monsters (Frame of Reference Productions). Off stage he can be found cutting hair at his barbershop The Public Barber, and lounging on the sofa with his two pugs.
Anika Flores
Understudy — Armadillo
Anika [she/her] is so excited to be making her debut with Tin Drum! Her previous credits include Jess/Chloe (Hookman), Doctor/Bosola (Duchess of Malfi), Mistress Ford (Merry Wives of Windsor), and working on various shows at National Theatre for Children. Anika would also like to thank her friends, family and most of all her partner, Marcus, for all their love and support.
Production Team
Steve Needham
Producer & Director
[he/him] Steve is the Co-Artistic Director of Tin Drum Theatre Company. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Steve is also a founding member of Convergence-Continuum, a company that is still pushing boundaries and producing provocative black box theatre 25 years later. After settling in Chicago, Steve worked in various capacities with About Face Theatre, The Bailiwick Repertory, and Pride Films and Plays.
After a hiatus from theater work, Steve found his passion for the art form again while completing graduate studies at the University of Chicago – a journey which culminated in writing his original play Winter Garden about Edwin and John Wilkes Booth – and laid the groundwork for the formation of Tin Drum Theatre Company.
Steve is thrilled to once again be part of Chicago’s theater scene and excited to contribute to the tradition of intimate stage performances that have long inspired and engaged the artists and audiences of our great city. He directed Tin Drum’s production of The Unseen and produced last season’s Southern Rapture.
Outside of his artistic pursuits, Steve works as an attorney at a law firm in the River North neighborhood.
Jason Palmer
Production Manager
[he/him] Jason is delighted to be back in the woods with such an enthusiastic and talented group of people. He happens to have degrees in both theatre arts and psychology. Hailing from the scenic coal region of north central Pennsylvania, Jason has pursued the theatrical spotlight from coast to coast. Taking a jack-of-all-trades approach to theatre, he’s done everything from acting to directing to stage management, lighting, and set construction. Jason also has numerous film and several TV credits to his name – again, both on-camera and off. Theatre has been a love that has stayed with him across several career changes and several long-distance moves. He is excited to be back in Chicago, his favourite city with his partner Josh, playing loving dog dad to Bryn, and doing what he has always loved doing best. By day, Jason dabbles in Operations Management; he is honoured to be a founding member and Co-Artistic Director of Tin Drum Theatre Company. He most recently directed Southern Rapture for Tin Drum, following the Chicago debut of Incognito and TD’s inaugural production of Winter Garden by Steve Needham.
Sil Rivera
Stage Manager
Sil Rivera [they/them] received their BFA in Drama from NYU Tisch. They work as a teaching artist with Chicago Children’s Theatre, as well as a theatre artist focused on design and performance. They strive to cultivate work and spaces that center laughter and empathy at their core. If you can’t find them, they are probably helping kids make puppets, teaching dogs how to swim or constructing something strange out of cardboard. Sil made their debut with Tin Drum this summer as ASM on Southern Rapture.
Jack Edward
Assistant Stage Manager
Jack Edward [he/him] is making his Tin Drum debut and is beyond thrilled to be diving into Chicago theatre with such a talented group of creatives. Jack has frequented the stages of a variety of theaters in West Michigan, where he grew up, and has lived in Los Angeles doing film work for the last six years. Jack relocated to Chicago this summer and is excited to be the Assistant Stage Manager of a new play that highlights the devastatingly dystopian themes that are so relevant today.
William Hughes
Scenic Designer & Technical Director
Will [he/him] is a Chicago-based designer, technical director, and painter. He runs the custom fabrication shop Andersonville Scenic Studios. Other design credits include Lifespan of a Fact (Elsinore Theater Co), Measure of a Man (Coalescence Theater), & 4000 Miles (A Short Leap). Andersonville Scenic Studios does both commercial and theatrical fabrication; recent theater builds include: Trojan Women (Eos Theater Co), Hula Hoopin’ Queen (YPT Chicago), The Hobbit (YPT Chicago), and Godspell (Music Theater Works).
Visit www.andersonvillescenicstudios.com to see more of our past work!
Kasey Wolfgang
Costume Designer
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kasey [she/her] is a costume designer based in the Chicagoland Area and an Artistic Associate of Tin Drum. She holds an undergraduate degree in Costume Design from Western Michigan University and a Masters in Costume Design from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her first show with Tin Drum Theatre (and her Chicago Debut) was Incognito in July of 2025. Additional Chicago Designs include The Unseen and Southern Rapture (Tin Drum Theatre), Advance Man (Strawdog Theatre Company), Company (Madkap Productions), The Mark (Babes with Blades) and The Dover Road (Ghostlight Theater Ensemble). Before moving back to the Midwest, Kasey worked in DC assisting and designing shows, including The Snow Maiden (Synetic Theater), Senior Class (Olney Theater Company), Disney’s Frozen (Olney Theater Company), and the Helen Hayes award winning The Nance (1st Stage). When not designing, she works as the Assistant Costume Director at Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
Emma Berry
Lighting Designer & Production Electrician
Emma Berry [she/her] is thrilled to be working with Tin Drum Theatre Co. for the first time! Chicago credits include Por’Knockers (Gwydion Theatre Co.); Hail Mary/Maria (Nova Entertainment); Tongue of a Bird (Rosebud Theatricals); moonwatchers (Lazy Susan Theatre Co.). Regional credits include The Walls Have Ears (Westchester Cultural Arts); Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Spitfire Grill (Miami Acting Company). Assistant credits include Ashland Avenue, Iceboy, Dead Girl’s Quinceañera (Goodman Theatre).
Zach Stinnett
Sound Designer
Zach (he/him) is a Chicago-based Sound Designer for theatre and film who previously designed The Unseen and Southern Rapture for Tin Drum. He is the former Technical Director of MCL Chicago where he designed Sound and Lighting for the original run of Yippie Ki Yay Merry Christmas a Die Hard Musical. In his spare time he ruins countless movies for non sound people by explaining what is and is not the sound of a shammy.
Erin Alys
Assistant Director & Intimacy Director
Erin Alys [she/her] is an actor, Intimacy Director, stunt performer, educator, and puppet enthusiast. She has trained extensively with Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) and presented research at their Chicago Symposium. Chicago ID credits include: A Dark Wood, Southern Rapture (Tin Drum); Witch, The Three Musketeers, Blood Countess, The School for Scandal (Idle Muse); Days of Rage (Ego Death); Tender Napalm (Backyard). As a stunt person, Erin performed alongside dinosaurs in the national tour of Jurassic World Live, produced by NBC Universal and Feld Entertainment. She has taught viewpoints, acting, and voice & movement at the Chicago Actor Studio, as well as universities across the country. She is a company member with Theatre Arcana and PlayMakers Laboratory, and is a SITI Company Conservatory Alumni. Erin holds an MFA in Acting & New Work from The Ohio State University.
About the Playwright
Eric Coble is an award-winning American playwright whose work spans sharply drawn dramas, audacious comedies, and incisive social satire. Born in Edinburgh and raised on the Navajo and Ute reservations of the American Southwest, Coble brings a distinctive blend of wit, empathy, and theatrical boldness to the stage.
His plays have been produced across the United States and internationally, including on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at major regional theatres. His Broadway debut, The Velocity of Autumn, starring Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella, earned Parsons a Tony Award nomination. Other widely produced works include The Giver (stage adaptation), Bright Ideas, My Barking Dog, Fairfield, The Dead Guy, Natural Selection, and Southern Rapture, which Tin Drum produced last season, among many others.
Coble’s scripts have received a Jeff Award, an ATCA Steinberg New Play Award citation, the Governor’s Award for the Arts (Ohio), and multiple Edgerton New Play Awards. His work has been developed or produced by The Kennedy Center, Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Class Company, Denver Center Theatre Company, Cleveland Play House, Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, and Actors Theatre of Louisville.
Known for his sharp comic voice and ability to illuminate the tensions and absurdities of contemporary American life, Coble remains a vital presence in the new-play landscape. He is a member of the Playwrights’ Center and a graduate of Ohio University’s MFA program.
About Tin Drum Theatre
Tin Drum Theatre Company takes its name from “The Tin Drum”, a novel by Günter Grass that was initially banned and criticized before being recognized as a major work of world literature. In the book, its narrator carries a tin drum that becomes a means of protest and expression, interrupting complacency and calling attention to injustice. For Tin Drum Theatre Company, the image holds enduring resonance. It reflects a belief that when institutions fail to tell the truth, culture and art must carry that responsibility forward. Theatre becomes a place where deeper truths are spoken and meaning is shaped by human experience rather than power.
The company began in 2024 when Steve Needham and Jason Palmer joined creative forces with Teddy Boone and Jacob Coggshall for a production of a new play, Winter Garden, written by Steve Needham. The company continued with the Chicago premiere of Nick Payne’s Incognito, The Unseen, by Craig Wright, and Eric Coble’s Southern Rapture, all of which were met with enthusiastic responses from critics and audiences alike. We are proud to join the long tradition of scrappy ‘storefront’ theaters in a city that is second to none.
We are excited to continue our story with you. Thank you for supporting storefront theater in Chicago, and for choosing to support Tin Drum Theatre Company.
Special Thanks
Theaters and Theatrical Organizations: Greenhouse Theater Center, The Saints, Three Crows Theatre, Strawdog Theatre Company.
Businesses and Services: SHOUT Chicago, American Signs By Tomorrow, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams – Andersonville, Fidelity Charitable.
Individuals: Elliott Fredland, Phil Burkhalter, Josh Garcia, Chris Bowles, Lance Sorenson, Dan Kilbane, Noah Elman, Jonathan Berry, Warren Gump.
Save It For Your Special Day by Will Hughes
Our Generous Donors ($100+)
Ross Anderson
Nicholas Appleby
Rebecca & Wade Bacon
David & Sheree Bauer
Todd Beller & Shona Greer
Jessica Bernhardt
Patricia Bias
Chris & Jennifer Bowles
Gerald Bragg & Kevin Richardson
Martin Brown
Phil Burkhalter
John Charmelo & Rob Barba
Dan Cohn
John Combs
Lori & Jim Deshaies
Alex Di Mauro
David Fink
Elliott Fredland
Joshua Garcia
Cesar Garcia-Ramos
Dan Gonzalez
Samuel Griffith
Warren Gump
Virgil Hernandez & Joshua Smith
Suzanne Knoll & Jamie Wrenn
Jacob Kunkel &
Rhiannon Sherrard
Chris Landgraff & Eileen Dordek
Sean Adam Le & Jeffrey Zroback
Althea & DeWayne Leslie
Giovanni Lugli
Shelly Marsh
Doug & Sue McConnell
Daniel McCurdy & Steve Huffines
Jeff Neal
William Ovca
John Panozzo & Steve Radakovitz
Nick Patricca
Daniel Payne
Heather & Nick Payne
Charlotte Perrault
Bill Phan
Amy & Lance Rantala
Brian Sanderson
Timothy Sherck
Leroy Sickler
Paul Siegel
Asha Spencer
Mark Steinwachs
Michael Stejskal
Boon Tan
Randy Ubillos & Rick Fath
Joseph Williams & Sasha Prokopoff
A Dark Wood is produced by special arrangement with:
THE GERSH AGENCY, 9465 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 600,
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
Support Us
If you enjoy live theater in your community and want to see more from Tin Drum, please join our Drum Circle of Supporters and make a tax-deductible donation today! We are committed to compensating our actors, designers, and all of our collaborative artists for their time and talent. Your generous support, in any amount, helps support local artists and storefront theater in Chicago.
Donations by check can be mailed to: Tin Drum Theatre Company; 1811 West Winnemac Ave., Unit L; Chicago IL, 60640