The Conductors Virtual Program

The Conductors Virtual Program

Cast:

Madison Hill

Shea Lee

Samie Jo Johnson

Michael-Ellen (Mikey) Walden

Production Team:
Stage Manager: Sara Segneri

Lighting Designer: Diane D. Fairchild

Tunnel Designer and Scenic Artist: Shokie Tseumah
Original Production Designer: Mariah Bennett
Costume Designer: Ashley Laverty, Josh Bernaski
Director: Ashley Laverty

Madison Hill (they/them) - Conductor 1 (Red)

Madison Hill (they/them) is a Chicago based actor, deviser, mover, and shaker. Madison has worked with multiple companies in Chicago, is an Advanced Actor Combatant with the SAFD, and is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent. You might recognize them from their work with other companies such as: Jackalope Theatre Company, Babes with Blades Theater Company, Raven Theatre, The Plagiarists, and other independent productions. Madison is thankful for their partners, chosen family, and their sweet little black void of a cat.

Shea Lee (she/her) - Conductor 2 (Purple)

Shea Lee (she/her) is delighted to be back with Kerfuffle, where she has also been seen in Bookworms and Goose and Gert. Other favorite credits include StarDog (independent), Extra Yarn and Cat’s Cradle (both at Lifeline Theatre). Shea is an ensemble member of Lifeline Theatre and Laughing Stock Theatre, an alumna of Northwestern University, and is represented by Big Mouth Talent.

Samie Jo Johnson (she/they) - Conductor 3 (Yellow)

Samie Jo Johnson (she/they) is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist who has been based in Chicago since 2017. She is the Artistic Director of Imagination Theater, a company which uses interactive performances to teach empathy, conflict resolution, and abuse prevention. They have worked as an actor, deviser, and director with Chicago companies including Artemisia, Red Twist, Filament, Midsommer Flight, and Quicksilver Shakespeare. When not performing, Samie Jo enjoys traveling (especially if it’s someplace she can climb a mountain), reading short stories, and snuggling with their cat.

Michael-Ellen (Mikey) Walden (they/he) - Understudy

Michael-Ellen (Mikey) Walden (they/he) is an actor, writer, musician, and teaching artist based in Chicago. He has always been drawn to the sense of play children have and the way that play frees artistic impulses for people of all ages. He has worked as a teaching artist with Chicago Children's Theatre, Jamberry Music, Chicago Center for Music Education, ImagineU, and Stomp & Shout. His recent artistic projects have included TL;DR (actor/musician, Theo Ubique), Bookworms (actor, Kerfuffle), and House of Dreams: Purim 5785 (actor/deviser). Outside the classroom, you might find them singing country classics at karaoke or talking to Lake Michigan.

Diane D. Fairchild (she/her) - Lighting Designer

Diane D. Fairchild (she/her) is a local and regional freelance lighting designer, and she has been an ensemble member of Lifeline Theatre since 2017. Diane has designed several productions at Lifeline including Leaf, Skunk and Badger, Miss Holmes Returns, Whose Body?, Northanger Abbey, and Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters. Her work on Lifeline’s productions of A Tale of Two Cities and Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol was recognized with Non-Equity Jeff Awards. She holds an M.F.A. in Lighting Design from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a B.F.A. in Design and Technology for the Theater from Wright State University in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio. While in New York, Ms. Fairchild designed at The Juilliard School, Dixon Place, New Georges, NYU’s Experimental Theatre Wing, HERE Arts Center, and Joyce Soho. In 2003, she moved to Chicago and dove into its rich theater scene. Chicago area credits include work with Rivendell (ensemble), Academy of Movement and Music, MOMENTA, Irish Theatre of Chicago, Raven, Teatro Vista, Wilmette Parks District, Theater Wit, Northlight, Court, Sideshow, and Victory Gardens. She also designs and mentors design students at Wheaton College, Grant Community High School, and CAST (Percy Julian Middle School). Regional credits include work with Michigan Shakespeare Festival, The Human Race, 1st Stage (Tysons Corner), City Theatre, Intiman, Trinity Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and Boise Contemporary Theatre. She is a proud member of USA829 and a proud mom of Xander and Quincy.

Shokie Tseumah (they/them) - Tunnel Designer and Scenic Artist

Shokie Tseumah is a scenic designer and props director residing in Chicago. They graduated from The Theatre School @ DePaul University with a BFA in Set Design, minor in Animation, and concentrated studies in both Props and Production Design. Recent credits include Rabbits in Their Pockets (Scenic and props design) at Lifeline Theatre, Memorabilia (Props design) produced by Teatro Vista at Filament Theatre, and Constellations (Co-scenic design) at the Athenaeum. They have a love of story-telling and strive to spread a little bit of whimsy and laughter in every project. You can view their work at shokietseumah.com

Mariah Bennett (she/her) - Production Designer

Mariah Bennett (she/her) is a Texas native with a BFA from University of North Texas and a Masters of Design from Rhode Island School of Design. She gave up her life as an architect to pursue her current career in the realm of film and theater. As a properties designer, she's had the pleasure of working with Chicago Opera, Definition Theater, Haven, Congo Square, Filament Theater, Third Rail, APTP, Refracted Theater, The Gift, Gilbert & Sullivan, DePaul Opera, Shattered Globe, and Northlight Theater. She is currently the resident props designer at Columbia College.

Sara Segneri (she/her) - Stage Manager

Sara Segneri (she/her) is a stage manager and teaching artist working in and around the Chicago area! Stage Management credits include Strawdog Theatre Co. (SM: Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins, Hit Factory 2025), Oil Lamp Theatre (ASM: Side by Side by Sondheim), and Loyola University Chicago (SM: Legally Blonde, Fairview). She is an ensemble member with Strawdog Theatre Co., and holds a B.A. in Theatre from Loyola University Chicago.

Ashley Laverty (she/her) - Director

Ashley Laverty (she/her) is the founding Artistic Director of Kerfuffle. Under her leadership, Kerfuffle has partnered with many arts and non-arts organizations to bring aesthetically exciting, engaging, and original work to children around the country in museums, libraries, parks, and community centers. With Kerfuffle, she has developed and directed Toddler Hiking Club: An Imaginative Nature Walk, The Conductors, Toad Hall, Goose and Gert, Nested, and The Caterpillar's Footprint. She is a teaching artist and has over 12 years of teaching artist experience, specializing in drama in the early childhood classroom. In Chicago, Ashley is proud to be a teaching artist with Lifeline Theatre, Writers Theatre, Imagine Performing Arts, and The Stage School. She is also a Kennedy Center teaching artist. Ashley holds an M.F.A in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University and a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre from Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts.