Gary Henderson is happy to see you! I'm glad you're here! Gary has called Chicago his artistic home for the past 10 years and could not be more thrilled to be doing live theatre again. Gary previously worked with Lifeline Theatre, Birch House Immersive, Idle Muse Theatre, and The Goodman. He's excited to make his Lifeboat Productions debut with The Black Knight. 1000 thanks to Reggie for his boundless help, to Angeli, the folks at BMG talent, and everyone who made this important show possible.

Katherine Wettermann is over the moon to be playing Kathi in the premiere of The Black Knight. The almost two-year wait has been well worth it! Recent credits include Gigi in Gigi’s Party with Yellow Rose Theater and Nicky in The Smell of the Kill at Towle Theater. She is a founding member of Yellow Rose Theater Ensemble. Katherine graduated from University of Miami with degrees in Theater and Advertising. She would like to thank you family and friends for their continued support! It means the world!

Mac is very happy to be in the show. Selected credits include The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Three Brothers Theatre), Julius Caesar (Three Brothers Theatre), Not Quite a Christmas Carol (Fox and the Phoenix Theatre Company), Helvetica (Death and Pretzels) and The Mousetrap (Metropolis Performing Arts). Mac would like to thank the cast and crew for a great working environment, as well as his family and his girlfriend Sophie for their endless support.

Matt Rosin is honored to be in the cast of The Black Knight. After a quarter century performing and teaching improv comedy in and around Scottsdale, Arizona, Matt moved to Chicago a few years ago to pursue traditional theater. He’s never been happier. He is represented by Lily’s Talent.

Jared Dennis holds an M.F.A. from the Theatre School at DePaul and a certificate from The National Theatre Studio, London.  Past performances include:  Henry V, The Winter’s Tale, Tiger at the Gates, Bronte (Promethean Ensemble) Antigone, Twelfth Night, and Hamlet  (First Folio) Much Ado About Nothing, Richard II, and Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and The Voysey Inheritance (Remy Bumppo). Jared is proud to be a member of Promethean.

Erin is very excited to be in her first production in Chicago! She is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada and moved to the Windy City in October. A recent college graduate, she has trained with The Second City, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and The National Theater Institute. After graduation in 2020, she worked on the Las Vegas Strip at The Venetian Resort as a singer and gondolier. A big thanks to everyone on the creative team for letting her be a part of such an incredible story. It has been a real honor to be in such a wonderful production with such talented artists.

Rafael (he/him) is a Chicago-based actor, writer, and director and a 2021 graduate of Ithaca College's BFA Acting program. The Black Knight is his Chicago debut. Other credits include Orsino in Twelfth Night, Man in Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again, and Chuck in She Kills Monsters, all at Ithaca College. His work as a writer focuses on power struggles in contemporary society. More at rafaelgraylopez.com and @rafiupdates

BROOKS WHITLOCK is honored to be working with the cast and crew of THE BLACK KNIGHT. Recent credits include GRIMM (Theatre Above the Law), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, and SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES (PrideArts). Much thanks to Angeli, Ursula, Brian, and the Lifeboat team for this tremendous opportunity. Love to Mom, Dad, Hannah, and Hudson.

Ben has been waiting for TWO YEARS for this beautiful new work to be shared with the world, and is absolutely thrilled that it's finally happening. He hopes you find it just as meaningful, relevant, and entertaining as he does. You may have seen Ben previously as Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet with CenterStage Lake Forest (if you live in Illinois) or in an assortment of other roles with the Clarence Brown Theater (if you frequent Tennessee)."

Kendal Romero is excited to be working with Lifeboat Productions! She has performed in various roles around Chicago including MOMologues with Oil Lamp Theater, Darkling with Third Eye Theatre Ensemble, Much Ado About Nothing with CenterStage, and Harvey with Third Brothers Theatre. Film credits include the short films The Whale, Old School, and Fibril and the award-winning feature film Straight Edge Kegger. She is represented by Lily’s Talent.

A human being who enjoys portraying other human beings while either on stage or in front of a camera, Ryan is excited for his theatrical debut in Chicago as an understudy for both Albrecht and Schellenberg. He hopes audiences enjoy this both timeless and timely story, and that they walk away with something gained.

Sam recently appeared as Ben in the immersive theater production Boxed Experience. He has an array of credits in student films, television and live theater. Sam Sage is a graduate of the ACADEMY at Black Box acting, where he studied Meisner and viewpoints. He is an avid musician and writer. In his free time he enjoys playing board games, traveling by train, and reading interior design magazines.

Brian Pastor is a founder and Emeritus Artistic Director of Promethean Theatre Ensemble, where they directed THE LION IN WINTER, THE WINTER’S TALE, and GROSS INDECENCY: THE THREE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE (all Broadway World Award Nominated- Best Director), as well as HENRY V and THE DARK SIDE OF THE BARD. Last Fall, they directed their acclaimed adaptation of Robert Kennedy’s THIRTEEN DAYS at City Lit Theater where they are Resident Director. Previously, Brian directed George Bernard Shaw’s ARMS AND THE MAN and Archibald MacLeish’s J.B. for City Lit, and they will be directing J.M. Synge’s THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD there next summer. As an actor, Brian has worked with Strawdog, Raven, WildClaw, Promethean, Accomplice, and City Lit, among others. Brian is the Executive Director of Sideshow Theatre, the former Executive Director of Raven Theatre, and the former Managing Director of City Lit. They also served as a board and company member of The Mime Company and were a founding company member of Chicago dell’Arte. Additionally, Brian is a published fiction writer and playwright whose work has been performed on three continents.

Angeli Primlani (she/her/hers) is a writer, director and performer. She’s worked as a playwright, director, actor and producer with Rasaka Theater Company, Otherworld Theater Company, Clock Theater, and Accidental Shakespeare Theater Company, where she was also the founding artistic director. She’s also worked with The National Women’s Theater Festival (Raleigh, North Carolina) Pork Filled Productions (Seattle, Washington), Misery Loves Company and Puchmayer Divadlo (Prague, Czech Republic), Playmakers Reparatory Company (Chapel Hill, NC) as well as other companies in the US and Europe. She is currently the artistic director of Lifeboat Productions, a company that will bring hopepunk theater to the world. She’s also a science fiction writer and was a journalist in Central Europe during the 1990s. Her experiences there heavily informed her play, The Black Knight, which she desperately wishes never became relevant in her own country, but unfortunately this is the Stupid Apocalypse what can you do.

Kristen is so happy to be joining Lifeboat for this production. She graduated with a degree in theater and has been working in the Chicagoland area since as a stage manager. Kristen is also a mom of two lovely girls (and one boy who is due to debut soon) and would like to thank her husband and family for helping her figure out how to still do what she loves.

Benjamin Apollo Dionysus has been trying to see this play for five years now and is honored to be the one to light it. He has worked for multiple companies in Chicago, but especially cherishes his time with Clock Theatre and with his beloved Accidental Shakespeare Theatre Company--both will be sadly missed (boo, COVID). However, he is looking forward to creating more Hope Punk with Lifeboat! He is also a designer of skirts, a maker of masks, and a classically trained composer.

Courtney Abbott (they/she) is thrilled to be aboard with Lifeboat. Upcoming projects include Griffin Theatre’s US premiere of Solaris; Writers Theatre’s world premiere of Wife of a Salesman; and Victory Garden’s world premiere In Every Generation. They are a proud alum of Northwestern and Ohio University.

As props designer for The Black Knight, Cat Cefalu is excited to return to the world of live theatre. A stage manager by training, she was a founding member of the Accidental Shakespeare Company, where she SMed shows including The Tempest and Macbeth. She hopes the cast breaks a leg and no one breaks any props. Thanks to the production team for their great work and collaboration, and special thanks to Angeli, Benjamin, and Ursula for talking her out of various production-related anxiety attacks.

Ursula Gruber (she/her/hers) is a producer, writer, designer, and performer. She has worked with several companies in Chicago including, Silhouette Players, Big Noise, Accidental Shakespeare, and Trinity Players. Ursula is returning to theater after a decade of managing campaigns and students because the world needs more art, damnit.

Jeremiah is very happy to be joining the team of The Black Knight. Aside from scenic design, Jeremiah also finds enjoyment as a technical director, carpenter, props/puppet fabricator and general tomfoolery. Some of other fantastic companies he collaborated with include, AstonRep, Black Button Eyes, City Lit, Northlight, Congo Square and Promethean Theatre Ensemble which he is proud ensemble member. Where is Jeremiah now? Great question-in an underground bunker with the corpse of Elvis; fighting cybernetic kaijus; standing the shadows backstage getting ready to hand you a prop; solving mysteries with the ghosts of Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde and Betty White? Don't concern yourself, whatever it is-know he is using his powers for good. Much love to the cast and crew and especially the wonderful Sam.

Amber Mandley / Cheri Tatar are happy to be part of the Black Knight production and thrilled to be working with this amazing group of people. Amber has been active in theatre as an actor, director and stage manager. She has worked with many different theatre companies in Chicagoland including Clock Productions, On the Spot Productions and Pride Theatres Cheri has been involved with stage management and sound design in Chicago with a variety of theatre companies since college.