FESTIVAL LINEUP

SNAKES

Will Burdin is humbled to be joining Bramble for the first time as a playwright, having recently worked on The Pets as an actor. Chicago acting credits include: Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare In Love (Chicago Shakespeare); A Lie of the Mind (Raven); Lucy & Charlie's Honeymoon (Lookingglass Theatre); Love Song (Remy Bumppo); In Quietness (A Red Orchid); and work with Steep, Timeline, Oak Park Festival, Northlight, About Face Theatre, and Organic Theater Company. Will received his BFA from Northern Illinois University, and has studied with American Players Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, and the Moscow Art Theatre School.

MUD LIFE

G. Riley Mills is an Emmy Award-winning playwright based in Chicago. His musical, The Hundred Dresses (co-written with Grammy-nominee Ralph Covert), premiered Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre Company in New York City. His play, Lift Every Voice (co-written with Willie Round), was published by Dramatic Publishing and won the 2022 Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. He has twice won the Jeff Award for Best New Work for his plays Sawdust and Spangles and Streeterville (co-written with Covert), and in 2022, he won Emmy Awards for The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Trial in the Delta and The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Then and Now (co-written with Round). He is a producer on the feature films Blood Shine which premiered in London as well as the upcoming film, The Crying Man . His new book, Synergy and Sparks was published by John Wiley & Sons and debuted as the #1 Business Communication book on Amazon. More info at grileymills.com.

SCULTORE

James Kelsey Nelson (he/him/his) is a director and playwright based in Chicago. His full-length plays include Cambriolage (Live Arts: Waterworks Festival, Gallery Players: Black Box New Play Festival), Henchmen (UC Berkeley: Workshop Production, Anglo-Irish Theatre Group: Workshop Production), and Kirschgarten (Southeast Texas Festival of New Plays: Semifinalist), and his many short plays have been performed throughout the US and abroad. James received his MFA from Indiana University, and his BA from UMKC in his hometown of Kansas City.

MUD LIFE

Mud Life Entertainment founder Willie Round is a Chicago-based playwright, filmmaker, actor and creative entrepreneur dedicated to telling powerful stories rooted in culture, history and community. A graduate of Central State University, Willie blends theater, film, music and journalism through his company, Mud Life Entertainment. He is the creator of the acclaimed stage play The Lawndale King, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s time in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. Willie is also a 2026 fellow with Kartemquin Films’ Diverse Voices in Docs program and continues developing projects that uplift overlooked voices and preserve Black history through art.

HELL-BURNT

Dan Washelesky (they/he) is a Chicago-based director, dramaturg, playwright, teaching artist, and the Managing Director of Bramble Theatre Company. Previously they served as Managing Director at The Passage Theatre, Director of New Play Development at Valiant Theatre, and Head of Dramaturgy at First Run Theatre. Dan has also worked with Manhattan Theatre Club, Steppenwolf Theatre, Paramount Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Silk Road Cultural Center, Stage Center Theatre, Avalanche Theatre, Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, St. Louis Actors’ Studio, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis, and Dacha Theatre. MA: Washington University in St. Louis.

FEATHERS

Victor Yang is an actor, writer, and director originally from Sydney, Australia. His written works include poetry, screenplays, plays, and a novel(WIP). He obtained his B.A. in acting at Arizona State University. Select acting credits include: Julius Caesar(Hudson Valley Shakespeare), The Matchmaker(Hudson Valley Shakespeare), Twelfth Night(TheatreSquared), Much Ado About Nothing(Utah Shakespeare Festival), Charley's Aunt(Michigan Shakespeare Festival), Hamlet(Southwest Shakespeare Company). Victor will be attending Yale for an MFA in Acting in the Fall of 2026. Victor is represented by Gray Talent Group. @victoryang17

ANOTHER COUNTRY

Catherine Yu is a playwright, fiction writer and opera librettist. She has held fellowships from MacDowell, Soho Rep, New York Theatre Workshop, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival and more. Her operas have been commissioned by Atlanta Opera, Strange Trace and New Music Theatre Alliance. Her fiction is published in The Queens Review Spring 2026 issue. She is currently a Hodder Fellow at Princeton University, and under commission by Timeline Theatre in Chicago. BA: Stanford University. MFA: New York University.

SNAKES

Gabriela Diaz (she/her) is a Chicago-based actor, arts leader, and advocate for equitable creative spaces. As an artist, she has collaborated with companies including Teatro Vista, Steppenwolf, The Art Institute, Jackalope, Lifeline, Olde School Shakes, where she is an ensemble member and Avalanche Theatre, where she serves as the Artist Advocate. Gabriela holds a BFA from Webster Conservatory and could not be more excited to bring these works to life!

FEATHERS

Jessica Love (She/Her) is excited to be returning to Bramble after directing Clownfishing in their Spring Reading Series. Director: The Pilon (Red Theater), When It Comes We Can Worry Then (Three Brothers Theatre). Assistant Director: Everybody (Shakespeare Theatre Company), The Magic Play (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Kairos (Red Theater). Readings: Ghostlight Ensemble, Redtwist Theatre, Gender F*cked Productions, The Kennedy Center. Artistic Cohort Member of Red Theater. Recipient – National Stage Directors and Choreographers Award. BS Theatre: Middle Tennessee State University. jessica-love.com

MUD LIFE

Denise Yvette Serna (she/ella) is an award winning theatre practitioner in Chicago, Illinois. Credits include productions and new play development with Teatro Vista Productions, Lyric Opera of Chicago, MCA Chicago, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Neo-Futurists, Paramount Theatre, Bramble Theatre Company, Strawdog Theatre Company, Prop Thtr, and Global Hive Laboratories. Denise has facilitated international workshops, productions, readings, fundraisers, panels, and festivals to promote activism for racial equity, accessibility, climate justice, gender based violence, immigration, literacy, community collaboration, and collective joy. deniseyvetteserna.com

SCULTORE

Jonathan Shaboo is a Canadian actor, director and comedian. He appeared in the first U.S. National Tour of The Kite Runner and Evil Dead: The Musical. His regional and international stage credits include Uncle Vanya (New Theatre Project) The Band’s Visit and A Distinct Society (Writers Theatre), Layalina (Goodman Theatre), The North American premiere of Julie: After Strindberg (Untold Wants), and Greater Expectations (The Second City Toronto). Directing credits include Evil Perfect (Bramble Theatre) Ghost: The Musical and Forever Plaid (Starvox Ent.). He is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and a founding member of Bramble Theatre Company.

ANOTHER COUNTRY

Marie Tredway (she/her) is a SAG-AFTRA actor/theater director. Notable credits: Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, APT, and Milwaukee Chamber Theater. Marie recurs as Nurse Trinidad “Trini” Campos on Chicago Med, Fire and PD. She is proud to represent her heritage as one of the rare Filipino characters on television. She is repped by DDO Artists Agency & Infin8 Management. She is a passionate artist advocate for marginalized voices

HELL-BURNT

Embracing the weird in the wonderful, charming in the terrifying, and queer in the classic, Jess Yates is a Minnesotan director who invites artists and audiences to play with multidimensional perspectives in theatre and new work development. Their directing, assisting, and producing work has led Jess to Trinity Rep., Philadelphia Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Milwaukee Rep., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Renaissance Theaterworks, History Theatre, Children’s Theater Company, Mixed Blood Theatre, and more.

Pi (ANOTHER COUNTRY), Medusa (SNAKES)

Zhanna Albertini (she/her) is an actor based in Chicago. Some of her previous theatre credits include Farmers Alley, Broken Nose Theatre, Strawdog Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Steep Theatre, MPAACT and Silk Road Rising Theatre. You may also catch her on season 6 of Chicago P.D., Season 10 of Chicago Fire and Season 2 of Power Book IV: Force. Zhanna is represented by Stewart Talent Chicago.

Nora (FEATHERS), Arachne (SNAKES), Fiora (SCULTORE)

Ky Rambo (professionally: Kylie Anderson) (they/them) is represented by Stewart Talent. Ky is a company member at Avalanche Theatre and a founding company member at Bramble Theatre Company but has worked with a medley of other theaters in Chicago including Redtwist, Remy Bumppo, Steppenwolf, and Lookingglass Theatre. Ky has studied at University of Oklahoma (BFA: Drama, Acting Emphasis), Stella Adler’s Studio in New York City, NY (Physical Theatre), The Actor’s Gymnasium in Evanston, IL (two years of Aerial Arts and Clown), and School at Steppenwolf (Class of 2019) in Chicago.

Zed (HELL-BURNT), Massimo (SCULTORE)

Colin Callahan (they/he) graduated with a BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Recent theatre credits include: Scary Town (written by David Cerda), Pegasus Theatres: 38th Annul Young Playwrights Festival (directed by Ilesa Duncan), Not About Nightingales (directed by Eddie Torres), Trial in the Delta (co-directed by Anthony Mosley & Dana Anderson). Recent on screen credits include: Keep Still (Good fight Films), Cult College (Punk Adjunct), Paradox Chamber ( Matthew Evan Balz). keep up with Colin on Instagram @coliincallahan or colincallahanartist.com. Enjoy the show!

Demogorgon (HELL-BURNT)

Elisabeth Del Toro (she/her) loves new work!!! Chicago credits include DOGS (Red Theater), The Best Damn Thing (Understudy Coffee and Books), The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (Underscore Theatre) and Parachute Men (Teatro Vista). Elisabeth has a background in improv and sketch comedy, and degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Glasgow. Represented by Grossman and Jack Talent. More at elisabethdeltoro.com.

Hiro (ANOTHER COUNTRY)

Zachary Series is a Chicago-based actor and alumnus of The ACADEMY at Black Box Acting (Class of '24). Since 2016, he started training at Truthful Acting Studios in Central FL- beginning with Sanford Meisner fundamentals, alongside the Michael Chekhov acting technique. One of Zachary's notable works, starring as Mike Hart in "The Picture in the House", was screened at the Chicago Film Frenzy Festival. This year, he's wrapped up filming as the lead in the 1st chapter of a 10-part series. Recent stage credits include: Lookingglass Theatre, The Lightbulb Factory, Green Shirt Studio festivals, and Theatre Evolve Practicum.

Anthony (MUD LIFE)

Ah, a stranger, quick, come in from the cold… have you met joolz? joolz makes art. joolz plays games. Sometimes joolz makes other things. Strange, terrible, unspeakable things. You may know them from their D&D actual play podcast The Pod Has Been Cast, have seen them on stage recently in Lavender Men with About Face Theater or with companies like Filament Theater, RED Theater, or perhaps even more recently: screaming silently in your own nightmares.

Devonte (MUD LIFE)

Joshua David Thomas is excited to return to Bramble Theatre for another Festival of Unfinished Works after appearing in the 2024 festival as Derby in “They Broke Up.” Recent theatre credits include understudying for An Enemy of the People with Timeline Theatre Company, as well as work with Looking Glass Theatre, Citadel Theatre, Theatre Wit, Urban Theatre Company, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Additional performance credits include principal roles in national commercials for McDonald’s, United Airlines, and Amazon Prime’s Tv Show “The College Tour.” Joshua holds a B.A. in Acting with a minor in Mass Media Communications from Illinois State University and is grateful to be back at Bramble helping bring new work come to life.

She (FEATHERS)

India Whiteside she/her (She) Chicago credits include Griffin Theater’s Marys Seacole , Theater Wit’s Admissions; Northlight’s A Prayer For the French Republic; Raven Theater’s A Lie of the Mind; TimeLine Theater’s Black Sunday; Strawdog Theater’s On The Greenbelt; Court Theatre’s All’s Well That Ends Well; Transient Theater’s Getting Out (Best Actress Jeff Citation nomination); Locked Up Down Shorty’s at American Blues; Folio Theatre’s As you Like It and Othello (Emilia); Dirty Hands at Mary-Arrchie Theater; The Way You Wear Your Hat, Seanachai Theatre; American Divine for Dolphinback Theater and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; and staged readings at Steppenwolf Theater and The Black Ensemble Theatre. India very much enjoyed the terrifying experience of being an ensemble member of Improvised Black Mirror at the Public House Theater, and has studied at BADA in Oxford and London. India is represented by the lovely folks at Big Mouth Talent.

Understudy (FEATHERS, HELL-BURNT, SCULTORE, and HELL-BURNT)

Leilanii is thrilled to be joining Bramble Theatre’s FESTIVAL OF UNFINISHED WORK. Chicago credits include: Bottle Fly (Redtwist Theatre), A Future to Remember (Family Bridges), Bechdelfest 7: Momentum (Broken Nose Theatre), and Stupid F***ing Bird (Boheme Ensemble). Big love to Pete, family, and friends for their unwavering support.

Understudy (MUD LIFE)

Lawrence Eirik Green, he/him, (u/s Anthony, Devonte) is a Philadelphia native, currently based in Chicago. He is an alumnus of The Pennsylvania State University– WE ARE! Recent credits include: OAK (Raven Theatre), A Tale of Two Cities (Shattered Globe Theatre), Ironbound (Raven Theater), A Slice of Red Velvet (Coalescence Theatre), Black Card (2025 Black Men Talk Play Festival), Gold Dogma, a USC thesis film shown at the Micheaux International Film Festival, and Cluster XY, a Universidad de Argentina thesis series. Lawrence is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. AAAAA PHI!!

Understudy (ANOTHER COUNTRY, FEATHERS, and SNAKES)

Mari Joy is a Manila raised actor based in Chicago. Theatre credits include Every Brilliant Thing (Vicarious Staged Productions), The Heart Sellers (u/s, Northlight Theatre), Sleeping Giant (u/s, Salt Lake Acting Company), and Mestiza, or Mixed (Plan-B Theatre). She is actively involved with CIRCA Pintig, seen in their productions such as King Lear, The Art of Belonging as Monica, Every Brilliant Thing, Sama Sama: Solidarity in The Fields, and The Butterfly of Chula Vista. Film credits include Poolside Inn (Remington Butler - Palm Springs Intl ShortFest, FilmQuest, Golden Gate State Film Festival) and When Cats Fly (Stuart Culpepper).

Understudy (ANOTHER COUNTRY, HELL-BURNT, and SCULTORE)

Rich Adrian Lazatin (Understudy) is thrilled to be part of Bramble’s “Festival of Unfinished Work”. Previous theatre credits include “The Art of Belonging” (CIRCA Pintig), “Happy Days are Here (Again)” (Steep Theatre), and “Flood” (Shattered Globe Theatre). Previous film credits include “Eat Cute” (dir. RJ Silva), “Debaters” (dir. Alex Heller - 2025 Sundance Film Festival). Rich would like to thank his family, his friends, and his partner for their unending support. Rich is represented by Gray Talent Group.