Anthony Kayer (Sam Sugarplum)
Anthony (he/they) joined Lifeline’s artistic ensemble in 2017 and was most recently seen on the Lifeline stage in LOKI – The End of the World Tour. You may have also seen him at Lifeline in: Arnie the Doughnut (2011), The Emperor’s New Threads, Lyle Finds His Mother, War of the Worlds, Cat’s Cradle (2023), and Jane Eyre (2014). 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
Jermaine Jenkins (Little Boy Blue/Pinocchio/Thursby Shadow)
Jermaine Jenkins is thrilled to be making his Lifeline debut. He’s excited to unleash his inner child and play with such a fun group of artists. He gives much love to the cast, creative team, and all his loved ones. He is a recent BFA Acting graduate. Recent Credits: Romeo and Juliet, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Our Town (Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Topdog/Underdog (The Gift Theatre), Flush (Campfire Rep Theatre), Footholds Vol 4 (Impostor’s Theatre Company). Rep: Gray Talent Group
Cris King (Goldilocks/Candy Witch)
Cris King (she/her) is making her Lifeline Theatre debut! Recent Chicago credits include Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors (Lazy Susan Theatre), yo ho (Babes with Blades Theatre), White Elephant (Yellow Rose Theatre), and Ubu the King (Meat Machine Theatre). As an improviser, she’s performed at iO Theater, The Annoyance Theatre, and is a company member of Improv Chattanooga. Cris can be found on TikTok and Instagram @criskingvo. She’d like to thank her wife, Ramsay, for a boundless love and support that Cris does not deserve.
Christin Prince (Ms. Mary Belle/Gretal)
Christin is excited to make her Lifeline debut in Sugar Plum Fairy, P.I. Other credits include VEAL (A Red Orchid Theatre), Women Beware Women (Blue In the Right Way), and PATIENT (Elevated Films Chicago). Christin is an alumni of The University of Southern Mississippi where she received her BFA in Theatre Performance. www.christinprince.com
Daniel Rivera (Peter Pan/Hansel/Humpty Dumpty)
Nafia Hunter (US Ms. Mary Belle/Gretal)
Samie Jo Johnson (US Goldilocks/Candy Witch )
Samie Jo is delighted to make their official Lifeline debut, though they appeared on the Lifeline stage with Kerfuffle’s production of The Conductors last winter. Samie Jo is a Chicago-based actor, writer, deviser, and director. She serves as the Artistic Director of Imagination Theater and on the Artistic Leadership Coalition with Artemisia Theatre. They have performed with Stage Left, Redtwist, Midsommer Flight, Quicksilver Shakespeare, Stone Soup Shakespeare, and Kerfuffle, in Chicago.
Grey Sindaco (US Sam Sugarplum)
This is Grey’s first time working with Lifeline, Other recent Chicagoland acting credits include How I Became A Pirate (Uptown Theatre), Hairspray (Beverly Arts Center), and City of Angels (Jedlicka Performing Arts). They also performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at NYC Fringe Festival. Their directing works have been shown at Bramble Arts Loft, Steppenwolf Theatre, Citadel Theatre, The Beverly Theatre Guild, The Chicago Arts High School and others. I’m @greygoeswitheverything on everything!
Ben Locke (US Peter Pan/Hansel/Humpty Dumpty and Little Boy Blue/Pinocchio/Thursby Shadow)
Ben Locke (all pronouns) is making his Lifeline debut. Previous credits include Jackalope Theatre, Steppenwolf, Court Theatre, Raven Theatre and more. Ben is represented by Big Mouth Talent. Their plays can be found at The New Play Exchange.
Robert Kauzlaric (Director)
Robert has been a member of the Lifeline ensemble since 2005. As a playwright, he has written numerous adaptations for Lifeline, including The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, Flight of the Dodo, Lions in Illyria, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins for the KidSeries. Also at Lifeline, he directed Treasure Island and Hunger for the Mainstage series, appeared onstage in 16 shows, and served on the administrative staff for over a decade. Other directing credits: 11 productions with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, including Pericles (Wilde Awards: Best Director—Play and Best of the Bard), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Wilde Awards: Best Director—Play and Best of the Bard), and Tartuffe (Wilde Award: Best Comedy); as well as The Dance of Death and The White Road (Jeff nomination: Best Production Play–Midsize) with Irish Theatre of Chicago, and Cymbeline (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Best Director—Play) with Strawdog Theatre.
Aly Amidei (Playwright/Costume Designer)
Aly Renee Amidei focuses her professional design practice on ensemble theatres, new works, and re-envisioned classics. She is currently the Associate Professor of Design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was previously an Associate Professor of Design at UNC-Charlotte, and worked for 14 years as the Costume Assistant and Costume Coordinator at College of Dupage. She continues to work in the Madison and Chicago area, and other regional theatres as a costume designer and playwright. She is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Union 829 and an ensemble member at Lifeline Theatre, Strawdog Theatre Company, and Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. She previously adapted Bunny’s Book Club and Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters. Recent Lifeline designs include: Emma, Northanger Abbey, Neverwhere, Cats Cradle and War of the Worlds. Upcoming designs include: Annie for Children’s Theatre of Madison and Little Women at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble.
Bobbie Buie (Scenic/Props Designer)
This is Bobbie’s second design at Lifeline; previously, they served as the scenic designer for Kitty and the Beanstalk. Previous Chicagoland credits include ‘night, Mother at Redtwist Theatre (scenic design) and Bridges of Madison County at Festival 56 (scenic design). They have also designed across the greater Midwest at Hope Repertory Theatre, Iowa Stage Theatre Company, and Story Theatre company. They received a BA in Performing Arts and English from Iowa State University in 2025. To find out more about their work and upcoming projects, visit bobbiebuie.com.
David Blixt (Violence Designer)
Diane Fairchild (Lighting Designer)
Diane is a local and regional freelance lighting designer, and she has been an ensemble member of Lifeline Theatre since 2017. Diane has designed several productions at Lifeline including Click, Clack, Boo!, The Conductors, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Leaf, Skunk and Badger, Miss Holmes Returns, Whose Body?, Northanger Abbey, and Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters. Her work on Lifeline’s productions of A Tale of Two Cities and Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol was recognized with Non-Equity Jeff Awards. She holds an M.F.A. in Lighting Design from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a B.F.A. in Design and Technology for the Theater from Wright State University in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio. While in New York, Ms. Fairchild designed at The Juilliard School, Dixon Place, New Georges, NYU’s Experimental Theatre Wing, HERE Arts Center, and Joyce Soho. In 2003, she moved to Chicago and dove into its rich theater scene. Chicago area credits include work with Rivendell (ensemble), Academy of Movement and Music, MOMENTA, Irish Theatre of Chicago, Raven, Teatro Vista, Wilmette Parks District, Theater Wit, Northlight, Court, Sideshow, and Victory Gardens. She also designs and mentors design students at Wheaton College, Grant Community High School, and C.A.S.T (Communication, Arts, Speech and Theatre: Percy Julian Middle School). Regional credits include work with Michigan Shakespeare Festival, The Human Race, 1st Stage (Tysons Corner), City Theatre, Intiman, Trinity Rep, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and Boise Contemporary Theatre. She is a proud member of USA829 and a proud mom of Xander and Quincy.
Emily Lynch (Sound Designer)
Devin Meseke (Production Manager)
This is Devin’s third production as production manager at Lifeline where he previously production managed A Wrinkle in Time, Loki: The End of the World Tour and painted War of the Worlds. Previous credits include painting for Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Rivendell Theatre, Shattered Globe 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.
Kate Reed (Stage Manager)
Kate is excited to be working with Lifeline again after most recently stage managing Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol (2025, 2026). Lifeline KidSeries credits: Bunny’s Book Club, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2019), We Found a Hat, Bunnicula (2018), You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?, Arnie The Doughnut (2017), Fable-ous!, Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2015). Other Chicago area credits include work with Children’s Theatre of Winnetka, Oakton College, Drury Lane Theatre, Rail Events Productions, NX5 Theatrical, Northlight Theatre, and Mudlark Theater. She is the Fest Manager for the Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest and has a degree in Performance Studies from Northwestern University. Thanks to David and Sandwich for their never-ending support!
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)
