Ride the Cyclone Creative

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Producer/Director
Lauren Berman
LAUREN BERMAN (Producer/Director) (she/her) is a Chicagoland freelance Director, proud member of AEA/SDC, and Founder/Director of non-for-profit 4 Chairs Theatre where she directed Spring Awakening, Be More Chill, Island Song, musical cabarets, and fundraisers for A Safe Place, The Trevor Project, and Circles & Ciphers. An MFA UCLA graduate, Lauren has enjoyed directing in both professional and educational arenas: Copley Theatre, Hudson Theatre LA, Metropolis, Attic Playhouse, Deerfield Theatre, and Stevenson and Glenbrook High School. Lauren is also an acting coach for actors of all ages and abilities. Info at: 4chairstheatre.org Lauren’s most enduring and rewarding directing endeavor is Mom to Noah, Naomi, Jonah and Talia, who have grown up to teach her the true definition of a life well-lived.
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Music Director
Anna Wegener
ANNA WEGENER (Music Director) (she/her) is a pianist and teacher in the Chicago-area. Recent shows as Music Director and conductor include Jack Off The Beanstalk! (PrideArts), Parade (Theatre Nebula), Queer Eye: The Musical Parody (The Second City), and Notes and Letters (world premiere, Underscore Theater). In May, she will be working with Porchlight Music Theatre on Two by Two. While not performing, Anna enjoys spending time with her niece Lila, nephew Josh, and her dog, Sable.
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Choreographer
Abby Boegh
ABBY BOEGH (Choreographer) (she/her) is thrilled to be choreographing such a fun show with a great cast and team. Abby has a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Central College in Theatre and choreographs and performs throughout the Chicagoland area. Much thanks and appreciation to David and Sterling for their support.
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Set Designer/Builder
Bob Pinta
BOB PINTA (Set Designer/Builder) (he/him) is so excited to be working with Lauren Berman again on another amazing show. Bob has designed and/or built for The Metropolis, Stevenson High School, Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center, Marriott Theater and, again, with 4 Chairs Theatre. Lauren helped Bob get started with professional theater and a friendship was born. Thank you for another opportunity to work with a great team.
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Costume Designer
Victoria Jablonski
VICTORIA JABLONSKI (Costume Designer) (she/her) is thrilled to be taking this ride with such an amazing cast and production team. Her designs have recently been seen in Jack Off the Beanstalk (PrideArts), Urinetown (Surging Films), The Full Monty, Parade, Something Rotten (Theatre Nebula), as well as on many other Chicagoland stages. When not making sure her cast members are fully clothed, she is a third year law student and clerk at a family law firm. She would like to thank her parents for always supporting her dreams, her friends for caffeinating her during tech week, and her cats for being the worst costume assistants.
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Lighting Designer
Rich Torres
RICH TORRES (Lighting Designer) (he/him) has been the Theater Manager at the John and Nancy Hughes Theater at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest for the last five and a half years. During that time, Rich has worked with local and national groups providing lighting for such performers as Robert Redford, The Spin Doctors, American English to local theater groups such as PASTA, KidStage and the Makkai Ballet. Rich previously worked at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.
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Lighting Designer
Jackson Letman
JACKSON LETMAN (Sound Designer) (he/him) is a recent graduate from Middle Tennessee State University. Jackson has been involved with audio since high school. He is currently the tech theater assistant at the Gorton Center and is excited for you to see the show!
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Props Designer/Scenic Artist
Susan Mason
SUSAN MASON (Props Designer/Painter) (She/her) is excited for her first experience with 4 Chairs Theatre, and thrilled to be working with Lauren again after having the pleasure of being in her cast for Deerfield Family Theater’s Big Fish. Susan is an artist and art teacher with the Deerfield Park District and loves the creative process! Combining two of her passions (art and theatre) is one of her favorite things. Susan has created props and scenic art for Deerfield Family Theater, Shepard Middle School and Buffalo Grove’s Broadway Bound Camp. She would like to thank her family for their support.
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Stage Manager
Abby Rakocy
ABIGAIL RAKOCY (Stage Manager) (she/her) is thrilled to join 4 Chairs for Ride the Cyclone! While she is more used to performing onstage: Shrek (Dragon), RENT (Joanne), All Shook Up (Sylvia), Abby is enjoying becoming a more versatile thespian by growing her experience backstage. Thank you to Lauren for creating a welcoming, safe atmosphere for this show, and thank you to Ben for everything. Let's ride!!
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Production Manager
Emily Marrazzo
EMILY MARRAZZO (Production Manager) (she/her) is grateful to be a part of the Cyclone team! Having stage managed 4 Chairs virtual production of Island Song, she’s excited to be back making live theatre. Previously, she’s taken on various stage management roles at Porchlight, Kokandy, and the Den Theatre. Many thanks to friends and family for their continued support, and to Lauren for inviting her into such a unique project.
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Backstage Manager
Mikey Barker
MIKEY BARKER (he/him) is beyond thrilled to be on the production team of Ride the Cyclone. Originally from the Chicagoland area, Mikey has been in productions since his days at Woodlawn Middle School in Long Grove. Mikey has played such roles as The Pharaoh, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Uncle Fester, The Addams Family: A New Musical(Theatre Winter Haven), The Beadle, Sweeney Todd (Adlai E. Stevenson High School). Mikey has worked with Lauren on multiple productions throughout the years, including having the honor of being her assistant director for Almost Maine. Mikey is honored and excited to be with the 4 Chairs Theatre team, and cannot wait to tell this amazing story with the cast, crew, and production team!
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Assistant Props Designer
Amy Torf
AMY TORF (Assistant Props Designer) (she/her) loves to tinker and is delighted to lend her engineering skills to help bring props for Ride the Cyclone to life! She has also recently performed in Big Fish (Mermaid) with Deerfield Family Theatre and 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee (Marcy) with Northbrook Theatre. When she’s not onstage or backstage, Amy loves to explore STEM with the children at Noggin Builders and spend time with her husband, three children, and two dogs. Thanks to her family for supporting her love of theatre!
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Graphic Designer
Joel Arreola
JOEL ARREOLA (Graphic Designer) (he/him) is thrilled to be joining the 4 Chairs Theatre family! Recent credits include: Sweeney Todd (“Ensemble & Tobias u/s” Kokandy Prod.) Little Shop of Horrors (“Seymour” LHS Theatre), and Guys & Dolls (“Benny” LHS Theatre). Joel is a 2022 nominee for the award of “Best Actor” by the Broadway in Chicago: Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards. He is excited to continue pursuing and building his love for theatre in the city he grew up in!
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Stage Combat/Intimacy Director/Montage Designer & Montage Designer
AJ DePew
AJ DEPEW (Stage Combat/Intimacy Director & Montage Designer) (he/him) is thrilled to be working with 4 Chairs Theatre again! He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Guthrie Theatre BFA Actor Training Program where he received his BFA in Acting. Recent theatre credits include Philinte in School For Lies (Guthrie Theatre /UMN), Fenton in Merry Wives of Windsor, Ralph Crane in The Book of Will and Balthasar in Romeo and Juliet (Texas Shakespeare Festival), Mr. Heere/Mr. Reyes in Be More Chill (4 Chairs Theatre). AJ is also a singer, songwriter and published playwright. He is represented by Big Mouth Talent Inc. Heartfelt thanks to Lauren Berman for allowing him to be a part of her wonderful theatre company and for always supporting him! Love to his family!
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Assistant Stage Manager/Dialect Coach
Erol Ibrahimović
EROL IBRAHIMOVIĆ (Assistant Stage Manager) (he/him) is thrilled to join the ride by making his debut at 4 Chairs Theatre! Past credits include: Something Rotten, RENT, Matilda The Musical, Little Women, Les Misérables, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Songs for a New World, and She Loves Me. BFA CCC 2025. Erol would like to thank his family, friends, and Infinity Arts Academy for their endless love and support.

Original Creative Team

Producer/Director: Lauren Berman (she/her)

Music Director: Anna Wegener (she/her)

Choreographer: Abby Boegh (she/her)

Set Designer: Bob Pinta (he/him)

Costume Designer: Victoria Jablonski (she/her)

Lighting Designer: Rich Torres (he/him)

Props Designer: Susie Mason (she/her)

Sound Technician: Jackson Letman (he/him)

Production Manager: Emily Marrazzo (she/her)

Stage Manager: Abby Rakocy (she/her)

Dialect Coach: Erol Ibrahimovic (he/him)

Backstage Manager: Michael Barker (he/him)

Assistant Props Designer: Amy Torf (she/her)

Graphic Designer: Joel Arreola (he/him)

Stage Combat/Intimacy Director & Montage Designer: AJ DePew (he/him)

Sound Engineers: Kristin Brintnall and Ian Rigg (she/her  he/him)

House Manager: Angie DePew (she/her)

 

BAND

Conductor/Keyboard: Anna Wegener

Keyboard 2: Tyeese Braslavsky

Guitar: Michael Lockler

Virgil/Bass/Cello: Michelle Akin

Drums: Paige O'Rourke