Tierra (she/her) is excited to be working with Strawdog Theatre for the first time and directed by Kamille Dawkins for the second! She moved from Oklahoma City, OK to Chicago, IL three years ago and since then has been embracing all that Chicago has to offer. Recent credits for Tierra include Friends With Guns (Leah U/S), Artemis Books and the Well-Meaning Man (Asha) and, Kitty James and Destiny’s Trail to Oregon (Dead). She is extremely thankful for her family and friends’ unconditional faith, love and support!

Dryden is a Chicago-based actor from Metro Detroit with a BFA in Acting from Oakland University. You may have seen them recently as a Somebody in Couch Penny Ensemble's production of Everybody or as Poseidon and others in Impostors Theatre Company's Monstrous. Outside of theatre, Dryden is an educator, teaching and tutoring students for the ACT and SAT. They love their partner, their kitten Jensen, Greek Mythology, and their partner's cat Berlioz (Yes, in that order). <3

Molly Kempfer is over the moon to be making her Chicago debut with Strawdog Theatre Company! She is an actor and educator with a BA in Music Theatre from Carthage College. Favorite roles include Little Red in Into the Woods (Forte Theatre Company), Anne de Bourgh in Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Acacia Theatre Company), and Artemis in Finder and the North Star (Children’s Theatre of Madison). Thanks go out to friends and family for their enduring support!

Rafael (H) is an actor, comedian, and bartender based in Chicago, IL excited to work with Strawdog Theatre for the first time! Past Chicago credits include U/S Soso in Six Men Dressed as Joseph Stalin (A Red Orchid Theatre) and Cooper in Angry Fags (Ghostlight Ensemble). He also appears regularly with the sketch comedy group It Left The Groupchat in their monthly show at the Comedy Clubhouse. He is a proud graduate of Ithaca College's BFA Acting program. For Busha. Keep up with Rafael at rafaelgraylopez.com

Jared Sprowls is a playwright and performer whose work often centers Jewish sexuality and uplifts the multiplicity of diasporic Jewish identity. He has most recently performed his solo show, "Good Mourning," at The Understudy, The Upper Jay Arts Center and Arizona State University and is currently developing "A Bat Mitzvah Past her Prime" with Core V Collective of which he is a member/founder. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University and BA in Theatre from Northwestern University

Jillian Leff (she/her) is Chicago based actor, playwright, and stage combat nerd who is excited to be returning to Strawdog after appearing in Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins this past holiday season. As an actor, she has worked around the city with companies such as Idle Muse Theatre Co. (Jane: Abortion and the Underground – Jeff Nomination for Ensemble – Play), Stage Left Theatre (The Distrikt of Lake Michigun), Babes With Blades Theatre Company (Richard III, Women of 4G, The Good Fight), Factory Theater (Last Night in Karaoke Town), Midsommer Flight (Cymbeline, Twelfth Night), Campfire Rep (FLUSH), and Runaways Lab Theater (Goddamn Geniuses). She has a BFA in Acting from Ball State University, is an Advanced Actor Combatant with The Society of American Fight Directors, and Ensemble Member/Literary Manager of Babes With Blades. Find her on the internet @jilleleff.

Eileen Dixon (she/they) is a Chicago-based actor, director, producer, and casting director. She received her MFA in Acting and Directing from UMKC in 2022 and spent the following summer at Ojai Playwrights Conference, after which she moved to Chicago to chase her dream of creating new work. Acting credits include Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Ensemble Stage, Oil Lamp Theater, and the Coterie Theatre. Directing credits include the World Premiere of Bottle Fly by Jacqueline Goldfinger and the World Premiere of Chicago: Queerly Adapated… by Maurine Dallas Watkins at Redtwist Theatre. eileendixon.com @there.goes.eileen

Fiona Walsh Calton (she/her) is an actor and dialect coach originally from Tampa, FL. Strawdog audiences might recognize her from Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Al). Other credits include shows with Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, Greatworks Theatre Company, Violet Surprise Theatre, and Chicago Parks District. Find more at fionawalshcalton.com.

DYLAN C. WACK (Rude Boy u/s) makes his Strawdog Theatre Company debut with 12 Ophelias. Chicago credits include wayfinding (Here's The Exit Theatre), Coriolanus (A World Elsewhere Ensemble), and All’s Well That Ends Well (DePaul University). Regional credits: Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company), As You Like It (Pittsburgh International Classic Theater), Ada and the Engine (SigPro Studio), and The Normal Heart and Fiddler on the Roof (New Repertory Theatre), among many others. He can also be seen in Better Nate Than Ever on Disney+. He holds an MFA in Acting from the Theatre School at DePaul University, BFA from Boston University. Originally from Boston, Dylan is a proud resident of Andersonville. @dylanwack | dylancwack.com

Makari Robinson-McNeese (they/them) is excited to be debuting at Strawdog Theatre with 12 Ophelias! Makari is a Chicago-based actor, director, and musician. Recent Theatrical Credits: Confederates (Redtwist Theatre), Ioneu (Atheneum Center), and FLUSH (Campfire Rep). They perform regularly with the media production group, Caltrop Chronicles and the improv team Shark Love Mango Instagram: @makarirm Website: makarimakarimakari.com

Shay Gordon (Understudy R) is thrilled to be part of 12 Ophelias and to understudy R. Recent credits include Ryn in Succulents (Black Cat Theatre), Asher in Kenneth & Asher Go To the Movies at The Davis Theatre, and Jo March in Little Women with AUI Theatre Company. Other favorite roles include Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island, Haemon in Antigone, and Rose of Sharon in The Grapes of Wrath. Shay is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia, where they earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Women and Gender Studies. Endless thanks to their community of collaborators, mentors, and chosen family for their constant love and support!

Isa Grofsorean is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan and is thrilled to now call Chicago home. She is super excited to be working with Strawdog Theatre Company for the first time! Recent credits include Richard III with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Proof with The Gremlin Theatre and L'homme Dieu, and The History Plays at Guthrie Theater. Education: University of Minnesota Guthrie Actor Training Program.

PLAYWRIGHT

Caridad Svich has received a Guggenheim Fellowship in Drama, an Obie for LIfetime Achievement, Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, and Havard/Radcliffe Institute Fellowship, among many honors. Key plays in her repertoire include 12 OPHELIAS and RED BIKE. Her works have been seen across the US and abroad. As an editor and author she is also published by Methuen Drama, TCG, Intellect UK, and Smith & Kraus. As a screenwriter, she is co-author of the feature film FUGITIVE DREAMS which is streaming on Apple TV and more streaming services, after successful official selections in various film festivals internationally.

DIRECTOR

Kamille Dawkins is a Chicago based theater artist and a Co-Artistic Director at Strawdog Theatre Company. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Kamille moved to Chicago in 2016 after completing their nine month Emerging Professional Residency at The Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Kamille has worked at a plethora of Chicago theaters as an actor, musician, and director becoming an ensemble member at Strawdog in 2017 and Artistic Director in 2020. 12 OPHELIAS marks their first time directing for Strawdog Theatre.

SCENIC DESIGNER

Rose Johnson is a Chicago based scenic designer. Previous credits include: How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, Bottle Fly (Jeff Nominated), Wolves, Agnes of God (Jeff Nominated), and The Great Khan (Redtwist Theatre), Big Time Toppers (Theatre L’Acadie), TL;DR, The Secret Garden (Theo Ubique), S. Paradox (BWBTC), Hamlet (Red Theatre), Murder Rewrote (Hell in a Handbag), MedeaMedeaMedea, The Hatmaker’s Wife (Theatre Evolve), Party at the Pantheon, Lane Call (Factory Theater), On the Twentieth Century (Blank Theatre). Rose is an ensemble member at Redtwist Theatre.

LIGHTING DESIGNER

ELLIE HUMPHRYS she/they (Lighting Designer) graduated in 2012 with a BFA in Lighting Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University and has been working the Chicago theatre scene ever since. Ellie is delighted to be involved in their premier design with Strawdog Theatre Company. Other design credits include "Wise Guys", "Die Hard 4 Your Luv", and "Last Night in Karaoke Town" (The Factory Theatre), "Sweet Charity", "A Bright Room Called Day" and "On the Twentieth Century" (Blank Theater) "Think Fast, Jordan Chase!" and "Gather" (Filament Theatre), "Detour Guide" (Silk Road Rising/Stage Left Theatre), "Hellcab" (The Agency Theatre Collective), "Valhalla" and "When You Awake You Will Remember Everything" (The Plagiarists), "The Portrait of Madame X" and "RUR" (Lookingglass Theatre Youth Ensemble), and "Evolution of a Sonero" (Urban Theater Company/Latino Theater Company) in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Love and gratitude to her partner, Shelby, for her endless support.

SOUND DESIGNER

Heath was born and (mostly) raised in the verdant rolling hills of northeast Indiana. By middle school, he had burgeoning career portraying street urchins, in many permutations, at the local high school and community theatres. This all changed in college. Leaving behind the limelight, he took the mantle of designer, and has been such ever since. After moving to Chicago in 2003, he has worked for too many theatre companies, collectives, ensembles, co-ops, and loose knit groups to name. And he had a good time in every show except one. With Strawdog, Heath has designed sound for Improbable Frequency, Big Love, Conversations on a Homecoming. and many other works.

COSTUME DESIGNER

Emily N. Brink is originally from Bloomington, MN, and now lives and works in the Chicago area as a costume designer and costume crafts artisan for theatre, film, television, and opera. Companies of note that Emily has worked with include Chicago Children's Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, The Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago Opera Theatre, Wagon Wheel Center for the Performing Arts, Filament Theatre, Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company, and many more. Emily holds a BA from the University of Iowa in both English and theatre arts as well as an MFA from UNC School of the Arts in costume design and production. Emily was honored to design the costumes and execute the costume crafts for Always, Patsy Cline at Drury Lane Theatre, which won the 2025 JEFF Award for Best Musical Revue. She would like to thank her incredibly patient and supportive spouse, Ait Fetterolf.

PROPS DESIGNER

Leo Bassow is a Chicago based props designer, and designer ensemble member of Redtwist Theater. Theater credits include James and the Giant Peach, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Magic School Bus, Arthur & Friends Make a Musical (Marriott), The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk (Northlight Theater), Side by Side (Oil Lamp), Akira Kurosawa Explain His Films…(Woolly Mammoth), Bottlefly, Titus Andronicus, Chicago, Night Mother (Redtwist) and scenic carpentry across the city. In addition to theater Leo is an avid ttrpg player, printmaker, and cat dad to two orange gremlins.

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR

Becca Levy is a Chicago-based theatre educator, dramaturg, and deviser who facilitates programs and productions that celebrate community, embrace culture, and invite creativity. They are a proud Strawdog ensemble member and thrilled to be working on their 13th Strawdog production! Her most recent Strawdog credits include Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Dramaturg) and How Do We Navigate Space (Movement Director). Becca is the Education Manager at Writers Theatre and holds their MFA in Theatre for Youth and Community from Arizona State University. She is also a Jewish Studio Project Facilitator. www.beccaglevy.com

STAGE MANAGER

Phil Claudnic is pleased to FINALLY work with Strawdog after stage managing for 16 years. His artistic home has been The Factory Theater where he stepped down as Executive Director August 2025. The majority of his theater credits are with The Factory as a stage manager, production manager, playwright, and actor. Most recently, he wrote Kitty James and Destiny’s Trail to Oregon mounted in the Spring of 2025.

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Shelby Burgus (she/her; Production Manager) is absolutely thrilled to be making her Strawdog Theatre Company debut! Recent stage manager credits include: Jekyll & Hyde and Alice By Heart (Kokandy Productions), PASSION (Blank Theatre Company), Sondheim Tribute Revue (Theo Ubique), The Kelly Girls (Factory Theater), Last Night in Karaoke Town (Factory Theater), Happy Birthday Mars Rover (Passage Theatre), Human Resource(s) (Theatre Evolve), Southern Comfort (Pride Arts), Scraps (NAFT) and The Spitfire Grill (Refuge Theatre Project). Shelby would like to thank her chosen family (near and far) and her girlfriend, Ellie, for their endless love and support.

INTIMACY DIRECTOR

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ASSISTANT INTIMACY DIRECTOR

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