Zora Howard (Playwright) is a Harlem-bred writer and performer. Plays include STEW (2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalist; P73), The Master’s Tools (WTF), Bust (2022 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalist), Hang Time (2022 Creative Capital Award Finalist) and Good Faith. Her work has been developed with SPACE at Ryder Farm, Ojai Playwrights Conference, the Lark, Primary Stages and Cape Cod Theatre Project, among others. In 2020, her film Premature (2020 Film Independent John Cassavetes Award nominee), which she co-wrote with director Rashaad Ernesto Green, opened in theaters following its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Zora is the inaugural Judith Champion Fellow at MTC, a 2022 Lilly Award recipient and is currently under commission from Seattle Rep, MTC, and Wessex Grove.

Malkia Stampley (Director) hails from Milwaukee where she attended Marquette University for Theater Arts with internships at Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Skylight Music Theater. She joined Goodman Theatre as Producer in 2021 after serving as founding Artistic Producer for Milwaukee Black Theater Festival. Select producing credits: Goodnight Oscar, Gem of the Ocean, Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, Life After, STEW, and Pretty Fire. She is an alum of Theatre Producers of Color and Broadway for Racial Justice’s Casting Directive Fellowship. Malkia is a founder of Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and served as Producing Artistic Director for three seasons. Select directing credits: Shakesfest (Chicago Shakespeare), Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Farmer’s Alley), The Gift of the Magi (American Players), Black Nativity (Black Arts MKE, three years), STEW (Milwaukee Chamber), Nunsense (Milwaukee Rep), Five Guys Named Moe (Skylight Music) and readings for Congo Square, #ENOUGH and Texas State Black and Latino Playwright Celebration.

CAST

Velma Austin* (Mama) Velma is honored to be on stage in STEW at Shattered Globe Theatre. Velma most recently appeared on stage in Sweat at The St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Velma’s Chicago credits include: Hobo King and Brother’s of the Dusk (Congo Square); Denmark, Unspoken Prayers, Bourbon At The Border, Waiting To Be Invited, Root Causes, The Sutherland, The Colored Museum (Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Revue), Court-Martial at Fort Devens (nominated for a Special Recognition Outstanding Award), and The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy (Victory Gardens); Intimate Apparel (Steppenwolf, Black Theatre Alliance award for Best Actress); Trouble In Mind (The Artistic Home); and God’s Trombones (ETA Theatre). Regional credits include: Birdie Blue (The Seattle Repertory Theatre, as Birdie); Screened in Porch (Woodie Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress) and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (The St Louis Black Repertory Company); and Root Causes (Madison Repertory Theatre). Velma’s TV credits include Chicago Fire and most recently Empire. She made her film debut in Losing Isaiah with Halle Berry and Jessica Lange followed by Light It Up with Usher and Vanessa Williams. When not on stage, Velma enjoys traveling, cooking, and watching her son play baseball.

Demetra Dee+ (Lil’ Mama, she/her) is grateful to be working on Shattered Globe’s production of STEW, and is delighted to be a new Ensemble Member at Shattered Globe Theatre. A few of her Chicago credits include: Cullud Wattah (Victory Gardens); Relentless (Goodman/Timeline Theatre); The Last Pair of Earlies (Raven Theatre); Middle Passage (Lifeline Theatre); Be Here Now (Shattered Globe); Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Raven Theatre US/performed) Comfort Stew (ETA Creative Arts); The Colored Museum (Pegasus); The Greenbook (Chicago Dramatists); Migration (ETA Creative Arts). She is represented by DDO Chicago. IG: @DemetraDee /Website: www.demetradee.com

Jazzma Pryor+ (Lillian, she/her) is excited for her first performance as an Ensemble Member with Shattered Globe Theatre. Her SGT credits include: Hannah and Martin and Crime and Punishment. Some of her other Chicago credits include: Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, Sunset Baby, and From The Mississippi Delta (Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre); Doubt: A Parable (Irish Theatre of Chicago); Phillis: The American Revolutionary (Redd Opera); Insurrection: Holding History (Stage Left Theatre); Marisol (Promethean Theatre); and Prelude to a Kiss (The Comrades). Jazzma holds a B.A. in Production Studies with a theatre concentration from Clemson University and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Science in Leadership for Creative Enterprises program at Northwestern University. She is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. Live, Laugh, Love.

Jasmine Cheri Rush (Nelly) Jasmine is elated to be making her Shattered Globe debut. She is a 2021 graduate of the BFA Acting program at The Theatre School at DePaul University, where she starred in the Chicago premiere of Our Lady of Kibeho. Her recent credits include Gifty in School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play (Cincinnati Playhouse), and Cordelia in King Lear (Shakespeare & Company). She is a writer, mover, deviser, and film director. Jasmine dedicates this performance to her own adolescence, and to the generational healing of Black women everywhere. Jasmine is represented by Gray Talent Group, and you can find her on all social media platforms @jazzycheri.

UNDERSTUDIES

Kaylah Marie Crosby (u/s Lillian, she/her) is absolutely delighted to be a part of this amazing show! This is her first production with Shattered Globe Theatre. Her other Chicago credits include: Paris (Steep Theatre) and As You Like It (Forest Park Theatre Company). Kaylah recently graduated from the University of Illinois in Chicago’s BFA Acting program, where she partook in several in-person and zoom productions. Her favorite UIC Mainstage credits include Da Mixtape, The Crucible, Barbecue, and The Luck of the Irish. 

Ashli Rene Funches (u/s Lil’ Mama, any pronouns) is excited to make their Shattered Globe Theatre debut. Her recent credits include: Detroit 67 and Long Time Since Yesterday (DePaul University) and Life and Death of King John (Shakespeare and Company). Ashli wrote and produced a film entitled A Yellow Circus in 2020. Ashli recently received their BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Cynthia Hines (u/s Mama, she/her) is excited to return to Shattered Globe Theatre, where she was previously an understudy (performed) in Be Here Now. Other Chicago credits include Women At War (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble), Clybourne Park and Doubt (Harper College), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Galaxy Theatre Company), Barbecue (u/s Strawdog Theatre Company), Wedding Band (u/s The Artistic Home), Everything In Between (Dandelion Theatre), and Small Mouth Sounds (A Red Orchid Theatre).

Kianna Rose (u/s Nelly, she/her) is excited to be working with Shattered Globe for the first time. Chicago credits include: Athena (u/s, Writers Theatre); SubCulture (Interrobang Theatre Project); 8:46 Breathing Room (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble); Symphony for Six Jonis (The Sound); Worst Mother in the World (Halcyon Theatre); Corduroy (u/s, Emerald City Theatre); Holiday Train: EL Stories (Waltzing Mechanics), Clearing (u/s, Commission Theatre). On-screen credits include: the Russo Brother’s film Cherry (AppleTV) and Chicago Fire (NBC). Kianna has also enjoyed working on numerous independent projects and commercials and is represented by Gray Talent Group.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Sotirios Livaditis (Scenic Designer) is a scenic designer, illustrator, and storyteller based in Chicago.  He is returning to Shattered Globe where he previously designed This Wide Night.  Recent projects include: Light Falls, Mosquitoes (Steep Theatre); Bright Star (Hope College); Wellesley Girl (Compass Theatre); RAGTIME (Music Theatre Works); Teenage Dick (Theatre Wit); Out of Love (Interrobang Theatre Project); and For Services Rendered (Griffin Theatre – Jeff nomination).  He has also worked with Goodman Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and The Irish National Opera. Upcoming projects include Enough to Let the Light In (Teatro Vista/Steppenwolf).  He holds an MFA in Stage Design from Northwestern University.  Please feel free to experience his work at www.sotiriosdesigns.com.

Austin Winter (Costume Designer, they/them) is excited to make their debut with Shattered Globe. Regional credits include STEW, Underneath the Lintel, How to Catch Creation, and Home (Milwaukee Chamber Theater); Dragon Pack Snake Attack (Hope Summer Rep); and The Amazing Lemonade Girl (First Stage). Austin holds a BA in Musical Theater and an MM in Music Theater pedagogy from Carthage College.  www.austinwinter.com

Levi J. Wilkins (Lighting Designer, he/him) Born and raised on the Southwest side of Chicago, Levi has been a member of the Chicago Theater community since the age of 6. He studied Theatre and Production at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, and is currently the lighting director at The Faith Community of St. Sabina. Levi is the go-to for many of Chicago’s gospel music artists for stage lighting and design. His other past theater credits include: A Raisin In The Sun (Indiana University Northwest), Day of Absence and What to Send Up When it Goes Down (Congo Square Theater), White (Definition Theater), Ruined (Invictus Theater), The Mountaintop (Cardinal Stage Theater), Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes (The Story Theater), and St. Sebastian (Refracted Theater). Along with many other festival, concert and dance performance design credits. In addition, he also owns and operates an event planning company. For more info about Levi visit www.fresherlight.com

Zack Berinstein (Original Music and Composition) is a Chicago-based sound designer, audio engineer, and composer. In addition to recording and producing artists in the Midwest, recent sound design credits include: Five Guys Named Moe, Hairspray, and Pippin (Skylight Music Theatre);  Annie (Skylight Music Theatre, nominated for a Footlights Award in Outstanding Sound Design); and Souvenir and Nunsense (Milwaukee Rep). You can find him online at ZackBear.com.

JJ Porterfield (Sound Technician) has worked with several theater companies around Chicago and is thrilled to be part of this creative process at Shattered Globe Theatre.

Persephone Lawrence-Wescott (Props Designer, she/they) is a Chicago-based Prop Designer, Artisan, and Manager and is excited to return to design at Shattered Globe Theatre after prop designing Rasheeda Speaking earlier this season. Other Chicago credits include Dear Jack Dear Louise and The Garbologists (Northlight Theatre Company); I Banquo and I Cinna the Poet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Emma (Lifeline Theatre Company); The Worst Mother in the World (Halcyon Theatre); Wife Material (Underscore Theatre Company). Persephone studied technical theater at the University of Northern Colorado, after which they apprenticed as a part of the Steppenwolf Professional Leadership Program in the 2017/2018 season, and is currently a proud member of The Society for Properties Artisan Managers.

Danielle Davis (Assistant Director, she/her) is thrilled to join the Shattered Globe team on STEW. Chicago credits include: Holiday Inn (Drury Lane Theatre); The Music Man (Goodman Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, Dream and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); BLKS (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Fun Home (Victory Gardens Theater); An Octoroon (Definition Theatre); Ragtime (Griffin Theatre); Rent (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre). New York credits include: How To Catch Creation (Geva Theatre Center). Television credits include: The Chi, Shameless (Showtime); Chicago PD (NBC); Empire (FOX); Sense8, Easy (Netflix). Danielle is an ensemble member of Definition Theatre and holds a BFA in Acting from Roosevelt University. She is represented by Stewart Talent-Chicago.

Tina M. Jach*+ (Production Stage Manager, she/her) is a Shattered Globe Ensemble Member and is excited to be working on STEW. Her SGT credits include: Rasheeda Speaking, This Wide Night, Sheepdog; Be Here Now; Crime And Punishment; How to Use a Knife, and Peter Pan on her 70th birthday; Other Chicago credits include Four Places (Den Theatre); The Father (Remy Bumppo Theatre); Fade (Teatro Vista & Victory Gardens Theater); Hand To God, The Gospel of Lovingkindness, Eurydice, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Anna in the Tropics, and Knock me a Kiss (among other shows at Victory Gardens Theater); Confessions of a P. I. M. P. (Grippo Stage Company, Inc.); Race (Goodman Theatre). Ms. Jach holds an MFA in Stage Management from Rutgers University and is a proud member of AEA.

Ayanna Wimberly~ (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her) is delighted to be back with Shattered Globe for the Chicago premiere of STEW. She has been an Artistic Associate with Shattered Globe since 2019. Her previous SGT credits include: Sheepdog, Hannah and Martin, and The Heavens are Hung in Black. Other Chicago stage management credits include In Sarah’s Shadow: The Eleonora Duse Story (Prop Thtr).  Ms. Wimberly holds a BFA in Dramatic Writing from New York University.

Judy Anderson*+ (Executive Production Manager) has been an SGT Ensemble member since 1991 as the theatre’s Resident Stage Manager. In 2009, she became the Resident Production Manager. Judy has worked on every SGT production in one aspect or another and loves working with her SGT family.

STAFF

Sandy Shinner+ (SGT Producing Artistic Director, she/her) joined Shattered Globe Theatre in October 2013 as the theatre’s first Producing Artistic Director. Her SGT directing credits include Deborah Zoe Laufer’s Be Here Now, Will Snider’s How to Use a Knife, Scott McPherson’s Marvin’s Room, and Sally Nemeth’s Mill Fire. The former Associate Artistic Director of Victory Gardens Theater, she created the nationally known IGNITION! Festival, served as co-director of the Access Project, and, with former Artistic Director Dennis Zacek and former Managing Director Marcelle McVay, accepted the 2001 Regional Theater Tony Award on behalf of Victory Gardens. She has directed over 85 plays at theaters including Victory Gardens, Remy Bumppo, American Blues, the University of Virginia, Actors Theater of Louisville’s Humana Festival, Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory of New Work, New York’s 78th Street Theater Lab, and the Sacramento Theater Company, among others. Her production of Trying by Joanna McClelland Glass transferred to New York, and her direction was nominated for the Joe A. Callaway Award. Shinner received the 2013 Kathryn V. Lamkey Spirit Award from the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of Actors’ Equity Association for her commitment to diversity and non-traditional casting. She has been recognized as one of “50 Top Players” by Newcity and a “Chicagoan of the Year” by the Chicago Tribune. She is an adjunct professor at DePaul’s Theatre School, and an Ambassador for the National New Play Network.

AmBer D. Montgomery (SGT Associate Artistic Director, she/her) is a director, educator and multi-disciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. Originally trained as an actor, AmBer has recently directed Rasheeda Speaking (Shattered Globe Theatre, Jeff Nominee for Best Director); The Snow Queen (The House Theater); Countess Dracula (Otherworld Theater); and hippolytos (Story Theatre New Play Festival). Her associate and assistant directing credits include: Sheepdog (Shattered Globe Theatre); School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play (Goodman Theatre); LINDIWE (Steppenwolf Theatre); Too Heavy for Your Pocket (TimeLine Theatre); Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Writers Theatre); Measure for Measure (American Players Theater); and First Love is the Revolution (Steep Theatre). She was awarded a 2020 FAIR Assistantship at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and a 2018 Fellowship at Steppenwolf Theatre. She has attended training programs at the Globe Theater in London and LISPA (Now Arthaus Berlin). AmBer holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program.

Lesley Swanson (SGT General Manager, she/her) brings over 12 years of experience in Arts Management and Arts Education to her role at Shattered Globe Theatre. Swanson has planned and executed productions in the non-profit sector for television, theater, and orchestra. She has also directed schools of dance, drama, and music. Swanson earned a MM in flute performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and a BM from Grand Valley State University. She owns a private studio in the City of Chicago where she teaches flute students of all ages. Active in Chicago’s new music scene, her dynamic flute playing can be heard with the Chicago Composers Orchestra. Swanson has proven herself to be a powerful advocate for women’s rights. As an arts leader, she is committed to continuing education. She recently completed Enrich Chicago’s training Building a Culture of Anti-Racism. Swanson enjoys spoiling her large cat, Séamus. Whenever possible, she slips away to the silver beaches of Lake Michigan.

Emma Durbin (SGT Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, Graphic Design, they/she) is a Chicago-based early-career playwright-dramaturg. Currently a member of PlayGround-Chicago’s writer’s pool, and a writer for Rescripted, Emma’s work centers women and people who are experiencing gender marginalization, and the bonds they form in search of survival, community, and joy. Emma’s play landscape received workshops at The Theatre School at DePaul University and at Mirrorbox Theatre and was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2022 Premiere Play Festival. Emma’s short plays have been presented by Chicago Dramatists, Shattered Globe Theatre, Westmont College, and Western Washington University. Emma has served on dramaturgy teams at Actors Theatre of Louisville, TimeLine Theatre Company, The Story Theatre, and as a script share reader for The Playwrights Realm. They interned at the Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland New Plays Festival, and attended the New Play Dramaturgy Intensive at the Kennedy Center with Mark Bly. Playwriting BFA: The Theatre School at DePaul University (2020, Dean’s Prize Recipient).