TimeLine Names Nine New Associate Artists

TimeLine Theatre Company has announced the addition of nine new Associate Artists - Will Allan, William Brown, Aaron Carter, Andrew Carter, John Culbert, Mildred Marie Langford, Mechelle Moe, Ann Wakefield and Alex Weisman.

Working closely with TimeLine's Company Members, Associate Artists contribute to TimeLine's short-term and long-term artistic programming and growth. Associate Artists serve as non-voting advisers in artistic planning and are encouraged to propose and promote artistic programming ideas and to enhance the work culture and environment of TimeLine. With a collaborative spirit and active participation, Associate Artists demonstrate passionate commitment toward TimeLine's mission, vision and values.

"Each of these new Associate Artists has made enormous contributions to the work on TimeLine's stage, and they also have been leaders off stage, making TimeLine a better place to work and a more distinguished organization," said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. "Now they will play an important role in shaping the next phase of TimeLine's artistic growth, as we expand programming, develop more new work and reach a broader audience. We couldn't be more proud to have these fine artists help us bring TimeLine's mission to life and serve as ambassadors in the community."

These individuals join an already distinguished group of Associate Artists that includes Brian Sidney Bembridge, Eva Breneman, Robert Coleman, Louis Contey, Charles Cooper, Julia Eberhardt, Ana Espinosa, Terry Hamilton, Andrew Hansen, James Keister, Alex Wren Meadows, Keith Parham, Lindsey Pate, Mark Richard, Maren Robinson, Cheney Tardio and Mike Tutaj.

BIOGRAPHIES

Will Allan's TimeLine credits include playing Scripps throughout the sold-out, six-month run of THE HISTORY BOYS, as well as working as the assistant director for IN DARFUR. His recent Chicago credits include DARTMOOR PRISON and Robert Falls' critically acclaimed production of THE SEAGULL at the Goodman Theatre, ROMEO AND JULIET and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at First Folio Theatre, THE GOAT OR, WHO IS SYLVIA? with Remy Bumppo Theatre (Equity Jeff Award - Outstanding Production), A SEPARATE PEACE at Steppenwolf Theatre and RED NOSES at Strawdog Theatre. He has also worked with Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago Children's Theatre and American Theatre Company. He is a graduate of North Central College in Naperville, Ill., and also studied at the Moscow Art Theatre School. He can next be seen in RED at the Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton, Ohio, followed by the world premiere of E.L. Doctorow's THE MARCH, adapted and directed by Frank Galati, at Steppenwolf.

William Brown has been working at TimeLine for more than 10 years. Recently he co-wrote and directed the world premiere of TO MASTER THE ART, a play that TimeLine commissioned. He also previously directed the Midwest premiere of NOT ABOUT NIGHTINGALES (Non-Equity Jeff Awards - Production and Direction) and the Chicago premieres of HALCYON DAYS and PARAGON SPRINGS. Recent directing credits include HEARTBREAK HOUSE and the world premiere of Brett Neveu's OLD GLORY at Writers' Theatre, where he has directed many other productions, including AS YOU LIKE IT, ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST and OUR TOWN. At Northlight Theatre he directed his own adaptation with original music of SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER (After Dark Award; also a partnership with Doug Frew). He has directed numerous productions at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wis., is the Associate Artistic Director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, and directed A CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Goodman Theatre for many years. He received an Equity Jeff Award for Actor in a Principal Role for his portrayal of Henry Kissinger in NIXON'S NIXON and the Chicago Tribune named him Chicagoan of the Year for Theatre.

Aaron Carter appeared on stage at TimeLine in A CRY OF PLAYERS and has served as dramaturg for A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS and THE FRONT PAGE. He is currently the Literary Manager at Steppenwolf Theater Company. Previously, he served as Literary Manager at Victory Gardens Theater, where he played a key role in the IGNITION Festival and was involved in the productions of THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, YEAR ZERO, LOVE PERSON and LIVING GREEN, among others. As a new play developer and dramaturg, Aaron has worked with many theaters and labs including WordBRIDGE, the Kennedy Center, Route 66 and Chicago Dramatists. Aaron also teaches courses in playwriting, dramaturgy and dramatic literature at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Roosevelt University and Grinnell College. Aaron graduated from Ohio University with an MFA in Dramatic Writing where he studied under Charles Smith and Erik Ramsey. As a playwright, Aaron's work focuses on race, faith and obscure performance skills. His latest play, START FAIR IN The Common RACE, was presented in a workshop production in the "What's Next Lab" at Next Theater in Evanston. Aaron's work also appeared in Theater Seven's Chicago Landmark Project.

Andrew Carter has appeared in five productions at TimeLine, including THE PITMEN PAINTERS, FROST/NIXON, THE HISTORY BOYS (Equity Jeff Awards - Production and Ensemble) THIS HAPPY BREED (Non-Equity Jeff Awards - Production and Ensemble) and PRAVDA. Other Chicago credits include Paul Granger III in THE HOT L BALTIMORE (Mary-Arrchie Theatre); Harry Bailey in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH! (American Blues Theater); Stephen Dedalus in A DUBLIN BLOOM (Irish Repertory Theatre); and ROSE RAGE, SHORT SHAKESPEARE! A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, THE LITTLE MERMAID and SHORT SHAKESPEARE! ROMEO AND JULIET (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). Regional credits include Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Cardinal Stage Co. in Bloomington, Ind.). On television, he has appeared in BOSS (Starz). Andrew has also designed videos for TimeLine that have been featured in the lobby of the theatre and online.

John Culbert made his TimeLine debut with his scenic design for THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION. He is the dean of The Theatre School at DePaul University, the alma mater of TimeLine's six founding Company Members. He has worked extensively at Court Theatre, where recent credits include THE ILLUSION, THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE and MAN OF LA MANCHA (Equity Jeff Award - Scenic Design). Other recent productions include GREY GARDENS (Northlight Theatre), REGINA (Lyric Opera of Chicago), ARGONAUTIKA (Lookingglass Theatre), ROCK 'N' ROLL (Goodman Theatre) and HUGHIE (Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, Conn.). He has designed productions for the Singapore Repertory, Opera National du Rhin in France, Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California, McCarter Theatre in Princeton, N.J., and Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Other projects include the lighting design for the Chicago Park District's Buckingham Fountain.

MILDRED MARIE LANGFORD appeared at TimeLine in IN DARFUR in the role of Hawa. Her other Chicago credits include 13 CLOCKS (Lifeline Theatre); VENUS and THE CRUCIBLE (Steppenwolf Theatre); A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS (Northlight Theatre); ZULU FITS (MPAACT); the world premiere of WAR WITH THE NEWTS and THE OVERWHELMING (Next Theatre); THE TWINS WOULD LIKE TO SAY (Dog & Pony); 12 OPHELIAS (Trap Door); SINBAD: THE UNTOLD STORY, THE GHOST OF TREASURE ISLAND and THE BLUE HOUSE (Adventure Stage); and PROFESSIONS FOR WOMEN (Bailiwick Director's Festival). Mildred is a graduate of George Mason University and The School at Steppenwolf. She can be seen next in FIVE FLIGHTS with Immediate Theatre Company in November; THE GHOST IS HERE with Vitalist Theatre in January; and in an adaption of Stanislavski's AN ACTOR PREPARES by Mickle Maher at the University of Chicago in April.

Mechelle Moe is a founding member of The Hypocrites, and works as an actor, director and teaching artist. She has been featured at TimeLine in THE FRONT PAGE, THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, NOT ENOUGH AIR and PARADISE LOST, and she served as assistant director for WHEN SHE DANCED and as a teaching artist for TimeLine's Living History Program. Other Chicago credits include The Hypocrites (THE BALD SOPRANO, ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE GLASS MENAGERIE and many others) and Court (WHAT THE BUTLER SAW). She has also worked with American Blues, Griffin, Lifeline, A Red Orchid, Steppenwolf, Writers' theaters, among others. Mechelle has worked as a teaching artist in Chicago for the past eight years, and currently teaches for Lookingglass, Court, Raven, Lifeline and TimeLine. Mechelle was awarded a Joseph Jefferson Citation for Principal Actress and After Dark Award for her performance as the Young Woman in Sophie Treadwell's MACHINAL, produced by The Hypocrites. She reprised the role in TimeLine's Monday night stage reading series to accompany our production of NOT ENOUGH AIR. And she was most recently nominated for Principal Actress for her performance in Griffin Theater's STAGE DOOR.

Ann Wakefield has appeared at TimeLine in TO MASTER THE ART, THE HISTORY BOYS (Equity Jeff Awards - Production and Ensemble), THE CHILDREN'S HOUR (Non-Equity Jeff Award nomination - Actress in a Supporting Role, Play), GUANTANAMO: HONOR BOUND TO DEFEND FREEDOM and THE LION IN WINTER (After Dark Award). Ann has also worked in South Africa, England and France as an actor, teacher and director. Chicago credits include UNCLE VANYA for Steppenwolf and THE GLASS MENAGERIE for Steppenwolf Young Adults; THE ROAD TO MECCA at Shattered Globe Theatre (Non-Equity Jeff Award - Principal Actress, Play) and ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST at Eclipse Theatre (Non-Equity Jeff Award - Supporting Actress, Play). She has also worked at Court, Remy Bumppo, Lifeline, Shaw Chicago and Interplay theaters, among others. She is on the faculty of The Theatre School of DePaul University, where she has directed several productions for the Chicago Playworks children's theater series, including TALES AS OLD AS AFRICA, which she wrote and directed.

Alex Weisman made his TimeLine debut in 2009 with the Chicago premiere of THE HISTORY BOYS, for which he received the Equity Jeff Award for Supporting Actor in a Play. Since then, Alex has appeared at the Goodman Theatre (MARY, A CHRISTMAS CAROL), Lookingglass Theatre (PETER PAN), Chicago Shakespeare Theater (MADNESS OF GEORGE III), Porchlight (PUTTING IT TOGETHER) and The Music Theater Company (STATUS: A 48-HOUR MUSICAL), where he is also an artistic associate. He will next appear in THE HOUDINI BOX, a world premiere with Chicago Children's Theatre. Additionally, he has worked with Sideshow Theatre, BackRoom Shakespeare, American Music Theatre Project and Victory Gardens. Alex is a proud graduate of Northwestern University.

ABOUT TIMELINE THEATRE

TimeLine Theatre Company, named one of the nation's Top 10 Emerging Professional Theatres (American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, 2011), Best Theatre by Chicago magazine ("Best of Chicago," 2011) and the nation's theater "Company of the Year" (The Wall Street Journal, 2010), was founded in April 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. During its first 14 seasons, TimeLine presented 46 productions, including seven world premieres and 13 Chicago premieres; launched the Living History Education Program, bringing the company's mission to life for students in Chicago Public Schools; and completed each season operating in the black. Recipient of the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 46 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production eight times.

Now playing at TimeLine Theatre:

Chicago premiere of THE PITMEN PAINTERS by Lee Hall, inspired by a book by William Feaver, directed by BJ Jones, extended at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Avenue, through December 18
Still to come in TimeLine's 15th Anniversary season:

Chicago premiere of ENRON by Lucy Prebble, directed by Rachel Rockwell, January 17 - April 15, 2012
World premiere of MY KIND OF TOWN by John Conroy, directed by Nick Bowling, May 1 - July 29, 2012
TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers and Managing Director Elizabeth K. Auman. Company members are Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, David Parkes, PJ Powers and Benjamin Thiem. More information about the company is available at timelinetheatre.com.