by Wendy A. Schmidt
Directed by Shea Leavis
Rhinofest 2024
June 8th & 9th, 2024 @ 5 pm
Labyrinth Arts
3658 N. Pulaski • Chicago, IL
Featuring:
Dana Pepowski as Emily
Donaldson Cardenas as Ock / Filigree
Melody DeRogatis as Donna
Ethan Embry as Jonathan
Stage Management:
Reagan Stevenson
Creative:
Choreography by Shea Leavis & the Ensemble
Set by Wendy Schmidt
Graphic Design by Wendy Schmidt
Video by Joshua M. Sparks and Sis Byers
Photography by Steven Townshend
About the Cast and Crew
Donaldson Cardenas (he/they) (Ock / Filigree) feels centered playing around with these two very different roles. (Thank you, Bee.) He’s proud of his performances in St. Sebastian Players’ Barefoot in the Park (Velasco), Eileen Tull’s Happy Days (Willie), Young Krones’ A Drama In Roger’s Park (Peter), Hate/Lab & Runaways’ Perforated Play (Bobo), Rebeka Theatre Project’s Harry’s Halfway House (Norris), and NMTC’s Scott Janus: Monster Hunter (Nosferatzenberger). For Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, he created and co-wrote the award-winning episodic podcast, Monocyte. His writing can be seen semi-regularly at BYOT Productions’ 24-hour play fests (as a company member) and Naked Angels’ Tuesdays@9 cold reading series. Miss you every day, Falls; this one would’ve made you cackle.
Melody DeRogatis (Donna) couldn’t be more thrilled to join the company of This Music Should Not Be! A lifelong Chicagoan, Melody has worked locally as an actor, playwright, and director for 11 years. Melody graduated from Drake University in 2019 with her BFA in Musical Theatre and BA in Writing. Melody is currently the Performing Arts Supervisor for the Northbrook Park District, where they oversee the youth and community theatre programs, as well as the performing arts education programs. Melody is also the Artistic Director and founder of Possibilities Theatre Company, a found-space theatre company focusing on giving a platform for underrepresented voices to tell their stories authentically. Additionally, Melody is currently directing for the Fat Theatre Project, where they will be directing the devised production of The InterPlays later this summer. Melody would like to thank her parents and Steve for their love and support.
Ethan Embry (Jonathan) is thrilled to be back on the stage after a brief acting hiatus. The new theatrical works popping up all over Chicago have been inspiring and invigorating, and This Music Shall Not Be stands out as a playful yet deeply serious call to action. Outside of the theater world, Ethan has been an MVP on the football field while he works to obtain his master’s degree in social work. It has been a pleasure working with The Terror Cottas crew and bringing Jonathan to life in this poignant, hilarious and devastating short play. Ethan would also like to extend his gratitude to Ginny, Sassafras, Buttercup, Chalupa, Rebecca, and of course Jaime & Carolyn.
Shea Leavis (They/Them) (Director) is a Chicago-based Theater Director and Performer, working in Chicago and New York City. Most recently they directed I’m Not Here to Make Friends, by Elliot Schiff, in a premiere production at Links Hall. Shea also created an original Performance-Installation, Absence, at Coffey Street Studios in New York. They served as Movement Director for two plays by Kallan Dana, The Great Hunger (The Tank) and Playdate (Dixon Place) . Shea has performed with Royal Osiris Karaoke Ensemble in The Art of Luv Part 5: Roké Cupid (The Bushwick Starr) and The Art of Luv Part 6: Awesome Grotto! (Abrons Arts Center). They have also worked on productions at Drop Forge & Tool, The Tank, The Flea, The PIT, Mass Live Arts, and Soho Playhouse. Look out for a production of Hate/Lab’s Animal Play that Shea will be directing in Chicago later this Summer, featuring Young Krones.
Dana Pepowski (Emily) is an actor-singer, dramaturg, and arts enthusiast. Recent performance credits: Big Love ([producing body]); The Gift of the Magi (Oil Lamp Theatre); and Perforated Play (Runaways Lab/HATE Lab). Select dramaturgy: Proof and Once Upon a Bridge (American Players Theatre); asst. Wipeout (Rivendell Theatre Ensemble). Dana is the Programs Coordinator at Links Hall, where she supports multidisciplinary artists’ development of their new work. Upcoming projects: performing in another Rhino Fest production, LAMB PLAY, Friday nights through June at Facility Theatre – check it out! Also performing later this summer in Peter and the Starcatcher (Paramount Theatre). Dramaturgy for Dancing at Lughnasa (American Players) and the Fresh Produce Festival (Rivendell). Love to MDBP and Sun. Northwestern Uni grad. Member of Runaways Lab Theatre. www.danapepowski.squarespace.com
Wendy A. Schmidt (she/her) (Playwright) is overjoyed to be working with this team of exceptional artists (thank you for connecting us, Bear). The Terror Cottas produced Wendy’s one-woman play Maker of Worlds in Theater for the New City’s Dream-Up Festival in New York in 2019. During lockdown, her shorts Charles Darwin and Modernity of the Soul were produced in the Planet Connections (NYC) Zoomfest, and her films were part of the TUTA Lab Global One Minute Project. She is an alumn of the La MaMa Umbria International Playwrights Retreat, and her play Veda in Time had a staged reading at La MaMa in January 2018. Her full-length play Marvelous Madeleines was produced at Berger Park in Chicago by Three Cat Productions in November 2016. Her plays The New Republic and The Newlyweds have been developed with Chicago Dramatists. Thank you to The Mints, TUTA, and Dr. Firkins for your invaluable dramaturgical support. CHEERS to Lisa for friendship.
Reagan Stevenson (she/her) (Stage Manager) is a Chicago based stage manager. She obtained her BA in Theatre Design, Production, and Technology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2023. Reagan is very excited to be partaking in her first Rhino Fest, and is very grateful for the opportunity. Her stage management credits include Innogen and Measure For Measure (Forest Park Theatre); Pshitter! and Blues for an Alabama Sky (UIC). Assistant stage management credits include Eurydice (Concordia University Chicago); Gloria (UIC); Gay Card (PrideArts). Reagan has also contributed to many lighting, wardrobe, and scenery crews, including La liberazione di Ruggiero (Haymarket Opera). She would like to thank her friends and family for their overwhelming support.