*denotes TATL ensemble member
GRIMM by Michael Dalberg
Cast
Wolf………………..Maddy Shilts
Jakob………………Nick Barnes*
Little Red……Bianca Calabrese
Ensemble…..Riley Doerner, Tara Shilkret, Mery Drilling-Coren & Reva Sangal
Understudy Wolf/Jakob….Brandon Beach
Production Team
Stage Manager….Reagan Stevenson*
Director………………….Tony Lawry*
Scenic Designer………..Stina Taylor*
Sound Designer…..Lou Stockmeyer
Lighting Designer…...…Aidan Bane
Fight Choreographer..…Lexi Dewitt
CAST
Bianca Calabrese — Little Red Bianca Calabrese (she/her) is thrilled to be playing the part of Little Red in Theater Above The Law’s annual play Grimm. Bianca is a freshman at Lincoln Park High School and is proudly a member of their drama program. Credits include The Addams Family, The Wizard Of Oz, Mary Poppins, Annie, Descendants, and Camp Rock (Skyline Children’s Theater); Still Life With Iris (Infinity Arts Academy); The Lion King (Emerald City Theater). A very special thank you to Mom and Dad.
Nick Barnes — Jakob Nick is incredibly excited to be returning to the world of GRIMM and getting to have another crack at Jakob. He graduated from Cornell College with a BSS in Theatre. In the past you might have seen him working with Theatre Above the Law, Shakespeare Motley Crew, Idle Muse or The Passage Theater. When he isn't onstage he spends his time getting yelled at by his cat. He would like to thank his family, friends, and cat (even if she does it begrudgingly) for their constant support.
Maddy Shilts — Wilhelm/Wolf Maddy Shilts (they/he) is trilled to be reprising their role in Grimm2026. They are a Chicago-based performer and producer with stage, film and voiceover credits. Maddy has recently been seen in Empath (Mel), 8MM (Sylvie), and The Lightning Thief (Luke & Others, dir. Miranda Coble). Other favorite credits: The Helpers (Jan Geis, dir. Lindsay Augusta Mercer) and Twelfth Night (Viola/Cesario, Midsommer Flight), I Spoke to You With Silence (Narrator), My Friend Irma (Jane), A Scrap of Lace (Bella Brickley), and Cleanup Crew (Bec). Maddy lives with his cat Robin, the sweetest menace to society in existence.
Tara Shilkret — Ensemble Tara Shilkret is a stage and screen actor represented by BMG Talent. As a collaborative artist, she is proud to bring Grimm to life with this ensemble and inspire play in others. Other recent credits include As You Like It (Goodly Creatures Theatre), Attuned (Alice Gerstenberg Festival), and The Angels of Lemnos (Clark Week Productions).
Mery Drilling-Coren — Ensemble Mery Drilling-Coren is so excited to be back with Theatre Above the Law doing Grimm again! She has also been seen previously in The Matchmaker here! Mery studied Theater Performance at Bradley University and has loved performing throughout Chicagoland! Mery wants to thank Tony, Reagan, and her amazing cast for allowing her to try new bits throughout this process! She would also like to thank her friends and family for their continuous support! Now grab a glass and enjoy the show!
Riley Doerner — Ensemble Riley Doerner (she/her) is overjoyed to be performing with Theatre Above the Law again! She is a Chicago based theatre artist and a graduate of Illinois State University, where she received a BA in Theatre-Acting and a minor in stage combat. Since starting her career in Chicago, she has performed with various companies including Black Cat Theatre, Idle Muse Theatre, and Theatre Above The Law. Riley sends thanks to her loved ones who have supported her endlessly and to her cat who has not. Follow Riley (@riley.doerner) to keep up with her latest projects!
Reva Sangal — Ensemble Reva Sangal (RAY-vuh, she/her) is a multi-hyphenate writer, composer and musical theatre actor. As a queer Desi American artist, Reva is dedicated to increasing South Asian representation within the MT canon. Her original musical Chalo! A Soccer Musical, an upbeat Sapphic Desi sports musical, has been featured at the Goodman Theatre and the Chicago Cultural Center. Chalo! was most recently selected as the musical to represent the City of Chicago through the DCASE New Musical Residency and is hopeful to make its world premiere in the near future (support Chalo! @chalomusical). As a performer, Reva can be seen across the city most recently at Essential Invisible’s Life is a Queer Cabaret and Instrumental Theatre’s Chicago Theatre Composer’s Club. Honors include: DCASE Residency (Recipient), Greenlight Group Sound Balance Commission (Finalist), National Queer Theatre (Semi-Finalist). Northwestern BA (Theatre, Music Theatre, Economics, Legal Studies), @revasangal, revasangal.com
Brandon Beach – Jakob & Wolf Understudy Is a Chicago based actor and graduate of Emerson College. He is an ensemble member with both Midsommer Flight and Three Crows Theatre. Past credits include As You Like It (Silvius), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Berowne), and Romeo and Juliet (Paris) with Midsommer Flight and The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Ray) and Macbeth (Malcolm) with Three Crows. Brandon is also a proud member of the Chicagoland cast of The Dinner Detective and can be found solving murders over dinner in banquet halls and event spaces around the city and beyond!
Production Team
Tony Lawry - Director Tony is very excited to continue his run through the Brothers Grimm catalogue of stories and find different ways to share them! He is always excited to use his bag of tricks on Grimm. Besides TATL Tony has directed for other Chicago area theatre companies as well as several in Michigan where he started his love of theatre and directing. He also has been onstage for many years some of his favorite roles have been in Noises Off, Lost In Yonkers, Dames at Sea, The Boys Next Door and The Mousetrap. Tony is available for your show too! He is represented by Stewart Talent.
Reagan Stevenson — Stage Manager Reagan (she/her) is a Chicago based stage manager, UIC graduate, and a proud ensemble member of Theatre Above the Law. She is excited to be stage managing Grimm for a third year in a row! Additional credits include The Pyg Hypothesis, Matt & Ben, Cyrano, The Matchmaker (Theatre Above the Law); Innogen, Measure For Measure, Pericles (Forest Theatre Company); Seven Year Glitch (Yellow Rose Theatre); Good Day (A Short Leap). Extra special thanks to Eric, Tony, Mom, and Dad.
Lou Stockmeyer — Sound Design Lou could not be more excited to be back at Theater Above the Law doing sound design for Grimm for a second year in a row! They graduated from Northwestern with a B.A. in the Theater, and are incredibly passionate about new work as well as composing sounds that provide a cinematic feel. When they’re not behind the tech table, they are acting, crochetting, or building a commune on Minecraft. Thank you to the whole Theater Above the Law and Grimm family!
Stina Taylor — Scenic Design
Aidan Bane – Lighting Design Aidan Bane (he/him) is a recent Chicago transplant thrilled to be working on his first production with Theatre Above the Law! He graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Puget Sound last year, and now works as a stage manager, lighting designer, actor and everything in between. Previous credits include Simple Theatre’s J’Uncle (Lighting Design) and A Game (Production Manager), Deadweight Theatre’s Manikins (Stage Manager), and a workshop for Pig Iron Theatre’s Franklin’s Key (Lighting/Acting).
Lexi DeWitt - Fight Choreography Lexi DeWitt is a Columbia College Chicago graduate and a certified combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. Most recently, you may have seen her as Kayleen in Silverstage Theatre Company's Gruesome Playground Injuries, or seen her fight and intimacy choreography in various productions with Theatre Above the Law, Raven Theatre, Silverstage Theatre Company, TheatreLab, and Woodstock Shakespeare Players. She's super excited to join this production for the first time, and hopes you enjoy some Grimm fun!
Michael Dalberg - Playwright
Special Thanks!
Michael Dalberg for continuing to trust TATL with his work, Eric Norman, Reagan Stevenson, Stina Taylor, River Run Press, The TATL Ensemble, The Saints, Tyler Core, Barbara, Olivia and YOU, the audience!
MASKS ARE ENCOURAGED WHILE IN OUR INTIMATE SPACE.