Steven Anderson Actor. Content Producer. Yogi wannabe. Avid biker. Ad man. Wine addict. Shoe whore. MFA holder. Feeling great being on stage again.

Derek Van Barham recently received his MFA in Acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.  He is a new member of the Theatre Momentum ensemble, and can be seen improvising in Chicago with The Baby Kings (iO Chicago), Blanket Jackson (Playground Theatre), and the independent teams Glitterstache and Thora Birch.

Charles A. Berglund has appeared in two Pride readings, The Ritz and Save the Date. Actor, director, and teacher, Charles' favorite roles include Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing..., and Lucien P. Smith in The Boys Next Door. He has directed more than 150 plays and musicals and is honored to be part of the Pride Films and Plays ensemble.

Derek Bertelsen

David Besky

Tom Chiola started his second career as an actor in Bailiwick Chicago's Fucking Men and BoHo's Icarus. Tom has been an LGBT community activist, lawyer and Circuit Court Judge. He's the "new kid" (acting experience-wise) in the ensemble and is in awe of the talent around him.

Allison Fradkin holds a degree in Women's Studies from SUNY Purchase, where she also studied playwriting. Her plays have been featured in festivals such as Snapshots (20% Theatre Chicago), Briefs (Theatre Out), I Can't Think Straight (Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga), Girl Play (The Women's Theatre Project), Gay Play Series (Who Wants Cake? Theatre), SlamBoston (Another Country Productions), Queer Shorts (StageQ), and Page-to-Stage (The Kennedy Center). She is also the editor of Off the Rocks, a GLBT anthology series published by NewTown Writers Chicago.

Brian Grey is a recent graduate of the MFA program at CCPA/Roosevelt University. Notable past roles: August Strindberg in the Chicago premier of Heddatron, the title role in Macbeth, Ghost/Player King/Grave Digger in Hamlet, Barry Champlain in Talk Radio, Canary Jim in Not About Nightingales, Kodaly in She Loves Me, Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, and Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night (twice!), among others. Mr. Grey's hobbies include playing music and adoring puppies. For more info, check out briangrey.net!

Sean-Edward Hall performed in PFP productions of Fifth of July and As Is reading the stage directions, and in Take Me Out as Skipper/William R. Danzinger.  Some of his favorite roles include Salieri in Amadeus, Rev. Hale in The Crucible, Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Capt. Hook in Peter Pan, Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha, John Utterson in Jekyll & Hyde, and Nicely-Nicely in Guys and Dolls.

Jude Hansen comes all the way from Australia and is currently completing an MFA (Acting) at Roosevelt University. He enjoys work that is topical, physically engaging and has a damn good story at its heart. Most recently, he performed for PFP in the staged readings of Pig and Maurice for GAY UK 2011.

Nicholas Harper: An Atlanta native he a recent graduate of the BFA Acting program at DePaul University (2010). His favorite Chicago credits include Take Me Out (PFP), Tatjana in Color (Prologue Theatre), Orlando (Court Theatre) and Charlie in the Chocolate Factory (Emerald City Theatre). Nicholas is proud to be an ensemble member with PFP. He is also the Casting Director for the company.

Valerie Heckman is a recent graduate of North Central College (Naperville) with a B.A. in Theatre Performance. Some recent credits include Save The Date (Pride Films and Plays),The Sunshine Boys=(James Downing Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Janus Theatre), and Catch Me If You Can (James Downing Theatre).

Celebrating his 22nd year in showbiz, John Highberger's favorite roles include Osric in Fortinbras, Challee in The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Walter in A Perfect Ganesh, and Sebastian in Twelfth Night. In 2010, he was in a string of staged readings for PFP including Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Corpus Christi, Euphoria and 3 of the Great Gay Screenplay Contest winners: Bethlehem, Queen of Harts, and Skirt. He studied acting for 3 years in Pittsburgh, PA at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Kris Hyland graduated from the Emerson College acting program where he was the president of the Shakespeare Society and worked with The Theater Offensive and the Underground Railway Theatre. Past Chicago credits include Gross Indecency (Fred Atkins and others) with the Black Elephant Theatre, Hairspray with JPAC, From Generation to Generation (Elliot) with Genesis Theatricals, and understudying for the Dog and Pony Theatre's Roadkill Confidential (Randy).

Juliane Johnson

Kelley Keough is honored to be a part of Pride Films and Plays. She is a stage manager and teaching artist in the Chicago area. She has worked with Endpoint Theatre, Lampkin Music Group, About Face Theatre, Emerald City Theatre, and Collaboraction's downtown haunted house with Dream Reapers. She has taught for Emerald City Theatre School and Metropolis Performing Arts Centre Education Outreach Program.

Michael Lasswell has played leading roles in regional theatres across the country, and is also an award-winning set designer, director, and playwright.  Favorite parts include Oscar Wilde in Gross Indecency, Hildy Johnson in The Front Page, George in Of Mice and Men, Dan White in Execution of Justice, Trissotin in The Learned Ladies, and 32 characters in a one-man version of Travels With My Aunt.  He trained at the Royal Acadamy of Dramatic Art in London and is now on the full-time faculty of Roosevelt University. His latest play is Woodchuck Justice, a true story about America's first death row exoneration, where the murder victim stopped an execution by showing up alive.

Joan McGrath happily joins the PFP team. She most recently was seen in The Artistic Home's production of Marisol. Other recent appearances include: Diary of Anne Frank and Lend Me a Tenor (Metropolis Performing Arts), All My Sons (u/s TimeLine Theatre), Look Homeward Angel (The Artistic Home), The Balcony (Goat Song Theatre), Questa (People's Theatre), A Passage to India (Vitalist Productions), The Oldest Profession (Bailiwick Repertory), Women on Fire (Merely Players), Agnes of God (Northmister Players), Lion in Winter (North Shore Theatre) and Middle Aged White Guys (Open Eye Productions).

Michelle McKenzie-Voigt has been involved with PFP from the get-go, appearing in Beautiful Thing,The Ritz, all five readings of the finalists in the Great Gay Screenplay Contest, Save the Date, and Maurice. Recent roles outside of PFP include Gypsy (Rose), All Shook Up (Sylvia), The Wedding Singer (Grandma Rosie), the new musicals From Generation to Generation (Norma) and Jesus Camp (Donna Christian), and the title role in Mame.  She is honored to be part of PFP.

John Nasca is an Artistic Associate of PFP and Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Glitterati Productions. His directing credits include, Gypsy, Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood , Beautiful Thing, The Ritz and Moon Over Buffalo. He is also a 3-time Jeff-recommended costumer for Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Anyone Can Whistle and Die! Mommie, Die!, and the proud recipient of After Dark and Broadway World awards.

Tiffany Nasca is a founding member of Glitterati Productions. She attended Columbia College where she studied Film and Theatre Production and is currently studying Visual Communications at IADT-Chicago. She enjoys working behind the scenes of a production and has worked in various capacities for several venues throughout Chicago. Tiffany is incredibly honored to lend her talents to Pride Films and Plays.

Cyra K. Polizzi moved to Chicago after graduating from UW-Madison in Acting, Gender Studies & Environmental Studies. Now Cyra works full-time in theatre & film, primarily as a theatre actor. Previous roles include 'Wendla' Spring Awakening, 'Corie' Barefoot in the Park & 'Frank' The Rocky Horror Show. Cyra is especially interested in works incorporating humor & queer alternatives to compulsory behavior... and musicals. cyrakpolizzi.com

Brian Rooney has worked with Chicago Shakespeare, ShawChicago, New Leaf, Strange Tree, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep and of course PFP. He also does quite a bit of film work with local film schools and independent producers. His MFA in Acting comes from University of South Carolina. To find out more and see his film work visit - www.brianrooneyactor.com

Chad Ryan, a Chicago newbie by way of NYC, is excited to be a member of PFP. After dozens of off and off-off Broadway productions both as an actor and director, Chad found himself shelving his career for a few years while working in restaurant management. The move to Chicago and performing in The Ritz with PFP rejuvenated his passion for the theatre.

Patrick Rybarczyk

Mark Smaglinski is a graduate of Indiana University, where he appeared in Neil Simon's The Female Odd Couple. Mark went on to perform in Chicago for Famous Door Theater and other companies, was a co-founder of Burntt Lace Theatre, and starred as Dr. Blood at Great America's Fright Fest. Mark is happy to return to the stage with PFP, already appearing in Some Men, Euphoria, and Save the Date, and joining the incredibly talented ensemble. 

Jamie Smith

Andrew Souders is thrilled to be a PFP company member. He directed Some Men for them in last year's Terrence McNally series. Other favorite directing jobs: A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Lady from Dubuque, and Finian's Rainbow. Andrew has a BFA in Directing from The University of Evansville.  

Jake Szczepaniak is a proud graduate of The University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana Acting program. His past credits include Bud Frump in How to Succeed..., Romeo in Shakespeare's R&J, and Rudy in BentChicago credits include Wally in Lucid with Diamante Productions, George Bernard Shaw in The Three Trials of Oscar Wildewith Black Elephant, and under-studying for Bailiwick's F**king Men and most recently for Remy Bumppo's The Goat or Who Is Sylvia. He has been thrilled to participate in many play readings with PFP in the past, including Joshua in Corpus Christi.

Kelli Walker recently returned to her hometown of Chicago after adventures in Indianapolis and Washington State. A loyal Butler University alumna, Kelli has appeared in The Women and A Perfect Wedding (Circle Theatre), Frozen and Love Song (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble), The Tempest (BoHo Theatre), Black Comedy (Piccolo Theatre), Stuff Happens, Miss Witherspoon, Callie's Tally, Boston Marriage, Proof, and The Vagina Monologues (Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis), Touch (Phoenix transfer to Victory Gardens Theatre).

Kevin Webb is very excited to be a member of the PFP ensemble. He recently earned an MM in Vocal Performance at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where he studied voice with Richard Stilwell and Samuel Ramey. Along with the operatic roles he has performed in Chicago, Kevin also has many credits from The University of Mississippi (where he earned a BM) including theatre, musical theatre, and operatic roles.  For resume and more info check out: www.kevinwebb.org.

Honey West, a graduate of Indiana University, settled in Chicago about 20 years ago. She has starred in such notable productions as Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Diva Diaries, Jerry's Girls, and Tony and Tony's Wedding. And she won the "Broadway World" Best actress in a non-equity play for her role in Pussy on the House. Her own cabaret act lasted 13 years here in Chicago and in touring productions. www.honeywest.com, www.facebook.com/honeywest, www.youtube.com/honeywestchicago

Lee Wichman has been seen in various readings with PFP, including Boys in the Band, AS IS, Some Men, and Corpus Christi. Other Chicago credits include: Alice's Adventures Under Ground, The Thin Man (City Lit); An Enemy of the People, The Secret of the Old Queen (Stage Left Theatre); Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Jeff Citation for Best Ensemble, Open Eye Productions); Phantom (Clock Tower Theatre); Babes in Toyland (Theatre at the Center); and a concert version of My Fair Lady (About Face Theatre). Additionally, Lee has worked as an assistant director at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the National Jewish Theater, and the Hangar Theatre (Ithaca, NY). Lee maintains a private practice of psychotherapy: www.leewichman.com.

David Zak is Executive Director of Pride Films and Plays. He served as Artistic Director of Bailiwick Repertory, Chicago, from 1982-2009. In 2010 he directed the London premiere of The Irish Curse, and last year directed A Doll's House and Fanta Stick in Seoul. He has received Chicago's Jeff Recommendations and/or Awards for Direction of Parade, Dr. Sex, Animal Farm, The Hiroshima Project, Incorruptible, The Count of Monte Cristo, Light in the Heart of the Dragon, Pope Joan, Jerry Springer - The Opera and Son Fire. He has received Jeff Citations for Best New Work for The Count of Monte Cristo (with Jeff Casazza), and his play The Hiroshima Project (with Anne V. McGravie, Dwight Okita, and Nicholas A Patricca) has been performed around the world. He received a special Jeff Citation in 2003 for Bailiwick's range of diverse programming. He has received After Dark Awards for Direction of Southern Baptist Sissies, In the Deep Heart's Core, and Equus. He teaches gender studies for the Chicago Center of Urban Life and Culture.