Johnard Washington

Johnard Washington [he/him] (Adam Lowell) is excited to work with Ghostlight for the first time! Other credits include: Kairos (Red Theatre); Purpose (u/s); King James (u/s); The Compass (u/s) (Steppenwolf Theatre); The Importance Of Being Earnest, Thirst (Strawdog Theatre); Cat’s Cradle (Jeff Nomination: Best Production and Ensemble – Lifeline Theatre); At The Table (Jeff Award: Best Production and Ensemble – Broken Nose Theatre); The Hairy Ape, This House Believes The American Dream is at the Expense of the American Negro (Oracle Productions); The Walk Across America For Mother Earth, The Skriker, Lear, Elephant’s Graveyard (Red Tape Theatre); Gross Indecency (Promethean Theatre). Film: Demons, The Coward. TV: The Resentful Angel. SMU Theatre. School at Steppenwolf Alum. Ensemble Member at Bramble Theatre. Stewart Talent. @johnardw. 

Topher Payne

Topher Payne (Playwright) was a 2017 Lambda Literary Award finalist for Perfect Arrangement, which was also received the 2014 M. Elizabeth Osborn Award from The American Theatre Critics Association. Perfect Arrangement had its Off-Broadway premiere in 2015 and has since been produced around the world. It is published by Samuel French, alongside his works Angry Fags and Evelyn in Purgatory. His latest play, A First Lady's Guide to Killing the President, premieres in September 2025.

Topher Payne's theatrical career began at First United Methodist Church in Kosciusko, Mississippi. He played a sparrow. At age 17, he apprenticed at Mississippi's professional theatre, New Stage Theatre. Two years later, he made his home in Atlanta, working as an actor, director, designer and writer — basically, anything people would let him do. In many ways, he still does exactly this.

Topher began writing for television in 2016, and has scripted six films for The Hallmark Channel. He is a proud member of the Dramatist's Guild of America, and both the Canadian and American Writer's Guilds.

In 2018, Topher was inducted into The Georgia Theatre Hall of Fame. In 2022, Topher married artist & playwright Charlie James Cote. They live outside Atlanta with a dog, a cat, and a passel of imaginary friends who give them not one moment's peace.

Jack Bowes

Jack Bowes [he/they] (Director) is a director, producer, actor, drag queen and angry fag. Previously, Jack directed and independently produced both sold-out productions of The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions, at the Den and Bramble Arts Loft. Sometimes he directs plays that don’t have gay slurs in the title, like a recent reading of Genet’s The Maids with Here Are Some Plays. As an actor, Jack is represented by Lily’s Talent Agency, and has performed with Music Theatre Works, Oil Lamp Theatre, and more. Want more tea? Follow @assignedcoolatbirth and @the_chelseamotel. 

Chad Wise

Chad Wise [he/him] (Production Manager) is the managing director and a founding member of Ghostlight Ensemble. Chad recently directed Ghostlight’s entry in Fight Night: Origins and was recently be seen in City Lit Theatre’s House of Ideas. He has also worked with Public House Theatre and Terra Mysterium. He founded New Millennium Theatre Company in 1998 and served as its artistic director for many years, bringing experiences like The Texas Chainsaw Musical, Miyagi! A Karate Kid Musical and Silent Night of the Living Dead to Chicago stages. For Ghostlight he has also directed The Thirteenth Chair and Gingerbread Grindhouse, as well as numerous movie readings. He also spent quite a bit of time dressed as Santa either getting drunk or fighting Krampus!

Haley Welch

Haley Welch [she/her] (Stage Manager) is thrilled to return to Chicago Theatre with this production. Haley holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Technology from Northern Illinois University with a concentration in Stage Management. Haley has worked on several Chicago Area shows including Lighthouses in the Desert, Kernel of Sanity, and Angels in America.

Nora Brooks-Slauter

Nora Brooks Slauter (Scenic & Props Designer) is a Chicago-based scenic designer and scenic artist. Past scenic design credits include Ride the Cyclone at DePaul University, The Chronicles of the Kaleidoscope Visitors at DePaul University, Is God Is at DePaul University, and Do You Feel Anger? at DePaul University. Nora possesses a deep appreciation for the silly, whimsical and absurd of the world, and her work aims to embrace that. She holds a BFA in scenic design from DePaul University. norabrooksslauter.com

Chelsea Streb

Chelsea [she/they] (Lighting Designer) graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts from University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She has recently graduated from Northwestern University with an MFA in Stage Design. Her educational credits from Northwestern include Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery (Lighting Designer), The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl (Lighting Designer),  How to Know the Wildfowers: A Map by Julie Marie Myatt and Jessica Thebus (Lighting Designer), The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra, Go by Lloyd Suh (Lighting Designer) and February House by Gabriel Kahane and Seth Bockley.

Connor Blackwood

Connor Blackwood [he/him] (Projections Designer, Sound Designer) is excited to be collaborating with Ghostlight for the first time on this production. He has been working freelance AV in the Chicago area for a number of years and is currently working as an AV Specialist at the theatre design firm Schuler Shook. He graduated from Ball State with a Batchelor of Fine Arts in theatrical design and would like to thank his wife Madison and son Caspian for their constant support. ConnorBlackwood.com

Savana Nix

Savana Nix [she/her] (Costume Designer) is a theatrical and film costume professional known for her expertise in design, touring shows and work backstage. She is the Costume Director at Lookingglass Theatre Company, she is part of a team dedicated to bringing new works to the stage in Chicago. She has also enjoyed the creative challenge working on national tours with The Bridgerton Experience and Cirque du Soleil. Savana’s goal is to always bring collaboration, empathy and sustainability to her practice to uplift performers, directors and designers alike. Savana would never have been able to pursue this creative field without the unyielding support of her wife Chera.

Claire Yearman

Claire Yearman [she/her] (Fight/Intimacy Choreographer) is happy to be getting to work with Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre. Claire is an actor, director, fight director, SAFD Certified Teacher and intimacy choreographer. She has a master of fine arts in acting from Western Illinois University. Some of the local theatres she's worked at include: Oak Park Festival Theatre, Williams Street Repertory, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Chicago Dramatists, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Songbird Theatre, Oil Lamp Theatre, Wheaton Drama, Village Theatre Guild, Interrobang Theatre Project and Aston Rep Theatre Company. She most recently performed in August:Osage County as Barbara at Wheaton Drama and directed the new musical Red and the Wolf with Songbird Theatre.