Jack Chylinski (Loki)
This mortal is so excited to be making their Lifeline Debut! Recent Chicago credits include Anthony Rapp’s Home for the Holidays (Lookingglass Theatre), Trans Voices Cabaret (Steppenwolf: Lookout Series), TL;DR: Thelma & Louise: Dyke Remix (Theo Ubique), Hair (Skokie Theatre). Other Credits: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Central Square Theatre), Titanish (Greater Boston Stage Company) and Make Your Own Kind of Music, a solo cabaret show Jack wrote and performed at Davenport’s Piano Bar (February 2024). On screen credits include The Elkhorn Special (Redleg Films). Jack is represented by Gray Talent Group. Thank you for being here! www.jackchylinski.com.
Scott Danielson (Odin)
Scott is stoked to return to Lifeline after appearing in 2019’s production of Whose Body? Favorite credits include Bright Star, Urinetown (BoHo), Nine to Five (Firebrand), Shakespeare in Love (Chicago Shakespeare), Once in a Lifetime, The Arsonists (Strawdog), and The Full Monty (Kokandy Productions). Scott has appeared in commercials, projects with The Onion, and as a co-star in the current season of Chicago Fire (NBC). He also recently made his cheeky burlesque debut as his alter ego Pretty by Proxy with Fat Cat Cabaret. He is a two-time nominee and one-time recipient of the Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role – Musical. Scott is a proud Illinois State University alumnus, an emeritus Strawdog Theatre Company ensemble member, and is represented by Shirley Hamilton. Love to KPBF. @scottyd33
Janelle Sanabria (Freya)
Lifeline debut! Janelle is thrilled to be returning to LOKI – The End of the World Tour after being in the world premiere in 2023 (Norn 2). She was most recently seen as Nancy in Metropolis PAC’s Oliver! this past January. Favorite credits include: Doralee Rhodes in 9 to 5 (Metropolis), Alice Murphy in Bright Star (CCPA), Gussie Carnegie in Merrily We Roll Along (Capital City Theatre), and New Faces Sing Broadway 1960 (Porchlight Theatre). She holds her BFA in Musical Theatre from the Chicago College of Performing Arts. When she isn’t performing, she is a digital concept artist. As always, much love to her family, friends, Quinn, and her cat Pigeon! IG: Janelle.Sanabria W: Janellesanabria.com
Peter Gertas (Baldur/Mason)
Peter Briceño Gertas (He/Him): Peter is a graduate from Roosevelt University with a BFA in Acting and has worked in the Chicago theatre scene ever since. Recent credits include Hedda Gabler (Remy Bumppo Theatre Co.), Click, Clack, Boo (Lifeline Theatre), Outside Mullingar (Dunes Summer Theatre), A Christmas Carol and Cinderella (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Native Gardens (Williams Street Rep), Out of Love (Interrobang Theatre Co.), Emma (Lifeline Theatre), In to America (Griffin Theatre), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Citadel Theatre). Peter is excited to be a part of this production and hopes everyone in the audience has a rocking good time! Endless thanks to friends, family and patrons of the arts- On To Ragnarok! Insta: @petergertas
Keenan Odenkirk (Thor)
Keenan Odenkirk is excited to step onto the Lifeline stage for the first time! He has recently appeared onstage in Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble), Women Beware Women (Blue in the Right Way), Richard III (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Cymbeline (Midsommer Flight), and White City (Theater in the Dark). His work in television and film include the Award-Winning short film RING RING, FX’s Justified: City Primeval, NBC’s Chicago Fire & Med, and the feature film That Night. @kodenkirkacting
India Renteria (Sigyn)
India Renteria (SIGYN) is so excited to be making her Lifeline theatre debut in LOKI! She is a graduating senior at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA), earning her BFA in Musical Theater Dance! Recent credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (ensemble), Into The Woods (Cinderella u/s), and Wonderful Town (Eileen). Much love to her family and friends for their endless love and support!
Grace Reidenauer (Hel)
Grace is so excited to make her Lifeline debut in LOKI – The End of the World Tour! She earned her BFA in Musical Theatre with an Emphasis in Dance from Roosevelt University in 2025. Her recent credits include Always Something There (Marriott Theatre), Rock of Ages (Metropolis), and Chasing The Party (A 2025 Oscar Qualified live-action short film). She would like to thank the team for their passion about this project and for a supportive creative environment, as well as her friends and family for making her life so beautiful and fun. Let’s gooooooo!!:)
Anthony Kayer (Fenris/Thrym)
Anthony (he/they) joined Lifeline’s artistic ensemble in 2017 and was most recently seen on the Lifeline stage in War of the Worlds last summer. You may have also seen him at Lifeline in: Cat’s Cradle (2023), Arnie the Doughnut (2011), The Emperor’s New Threads, Lyle Finds His Mother, and Jane Eyre (2014). Lifeline directing credits include: the world premieres of Extra Yarn and Bunny’s Book Club, and Bunnicula (2018); Assistant Directed for Northanger Abbey (Non-Equity Jeff Award: New Work-Musical.) Other Chicago credits include work with: Steppenwolf, The Fly Honey Show, Chicago Shakespeare, Lookingglass/Uniting Voices Chicago, Griffin Theatre, Next Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, inappropriate Theatre Company, and Lookingglass/Chicago Symphony Orchestra. @cosmicferni
Avery Thompson (Middy)
Avery Thompson a new performer in the world of Chicago theatre and is thrilled to be making their debut at Lifeline Theatre in the role of Middy! They are currently a student at The Chicago School earning their MA in counseling psychology and previously studied psychology and theatre at Loyola University Chicago. There they performed in a number of theatrical productions, including Once (Andrej), The Old Man and the Old Moon (Cookie/Ensemble), Polaroid Stories (D), The Boys and the Nuns (Christina), and Somewhere (Corin). Most recently, they’ve stepped their toes into the Chicago theatre scene with shows like Essential Invisible’s Life is a Queer Cabaret and Gender Fucked Production’s TransScribe: A New Works Festival.
Kelan Smith (Norn 1, Co-Music Director, Orchestrator)
Kelan is thrilled to be making his Lifeline Theatre debut! Chicago credits include Jekyll and Hyde, Amélie (Kokandy Productions), Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Marriott Theatre), Sunny Afternoon, The Lord of the Rings (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Ring of Fire, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Drury Lane Theatre), Spring Awakening, Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Choir of Man (Apollo Theatre Chicago), The Porch on Windy Hill (Northlight Theatre), Camp Rock (The Beautiful City Project), The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party (Chicago Children’s Theatre), Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Metropolis Performing Arts), Bright Star (Boho Theatre), Haymarket (Underscore Theatre). Regional/International credits include The Lord of the Rings (Auckland Civic Theatre), Plaid Tidings, Lost Highway, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Timber Lake Playhouse), Once (Bristol Valley Theatre), Moonshine and Mistletoe (The Garden Theatre). Love to Kara, and his late brother Riley. www.kelanmsmith.com
Kara Olander (Norn 2)
Kara Olander is thrilled to be back on this side of the stage for LOKI! Having worked most prominently as a pit musician and music director, she’s looking forward to going back to her acting roots. Recent shows include Amélie (Kokandy), Always, Patsy Cline (Drury Lane), Porchlight Sings The Season (Porchlight Music Theatre) Rock of Ages (Metropolis), and Tell Me on a Sunday (Theo).
Alek Boggio (Norn 3)
Alek is so excited to make his debut at Lifeline Theatre! Past credits include Sunny Afternoon (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Hedwig And The Angry Inch (Haven Chicago), Natasha, Pierre, And The Great Comet Of 1812 (The Collective), and The Three Musketeers (Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center). He has also worked with Court Theatre and Rivendell Theatre in the pit orchestra. Insta: _its_alek Spotify: aleK
Mack Alexander (U/S Loki)
This is Mack’s debut at LifeLine! They have most recently been seen in The Little Mermaid, Guys & Dolls, and Fiddler on the Roof at Drury Lane Oak Brook, and was most recently involved in Flint Repertory Theatre’s New Works Festival. Mack is also a proud former ensemble member of Sing to Cycle, a charity show benefiting the AIDS LifeCycle before the fundraiser’s ending. “Biggest thanks to Mom & Dad. Thank you for loving me and cheering me on through everything. I love you both so much.” @themackalexander
Neill Kelly (U/S Baldur/Mason & Fenris/Thrym)
Neill Kelly is thrilled to be back at Lifeline after past productions of Whose Body? and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile! Most recently, he appeared in Kokandy Productions’ Jeff-Nominated production of Amélie: The Musical and as PrideArts’s holiday panto dame Nanny Fanny in Throbbin Wood, following previous appearances in Sleeping With Beauty and Jack Off the Beanstalk. Other favorite credits include Assassins (Wee Productions); Spamalot (Wilmette Center for the Arts); Guys and Dolls, The Full Monty and Parade (Theatre Nebula); A Year With Frog and Toad (Big Noise Theatre); Frozen: The Broadway Musical, 9 to 5, A Christmas Carol, Dog Sees God, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Pillowman (New Stage Theatre). Neill received his BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Mississippi. Instagram: @jnkelly77
Jake Elkins (U/S Odin/Thor)
Jake Elkins is very excited to be working on LOKI here at Lifeline! Other recent Theatre credits include Cats, Shrek the Musical (Music Theater Works), A year with Frog and Toad, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Junie B. Jones (Young People’s Theater of Chicago), Passion, Sweet Charity (Blank Theater Company), A Lie of the Mind (Raven Theater), Musical Parodies of Love Actually and the Bachelor (Right Angle Entertainment), Grease, Wizard of Oz (Marriott Theater), Mary Stuart, and Wizard of Oz (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Love and thanks to his friends and family, Amanda, and Monty. Represented by Gray Talent Group.
Felicia Niebel (U/S Freya/Middy)
Felicia Niebel (she/her) is thrilled to be returning to Lifeline with LOKI! She was last seen in Click Clack Boo! (Pig) with Lifeline Theatre. Other credits include, Designer Run (Ensemble) and Wonderful Town (Ruth). Felicia would like to thank her friends and family for all their support! @felicia.niebel
Annalie Ciolino (U/S Sigyn/Hel)
Annalie Ciolino (she/they) is thrilled to make her Lifeline debut in LOKI – The End of the World Tour! Recent credits include: Gloria & u/s Carla Mae in The House Without A Christmas Tree (Griffin Theatre Company); Jessica in This Is Our Youth, Molly in Line, Swing in Death of A Salesman (Gwydion Theatre Company); Francis in And I Always Will (The Actor’s Studio, New York City). Anna is an alum of Roosevelt University: Chicago College of Performing Arts (BFA Musical Theatre). They are actively seeking agent representation! IG: @annalieciolino
Travis Shanahan (U/S Norn 1/2)
Travis Shanahan is delighted to be working with Lifeline for the first time! Theatrical credits include Frederick (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Love’s Labour’s Lost, Twelth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Midsommer Flight); Never Better (Theo Ubique); Pippin (Towle); The Art of Bowing (Haven Chicago); Hay Fever (City Lit); Eb & Belle, Henchpeople, Adaptation (Theatre Above the Law), and Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story (Metropolis). To Bailey – your belief in me wows me every day and I love you. Travis can be found on Instagram @travjshan.
Heather Currie (Director)
Heather Currie is the Managing Producer at Lifeline Theatre and a proud member of the artistic ensemble since 2013. Most recently directing War of the Worlds, by John Hildreth as well as John Hildreth’s Jeff Award winning adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle (Jeff nomination for direction). Other Lifeline directing credits include: Sense and Sensibility: Audio Drama, The Time Warp Trio, Fableous, Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters. Heather co-adapted and directed You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? for Lifeline’s KidSeries. Heather has appeared in many Lifeline productions including: Jane Eyre(2014), One Came Home, Duck For President (2008 and 2012); Click, Clack, Moo; Cows That Type; Dooby, Dooby Moo; How To Survive a Fairy Tale; and Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat and Lyle, Lyle Crocodile. Outside of Lifeline, favorite directing credits include: Into the Woods, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Always Plenty of Light at the All Night Starlight Diner, Spring Awakening, South Pacific, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Spamalot, Steel Magnolias. Ms. Currie has worked as an actor for 45 years, most notably playing Sarah Jane Moore in Assassins at The Studio Theatre at Tierra Del Sol, the Wicked Witch in WOZ: A Wizard of Oz Rock Cabaret in Chicago featuring Andre De Shields, and Robin Black in the long running Sexy Baby with Hell in a Handbag Productions. Ms. Currie holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has been teaching theatre and film in higher education for 30 years and currently teaches in the department of Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago.
Christina Calvit (Adaptor)
Christina has been an ensemble member of Lifeline Theatre since 1989. Her first adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which premiered at Lifeline in 1986, won a special Joseph Jefferson Citation for Outstanding Work. It was subsequently performed at The Stratford Festival of Canada and broadcast as part of the “Chicago Theatres on the Air” series. Ms. Calvit has four additional Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards (Miss Buncle’s Book; Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging; Pistols for Two and Queen Lucia: A Musical Romp (with composer/lyrist George Howe), and one Joseph Jefferson Equity Award (Talisman Ring). Her works have been performed throughout the United States and internationally. Original plays include Loki: The End of the World Tour, Snowflake Tim’s Big Holiday Adventure, Chaos (co-writer) and Several Voices from the Cloud. She is currently working on a play about Dickens, Bronte and Thackeray and six dimensional time.
George Howe (Composer/Lyricist/Music Director)
George Howe has composed both the music and lyrics for numerous musicals at Lifeline Theatre over the last 25 years. His repertoire includes various TYA productions such as The Emperor’s Groovy New Threads, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and five musicals inspired by the Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type series. Following its debut at Lifeline, his musical Arnie the Doughnut was showcased at the New York Music Theatre Festival in 2011. He has been honored with Joseph Jefferson Citations for Queen Lucia (2005) and Northanger Abbey (2016), in addition to receiving nominations for Murder, ReWrote (Hell in a Handbag) and The House without a Christmas Tree (Griffin Theatre). For many years, George served as a singer/pianist/musical director at Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret until its closure in 2024. He now spends his summers belting out pop/rock anthems and showtunes galore at The Front Porch Piano Bar in Ogunquit, Maine. Since 2011, George has also been an adjunct faculty member at The Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA).
Sam Hook (Assistant Director)
Sam Hook is excited to be making his professional assistant directing debut at Lifeline Theatre with such an imaginative and supportive cast and creative team. Previously, he has been seen as a performer in the Chicago area in Amélie (Kokandy Productions), Rock of Ages (Metropolis Performing Arts Center), A Year With Frog And Toad and The Diary Of Anne Frank (Young People’s Theater of Chicago). Sam is represented by Gray Talent Group for his performance projects. Special thanks to Heather, George, and Christina for their collaboration. As Always, For Dad. Instagram: @Samhook20
Lindsay Mummert (Scenic Designer)
Regional Theatre: Sherwood: The Adventures of Robinhood (St. Louis Repertory), Barefoot in the Park (Peninsula Players). Chicago Credits: Spay (Jeff Award Nominee), A Mile in the Dark (Rivendell Theatre), Ironbound (Raven Theatre), Cat’s Cradle and War of the Worlds (Lifeline Theatre), JUMP and Ugly Lies the Bone (Shattered Globe). Associate Design: Don Quixote (McCarter), Short Shakes: Hamlet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Off Broadway/Tour credits: Between Two Knees (Associate Scenic Designer, PACNYC, Seattle Rep, Yale Rep, McCarter Center). Assistant design credits include: Peter and the Starcatcher (OSF), Relentless (Timeline Theatre+The Goodman), The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Goodman), A Raisin in the Sun andSkeleton Crew (Guthrie Theatre), Two Trains Running, Arsenic and Old Lace, East Texas Hot Links (Court Theatre). Education: B.F.A. in Scenic Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Lindsay is thrilled to be back at Lifeline. More at lindsaymummert.com.
Saskia Bakker (Props Designer)
Saskia Bakker is a Chicago-based prop and puppet designer who is thrilled to work at Lifeline Theatre again. Previous Lifeline credits include prop design for Cat’s Cradle, and prop/puppet design for Skunk and Badger. Select other prop design credits include Ugly Lies the Bone (Shattered Globe Theatre), Wish You Were Here (Remy Bumppo Theatre), Cygnus (Gift Theatre), and Black Sunday (Timeline Theatre). They’ve created puppets for A Devil Comes to Town (Trap Door Theatre), House of the Exquisite Corpse: Blood and Puppets (Rough House Puppet Arts), and numerous puppet slams, commissions, and personal projects. You can see more of her work on Instagram @okpuppeteer.
G. "Max" Maxin IV (Lighting Designer)
G. “MAX” MAXIN IV [he/him] After over a decade in Chicago, Max has created over 300 designs on over 200 professional & educational productions. Max has 2 Non-Equity Jeff Awards (Lighting – Jekyll & Hyde @ Kokandy & Projections – Angels in America @ Invictus), a Lou Award (Lighting – Into the Woods @ Big Noise), and 3 Equity & 9 additional Non-Equity Jeff nominations. He has designed on 1 Equity & 5 Non-Equity Jeff Award Winning Best Musicals. He is the Resident Lighting Designer for Roosevelt University’s CCPA & before that was an instructor at Northeastern Illinois University for 7 years (Instructor Excellence Award, 2019). A founding member of Another Door Theatre Project, Max worked for 3 years as Head of Production/Resident Scenographer. He spent 2 summers designing lighting for the touring opera company La Musica Lirica (Novafeltria, Italy). Favorite Projects @ Kokandy, Porchlight, Paramount, The Gift, Black Ensemble, American Blues, Handbag, Cincinnati Shakespeare, TATC, Black Button Eyes, BoHo, Steppenwolf Garage, Mercury,
City Lit, ADTP, CCPA, NEIU, NU, & DePaul. ivMaxin.com
Aly Amidei (Costume Designer)
Aly Amidei is an Associate Professor of Costume Design and the Associate Chair of the Department of Theatre and Drama at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a costume designer and playwright focusing on new works and re-envisioned classics. She has designed at Strawdog Theatre, Steep Theatre, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Children’s Theatre of Madison, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, and Irish Theatre of Chicago, to name a few. Favorite Lifeline designs include: Northanger Abbey, Emma, Neverwhere (2018), Cat’s Cradle, Three Musketeers, Soon I Will Be Invincible, Count of Monte Cristo, and The Woman in White. She also has designed costumes and did the adaptation on two children’s plays: Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters and Bunny’s Book Club. Previously, she worked for fifteen years as the costume and makeup coordinator for the College of DuPage theater and dance department and as a professor at UNC-Charlotte for seven years.
Emily Hayman (Sound Designer)
Emily is a Chicago-based sound designer and composer. She joined Lifeline’s artistic ensemble in 2025. Previous sound design credits include: Kitty and the Beanstalk, Click Clack Boo!, Leaf, Extra Yarn, and Dooby Dooby Moo (Lifeline Theatre); Little Women (Geva Theatre); Henry V (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Associate sound design for, Revolution(s), and Bust (Goodman Theatre); Ride (The Old Globe); Dream Girls (McCarter Theatre). Assistant sound design for Winters Tale (Hartford Stage); POTUS, Describe the Night, Choir Boy, and Seagull (Steppenwolf); Richard III, and The Notebook (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Emily received her BFA in Sound Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Sam Doepker (A1 Sound Mixer)
Sam is thrilled to be debuting at Lifeline! Previous credits: Stories (Sound Designer, Cunning Folk Theater), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Arsonists, The Tempest, 35MM: A Musical Exhibition, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Falsettos (Sound Designer, University of Chicago), Happy Birthday Mars Rover (Assistant Sound Designer, University of Chicago).
Sheryl Williams (Intimacy Designer and Fight Choreography)
Devin Meseke (Production Manager)
This is Devin’s first time production managing at Lifeline where he has previously painted War of the Worlds. Previous credits include painting for Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Rivendell Theatre, Shattered Globe Theatre, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Peninsula Players Theatre, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, and Albany Park Theatre Project; he has also recently scenic design assisting for Goodman Theatre and Timeline Theatre. Devin is a graduate of DePaul University with a BFA in Scenic Design.
Erin Galvin (Stage Manager)
This is Erin’s first production at Lifeline Theatre. Erin holds a BFA in Stage Management from Ohio University and is a proud ensemble member of Promethean Theatre Ensemble. Professional and regional theater experiences: The Workshop Theater, NYC (Stage Manager): The Postmodernist, Vibrancy Theater Company (Stage Manager): Absentia, Lyric Repertory Company (AEA Stage Manager): Twelfth Night, Break It Down, Citadel Theatre (AEA Stage Manager): Silent Sky, Three Crows Theatre Company (Stage Manager): The Danish Play, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre (Stage Manager): Never Better, Young People’s Theatre of Chicago (Stage Manager): Charlotte’s Web, Northbrook Park District (Stage Manager): Toddler Hiking Club, Promethean Theatre Ensemble (Stage Manager): The Book of Will, Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts (Stage Manager): Seussical: The Musical. Erin was also recently nominated for the 2025 Non-Equity Jeff Impresario Award.
El O’Brien (Assistant Stage Manager)
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. Harrison is always looking for his next collaboration and creative challenge wherever his skills are needed.
Avery Spellmeyer (Lighting Supervisor/Asst. Lighting Designer)
