Jared Bellot [Master Class Instructor] is a Chicago-based educator, dramaturg, and producer. Select credits include: THIS IS MODERN ART (Steppenwolf for Young Adults), KILL MOVE PARADISE, CARDBOARD PIANO, SUNSET BABY; THE LAST WIFE; PARADISE BLUE; THE AUDIENCE; and IN THE NEXT ROOM, OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY (TimeLine), NO CHILD… and AN OCTOROON (Definition), INSURRECTION: HOLDING HISTORY (Stage Left), THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS (Porchlight), and COLUMBINUS, BLOOD AT THE ROOT, and SNACK BREAK (The Yard). Jared is the Associate Artistic Director at Definition Theatre, an Associate Artist at TimeLine Theatre, and a Resident Artist Mentor with The Yard. Jared received his BA in Theatre Arts and American Studies from Brown University.

Greg Geffrard [Master Class Instructor/Acting Coach] is an actor, educator, and spoken word artist. After earning his MFA at the University Of Iowa, he moved to Chicago and has been dedicated to decolonizing spaces of art creation. For the last three years, he has been a Sexual Assault Prevention Educator with Catharsis Productions, and a teaching artist with Steppenwolf for Young Adults and Old Town School of Folk Music. As an Educator, he has partnered with Chicago Inclusion Project, Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Old Town School Of Folk Music, and Chicago Arts Partnership. Through his art, he has produced and created four shows focusing on the different “isms” that prevent us from achieving equity with the Poetic Forum Collective. He continues to act, write, direct, and facilitate conversations in the Chicagoland area as well as regionally.

Amelia Hefferon [Morning Meeting Instructor] is a theatre artist and educator committed to using theatre as a tool for education, social justice, and community building. As a teaching artist and facilitator, Amelia has worked with Lookingglass Theatre Company, Silk Road Rising, Adventure Stage Chicago, Raven Theatre, Story Pirates, and more. Chicago acting credits include THE LITTLE PRINCE (Lookingglass), ANIMAL FARM (Steppenwolf), and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM (Porchlight Music Theatre), among others, including work at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Theatre Wit, and Theatre Unspeakable. Amelia holds a BA in Theatre from Northwestern University and a MA in Applied Theatre from the City University of New York.

Jeremy Ohringer [Executive Director of Programming/Acting Coach] is a Chicago-based director and teaching artist. He co-developed Chicago Youth Shakespeare’s Fall and Summer Ensemble Program and has taught with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Northlight Theatre, Writers Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, and Emerald City Theatre, among others. He has taught at Northwestern’s “Cherubs” Program as well as Boston University’s Summer Theatre Institute. Directing credits include FIVE ENCOUNTERS (Pride Films and Plays), ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA (Boston University), WHO WALKED ALL NIGHT… (Rhino Fest), SAD SONGS FOR BAD PEOPLE (Rough House Theater), and WHO ROWED ACROSS OCEANS (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). He holds an MFA in directing from Boston University and a BS from Skidmore College.

Mike Oleon [Master Class Instructor] is a puppeteer, puppet-designer, director, and founding artistic director of Rough House. His work has been presented at venues across the US including the National Puppetry Festival and Open Eye’s Toy Theatre After Dark Festival in Minneapolis. Recent credits include THE SILENCE IN HARROW HOUSE (Director & Scenic Designer) and INVITATION TO A BEHEADING (Mask & Puppetry Design). Mike has studied and performed puppetry with Blair Thomas, Martin Robinson (“Snuffleupagus” on Sesame Street), Sandglass Puppet Theater, Wakka Wakka, and as a solo artist. Mike is dedicated to transforming Chicago into the puppet theater capital of the world.

Emily Ritger [Associate Director of Programming/Morning Meeting Instructor] is a director, playwright, teacher, and arts administrator based in Chicago. She is the founder of The Midwives, an artistic development company that builds community across artistic disciplines of theatre, visual art, music, creative writing, and dance. She is on faculty at Carthage College and is the Associate Director of the Theatre Arts Division for the National High School Institute at Northwestern. Emily received her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, a BS in Theatre and Philosophy from the University of Evansville, and has trained at La MaMa Umbria in Italy, The Neofuturists, and Paul Sills’ Wisconsin Theatre Game Center.

Jillian Robertson [Master Class Instructor/Acting Coach] is a Minneapolis-based director and teaching artist. She is a proud co-founder of the female-run Sanguine Theatre Company in NYC. As a freelance director, she has worked with theaters all over the country including Arena Stage, Theatre Latte Da, The Booth Theater at Boston University, and Judson Theatre. As an educator, Jillian has taught many workshops and classes with Boston University, Sanguine Theatre Company, Minnesota Thespian Conference, and Boston University's Summer Theatre Institute. Currently she serves as the Artistic Associate with Park Square Theatre. Jillian has an MFA in Directing from Boston University and a BFA in Theatre from the University of Oklahoma.

Claire Saxe [Master Class Instructor] is a performer, puppeteer, collaborator, and arts educator. As a theatre artist, she delights in work that plays with form, genre, and expectations. Claire was most recently seen in AND YOU WANNA GO FOREVER (Genesis at Steppenwolf LookOut) and INVITATION TO A BEHEADING (Rough House at Steppenwolf LookOut/Chopin Theater). Previous performance credits include work at Steep Theater (MARTYR), Steppenwolf Mainstage (ANNE FRANK, 2007 Jeff Nominee, Actress in a Principal Role), and on stages across the US and UK. Claire is the Co-Artistic Director of Rough House Theater Company, through which she performs, writes, teaches, and helps spread the puppetry revolution.

Fatima Sowe [Morning Meeting Instructor] serves as a dance doula. She accompanies large groups and individuals in expressive dance exercises for self-awareness and intuitive clarity. Artistic credits include direction; Movement Choreographer for CARDBOARD PIANO (TimeLine); Assistant Director for RUTHERFORD AND SON (TimeLine); Assistant Director for TRUE WEST and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME (Steppenwolf). Additional Chicago credits include dramaturgy; SCHOOL GIRLS (Goodman Theatre), CAROLINE, OR CHANGE (Firebrand in partnership with TimeLine); Assistant Dramaturg for PARADISE BLUE (TimeLine Theatre) and SCOTTSBORO BOYS (Porchlight Music Theatre).

Manon Spadaro [Visiting Artist] is the Founding Artistic Director of Chicago Youth Shakespeare (CYS), a nonprofit dedicated to putting Shakespeare in the hands of teenagers. Home to the city’s only professional youth Shakespeare company, CYS productions and learning programs have impacted more than 8000 students across the Chicago area. Before founding CYS in 2013, Manon was a theatre arts instructor for many years, serving on faculty at Lake Forest Country Day School, Francis W. Parker School, and Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development, among others. Manon earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theatre from Northwestern University, and has directed more than 50 productions, including dozens of Shakespeare plays with young artists ages 14-19 years old. ​