Vanessa has studied at Missouri State University, as well as The American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco. She is the recipient of the TCG 11th Round of the Fox Foundation resident Actor Fellowships, 2017, including the Carlsbad, CA Artist in Residency, 2022, as well as the winner of Dramatist Guild Grant 2022. She is certified in Suzuki Method, and Viewpoints under the instruction of Ellen Lauren, SITI Company. She is the playwright and actor of Frida...A Self Portrait (2020 Kilroys List). Other original works include; Dracula (World Premiere at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 2024), Rubik (World Premiere, Spinning Tree Theatre, 2024), Sueno de Agua (World Premiere, Kansas City Repertory Theater 2022). WEBSITE: VanessaSevero.com

[Bio as of January 2025]

JOANIE SCHULTZ currently serves as Associate Artistic Director of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Her work has been seen in Chicago and regional theaters including The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Steep Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Portland Center Stage, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, GEVA Theater Center, Indiana Repertory Theatre, LaJolla Playhouse, and Philadelphia Theatre Company. She has directed and assistant directed opera from the site specific to the grand stage with Chicago Opera Theater, the Bayview Music Festival, the Chicago Cultural Center, and New Millennium Orchestra. In 2017-18, Joanie was Artistic Director of WaterTower Theatre in Dallas, Texas, where she produced new and inclusive programming from community partnerships to world premiere plays. Prior to that, Joanie served as Associate Artistic Producer at Victory Gardens Theater, as part of the TCG/Mellon Foundation Leadership U One-on-One Fellowship. She was also a Drama League Fellow; The Goodman Theatre Michael Maggio Director Fellow; the SDSF Denham Fellow; and member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab. She is an ensemble member at Steep Theatre Company and an artistic cabinet member at Studio Theatre in Washington DC. Joanie has taught through her own studio, Steep Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre, along with Columbia College Chicago, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Roosevelt University. She holds a B.A. in Theater Directing from Columbia College Chicago and an M.F.A. in Theater Directing from Northwestern University. For more information on Joanie’s work, go to www.joanieschultz.com.

[Bio as of January 2025]

JACQUELINE PENROD is very happy to be working with Writers Theater on this production of Frida...A Self Portrait.  She previously designed the set for Frida at Indiana Repertory Theatre, GEVA,  Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Portland Center Stage and Kansas City Rep. She is an Associate Professor at Columbia College Chicago. Jacqueline’s award-winning design work has been seen in Chicago and regionally. Some of her favorite collaborators include, Lookingglass Theatre, Pegasus Players, Northlight Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre, Next Theatre Company, Remy Bumpo Theatre Company. Jacqueline recently designed Big River for The Mercury Theater Chicago, and The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley for Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. She is a member of United Scenic Artists local 829. penroddesign.com

[Bio as of January 2025]

KATHERINE DAVIS is a Costume Designer based out of Kansas City. Aside from Frida… A Self Portrait, her recent designs include Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Johnson County Community College), Milking Christmas (Black Box Theatre), Sonnets for an Old Century (TTU-SOTD), Dracula; A Song of Love and Death (UMKC Theatre and KCAT), Brother Toad (OriginKC; New Works Festival) and more. When not designing Katherine has been delving into the world of puppetry with Simple Mischief Studios and playing Roller Derby. For more information visit katherinedavis.org

[Bio as of January 2025]

RACHAEL CADY will be making her Writers Theatre debut with her design of Frida...A Self Portrait. Rachael’s designs have been seen all over the country. At the KCRep: Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson — Apt 2B, Frankenstein, Frida...A Self Portrait, Of Mice and Men, Brother Toad, Man in Love, Evita, Sunday in the Park with George, Sticky Traps, A Christmas Carol (2010-2018, 2021-2022), When I Come to Die, The Glass Menagerie, Circle Mirror Transformation, Sticky Traps, Incognito, Elsewhere: Frida...A Self Portrait (PCS); Oklahoma! (Theatreworks); The Underpants, A Perfect Wedding, Shake Rattle and Roll, Smokey Joe’s Café (Florida Studio Theatre); Fellowship! (NYMF festival); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Theatre League); Love Janis (Zach Theatre, Austin). In Kansas City: The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds, Tally’s Folly, Tally and Son, 5th of July, The Cripple of Inishmaan (Kansas City Actors Theatre). As the resident designer for the Unicorn Theatre (1995-2010) Rachael designed over fifty shows from 1995-2010. Rachael lives in Kansas City with her partner of 19 years, Margaret and their 2 dogs Cassie, and Harley.

[Bio as of January 2025]

THOMAS DIXON is a Chicago-based theatre artist who previously designed A Number and A Doll's House at Writers. He is an ensemble member at Steep Theatre Company, and his work has been heard at Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Jackalope, First Floor, and more. Thomas has designed at theaters across the country, including Kansas City Rep, Portland Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Geva Theatre, Indy Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance. Thomas teaches sound design at DePaul University. thomasdixonsound.com

[Bio as of January 2025]

JANINE VANDERHOFF has been a stage manager and production manager for more than 25 years on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, and on tour. Some favorites include The Lion King (Original Broadway Company), The Vagina Monologues, The Graduate (starring Morgan Fairchild), Cats, Jekyll & Hyde, and many more. She has also stage managed over 30 shows in the past nine seasons at Portland Center Stage. Janine has production managed at multiple regional theaters as well as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart “Democalypse 2012 Republican National Convention.” Frida Forever. Proud NYU graduate and AEA member.

[Bio as of January 2025]

KATE NAGORSKI is thrilled to return to Writers Theatre! ASM credits include Every Brilliant Thing, Eurydice, Pearl’s Rollin’ with the Blues (Writers Theatre); Carmela Full of Wishes (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Sundown Yellow Moon (Raven Theatre). Other Chicago backstage credits include Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, Antigone, The Gospel at Colonus, Fen (Court Theatre); Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley (Northlight Theatre); The Hot Wing King, A Distinct Society, Tiger Style!, Wife of a Salesman (Writers Theatre); and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Beehive: The 60’s Musical, Kiss Me Kate (Marriott Theatre).

[Bio as of January 2025]