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This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council
Hero Gero
By Lydia Moss
CREATIVE TEAM
Lydia Moss (Playwright)
Lydia Moss (she/her) is an actor, playwright, and dramaturg who’s called Chicago home since 2020. Recent playwriting credits include Death of Eve (AMPLIFY New Play Commission), Ocean and Her Madness (Freshly Brewed - The Understudy). Recent performance credits include Performer/Mover in Briefly Breathless (Wondrous Strange; Steppenwolf Lookout Series), Mel in The Whole Seamus Thing (Bramble Arts Loft), Actor 3 u/s in A Tale of Two Cities (Shattered Globe). She's so grateful to this incredible team for bringing this work to life! Thank you!
Devin Christor (Lead Producer)
Rashaad Bond (Director)
Rashaad Bond (he/him/his) is an actor, director, and Producer. He moved to Chicago from Albuquerque, New Mexico in the summer of 2019. In Albuquerque, Rashaad founded and served as the artistic director for Middle Ground Theatre Company, a company dedicated to giving opportunities to those in the community that were often neglected. He holds a BA in Theatre from the University of New Mexico. His studies allowed him to develop skills in directing, producing, acting, lighting design, and scenic carpentry. Since moving to Chicago, Rashaad has had the opportunity to work with organizations such as Black Ensemble Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, The League of Chicago Theatres, The Artistic Home, Redtwist Theater, Theatre Above the Law, Ghostlight Ensemble, Perceptions Theatre, Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, Haven Chicago, and Possibilities Theatre.
David Goodloe (Gerry)
David Goodloe (he/him/his) has been acting over a decade. He is committed to the craft.
Maya Schnake (Geanie)
Maya Schnake (she/her) is a Chicago based actress. Previous stage credits include Love’s Labor’s Lost (Independently produced), M is for Medusa (Definition Theatre), A Nantucket Christmas Carol (White Heron Theatre Company), and Recitatif (The House Theatre of Chicago). Selected film credits include the feature film Year One and the short film A Sweetness of Lapse (Milwaukee Film Festival Jury Award winner). She studied theatre at Northwestern University and has trained with the International Theater and Dance Project in Greece and the Actor’s Gymnasium in Evanston, IL. mayaschnake.com
Alexis Queen (Opal)
Alexis Queen (she/her) makes her Subtext Studio debut with the enthusiasm of someone who enjoys horror stories, works by Black writers, and the peculiar ways humans navigate everyday existence. Recent credits include LEAF at Lifeline Theatre and It's Been Ten Years....a play about final girls at Open Space Arts. When not acting, she works as a researcher and ethnographer—a practice that inevitably seeps into her performance work, whether she plans it or not. This summer, she's surrendering both soul and schedule to Love Island US, which feels like its own form of ethnographic fieldwork.
Lexy Weixel (Helen)
Lexy Hope Weixel (they/them) is an actor and deviser who has been lucky enough to call Chicago home for the last 5 years. They’re very excited to work with Subtext for the first time! Selected acting credits include: Geography and Other Plays with Seph Mozes, Phedré with Meat Machine, Skunk and Badger with Lifeline, That’s Weird, Grandma with Playmakers Laboratory, and Twelfth Night with Midsommer Flight. They’re also currently producing an immersive production of Three Sisters to take place at the United Church of Rogers Park from August 7-17. Come check it out, more info @sandbox_theatre on Instagram! Lexy received a BS in Arts Administration - Theatre from Butler University, and also had the privilege to study at the Moscow Art Theatre School. For more information visit lexyweixel.com or check out their Instagram @lexy_h_weixel.
Kyle Johnson (Gero)
Angel Page Smigielski (Gargles/Slurmur/Clak)
Angel Page Smigielski (They/Them) is an actor, writer, stage manager and performer based on the west side of Chicago, IL. They graduated from Columbia College Chicago, where they studied Theatre, poetry and ASL (American Sign Language). They believe in making intentional, impactful work with artists who believe in that as well. Angel has been seen on and backstage of several Chicago theaters like Chicago Danz, Steppenwolf and Edge of the Wood. Angel enjoys dancing, spring time and their momma.
Kristin Thomas (5A/Mom)
Kristin Thomas (she/her) is an actress from New Orleans. She is based in Chicago and represented by Actors Talent Group. She graduated from Ball State University with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Political Science. She is passionate about projects that highlight black joy, resilience, and femininity. She is blessed to have booked two national commercials for the NFL and Toyota. You may have seen her in The Last Pair of Earlies at Raven Theatre and Breathing Room 8:46 at Rivendell Theatre and Rivendell Theatre’s performance of Women at War in Chicago’s Millennium Park. She is also a proud alum of Shattered Globe Theatre’s 'Protégé' Program. Catch her upcoming short film “Coffee & Lavender” and in the pilot “Look Up, Child” with Muffy Film Productions. Fun fact: She is also a horse lover and competitive English rider!
Elijah Warfield (5C/5E)
Elijah Warfield (he/him) is a Chicago-based actor making his New Play Fest debut! Chicago stage credits include: This is Art, Children of Gaia (New Wave); Ragtime, Prom the Musical (Highland Park Players); The Music Man (Metropolis); Girlfriend, Gay Card (PrideArts); Alice in Wonderland, Matilda the Musical (Dancewerks), Something Rotten! (Russo/Richardson Productions); Tru the Musical (Stage 773). Elijah received his Bachelor's in Theatre and the certificate in Music Theatre from Northwestern University.
Alondra Rios (5B/5D)
Alondra Rios (she/her) is a Puerto Rican director, actor, and playwright currently based in Chicago. She studied at Northwestern University with a B.A. in Theatre and a certificate in Music Theatre and Playwriting. She was a proud cast member of The Mee-ow Comedy Group at Northwestern. Recent credits include: American Music Theatre Project: Desaparecidas at Northwestern University and the reading of Onilé Iyá at Aguijón Theatre. She is also a devoted corgi mom!
Melanie J. Hubbard (Stage Directions)
Melanie J. Hubbard (she/her) made her theatre debut recently as an understudy for Shattered Globe Theatre’s production of A Tale of Two Cities. She is thrilled to join SSTC’s Hero Gero by playwright Lydia Moss in the role of Stage Direction Reader.