$30 Previews: September 5 – 13 (Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2:30 p.m.)
$55 Opening: September 14 at 2:30pm (Ticket includes access to the Opening Reception with complimentary drinks & light bites)
$45 Regular Run: September 19 – October 5 (Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.); Military, senior, and student discounts available.
A world premiere play
By Kimberly Dixon-Mays
Directed by Christopher Wayland
In the pursuit of joy, does method matter? Two siblings–opposites and estranged–take one last shot at putting grief behind them to create the joy they both seek. But their daring project can only succeed if they can accept each other’s special magic. A world premiere original play by Chicago playwright Kimberly Dixon-Mays, Rabbits in Their Pockets began in Lifeline’s 2024 BIPOC Developmental Workshop.
Simmery is extremely honored to be working with Lifeline Theatre. She is a graduate of University of Memphis Department of Theatre and Dance where she earned her BFA in Performance Theatre and a current student in the DePaul Theatre School MFA Acting Graduate Program. Credits include: Secret in the Wings, The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, Romeo and Juliet, Coriolanus, Elephant’s Graveyard, A Raisin in the Sun, and American Idiot. Chicago credits include: Hamlet and Ruined (Invictus Theater,) Richard III (Promethean Theater Ensemble,) Night of the Hunter (City Lit Theater,) Pericles (DePaul,) and Move the musical. Love and gratitude to all who support her; Friends, Family, colleagues, and her Soror’s Of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated who continue to inspire her to work hard, be happy, and dream big.
LaKecia Harris is so excited to be back at Lifeline Theatre for the Rabbits in Their Pockets world premiere. You may have seen her previously in From the Mississippi Delta. She is from the south side of Chicago and attended Ball State University. You may have also seen her in Manual Cinema’s A Christmas Carol (Aunt Trudy) and other productions around the city. She would like to thank her friends and family for all their love and support.
Felisha is excited to be making her debut at Lifeline. This past spring she was last seen in the Jeff Recommended Shakin The Mess Out of Misery with Pegasus Theatre. A Joseph Jefferson Award-winning actress earning her Bachelor’s Degree from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, she has performed in Illinois and Wisconsin. Felisha has performed Raven Theatre, Perception Theatre, DavJasFran Entertainment, eta Creative Arts Foundation, M’PAACT, Chicago Dramatist, The Black Ensemble Theatre, Hidden Stages, and Chicago State University. She has also performed for summer theatre audiences and in dinner theatres. She retired from the public sector in February 2014 after 30 years of service. She is the mother of a bright and beautiful daughter, and the grandmother of a handsom, humble, athletic teenager. When asked what has kept her dream alive after performing for over 45 years, she replies, What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun or does it explode? I chose that my dream explodes.” Ashe
Marcus is excited to be making his Lifeline Theatre debut. Marcus’s TV credits include co-starring roles on NBC’s CHICAGO FIRE, Warner Bros.’ EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK and FOX Networks’ APB and a supporting role in the feature film THE UP AND COMER. He‘s done commercials for InSinkErator, LiftMaster, Guaranteed Rate, and a national commercial for LOWE’s. Marcus’s theatre credits include Goodman, Steppenwolf, Congo Square, Drury Lane, Raven Theatre, and many more. Marcus is represented by DDO Chicago. IG: @marcus.d.moore
Shelby (she/her/hers) is an actor, solo performer, and southern belle, now southside living in the city of Chicago. Regional credits include: Abiyoyo (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), FLEX (Summit Performance Indianapolis), Chicken & Biscuits (Virginia Repertory Theatre), Little Women (Virginia Theatre Festival). Chicago theatre credits include: Qualia (Subtext Studio Theatre), A Bronx Tale, The Wedding Singer (Surging Films and Theatrics); Holly’s Ivy, Lost Home Win Home (Lifeline Theatre’s Fillet of Solo Festival). Education: M.A. from the University of Chicago & B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University. IG: @ShelbyMarieEdwards
Alexandria (she/her) is a Chicago-based multi-hyphenated collaborator, artist and advocate. She graduated from Emerson College (BFA Acting) and has appeared on stages across Chicagoland, the Midwest and Boston with such institutions as New Repertory, MICHA, iO, Theatre Wit, Second City, Annoyance, Definition, MCA, HAMOC, AWM among others. Selected theatre credits: What To Send Up When It Goes Down (Congo Square, Lookingglass, Jeff Award – Best Ensemble Short Run), American Son (Fleetwood Jourdain), A Hit Dog Will Holler (Artemesia), cullud wattah (Victory Gardens), Harriet Tubman: A Road to Freedom (GreatWorks). Selected short film credits: Mid 30s Martyr (Director’s Choice Best Actress Austin Revolution). Little Things Are Scary (Calgary Underground, Cucalorus.) You can see her in the critically acclaimed and award-winning sketch comedy web series, Collaborate and Listen (RM. 19 Prod., CinQuest, SeriesFest, Holly Shorts) and The BlackSide (YouTube, Congo Square.) She’s also appeared in campaigns for the brands: Bank of America, DSW, and Ohio Lottery. Offstage she’s the Development Director of Chicago Artist Guide, a nfp working to diversify theatre. She’s thankful to her family, friends and her life partner Mahoney for all their support and love because she knows it (she) takes a village.
Christopher is a Jeff Award nominated performance artist and teacher from Baltimore, MD currently living and working in Chicago. He is thrilled to return to Lifeline Theatre where he was last seen as Inspector Geoffrey Lestrade in the world premier of Miss Holmes by Christopher M. Walsh. He is an Assistant Professor of Theatre & Acting at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. In the Chicago area, Chris has worked at Goodman Theatre, Court Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Raven Theatre, First Folio Theatre, 16th Street Theater, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Jackalope Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre, Teatro Vista, Haven, Stage Left Theatre, and with Right Angle Entertainment. Regionally, he has worked at TheatreWorks, Spotlighters Theatre, Fells Point Corner Theatre, and Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. His television credits include The Chi (Showtime), neXt (FOX), Chicago Med (NBC), and APB (FOX). Learn more at christopherwayland.com
Kimberly is a poet, playwright and sometimes performer. She was a Lifeline Theatre 2024 BIPOC developmental workshop playwright where Rabbits in Their Pockets began its journey. Kimberly’s work was featured in Congo Square Theatre Company’s 2019 August Wilson New Play Initiative, and a semi-finalist for the 2019 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Kimberly was also a semi-finalist for the 2020 National Black Theatre I Am Soul Playwright Residency and recipient of NBT’s Soul Series Lab Playwriting Micro-Development Session, nominated for a 2021 3Arts Award, selected for Goodman Theatre’s 2022 Future Lab series, and a 2023 and 2025 finalist for American Blues Theater’s Blue Ink Award, and a 2024 finalist for Definition Theatre’s Amplify Series. In 2023 she also developed work with Shattered Globe Theater’s Global Playwright Series and Stage Left’s Playwright Residency Program and received an Illinois Arts Council fellowship. Kimberly was a 2018-20 Russ Tutterow Fellow with Chicago Dramatists, and is currently one of CD’s Resident Playwrights, and she serves as an Associate Editor for RHINO magazine. She holds a B.A. from Yale, an M.A. from UCLA, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern.
Maryah (M – they/them) is a Chicago-based Stage Manager and Technician. Recently, they toured with StarQuest Dance Competition, Master Electrician for NATYA Dance, Stage Managed the First Trans Pride Festival in Chicago with Gender F* Productions, Stagehand for Tender Trap with Blue in the Right Way Theatre and reoccurring backstage management at Dominican University Performing Arts Center. Currently, the stage manager of this wonderful production; I hope you all enjoy!
Juliette is ecstatic to be making her professional theatre debut! Born and raised in Southern California, she is now a Junior Musical Theatre major at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University. Her previous stage management credits include: A Wave O’ the Sea and Pippin (CCPA). She wants to thank M, Chris, and the entire team for welcoming her to this process with open arms. Thank you to her Mom, Dad, and sisters for being the biggest cheerleaders from 2,000 miles away! She hopes you enjoy this incredible production! IG: @juliettehershenson
Isaac is a Chicago based sound designer and engineer. He graduated from Illinois State University & attended Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Some of his past productions include: Somewhere Over The Border (Teatro Vista), Passing Strange (Theo Ubique), Merrily We Roll Along (O’Malley Theatre). Some upcoming shows are a part of Roosevelt University’s season as well as TL;DR At Theo.
Emily McConnell is very excited to be returning to Lifeline – previously she has designed costumes for Miss Holmes Returns, Monstrous Regiment and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. She has been the Resident Costume Designer for Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts for 18 years, and also serves as Program Director for Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies. Freelance design credits include Steep Theatre (Happy Days Are Here Again, Mosquitoes, Birdland, Wastwater and others), Michigan Shakespeare Festival (2 Gentlemen of Verona, Henry V), The House (Hatfield & McCoy – Jeff nominated), American Blues (Side Man), Northlight (Commons of Pensacola, Black Pearl Sings), Redtwist (Reverb), Oak Park Festival Theatre (Fair Maid of the West, Amadeus, Richard III, and others). She is a proud Ensemble Member of Steep Theatre, a member of USA 829, and has her MFA in Costume and Set Design from Northwestern University.
Coming Soon!
Please join us after the 2:30pm performance on Sunday September 28 for a discussion with playwright Kimberly Dixon-Mays, moderated by Andrea Change from The Guild Literary Complex!
Andrea Change is a graduate of Northwestern University (BPhilComm) with a master’s degree from Roosevelt University (MA Training and Development). Andrea has worked on the corporate side of the non-profit world for more than 20 years with her entire career spent as a manager and administrator. Born and raised in Chicago. She is a writer, storyteller, cultural organizer, interlocuter and currently the Executive Director for the Guild Literary Complex, a 35-year-old literary arts organization, based in Chicago. She has been an active member of Chicago’s literary community for than 20 years. Her work has been published in the literary journals and poetry anthologies from Tia Chucha Press as Powerlines and Stray Bullets. Her poetry was also included in the Steppenwolf Theatre 2001 production, Words on Fire. The work of building community and connections continues to be the best part of her current role. She is currently working on a book of memoir poetry and prose. She is mother to one son, Phillip who resides in St. Louis currently and one dog, Francesca.