Leaf

March 15 – April 20, 2025
$15 Previews: Saturday, March 15 at 11:00 a.m and 1:00 p.m.; and Sunday, March 16 at 11:00 a.m.
$20 Regular Run: March 22 – April 20 (Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00p.m.)

A world premiere based on the book written and illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann
Adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Amanda Link
Directed by Nathaniel Niemi

This debut picture book by author and illustrator Sandra Dieckmann is adapted by ensemble member Amanda Link. Featuring a polar bear on their quest to return home, and the young crow who finds it within herself to help them, Leaf centers on the importance of compassion for each other and our planet, cooperation with others, and sharing one’s story.  Ensemble member Link teams up with director Nathaniel Niemi to bring audiences a timely world premiere that navigates our relationships with each other and our planet. Recommended for ages 4-11.

An add-on for KidSeries shows is admission to one Stories Come Alive! hour during each KidSeries production for only $10. These one hour-long sessions (running Sundays at 12 p.m., between regularly scheduled KidSeries performances) feature readings, activities and on-your-feet drama games to supplement you child’s theatre experience.

Photo credit: Jackie Jasperson

, https://ci.ovationtix.com/36647/production/1205320,

  • Jake Busse (Squirrel/Crow Dad)

    Jake is excited to be making his Lifeline Theatre debut. He’s grateful for the opportunity to help bring this new show to life. Other recent credits include: Million Dollar Quartet (Peninsula Players Theatre), Night Watch (Raven Theatre), She Loves Me and Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Citadel Theatre), A Raisin in the Sun (Invictus Theatre), The Diary of Anne Frank (Young People’s Theatre), Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play and as Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein (Oil Lamp Theatre). He has also worked at PULSE Theatre, Surging Films and Theatrics, The Beverly Arts Center, amongst others. @jake.busse

  • Bradley Halverson (Polar Bear/Hare)

    Bradley (they/them) is thrilled to return to Lifeline after appearing in Extra Yarn (Mars/Gloom.) Most recently Bradley was seen as Mariana/Mistress Overdone in Measure for Measure (Shakespeare Project of Chicago), and Olivia in Twelfth Night (Backroom Shakespeare Project). Other Chicago credits include: Louise in Private Lives (Raven Theatre), Harriet Smith in Jane Austen’s Emma (First Folio Theatre), Pisanio in Cymbeline (Midsommer Flight), A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane Oakbrook), La Serenata (The Gift Theatre), Skyflint Part 1 (Haven Chicago), and many others. Bradley earned their BFA in Musical Theatre from CCPA at Roosevelt University and is represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent. Bradley would like to give a special shoutout to the Transgender community and anyone who has ever been made to feel that they don’t belong somewhere.

  • Ariya Hawkins (Fox/Crow Mom)

    Ariya is thrilled to be making her Lifeline debut! Hawkins is an actor, singer, and teaching artist born and raised in the city of Chicago. Recent credits include: The Promotion (MPAACT), Cabaret (The Studio Theatre at Tierra Del Sol), Haven (Outer Loop Theater Experience), a hit dog will holler (Artemisia Theatre), and Shut Up Kiss Me (PrideArts). Touring credits include: A Raisin in the Sun, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Olney Theatre Center, National Players). Regional credits include: The Bikinis, The Queen Bees, Vanities: The Musical (Canterbury Summer Theatre). As a teaching artist, she has worked with six different theatre companies across the city, working to empower people of all ages and experiences through the use of theatre. ariyahawkins.com

  • Shea Lee (Crow)

    Shea (she/her) is delighted to return to Lifeline, where she has been seen in Cat’s Cradle, Extra Yarn, and You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? as well as Lifeline’s national tour of Giggle Giggle Quack. Other favorite credits include: Bookworms (Kerfuffle Theatre for the Very Young), StarDog (Astral Stage Collective), Mr. Kotomoto is Definitely Not White (NoMads Art Collective), and Over My Dead Body (Laughing Stock Theatre). Shea is an alumna of Northwestern University, where her focuses included musical theatre, theatre for young audiences, and Asian American studies. She is also a founding ensemble member of Laughing Stock Theatre, Chicago’s premiere Commedia dell’Arte theatre company.

  • Katie Incardona (Fox/Crow Mom U/S)

    Katie is excited to be working at Lifeline for the first time. Selected theatrical credits include: Happy Days Are Here (Again) (Steep Theatre), Drunk Shakespeare (Brassjar Productions), Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog Theatre), The Ministry of Mundane Mysteries (Bramble Theatre), and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Filament Theatre). She recently performed in The Back Room Shakespeare Project’s Richard II and Julius Caesar. Katie has a BA in theatre from Northwestern University and is proudly represented by Big Mouth Talent.

  • Alexis Queen (Crow/Squirrel U/S)

    Alexis is thrilled to make her Lifeline Theatre debut! She can currently be seen as Betsy in It’s Been Ten Years, a play about final girls at Open Space Arts, and recently appeared as Silly Goose 1 in Re(Vulva) at Theater La’Cadie’s inc. Ubator New Play Festival. She’s a Harvard graduate with degrees in Psychology and Computer Science and a proud graduate of the Black Box ACADEMY. Represented by SCE Agency.

  • Michele Stine (Polar Bear/Hare U/S)

    Michele returns to Lifeline where they were seen in Anna Karenina. Other recent credits include: Cloudman (Filament Theater), All is Blue and Yellow (Theatre SUMM), The Queen of Spades (Lyric Opera of Chicago and Green Ginger), and The House of the Exquisite Corpse (Rough House Theater). Michele has also worked with The Puppet Studio, Emerald City Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Actors Gymnasium, and is currently a part of the 2024/2025 Chicago Puppet Lab through the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. michelejoystine.com

  • Amanda Link (Adaptor)

    Amanda joined the Lifeline artistic ensemble in 2013. Directing credits include: Anna Karenina, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2019), Sparky!, The Velveteen Rabbit and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! She has appeared in Click, Clack, Boo! A Tricky Treat; Duck For President; How To Survive A Fairy Tale; Dooby Dooby Moo; and Half Magic. She also writes and performs with the Lifeline Storytelling Project. She choreographed and assistant directed The Emperor’s New Threads, assistant directed and did movement design for The City & The City, and assistant directed One Came Home and Pride and Prejudice. Other credits include work with: Factory Theater, Griffin Theatre, The Mill, and Kasey Foster’s Dance Tribute Series.  Amanda holds a BFA in Acting from the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University and is also a graduate of the Conservatory Program at the Second City training center.

  • Nathaniel Niemi (Director)

    Nathaniel is thrilled to be back at Lifeline after appearing as an actor in Lifeline’s KidSeries many years ago. Previous directing credits include: The Cat in the Hat (UH Mānoa), Pippin, Cabaret, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Significant Productions), Pinocchio, Ordinary Ohana, You and Me and the Space Between (Honolulu Theatre for Youth), La Cage Aux Folles, These Shining Lives, The Cake, Urinetown, Company, Assassins, 9-5, Ada and the Engine (Significant Productions). Nathaniel holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences (Directing) from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Nathaniel is the recipient of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s National Directing Award and is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

  • Erik Strebig (Stage Manager)

    Erik is a ridiculous ginger with the winter “sadsies” – they are thankful to the cast and Lifeline team for being an artistic anchor these cold, sunless, winter months. Chicago credits include work with: Lookingglass, CSO, Steppenwolf, Kokandy, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Laura Dellis: Halfway to 53 (Davenports, The Annoyance, The Den.)

  • Alan Donahue (Scenic & Properties Designer)

    Alan has a long history with Lifeline KidSeries, beginning with Steve Totland’s adaptation of Uncle Lemon’s Spring in 1992. It was the last KidSeries show produced in the second-floor rehearsal room and the artwork painted on the wall canvasses lasted several years beyond the production. Alan also designed the first downstairs KidSeries show, The Cricket in Times Square. And twenty or so more designs followed before Leaf. It would be difficult to pick a favorite, although all the Jim Grote/George Howe collaborations are memorable–each providing at least one earworm for him to weather. Design-wise, Alan has great affection for his design of the adaptation of William Stieg’s The Amazing Bone. And he, of course, is proud of his adaptations of Bongo Larry & Two Bad Bears, Sophie’s Masterpiece—A Spider’s Tale, last season’s Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake. He is looking forward to journeys this spring and summer to Arizona, the Carolina coast, and if he can get his act together, Great Britain and Ireland.

  • Diane Fairchild (Lighting Designer)

    Diane D. Fairchild (Lighting Design) is excited to be back at Lifeline after designing 2024’s Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol (Jeff Nomination) and Skunk and Badger. OtherChicago credits include work with The GIft Theatre, Rivendell (ensemble), Teatro Vista, Wilmette Parks District, Wheaton College, Fox Lake High School, CAST at Percy Julian Middle School, Momenta, and Chicago a cappella.  Regional credits include: Michigan Shakespeare Festival, 1st Stage Springhill, City Theatre Company, Boise Contemporary Theatre, The Human Race, and Ensemble Studio Theatre.

  • Jessica Gowens (Costume Designer)

    Jessie (she/her) is happy to be returning to work with Lifeline Theatre. Previously, she designed Skunk and Badger and Extra Yarn. Her other works include: The Midwest premiere of Becky Nurse of Salem and A View From The Bridge (Shattered Globe Theatre), Network and Three Sisters (Invictus Theatre). Her more notable work includes The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Idle Muse Theatre) and The Crucible (Invictus Theatre) which were both nominated for a Non-Equity Jeff Award for Costume Design .

  • Emily Hayman (Sound Designer)

    Emily is a Chicago-based sound designer and composer. Recent design credits, include: Extra Yarn, and Dooby Dooby Moo (Lifeline Theatre); Little Women (Geva Theatre); Henry V (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Seagulls (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Dracula, and Museum (Northwestern University); Measure for Measure (Montana Shakespeare in the Park). Associate sound design for 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); A Christmas Carol ’24, New Stages 2022 (Goodman Theatre); Richard III, and The Notebook (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). Emily received her BFA in Sound Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

  • Caitlin McLeod (Puppet Designer)

    Caitlin is a Chicago based costume, scenic, and puppet designer. Recent design credits include: The Little Mermaid (Drury Lane); Fat Ham (Virginia Stage Co); Into the Breeches (Little Theatre, VA Beach); Lavender Men (About Face); Blues for an Alabama Sky (Virginia Stage Co); What the Constitution Means to Me (Copley Theatre, Aurora); The Dream King (Teatro Vista); The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (Chicago Children’s); Trouble in Mind (Timeline); The Seagull (Steppenwolf); Exquisite Corpse (Rough House); Stick Fly (Writers Theatre). Craftwork credits include: The Goodman, Out of the Box Theatrics NYC, The Kennedy Center, Lookingglass, Writers Theatre, and Northlight. Caitlin is a co-curator of NBS: Chicago’s Puppet Slam, company member of Rough House, and project manager of the Chicago Puppet Studio. @CaitlinMcLeodDesign

  • Harrison Ornelas (Technical Director)

  • Avery Spellmeyer (Lighting Supervisor)

  • Amber Stephenson (Lighting Assistant)

  • Anthony Kayer (Producing Director)

JOIN US FOR A FREE KIDSERIES SNEAK PEEK!
Saturday, February 22 from 1:00-2:00pm

Bring the whole family and learn more about our upcoming KidSeries show, Leaf. Kids will meet the cast, watch a scene from the show, and join one of Lifeline’s teaching artists for a show-themed project. Adults will enjoy coffee and conversation with our writers, directors, and educators and get a behind-the-scenes peek at what goes into bringing our children’s stories to Life!

This hour-long event is FREE and open to the public, but reservations are required. Click here to make your reservations, or call the Box Office at 773-761-4477.

From the Chicago Reader
Life Lessons from ‘Leaf’
Lifeline’s latest family show teaches empathy without preachiness.
March, 19 2025
By Kerry Reid
RECOMMENDED

Crow is growing up, which means she has to start attending Wildwood Community Council meetings. Though she’s clever and empathetic, it’s hard to speak up sometimes when you doubt yourself. But when a strange creature appears in the woods, gathering leaves and taking over an abandoned cave, the other animals, including Fox, Squirrel, and Hare, wonder if they should take aggressive action against it. After all, they don’t know anything about it, and it’s acting in a suspicious way. Also, their own resources are growing scarce as floods encroach upon the woods.

Sandra Dieckmann’s 2017 children’s book, Leaf, adapted for Lifeline by Amanda Link (Nathaniel Niemi directs) works at multiple levels without ever becoming preachy. It’s about overcoming fear to speak up for what’s right. It’s about becoming aware of how climate change endangers others. And it’s about seeing strangers as fellow living beings first, instead of threats to your own way of life.

Leaf, you see, is a young polar bear who floated down to the north woods when the ice floe he was on broke away from his family. He’s gathering the leaves because he hopes to make wings to fly home. As embodied in Caitlin McLeod’s breathtaking puppet (voiced and handled by Bradley Halverson), he wins our hearts.

But so does every other character in this sure-handed and sweet tale. Shea Lee’s Crow makes us feel every little moment of anxiety as she struggles to find her voice, which makes her growth into an advocate even more compelling. Jake Busse’s Squirrel and Ariya Hawkins’s Fox provide cunning and witty support, and Alan Donahue’s set and Diane Fairchild’s lighting design capture the look of Dieckmann’s book with colorful and imaginative flourishes. “A story can change everything,” Crow tells us early on, and at least in the case of this delightful and timely family show, that’s absolutely true.