Clara Zucker (Director, Co-Artistic Director of The Village Theater) is a Chicago-based director, producer, playwright, and dramaturg. She is passionate about utilizing theater as a tool for social change and firmly believes in theater’s ability to uplift and unify diverse voices. Directing credits include Dear Evan Hansen (Assistant Director, Paramount Theatre), Artemis Books & The Well-Meaning Man (The Village Theater), The Midwest premiere of The Lacy Project (Snails on a Bike), Doom Tank (Under St. Mark’s Theatre), A Doll’s House Part II (Assistant Director, The Juilliard School), Shayna Punim, The Aliens, Athena, Mr. Marmalade (Oberlin College). Past playwriting credits include Fishing for Whales (2024 Cherry Picking, New York, NY), and Shayna Punim (Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio). Dramaturgy credits include Ashland Avenue and Revolution(s) (Goodman Theatre). Clara works as the literary assistant at Goodman Theatre and has also been involved with the Annoyance Theater, Logan Square Improv, and Chicago Dramatists. Clara holds a B.A. in Theater and American Studies from Oberlin College and is the recipient of the Nash Drama Award for exceptional achievement in Oberlin Theater. clarazucker.com
Team
Sophia Urban (Assistant Director) could not be more thrilled to be on the team for All Nighter at the Village Theater! They are a graduate of the BFA Theatre Studies program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Midwest-grown and Chicago-based, their work explores when and where the environment, dreams, and queerness intersect. Select directing credits include Lizzie (Station Theatre), Hurricane Diane (Armory Free Theatre), and The Town Where Fun Is Illegal (The Playground Theater). Select assistant directing credits include Baskerville (New Jewish Theatre), Falsettos (Station Theatre), Witch (Illinois Theatre), and The Moors (Armory Free Theatre). For Latrelle, always.
Karina Patel (Dramaturg) is a director and dramaturg originally from London, UK. She is the New Works Manager at Jackalope Theatre Company, where she recently directed The Dress Up Play by Juliet Kang Huneke. Karina has developed new work with Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, City of Chicago’s DCASE New Play Residency, The Understudy Chicago, The Story Theatre, Avalanche Theatre, Token Theatre, and more. Karina has served as an assistant/associate director at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre, and the Repertory Theatre of St Louis. BA: Northwestern University.
Emily Newmark (Line Producer, Co-Artistic Director of The Village Theater) is a Chicago-based director, choreographer, and filmmaker. Her most recent directing credits include her short film Kintsugi, as well as Next to Normal, The Tempest, Triplets (Oberlin College), and The Shrew Strikes Back (Playground-Chi). Passionate about developing new work, Emily has contributed to several world premieres, directing Retold (Oberlin Musical Theater Association) and This Is Not The Reunion (Independent Staged Reading). Selected assistant-directing credits include: The Heart Sellers, Much Ado About Nothing, The Nativity Variations, and The Greatest Love for Whitney (Milwaukee Rep), and The Totality of All Things (Redtwist). Emily was a 2022/23 Emerging Directing Resident at Milwaukee Repertory Theater and subsequently continued her journey there as an Artistic assistant. Emily holds a B.A. in Theater and Psychology from Oberlin College and a certificate in film direction from Prague Film School. She is a recipient of the Nash Drama Award, and her short film won Best Cinematography at Prague Film School. www.emily-newmark.com
Maddy Brown (2nd Line Producer) is a Chicago-based dramaturg and actor. She has worked at Remy Bumppo, Steep, Avalanche, Jackalope, Strawdog, and others. She is the Literary Manager at Avalanche Theatre, an Associate Collaborator at The Digital Development Project, and a graduate of UNCSA. maddyjbrown.com
Amanda Tancioco Rokosz (Stage Manager) is a Filipino-American stage manager proudly based in the city of Chicago. She is thrilled to be returning to The Village Theater after stage managing Artemis Books and The Well-Meaning Man. Other credits include The Pets (ASM) with Bramble Theatre Company, Four Places (SM) with Four Chairs Theatre, and Hedwig and The Angry Inch (ASM) with Haven Chicago. A native of the Chicagoland area, Amanda moved to the city after receiving 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 throughout her stage management journey. Maraming salamat at mahal kita!
Isabella Boudreaux (Assistant Stage Manager) is currently pursuing a degree in Stage Management at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is grateful to have been stage managing in some form since high school. Her recent shows include PSM for Dance at Illinois’ Studiodance (UIUC), ASM for Anastasia (UIUC), and ASM for N/A (Barrington Stage Company). She’s beyond excited to begin working in Chicago, and especially thankful for everyone’s hard work in putting this show up.
Jane Hobson (Director of Marketing at The Village Theater) is originally from Madison, WI, and graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in English in 2022. She's thrilled to put her marketing, social media, and web design skills to the test with this production—and apologizes in advance for any overly enthusiastic Instagram or TikTok content you may have seen. This is Jane’s second production with The Village Theater, and she feels so proud to be part of this amazing team. As an actor, Jane has collaborated with Co-Artistic Director Clara Zucker on five productions, most recently performing in The Lacy Project (spring 2024). Outside the theater, she leads a self-titled music project and works as an Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago by day.
Emily Waskowitz (Marketing Associate at The Village Theater) is a Chicago-based artist and public health worker who primarily works with fiber, illustration, and printmaking. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago with a degree in Public Health, Emily’s work aims to strengthen and empower disenfranchised communities throughout Chicago. Emily champions creativity and expressive design throughout their work and is so excited to be joining The Village Theater!
Kat Monty (Production Manager & Set Designer) is a Chicago-based theatrical artist who is thrilled to be working with The Village yet again! She has such a deep love for this company and all who make it possible. Theater has been a constant love in her life. She is filled with the most pride when creating and sharing her work with the world. Past productions include Billy Elliot (Porchlight Music Theater), Johnny Appleseed (Morton Arboretum), Artemis Books & The Well-Meaning Man (The Village Theater), Anon(ymous) (GovState University), and Rapornzel (PrideArts). Kat would like to give a big, warm thank you to everyone who helped her make her vision come to life. Three cheers for community!!! If you wish to get in contact or just be friends, her Instagram is @kkatmontyy.
Emmerich Mager (Sound Designer) is a newly minted sound designer and audio engineer based in Chicago. Their recent credits include Black Bone (assisting the ever-brilliant Satya Chávez) and On My Terms, both at Definition Theatre.
Joseph Nelson (Lighting Designer) is overjoyed to be working with The Village Theater on Calypso. He is a student at The Theatre School at DePaul University. A recent favorite credit would be Ride the Cyclone at DePaul University.
Maggie McGlenn (Costume Designer) is excited to costume her second show for The Village Theater! Maggie graduated from Lawrence University in 2022, where she worked as costume shop manager under the mentorship of designer Karin Kopischke. As a 2022 Watson Fellow, Maggie spent a year studying how the creation of clothing can sustain all the different aspects of our lives. Previous costuming includes The Village Theater’s production of Artemis Books (2025) and The Lacy Project (2024).
Robin Manganaro (Props Master) is a Production Designer, Writer, and Props Designer working in Chicago, Illinois. She works to build colorful worlds and chaotic stories, using environments, clothing, and small details to represent unique character perspectives.
Andi Muriel (Poster & Program Artist) is a Chicago-based actress, artist, and arts educator. They are a graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Theatre and Music, where they received their BFA in acting. Some recent Chicago credits include: Irina Prozorov in Sandbox Collective’s immersive production of Three Sisters, Cecily Cardew in Strawdog’s queer retelling of The Importance of Being Earnest, and Annie in Jeff Award-winning Motherhouse at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, where she is a proud ensemble member.
Lizzie Komosa (Stage Crew) is excited to be a part of this production of Calypso. She previously worked at the Barter Theatre in Virginia as a Lead Production Assistant on Play That Goes Wrong, Shawshank Redemption, As You Like It, and Sense and Sensibility. She also worked at the Flat Rock Playhouse in North Carolina as an Assistant Stage Manager on Mama Mia, West Side Story, and Million Dollar Quartet. She has a bachelor's degree in theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.