Erica Elam (Rachel) is thrilled to be making her Northlight debut.  Recent credits include Emma (Reverie), Lady Madeline (Steppenwolf Arts Exchange), Aren’t We All (Remy Bumppo), The Romeo and Juliet Musical (Chicago Shakespeare/Second City), Winesburg, Ohio (Steppenwolf/About Face), Vincent in Brixton (Apple Tree) and Abingdon Square (Piven), as well as Brain Humor (Donny’s Skybox) and Warfield, USA (Second City Unhinged), both of which she co-wrote.  Erica is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Second City Conservatory Program and an ensemble member of Baby Wants Candy, with whom she improvises full-length musicals.

Rae Gray (Melinda) is delighted to make her Northlight Theatre debut. Most recently she appeared in State Fair and Oliver at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Previous credits include Ravinia Festival’s Sunday in the Park with George (with Patti Lupone and Audra McDonald); Steppenwolf’s Wedding Band; Goodman’s Christmas Carol (two years); Theater at the Center’s State Fair and Christmas Story; Apple Tree Theatre’s Number the Stars and TimeLine Theatre’s Cry of Players and Crucible (Jeff Citation Best Production/Ensemble.)  Rae is a freshman at The Latin School in Chicago.

Zach Gray (Howard) is delighted to make his Northlight debut. Most recently he appeared in Collaboraction’s Sketchbook, where he received the festival’s Best Actor award for his solo performance in Chill is Good. Other Chicago-area credits include: Chicago Shakespeare’s King John, Peter Pan and The Winter’s Tale; Steppenwolf’s Time of Your Life (Jeff nominated—Best Ensemble/Production) and David Copperfield; Goodman’s A Christmas Carol (5 years), Galileo Galilei directed by Mary Zimmerman; and Apple Tree Theatre’s Big the Musical.  Zach was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Jeff citation for his work as Arty in Lost in Yonkers (Eclipse Theatre Company).  Film credits include Grace is Gone (with John Cusack and Marisa Tomei), Drunkboat (with John Malkovich), Time Served and Stray Dogs (best new actor Savannah International Film Festival).  Zach is a junior at The Latin School of Chicago. 

Frances Guinan (Ensemble) is member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble. Steppenwolf appearances include Love Song, Cherry Orchard, The Grapes of Wrath, Balm in Gilead, and True West, as well as The Diary of Anne Frank and August: Osage County later this season.  Mr. Guinan and his family recently returned to Chicago from a 15-year stint in Los Angeles, where he appeared in God’s Man in Texas and The Weir (Geffen Playhouse); Stuff Happens and Space (Mark Taper Forum); and The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial, True West, Antigone, Oedipus the King, and numerous other productions (L.A. Theatre Works).  His many TV credits include “Grey's Anatomy”, “CSI: NY”, “3rd Rock From the Sun”, “Frasier”, John Frankenheimer’s “Path to War” and most notably as the Dad in “Eerie, Indiana.”  Film credits include roles in Constantine, Hannibal, Guinevere, Shining Through, and Speed II. This performance is in honor of the courage and generosity of his family.

Levi Holloway (Cates) recently graduated from The Theater School at DePaul University where he received a BFA in acting.  Since graduation he has appeared twice at Steppenwolf Theatre: as Sammie in The Sparrow Project directed by Hallie Gordon, and understudying the role of Sean in Love-Lies-Bleeding directed by Amy Morton.  He also just finished his first film, Carpet Kingdom.  This is his Northlight debut.

Scott Jaeck (Drummond) Previously at Northlight: Red Herring, How I Learned to Drive and Light Up the Sky.  Other recent Chicago appearances: Henry IV Parts I & II, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Julius Caesar, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Tempest, Richard II, and The Herbal Bed (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Dinner with Friends (Goodman); and Our Town and Benefactors (Writers’ Theatre).  Regional theatres: Milwaukee Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Indiana Rep, Alliance.  Broadway: Night of the Iguana at The Roundhouse Theatre.  International credits: Henry IV Parts I & II at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, England.  TV and film appearances include: “Prison Break”, “Charmed”, “E.R.”, “Seinfeld”, “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Next Generation”, Washington Square, An Innocent Man and Gross Anatomy.  Scott is newly married to actor and Steppenwolf ensemble member Mariann Mayberry.

Matthew Krause (Ensemble) is very happy to be making his Northlight debut.  Previous credits include Romance (Goodman), Lady Madeline (Steppenwolf), Man of La Mancha, Travesties, Piano, Twelfth Night and Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards (Court), Scapin (Court and INTIMAN in Seattle), Hauptmann and It’s All True (TimeLine), The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew (Chicago Shakespeare), Winesburg, Ohio (About Face), Grand Hotel and State Fair (Theatre at the Center) and Dylan (Seanachai).  He is happily married to Maureen Powers.

John Lister (Ensemble) is pleased to be back at Northlight Theatre, having previously appeared as Andrei Borchevsky in Red Herring and Lord Augustus in Lady Windermere’s Fan.  Other Chicago credits include: Bob Crachit and the Ghost of Jacob Marley in The Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol; ten productions with Chicago Shakespeare including Cleomenes & Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale, Diomedes in Antony and Cleopatra, and Bishop Parry in The Herbal Bed; Cauchon in The Lark (Eclipse Theatre); and Thesaurus in Enter:The Poet (CollaborAction).  Regional credits include: Deathtrap, Shady Business, and The Foreigner (Peninsula Players) and Romeo and Juliet, Henry V and The Comedy of Errors (Notre Dame Summer Shakespeare).  TV and film credits include “Prison Break” (FOX) and the independent film I Touched Gloria, along with numerous industrial films, commercials and voiceovers.  John received his MFA in Acting from Michigan State University.

Tony Mockus (Brady) has a Northlight history dating back to its earliest days with That Championship Season at the Kingsley School stage in 1978, leading up to God’s Man in Texas in 2000.  Other credits include the title role in Da (The Guthrie), On Golden Pond (Drury Lane Oakbrook), and Painting Churches and Sleuth (Organic Theatre Company), as well as film credits The Untouchables, Bad Boys, and Backdraft.  Tony was deeply honored to be the recipient of The Chicago Drama League’s prestigious Crystal Award for 2006.  He is delighted to be paired again with Scott Jaeck, with whom he appeared in Long Day’s Journey…, and Mary Ann Thebus, with whom he enjoyed Painting Churches.  An idealist in an existential climate, Tony believes that the theatre is “a place of reaffirmation" are we to send people away exalted, compassionate, and proud of being human, or are we to add to their frustration and cynicism?”

Mary Ann Thebus (Ensemble) is happy to be returning to Northlight after appearing in Cat Feet two seasons ago.  She was most recently seen in Gift Theatre’s The Glass Menagerie at Theatre on the Lake and 100 Saints You Should Know directed by BJ Jones in Steppenwolf’s First Look Series.  She has been performing on Chicago stages for over twenty years, has been active in film and TV originating in Chicago, and is a teacher of acting both privately and at The Artistic Home.  She was awarded a 2002 After Dark Award for her role in Painting Churches and is the recipient of eight Jeff Award nominations.

Amy Warren (Ensemble) is very pleased to be a part of Inherit the Wind. She has appeared in Heartbreak House and Trojan Women at the Goodman, and Mother Courage and Her Children, Ten % of Molly Snyder, The House of Lily,  The Weir, Whispering City and The Glass Menagerie at Steppenwolf.  A favorite role is Vivian Blaine in the smash-hit Pulp at About Face Theatre, for which she also composed the Jeff Award-winning music with Andre Pluess and lyricist/playwright Patricia Kane.  She played Minta Arbuckle in The Second City's Fatty Arbuckle's Spectacular Musical Review, has sung the role of Mary Magdelene in the all rock version of Jesus Christ Superstar, released a cd with Tallulah and appears on several Aluminum Group releases.  Amy has worked with Curious Theatre Branch, Theatre Oobleck and Piven Theatre, among others.

Andrew White (Ensemble) last worked with Jessica Thebus on Winesburg, Ohio, in which he played The Writer in a co-production with About Face and Steppenwolf.  He is a founding member of the Lookingglass Theatre Company, where he most recently appeared in The Old Curiosity Shop, and where he wrote and directed an original adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984, which, to his amazed delight, received a Jeff Award for Best Adaptation.  He has also appeared in Miriam Buddwing and Another Time (Steppenwolf), All the Rage (Goodman), and Kids in the Dark (Victory Gardens).  This last year he taught Acting as an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University, as well as in various Lookingglass Outreach programs with students of all ages.  His family at home includes one wife, two children, and one muscle-bound cat.  He is delighted to be making his first appearance at Northlight.