Kelly Helgeson joined Writers Theatre in August 2022 where she serves as General Manager providing leadership support in key areas of the theatre's operations. Prior to WT, Kelly spent seven years at the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for Performing Arts at Northwestern University as Associate Managing Director.

Mattie Voorheis has been a proud member of the Writers Theatre administrative team since 2019. In addition to her background in nonprofit finance, Mattie has enjoyed over a decade of experience in stage management and live event production, supporting programming with Theatre Communications Group, Chicago Humanities Festival, Milwaukee Film, Seattle Children's Theatre, and others. She is a graduate of Smith College and the Northwestern University MSLCE program.

Víctor López has been with Writers Theatre since September 2021, and has been proudly serving as Company Manager since April of 2022. An actor themself, he takes a human-first approach to company management, believing that artists who are generously supported create the best art.

Maylene Peña, PHR (MAY-leen PE-nyuh), is a proud Latina and a Chicago native who grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, and has over 15 years of experience with working with people. Her focus is on attracting, building, and sustaining relationships in her circle. Maylene prides herself on her ability to connect with individuals on many levels and aid them in the realization of their goals and aspirations.

As the Vice President and Senior Consultant, with The Walker Thomas Group, Maylene specializes in being a service provider for the Latinx community by helping ordinary people, small businesses, and property owners to organize and educate themselves for the future. As a People Operations Consultant, she is able to empower her clients using the best tools available, to catapult them into becoming the best version of themselves.

Over the years Maylene has worked in various industries as a subject matter expert in the field of Human Resources, Operations, Process Improvement, Training & Development, Organizational Design, and Facility Management. Maylene is certified as an OSHA Trainer, a PHR and is also certified as an Instructor through the ACA (Association of Credit and Collection Professionals).

Maylene is a mother and a wife and is passionate about social justice and  is happy to marry her love for people and her need to see them excel and finally live their customized version of the “American dream”. When she is not busy helping others, she is most likely to be found soaking in the sun, or spending the day outdoors simply enjoying nature.

Hey there! I'm Pat, a proud Chicagoan with a deep-rooted passion for both technology and the performing arts. Over the past decade, I've had the exciting opportunity to innovate across various industries, including Technology, Art, Entertainment, and Crypto. I thrive on problem-solving and love crafting exceptional experiences. My expertise lies in IT operations, product development, and brand management and strategy. Let's connect and create something amazing together!

Chris joined Writers Theatre in 2023 assisting Executive Director Kate Lipuma, Artistic Director Braden Abraham and managing the Writers Theatre Board of Trustees. Before joining Writers Theatre, Chris managed press relations and social media at Cathy Taylor Public Relations, working with esteemed clients such as A Red Orchid Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, The Second City, Northlight Theatre and Writers Theatre. Prior to his work in Chicago, he served as Director of Media Relations for The Journal of Business Venturing at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Annie Lyonswright received her Bachelor's Degrees in Vocal Performance and Communications from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Lyonswright has been a dedicated fundraiser in the Chicago nonprofit space for the last 10 years, in positions at The Joffrey Ballet as their Director of Annual Giving as well as the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, as their Associate Director of Board Governance and Engagement. She has deep experience leading annual fund campaigns, board strategy and groundbreaking events at some of Chicago's most world renowned institutions. She is a passionate fundraising leader focused on collaborating with a diverse range of partners to ensure the promotion of exceptional organizations and their missions.

Prior to joining the Development Team at Writers Theatre, Phil Smith was the Producing Director at Lookingglass Theatre Company with over three decades of dedicated service. He was in integral part of raising 25M+ in campaign support for the company both for the initial buildout at the Water Tower Water Works and in recent years, raising funds for the company’s productions, new works and education department. This also included creative work designing and coproducing its notable fundraisers and special events. Phil is also an ensemble member at Lookingglass, having served as its Artistic Director in the 1990’s and its casting director for over 20 years. He is passionate about providing rich and layered experiences that support and illuminate brand and mission to all levels of stakeholders. Smith finds joy in matching people to cause and in creating vivid experiences that resonate, inspire, bring joy and charge.

Since October 2022, Gwenyth has worked with the Advancement Team to create and produce unique event and travel experiences for WT's network of donors, trustees, and community partners, fostering deeper connections between the work on our stages and our most dedicated advocates. She also manages the annual WordPlay Gala, the organization's spring benefit, contributing 25% to the organization's annual fundraising goal. In addition, Gwenyth plays a key role in frontline fundraising, engaging donors through distinctive Writers Theatre experiences. Outside work, she enjoys supporting local theatre and the arts, practicing yoga, spending time with family, and volunteering with Chicago-based animal welfare organizations. Gwenyth is a 2022 graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where she earned a BA in Arts & Entertainment Management with a focus on nonprofit fundraising.

Previously a Specialist and Volunteer Champion at Apple Inc., where Phillip had the opportunity to organize volunteer events with local nonprofit organizations and manage monetary donations. Other professional experience includes equity research and financial analysis, as well as commodities and equity trading. Phillip has volunteered in several capacities over the course of his education and career and is passionate about community and culture.

Shay has been an integral part of the WT Staff since October 2021, starting in the Box Office and Front of House before stepping into the role of Box Office Manager from December 2022 to December 2024. Now serving as the Advancement Coordinator, Shay plays a key role in supporting our fundraising efforts and ensuring smooth financial and organizational operations. They’ve also embraced grant writing and have become more visible on the front lines, adding even more strength to the exceptional team they’re a part of. Outside of work, Shay thrives in the world of freelance theatre, enjoys cooking up new recipes, and can often be found relaxing with their cats and a cup of coffee. A proud graduate of SUNY Fredonia, Shay holds a BA in Theatre and a BS in Women & Gender Studies.

Michael comes to Writers Theatre by way of many performing arts organizations over the past 20+ years. At Writers, he's responsible for strategic marketing, advertising, communications, branding, box office, creative direction and web development. He's held comparable senior positions for such organizations as Porchlight Music Theatre (Chicago), Kentucky Performing Arts, Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), Type A Marketing (a Broadway marketing agency) and several Colorado-based culturals while helming M.A.P. Marketing Group - Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Boulder Philharmonic, Vail Arts Festival and Colorado Music Festival, among others. His work through M.A.P. earned 24 Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival and Events Association for excellence in marketing and media.

Stanton Long is the Creative Design Manager here at Writers Theatre. He has been a part of the Chicago theatre community since 2005, first as an actor, but soon found a new love in content creation and creative campaign management. Stanton originally joined the company in 2016, and has been one of the leading forces behind WT's visual identity. Outside of WT, he has worked as an art director for Free Street Theatre, Congo Square Theatre and Broadway in Chicago. He's also an award-winning filmmaker and previously directed the Emmy-nominated "One-man a Christmas Carol" here at WT.

Tyler Lord is the Marketing & Data Manager at Writers Theatre, where he blends his passion for the performing arts with strategic marketing and analytics. He joined WT in 2024, bringing experience from Harris Theater for Music and Dance and the Auditorium Theatre, where he developed a deep expertise in arts marketing and audience engagement. Tyler holds a BFA from Temple University and continues to support and engage with Chicago’s arts community through his work and partnerships.

Mary Alex joined the Writers marketing team in 2023, with over a decade of arts marketing experience. Prior to working at Writers, she was the Associate Director of Marketing at Goodman Theatre, where she created and implemented marketing campaigns for season subscription sales, as well as single ticket efforts for the 400-seat Owen theatre. She has also worked with a variety of arts and entertainment organizations including Lookingglass Theatre Company, Blue Man Group, Giordano Dance, EXPO Chicago, and many more. Mary Alex is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied Communications, Public Relations, and Theater. She lives in the Western suburbs with her husband and two children.

Born and raised on Chicago's Northwest and South sides, Laya (she/they) graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. Since she has dedicated herself to uplifting the arts through her skillsets in SEO/SEM copywriting, graphic design, content strategy, and care-oriented community building and group facilitation.

Outside of their work in marketing, Laya is a filmmaker and a media critic/writer. In 2024, she was awarded the Emerging Critics Grant from Rotten Tomatoes and the Chicago Film Critics Association, and was selected as an OTV Fellow for their cohort of Intersectional Global Storytellers. They have shared a variety of visual and video-based work across Chicago and Berlin. Laya feels empowered by getting to collaborate with others and is deeply inspired by being in community with other thoughtful, creative, and spiritual people.

Cathy has been working with leading performing arts organizations since moving to Chicago in 1999 and opened CTPR in March 2007. She has a background in arts administration, arts marketing and theater and has a reputation as an expert communications specialist and media relations professional for the city’s best theaters.

Cathy spent more than five years at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as publicist and, ultimately, publicity and communications director. She was vice president of The Silverman Group for two years. Prior to moving to Chicago, Cathy worked at Indiana University, Bloomington, as director of audience development for the Department of Theatre and Drama and was responsible for all marketing, public relations and communications activities for the department’s three theatres, academic programs and alumni newsletter. She also spent time at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Education Department where she worked with Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis on the first-ever Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition.

Cathy holds a B.A. in Theatre from The College of Wooster and an M.A. in Arts Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington. She is a former board member and cultural committee co-chair of the Chicago Chapter of the Indiana University Alumni Association and a founding board member of the IU Outdoor Adventure Alumni Association. She shares her Lincoln Square office with Kelsey, Samara and a rescue dog named Mattie.

From the start—when shows debuted in the back of a bookstore filled with folding chairs—we’ve helped Writers Theatre tell its story.

By creating a brand voice that resonates across all communication, we connected WT with audiences and helped it to grow into “America’s No. 1 theatre company” (The WSJ) with a $34 million state-of-the-art facility by Studio Gang Architects.

Miranda is a type one diabetic, Chicago-based theatre artist. Miranda studied at Gordon College, specializing in Theatre, Psychology and Management and received her Master’s from Adelphi University in Educational Theatre Production Management. She has worked at Skyline Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Proboscis Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Kerfuffle Productions, and been a part of a number of New Works projects. They are passionate about developing new works, supporting young artists, creating safe spaces for artists of all abilities and provoking empathy.

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Kelly is a graduate of Lake Forest College with a degree in Theatre. She has worked in various Stage Management related positions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. Before coming to Writers, she was the Production Coordinator at Lookingglass Theatre Company.