Blackbird Theatre Company is delighted to announce its inaugural season. We have chosen plays that best express each director's style and voice, while still keeping to the artistic goals of our company.

MISSION STATEMENT
Blackbird Theatre Company is a group of artists whose mission is to theatrically express emotion with intellect, beauty with reason, and the way things are with the way things could be.  Our aim is to critique contemporary culture by showcasing utopian and dystopian forms.  We challenge our audiences and ourselves to find the balance between.

 

COMPANY MEMBERS
 

	Danielle Marie Holtz, Artistic Director danielle.holtz@blackbirdtheatrecompany.com Danielle is originally from Minnesota. She attended Kent State University, where she directed productions of Old Saybrook, Rhinoceros, Hail Discordia and The God of Hell. She was the Assistant Director for the faculty productions of HONK! and The Winter's Tale. She graduated with a B.A in Theatre Arts in 2006. Danielle currently works at Chicago Shakespeare Theater as an Education Assistant and as a Teaching Artist for Columbia College's Center for Community Arts Partnership.  Much of her appreciation of theatre came from her mother, Julie, who passed away in 2002.
	Ryan William Washabaugh, Associate Artistic Director ryan.washabaugh@blackbirdtheatrecompany.com Ryan is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of Kent State University where he received a B.A. in theatre studies with a focus in directing and classical acting.   He is a proud alumni and former president of the Beta Psi chapter of Alpha Psi Omega.  Over the past decade Ryan has been fortunate enough to have worked in many capacities, in the theatre.  While working with The Orchard Performing Arts Co. he had the rewarding opportunity to act as their interim Children's Theatre Artistic Director for a season before heading west to Chicago.  He made his Chicago acting debut playing Clayton in Remarcable Productions Waiting for Lefty.  His favorite directing credits include Crave, Cinderella: A Pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, and King Arthur's Calamity.  As an actor, Ryan has most enjoyed playing The Old Shepard in The Winter's Tale, The Evil Prince John in Robin Hood, Max in Lippa's The Wild Party and Mr. Smith in The Bald Soprano. Hey to the folks! YCD - IKYIMHAH
	Cleric Costes cleric.costes@blackbirdtheatrecompany.com Cleric is a graduate of Kent State with a B.A. in Theatre Studies and a new resident of Chicago, C. Richard has been performing since he was young.  Past acting credits include Inherit the Wind, Outward Bound, Othello, The Winter's Tale, God of Hell, Autobahn, The Miracle Worker, The Laramie Project, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Theatre's real version of the Rennasiance Man, C. Richard has also designed several sets in addition to authoring several short plays: Sealed , my aMErica, 40 Miles from the Sun, and Centre of the Worlde (co-written with Michael Prosen).
	Yolanda Christine Davis yolanda.davis@blackbirdtheatrecompany.com
	Dan Jackson dan.jackson@blackbirdtheatrecompany.com Dan was raised in Canton, Ohio.  He graduated from Kent State University with a B.A. in Theatre Arts in 2006.  His past performances include Of Mice and Men, Little Shop of Horrors, Bent, Wit and God of Hell.  Plays which he has written include Ranting of a Lesser Man, Hail Discordia and Into the Pool.  His only Chicago theatre credit is The Curse of the Goonies: An E! True Hollywood Parody, and he asks you to forgive him.
	Aileen Rose Ruane aileen.ruane@blackbirdtheatrecompany.com Aileen is tremendously excited to be a member of the Blackbird family.  She is a 2005 graduate of the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University, where she also minored in French.  Past favourite roles include: Shelia Albertson in Waiting for Guffman, Rose Hoffman in Working, and Mrs. Fremus/Mrs. Warren/Clara in The Boys Next Door.  She is a former competitive Irish Step dancer with the Burke School of Irish Dance in Cleveland, Ohio and an avid runner.  Much love and thanks to the rest of BTC, Susan Hart, EVB, and especially her incredible family.  Cresco per crucem.
	Zachary Flock, Webmaster / Graphic Designer zach.flock@blackbirdtheatrecompany.com Zach is happy to be an honorary member of BTC, making his long-distance contributions from Erie, Pennsylvania. Zach is a graduate of Gannon University with a B.A. in Theatre & Communication Arts. In addition to freelance design, Zach works at the Arts Council of Erie. His favorite theatrical roles include the Emcee in Cabaret, Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd, and, yes, Headmistress / Captain Ahab in Moby Dick: The Musical!. Zach made his professional directing debut with the recent Shakespeare Summer Nights production of Macbeth.