MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM

KARISSA MURRELL MYERS (PLAYWRIGHT) (she/her) is an award-winning Filipino American theatre artist originally from Idaho. Now based in Chicago, she serves as the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Bramble Theatre Company. She is the recipient of the 2023 Maxim Mazumdar New Play Award and is an O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Finalist and Semifinalist. Her work has been presented at Goodman Theatre, Alleyway Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Strawdog Theatre, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, A Red Orchid Theatre, American Blues Theatre, The Gift Theatre, Silk Road Rising, Boise Contemporary Theatre, Oregon Contemporary Theatre, City Theatre, and Bramble, among others. Karissa received an "Outstanding New Work" Jeff Awards nomination for the world premiere of her play On the Greenbelt, and was featured in American Theatre Magazine’s “Theatre Workers You Should Know”. As an actor, she has performed at regional theatres such as Court Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Remy Bumppo, and Renaissance Theaterworks. Television includes Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Electric Dreams, The Exorcist, and The Big Leap. She teaches at the University of Illinois Chicago as an adjunct faculty member and has guest lectured at DePaul University, Ball State, and Utah State University. MFA in Performance from University of Hawaii at Manoa, BA in Theatre Arts from Boise State University, and is a proud graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. Member of SAG-AFTRA and The Dramatist Guild. More at www.kmurrellmyers.com.

JONATHAN BERRY (DIRECTOR) (He/Him/His) is a Chicago-based director and educator. He is the Executive Artistic Director at Raven Theatre. He was an Artistic Producer at Steppenwolf, where directing credits include: Lindiwe, The Children, You Got Older, Constellations, Curious Incident…, and The Crucible. Other work includes: Steep Theatre (Company Member): Paris, Birdland, Red Rex, The Knowledge, Festen, Moment and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Griffin (Company Member): The Harvest, Balm in Gilead, Golden Boy, Spring Awakening, Punk Rock, Port, Company, and Picnic. Roundabout Theater, Suicide, Incorporated. Strawdog: the world premiere of On the Greenbelt by Karissa Murrell Myers. Gift Theatre: the remount of Obliterarion, the world premieres of Dirty and Suicide, Incorporated. Goodman Theatre: The Solid Sand Below and The World of Extreme Happiness for New Stages. Assistant Director Broadway productions of Of Mice and Men and This is our Youth. He taught classes at UIC, Columbia College, Northwestern and was instrumental in leading the ensemble training program, The School at Steppenwolf where he was so proud to teach many of the Bramble Ensemble.

DELENA BRADLEY (SCENIC DESIGNER) is a scenic and costume designer based out of Chicago, IL, and is thrilled to be back at the Bramble! Recent credits include: scenic design for Evil Perfect and Rooted at Bramble Theatre, Fizz And Ginger with Chicago Fringe Opera at Theater Wit, Fefu and Her Friends and Yerma at University of Illinois Chicago, assistant scenic designer for Dance of Death and Describe The Night at Steppenwolf Theatre and Inherit The Wind at Goodman Theatre (scenic designer-Collette Pollard), deviser/scenic/costume design for Frutos de la Muerte at Glass Half Full (Austin, TX), Costume and Scenic design for Beto, Beto El Abeto and costume design for Estado Vegetal at Zilker Botanical Garden (Austin, TX), costume design for Eelpout! At Shattered Globe Theatre, Orlando and The Importance of Being Earnest at North Central College, Seedfolks at Metro Theatre Ensemble (St. Louis), Much Ado About Nothing at Asolo Repertory Theatre/FSU (Sarasota), and production/costume design for Addict Named Hal feature film by Lane Stanley (Austin, TX). M.F.A. from The University of Texas at Austin, and bachelor’s from Ball State University.

MADELEINE SHOWS (COSTUME DESIGNER) (she/her) is a costume designer and technician whose recent credits include INFERNAL and PRICK at Proboscis (costume design), HERE BE SIRENS at Chicago Fringe Opera (costume design) and CIRCUS QUIXOTE and IRAQ, BUT FUNNY at Lookingglass Theatre Company (crafts and stitching). She is a lay-medievalist and an expert in the esoteric. Hire her to design your cult's ceremonial robes.

HENRY TOOHEY (LIGHTING DESIGNER)

DEE ETTI-WILLIAMS (SOUND DESIGNER) (they/them) is a Chicago-based Sound Designer/Composer from Dallas, Texas. Dee’s work explores Sound as an intentional yet flexible heightening of storytelling. They proudly lead with empathy in their process and are constantly inspired by their collaborators. The core of their artistry is a deep interest in people and the artistic community they’ve thoughtfully cultivated.

TRISTIN HALL (FIGHTS & INTIMACY DESIGNER) (they/them) is ecstatic to be stepping foot back on Black Bear Island. Tristin is Chicago born and raised actor, Intimacy and Fight Choreographer trained with IDC, SAFD, and BASSC. They have choreographed at Northlight, Steep, Strawdog, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Writers, Bramble Theater, Jackalope, Theater Evolve, and Citadel to name a few. Tristin is a proud founding member of Point Theatre Project and of Gladiator Fight Night! If you want to see them fight, check out their work at pointtheatreproject.com. All the love to their family for their constant support!

AMY CARPENTER (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR) (she/hers) is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist from Atlanta, GA whose practice centers around negotiating uncertainty and finding revelation through performance. In Chicago, she has been privileged to work with First Floor Theater, TimeLine Theatre, Raven Theatre, The Barrens Theatre, Refracted Theatre Company, and A Red Orchid Theatre Company. Amy co-founded artistic collective [producingbody] in 2021 and has had the privilege to direct: 4.48 Psychosis (co-direction w/ Claire Bauman), BIG LOVE, SPECTACULAR SPECTACULAR, and the workshop of Hanna Kime's NEXT DOOR. Black Bear Island is her first production with Bramble Theatre Company and she’s grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with this immensely talented team.

PATRICK STARNER (PRODUCTION MANAGER) (he/him) is a Chicago-based director, producer, and production manager and is thrilled to return to Bramble Theatre Company for his third show. Previous directing credits include: Cozy (PocketTheatrics), Eleven Months of Nuclear Summer, Gut (Platform), As You Are (Guest Director, University of Notre Dame), Infinity Burns (A Red Orchid Theater - Incubator Series) and Untitled (blood,marble) (Snails on a Bike). He previously managed productions for A Red Orchid Theatre, Refracted Theatre Company, and Bramble Theatre Company. starnerpatrick.com.

AMANDA TANCIOCO ROKOSZ (STAGE MANAGER) is a Filipina-American stage manager and proud native of the Chicagoland area. Past credits include All Nighter (SM) with The Village Theater, The Pets (ASM) with Bramble Theatre Company, Hedwig and The Angry Inch (ASM) with Haven Chicago, and The EVOLUTION Asian American Arts Festival with Asian American Arts Chicago (SM). Amanda received her BFA in Stage Management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As always, she is so grateful to her family and friends for all of their support. Maraming salamat at mahal kita!

GABRIELLE OWENS (ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER) (she/they) is delighted to be working on her first production with Bramble Theatre. She has been bouncing around the Chicago theatre scene since she moved here in 2018, and has experience in front of house work, dramaturgy, and script doctoring as well as stage management. She is also an Artistic Associate with Theatre EVOLVE. When not in a theatre, she walks dogs, writes short stories, and does her best not to end up in more book clubs than she can keep up with. Previous SM credits include: Native Gardens, MEDEAMEDEAMEDEA, The Hatmaker’s Wife, Krugozor (Theatre EVOLVE), Richard III (Babes with Blades), Ghost Fetus (Trap Door Theatre).

HANNA BOWEN (TECHNICAL DIRECTOR) is a Chicago based Technical Director and carpenter and is honored to work with the incredible team behind Black Bear Island. She is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2024). She’d like to thank her friends, family, and mentors for their support.

ADRIANA ANDREOLAS (ASSISTANT PROPS DESIGNER) is a scenic designer, painter, and stage manager. She recently graduated from UIC with a BA in Theater Design, Production, and Technology with a minor in education. She has scenic designed for summertime (an interlude) (UIC), and Macbeth (UIC), and been a studio assistant for Collette Pollard for Eureka Day (Timeline - Chicago Broadway Playhouse). Adri has painted for two theater seasons with Impostor’s Theater Company (‘25-’26), Confederates (Redtwist), and ChiARTS’ summer season. She stage managed Odessa (Subtext Studio TC), Exit Strategy (UIC), and assisted stage management for Not About Nightingales, Urinetown, and Blues for an Alabama Sky (UIC), Helena and Hermia, and Footholds V6, (Impostor’s Theater Company), Big Time Toppers (Theater L’Acadie), as well as Andy Warhol Presents: The Cocaine Play (Jackalope Theatre Company).