Our Artistic directors
Kamille Dawkins (she/they)
Kamille Dawkins is a graduate of the Savanah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga where she earned a BFA in both Performing Arts and in Film and Television.
Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Kamille moved to Chicago in 2016 after completing her nine month Emerging Professional Residency at The Milwaukee Repertory Theater. She has since joined the Chicago theatre community as an Actor, Musician, Singer, Writer, and Director.
She was invited to join the ensemble in 2017, shortly after performing in Strawdog’s production of Once in A Lifetime. Since then, Kamille has performed in several Strawdog productions and has served as both EDI Committee Chair and Co-Ensemble Manager for the company.
noah elman (he/him)
Noah Elman is a director, designer, and theatre maker based out of Chicago. Prior to moving to Chicago, he served as the Lead Audience Interaction Designer at the Kitchen Theatre and the General Manager for The Cherry Arts. Since arriving, he has had the opportunity to work with Boho Theatre, Music Theater Works, and Mudlark Theatre among others and currently works as a stage manager at Second City. He most recently directed Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins with Strawdog Theatre. He holds a BFA from the State University of New York at Fredonia and trained under Anne Bogart and the SITI Company.
manuel Ortiz (he/him)
Manuel Ortiz is a Chicago native actor, carpenter, designer and photographer. He received his BFA in Acting at DePaul University. When he is not building and/or performing on stage, you can find him at home joyfully playing with all 15 of his animal friends (yes, he has pictures). As an artist, he has devoted himself to many artistic mediums such as puppeteering, makeup, lighting, and more. Working in such a prodigiously diverse community of captivating artists, Manny has grown and hopes to continue to collaborate and cultivate communities of inclusion and equity filled with ardent passion of theater.
Karissa J. Murrell Myers
Casting Director (she/her/hers)
Karissa Murrell Myers has been Strawdog’s Casting Director since 2019 and joined the ensemble in 2020.
She is originally from the great state of Idaho and has a MFA in Performance from University of Hawaii at Manoa, a BA in Theatre Arts from Boise State University, and is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf. She has been working professionally in Chicago as an actor, playwright, and director since 2015.
As a performer, Karissa has worked at Goodman Theatre, Remy Bumppo, The House Theatre of Chicago, and Renaissance Theaterworks. Television work includes working on Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Electric Dreams, and The Exorcist. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Represented by Gray Talent Group.
Karissa is excited to continue her work at Strawdog!
Our Board
Michael Reyes
President
Kyle Hamman
Treasurer
Aly Renee Amidei
Secretary
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Emeritus Artistic & Management Leaders
Artistic Leaders
Jennifer Avery, Hank Boland, Brandon Bruce, Michael Dailey, Nic Dimond, Kyle Hamman, Heath Hays, Jess Hill, Leda Hoffmann, Anderson Lawfer, Larry Novikoff, Richard Shavzin
Managing Directors
Leah Barish, Hank Boland, Alex Goodman, Kyle D. Hillman, Cortney Hurley, Mike Mroch, Paul Cook, Patrick Rybarczyk, Charlotte Thomas, Tim Zingelman, James Anthony Zoccoli
Emeritus Board Members
Mike Aden, Gregory Altman, Elizabeth K. Auman, Jen Banys, Stephen Bennett, Krista Bryski, Charles Bullock, Meaghan Clayton, Sheila Deely, Jim Hobart, Romain Ichbiah, Thomas V. Linguanti, Joyce McGreevy, Camille McLeod, Jennifer Nelson, Julie O’Keefe, Seth Rickard, Jack Rubin, Curtis Smith, Nora Stapleton, Mark D. Warner, Chelsea Wilson, Pat Yuzawa-Rubin, Tim Zingelman, Jeff Zeimer, Teddy Zmrhal, Patrick Zubrod