House Theatre of Chicago Announces New Company Members

The House Theatre of Chicago announces the addition of 10 artists to its roster of Company Members. This marks first addition of Company Members since 2008.

Artistic Director Nathan Allen reflected, "We are fortunate to work with so many wonderful artists from this city, and it has been in the works to invite more of them into our family for a while. Fellow Company Members worked with me to make these invitations and I couldn't be more proud to welcome these long-time friends and collaborators to now officially be a part of The House Theatre of Chicago family."

44 artists now comprise the Company Members of The House Theatre of Chicago.
The New Group includes:

Abu Ansari
Abu is an actor who has appeared in Wilson Wants it All(2010), The Sparrow (Arsht 2011), Death & Harry Houdini (Ensemble, Chicago and Arsht 2012, 2013) andPloughed Under: An American Songbook (2013). Abu has also been seen at Steppenwolf, Dog & Pony, Strawdog, Infusion, and StageLeft and is an artistic associate at Chicago Dramatists and Voice of the City.

Brenda Barrie
Brenda is an actress who has appeared in The Nutcracker (Martha, Chicago 2012), and will be performing in The Crownless King this fall. She reprises the role of Martha in The Nutcracker this holiday season. She has been seen on stages throughout Chicago including Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Backstage, The Gift, Lifeline and Silk Road Rising. She is a member of Actors Equity Association.

Paige Collins
Paige is an actress who has appeared in The Iron Stag King (Rienne, 2012) and The Nutcracker (Clara, Chicago 2012). She will be reprising both roles this year beginning with this fall's The Crownless King. She is also an ensemble member of Theatre Seven and was featured in The Twins Would Like to Say with Dog & Pony, and Spring Awakening with Griffin.

Brian DesGranges
Brian is a stage manager, having lead teams on two of The House's most successful runs: The Sparrow(Viaduct, Steppenwolf, Apollo 2007, Arsht 2011) andDeath & Harry Houdini (Chicago and Arsht 2012, 2013), as well as Hope Springs Infernal (2007), All the Fame of Lofty Deeds (2009), and Wilson Wants It All (2010). He has also stage managed for Redmoon's Winter Pageant and The Hypocrites' Threepenny Opera. With Company Member Kevin O'Donnell, he produces the live variety talk show The Monthly Visit with Kevin O'Donnell.

Joshua Horvath
Joshua is a sound designer and composer. His sound designs have been heard in Rose and the Rime (2009),Ploughed Under: An American Songbook (with Company Member Michael Griggs, 2013) and soon inThe Crownless King. He works extensively throughout Chicago theatre, is an artistic associate of Lookingglass Theatre, a collaborative partner with the Goodman Theatre, and teaches sound for theatre and film at Northwestern University.

Christine Mayland Perkins
Christine is an actress and singer who appeared inPloughed Under: An American Songbook (2013) andThe Nutcracker (Phoebe, Chicago 2012). She will be reprising the role of Phoebe in the upcoming season. A graduate of Northwestern University, Christine worked with House Company members in their original Girls vs. Boys workshop class at NU. She has also been seen on stage at Light Opera Works and Marriott Lincolnshire.

Brandon Ruiter
Brandon is an actor who has been seen in Rose and the Rime (Jimmy, 2009), All the Fame of Lofty Deeds(Ensemble, Pokey the Horse, 2009), Girls vs. Boys(2010), The Sparrow (Arsht 2011), The Iron Stag King(Casper, 2012) and most recently The Nutcracker(Hugo, Chicago 2012). He is currently reprising his role of Casper in The Crownless King. He is a graduate of Hope College, where Allen originally developed Rose and the Rime in 2007.

Trista Smith
Trista is an actress and singer who played in The Nutcracker (Phoebe, 2010), in The Sparrow (Arsht 2011) and in Death & Harry Houdini (Ensemble, Chicago and Arsht 2012, 2013). She was a company member with Hell in a Handbag productions. When in Chicago, she performs an original cabaret show callEd Smith & Grimm at Davenports piano bar.

Kevin Stangler
Kevin is an actor and musician who performed in Girls vs. Boys (2010), Death & Harry Houdini (Death, Hilmar, Chicago and Arsht 2012) and The Nutcracker (Fritz, Chicago 2012). He is also a company member with the New Colony where he's been seen in many productions, including the upcoming B-Side Studio. He will be reprising the role of Fritz this winter.

Melissa Torchia
Melissa is a costume designer whose work has been seen in The Magnificents (2013) and The Iron Stag King(2012). Her work will be seen this fall in The Crownless King where she returns to the world she created for Iron Stag. She received her MFA from Northwestern University in 2011, and assisted House Company Member and NU mentor Ana Kuzmanic on Girls vs. Boys (NU 2009 and Chicago 2010) and Wilson Wants it All (2010).

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