Staff

Ilesa Duncan (Artistic Director)

Ilesa became Lifeline’s artistic director and joined the ensemble in January 2019, where she directed Neverwhere (Jeff Recommended 2018), and Blue Shadow (2010 KidSeries Premiere). A producer, director, writer, educator and theater-maker, ILesa is an avid collaborator on new work. Other directing credits include Eclipsed (Jeff Recommended), Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery (Jeff Nominated), Rutherford’s Travels (Jeff Nominated, co-adapter), The Green BookFor Her as a Piano, and Blacula: Young, Black & Undead at Pegasus Theatre; Broken Fences at 16th Street Theater; The Nativity (Congo Square; Jeff nominated); and the Jeff Award-winning Jar the Floor at ETA Creative Arts. ILesa has also worked with The Goodman, Writers Theatre, Victory Gardens, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Stage Left, and Chicago Dramatists, as well as Contemporary American Theatre Company (Ohio), The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta), Arena Stage (Washington DC), and Lincoln Center Theater (New York). As an educator, ILesa has led youth development and arts education programs in Chicago for over thirteen years. She is a past awardee of an NEA/TCG Directing fellowship and a 3 Arts Ragdale’s Fellowship. She is member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Director’s Lab and the Chicago Director’s Lab, and is an associate artist with Chicago Dramatists (where she previously served as education and community engagement director).

Elizabeth Rupp (Managing Director)

Elizabeth graduated from Simpson College with a Bachelor’s in Music Education in 2011, specializing in vocal music. After graduation, she worked as an elementary general music teacher, as well as middle and high school choir teacher, before returning to her home state of Illinois. Her career in arts administration began in 2012 with her tenure at Elgin Master Chorale, serving as the Institutional Advancement Manager before becoming Executive Director in 2015. Elizabeth then went on to work as Managing Director for Children’s Theatre of Elgin in 2019, where she worked for over four years before moving to Lifeline. Elizabeth loves being involved in all aspects of the performing arts; she has worked as a vocal and piano private instructor and singer, and has led numerous children’s musical workshops and camps. She also firmly believes in contributing as a volunteer to the organizations in her community, and currently serves on the board of Chamber Music on the Fox. Elizabeth is thrilled to be on the team at Lifeline and looks forward to being part of the theatrical life of Chicago!

Victoria Andrus (Communications Manager)

Victoria Andrus (she/her), a Lafayette, Louisiana native, is a multidisciplinary artist and scholar passionate about the fusion of social activism and performance arts. Trained in arts administration and community organizing she serves as Marketing and Communications Manager at Lifeline Theatre as of 2023. Victoria’s expertise also spans Digital Media Management at Pride Arts (2020-2022) and Theater Wit (2022). She has experience in producing, playwriting, and teaching, and hopes to continue doing so. Graduating from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 2022, she received a BFA in Theatre Management and Women and Gender Studies, including a minor in Business Administration. Victoria’s creative work is strongly influenced by her Cajun roots and. She aspires to a career in creative direction and transformative justice.

John Craig (Operations Manager)

Bitten by a radioactive Phil Collins at a young age, John has split their time between filling out online forms, listening to ska, & stage managing a variety of shows ever since. John began working with the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival in 2009, before becoming Stage 773’s Facilities Manager in 2014. As of 2023 John is looking forward to working with Lifeline as Operations Manager.

Addoris Davis (Production Manager)

Addoris Davis [they/she] is the production manager for Lifeline Theatre. Chicago credits include production management for The Jigsaw Bride (First Folio Theatre), The Secret Council (First Folio Theatre), Jeeves Intervenes (First Folio Theatre),  Little Women (First Folio Theatre), and Neither Have I Wings To Fly (First Folio Theatre), Anna in the Tropics (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company [co-production manager]), Galileo’s Daughter (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company), and Lifeline Theatre’s From the Mississippi Delta. Originally from Alaska, they have worked as a stage manager for Cyrano’s Theatre Company, Anchorage Community Theatre, Alaska Fine Arts Academy, Pier One Theatre, and the University of Alaska.

Carly Davis (Box Office Manager)

Carly Davis is a Chicago-based actress originally from Delavan, Illinois. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with her bachelor’s degree in acting. Starting as an intern at Lifeline to front-of-house staff,  she is thrilled to be stepping into the role of Patron Services/Box Office Team lead. Carly also works as the Managing Director at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble!  She has worked with Court Theatre as a staff member and has acted at many theatres around the city, including American Blues Theater, The Arc Theatre, and Stupid Shakespeare Company. Passionate about children’s theatre, Carly has performed with AlphaBet Soup Productions and Chicago Improv Playhouse, traveling to different schools in the Chicagoland area to bring theatre to children. She is also a teaching artist at Mudlark Theatre in Evanston!

Andrés Enriquez (Casting Director )

Andrés is proud to have been on both the MainStage and the KidSeries stage for Lifeline, having understudied The Velveteen Rabbit and Soon I Will Be Invincible, then appearing in Sparky!Northanger Abbey, and most recently, Sylvester. Other notable productions in the Chicagoland area include Forever Plaid (Fox Valley Repertory), The Life and Death Of Madame Barker (Red Tape Theatre), Love and Information (Remy Bumppo), The Adding Machine (The Hypocrites), and In The Heights(Porchlight Music Theater). He has also worked with such great Chicago companies as Underscore Theater Company, Strawdog Theatre, 16th Street Theater, and Theater at the Center in Munster, IN. Andrés received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Iowa in 2012. Andrés is also the Music Director of No Big Deal, a Chicago a cappella quartet, and a proud company member of Barrel of Monkeys.

Kelly Nespor (Bookkeeper)

Harrison Ornelas (Technical Director)

Harrison was born and raised on the north side of Chicago. After graduating from Columbia College in 2015 Harrison has been Technical Directing for theater all over the city including Akvavit, Redtwist Theatre, Strawdog Theatre Co., Silkroad Rising, A Red Orchid, UrbanTheater, Red Tape Theater, Theater Wit, and Shattered Globe, just to name a few. He has also been the on staff TD for the past three seasons at Theater on the Lake. Harrison is thrilled to now be working with Lifeline and is excited for his inaugural show with the company, Whose Body?. Harrison is always looking for his next collaboration and creative challenge wherever his skills are needed.

Merissa Stewart (Education Director )

Merissa has worked as a curriculum writer and arts educator for over 24 years. She spent the past decade doing freelance work with organizations such as CISC, Ingenuity, Columbia College, Girls in the Game, Sky Arts and the Loft Academy, LA. She started her career as a Teaching Artist through the Arts Bridge program at UCLA, where she earned a BA and MA in Theatre. After serving as an educator and teacher trainer in the Peace Corps, Thailand, she relocated to Chicago from her home state of California. Her first job in Chicago was as a curriculum writer and teaching artist for Silk Road Rising. She served a term on the ITA board as the Theater for Young Audiences Representative, helping plan several Theater in our Schools conferences and is currently a proud Board Member of Edgewater Singers and Playmakers Lab. Merissa also served as the Education Director at Adventure Stage Chicago for 6 seasons, helping bring theater and creative writing to middle school students all over Chicago. She is the co-founder of the Chicago Arts Educator Forum and a proud member of the Arts Ed Chi collective.  In her free time, she is a mosaic artist and loves to travel and make art with her two kids. She’s always striving to embody the quote by Lou Holtz: “I never learn anything talking. I only learn things when I ask questions.”