Ghostlight Productions
Geppetto
Inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio, Geppetto is a new interpretation of the classic
story exploring themes of growing up, relationships, and identity. This telling combines
Carlo Collodi’s classic allegory with common threads from other familiar stories and
myths (such as the biblical tales of the Prodigal Son and Jonah and the whale) as he his
loneliness pushes him into a journey of self-discovery. Geppetto’s odyssey, told through
puppetry, clowning, masks, and music, will mirror the challenges we face every day as
we strive to shake off our own woodenness and become more deeply human.
Ghostlight Productions
Stephen F. Murray (Director) Chicago credits: Laer's Last Prayer (Ghostlight
Productions), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Fall of the House of Usher (City Lit
Theater), Spring Awakening, Our Country's Good (Promethean Theatre Ensemble), and
Dramatic Twerp (Links Hall & Oracle Theatre). His work has been seen at the New York
International Fringe Festival where he directed The Darling Children. Other companies
he has worked with include 500 Clown, 2nd Story, and Bailiwick Repertory. Currently he
serves on the Advisory Committee for the Chicago Chapter of Arts in Sacred Places and
is an Associate of the Side Project. He served as the Artistic Director of Promethean
Theatre Ensemble from 2005-2009. Before Promethean, he was a member of Strawdog
Theatre Company where he directed Brett Neveu's Radio Man for their Radio Series.
Much love to Mary and Nora. www.stephenfmurray.zohosites.com
Jessie Mutz (Pinocchio) is a performer, director, and storyteller originally hailing from
Florida. Some favorite projects include: All Rise (Walkabout Theater), The Pirates of
Penzance (Co-Director; Tall Ship Windy 2012 & 2013), Trojan War (Director; Blunt
Objects Theater), and Directors Lab Chicago 2012. She frequently teaches and performs
with The Unrehearsed Shakespeare Company (Lady Macbeth, Beatrice, Rosalind,
Aguecheek), where she also serves as the Managing Director. Outside the theater, she is
fortunate enough to play for a living at Chicago Children's Museum.
Elizabeth Bagby (Morgan) has studied physical theater and clowning at the Accademia
dell'Arte, the Actor's Gymnasium, and with 500 Clown. She has performed with
numerous Chicago companies, including Strange Tree Group (where she is a company
member), Signal Ensemble, Right Brain Project, The Ruckus, Talisman, the side project,
Raven, Trap Door, Velvet Willies, Sansculottes, and others. She has also composed or
arranged music for a dozen or so productions, notably Shakespeare's King
Phycus and The Three Faces of Dr. Crippen (Strange Tree), Tuxedo Love (Theatre 5.2.1),
and her own play Practical Anatomy (Sansculottes). Strange Tree recently gave her
play The Half-Brothers Mendelssohn a Jeff-recommended production, and her
comedy Quartet and Fugue won the 2013 Mountain Playhouse International Playwriting
Competition. Upcoming projects: The Next Thing with Signal, the remount
of Crippen with Strange Tree, the workshop of Soon I Will Be Invincible with Lifeline,
and the October 2014 Arts & Sciences Expedition to the Arctic Circle. When she's not
making theater, Bagby plays guitar and drums with The Loudness War, and bass with
The Unswept and The Enablers.
Brian Hurst (Faux) Is a graduate of the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State
University. He's been living and working in Chicago since the summer of 2008 and is a
member of Oracle Theatre. Outside of performing as an actor, he's also an auxiliary
percussionist, dj, and slam poet.
Quenna Lené (Kat) is a Chicago native and glad to be back on a Chicago stage, after
recently graduating from NYU Tisch and grad school at USC. While she misses the
warm LA temperatures, she knows that at this point her heart is home and is thankful for
friends and family and for the opportunity to play in this production. Peace, love and
KLEO.
Blake Williams (Coachman) A native of Louisiana, Blake has worked with various
theater companies in Chicago since moving here in 2006. Some of his favorites have
included Promethean Theater Ensemble, Redmoon, AlphaBet Soup, Circle Theater,
Theater-Hikes, CircEsteem, and Ghostlight Productions. He currently works for Navy
Pier Entertainment, and manages City Running Tours Chicago.
Renee Keen (Producer) Renee is thrilled to be working with Ghostlight Productions!
Renee served as Lookingglass Theatre's Production Coordinator as well as a dramaturg
for numerous theatre companies throughout the city in the past two years, and now heads
the theatre department at Shirley Hamilton's Talent Inc. She graduated with a BFA from
Chicago College of Performing Arts and an MA from Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Sean Ewert (Puppet Designer) In addition to previous work with Ghostlight Chicago,
Sean's Chicago theater credits include work with: TUTA (associate member), 20%
Theater, Chicago Jewish, Torso, Healthworks, About Face, Chicago Opera Vanguard,
Mom & Dad Productions, Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences, Ravenous
Productions, Collaboraction, Von Orthal Puppets, Oracle Theatre and The Chicago
Mammals (company member). Sean has studied at Stella Adler’s Acting Conservatory
West, Studio Theatre – D.C. and has a degree in the theater from the University of
Northern Colorado. He has worked regionally with Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C.
and Little Theatre of the Rockies in Greeley, CO. Sean also works as a puppeteer and
puppet builder in the Chicago area.