Imagination Theater

Annalise

Annalise (They/Them) is a trans, non-binary actor and singer who is so excited to jumpstart their professional theatre career with Imagination Theatre! Credits that they are most excited about include Cinderella in Into The Woods, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and Kaliope in She Kills Monsters. They are a major lover of Shakespeare and very much want to show you their new Ophelia tattoo! Coming into their gender identity during quarantine, they are now ecstatic to explore it more in dream roles such as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. In their spare time they love to cuddle their handsome miniature goldendoodle, Ferdinand, and take lots of naps. Oh, they’re also a Pisces, if that means anything to you.

August

August (They/Them) is an actor, playwright, and educator. They received their BFA in Acting from Minnesota State University of Mankato in 2014. Since moving to Chicago August has worked with several companies including Babes with Blades, Broken Nose Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, (re)discover theatre, Midsommer Flight, 16^th Street Theater, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Idle Muse, and 20% Theatre Company. August is an Artistic Associate with Oak Park Festival Theatre, and an Artistic Affiliate with Babes with Blades Theatre Company. August’s plays have premiered throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and California. August is represented by Big Mouth Talent.

Cosmo

Cosmo is extremely happy to be in the Imagination Theater Ensemble! Cosmo originally hails from the suburbs of Chicago, but he recently spent four years in central Illinois where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Art at Illinois College, Jacksonville. While attending college, he taught improv to children through the United Way’s Imagination Foundation (Jacksonville, IL) and was an Emcee at Green Pastures Performing Arts Camp (Meredosia, IL). He has also performed in multiple productions through Illinois College’s TheatreWorks (Jacksonville, IL) and New Salem’s Theatre in the Park (Petersburg, IL), but some of his most recent credits include “Joe” in Angels in America, “Eddie Ryan” in Do Black Patent Shoes Really Reflect Up, and “BB” in Terminal Cafe. Since moving to Chicago in 2017, he has enrolled in the Conservatory and Sketch Writing Program at Second City, the Professional School of Improvisation at CSz, and the improv program at iO.

Duane

After moving to Chicago in 2013, Duane started his adventures in improv and comedy after working and playing in the theatre and music scenes in Dallas, Texas for many years. He has appeared in a variety of short films, commercials, and web series, and performed on Chicago stages at iO Theater, The Second City, Stage 773, Theatre Momentum, Profiles Theatre, and Collaboraction Theatre. Once he renews his busking license, you might catch Duane at a red line station providing the soundtrack for your commute to work.

Gina

Gina (she/her/hers) is a recent BA Theatre graduate from Loyola University Chicago and is thrilled to be making her Chicago Theatre debut with Imagination Theatre. Originally from the Bay Area in California, Gina has always loved art in every way. Alongside performing, Gina finds herself making coffee, cooking, going on walks, looking for new directing opportunities, and writing poetry or plays inspired by the world around her. Her passion for social justice advocacy and using the stage to tell stories is truly what keeps her artistic spirit alive!

Madison

Madison (they/them) is pumped to start their first year with Imagination Theater, and they are excited to make a positive impact on our future generations! Madison is an Actor Combatant with the SAFD, and during the pandemic fell in love with writing and devising. You might recognize them from their work around Chicago with other companies such as: The Raven, The Plagiarists, Kerfuffle Theater for the Very Young, The Connecting Routes Project, and Theater Momentum. Madison would like to thank their friends, family, partner, and cats for supporting their career!

Olivia

Olivia is ecstatic to be joining Imagination Theater this season! A 2024 graduate of Elmhurst University where she studied Spanish, History, and Theater, Olivia works as a community Spanish teacher at local park districts and a children’s theater director while not performing with IT. As a Spanish speaker, Olivia is most excited to reach more Spanish speaking students with IT and combine her bilingual skills with her passion for theater. She also is enthusiastic about using her teaching experience to help facilitate unique learning opportunities with IT. Some of Olivia’s favorite recent projects include working as an director/mentor to student directors for Timothy Christian School’s Monster Theater Fest (2023) and Adventurefest (2024) programs, performing in Head over Heels (2023) at Steel Beam Theater , and working as a props designer on Elmhurst University’s production of Silent Sky (2023), for which she received a KCACTF certificate of excellence. In her free time, Olivia enjoys spending time outdoors on long walks.

PJ

PJ is a Chicago native and has been working in the theatre industry since 2015. After graduating with a BA in theatre he moved back to the city where he has worked with different theatrical companies. You can now find him doing improv and stand-up here in the city as well as working with the mental health organization The Cornerstore Chicago. He is so excited to be creating great moments with Imagination Theater. Here’s to a great year!

Samantha

Samantha has lived, worked, and played all over the country. Since making Chicago her home, she’s done a lot of cool stuff with a lot of cool people, including, but not limited to American Immersion Theatre, Great Works Theatre Company, and Random Acts Chicago. She’s a big fan of cozy mysteries and spicy food.

Ensemble