Otherworld Theatre Welcomes New Artistic Staff

Otherworld Theatre, a theatre dedicated to the performance of Science Fiction and Fantasy performance, is excited to name new appointments, with Mary ­Kate Arnold assuming the role of Managing Director, Dylan Schaefer as Director of Development, Brendan Stallings as Press & PR Manager, and Grace Gimpel as Social Media Coordinator. Since being founded in 2012, Otherworld has produced some incredible Science Fiction and Fantasy plays including Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, Cameron McNary's Of Dice and Men, Bella Poynton's The Aurora Project, and Charles Busch's Queen Amarantha. They have also created and host the Juggernaut Film Festival, a night of science fiction and fantasy short films and The Paragon Play Festival, the world's largest sci­fi and fantasy play festival. Otherworld consistently performs at various conventions around the Midwest including Chicago's C2E2 and GenCon in Indianapolis.

Mary­Kate Arnold has worked with Otherworld Theatre since 2012 as Mildred in Otherworld's first production Fahrenheit 451. She has also appeared as Tara in Of Dice and Men, and Thalia in Queen Amarantha. Her upcoming work with the company includes the role of Urania in Gone Dark (Oct­Nov 2015), directing William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (2016), and reprising her role of Mildred in Fahrenheit 451 (2016). Other select Chicago stage credits include: After Miss Julie (Julie­ Focal Point Theatre), The Tempest (Miranda­ Accidental Shakespeare), The Water's Edge (Lucy­ AstonRep), Brilliant Traces (Rossannah­ 25 th Hour Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Helena­ Strangeloop Theatre), Crimes of the Heart (Meg­ Madkap Productions), The Talking Cure (Emma­ Idle Muse Theatre), and The Universal Wolf (Reader­ Trap Door Theatre). Upcoming work includes the titular role in The Life and Death of Countess Bathory by Jared McDaris. Select UK credits include Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), Playhouse Creatures (Rebecca Marshall), Twelfth Night (Olivia), and After Mrs. Rochester (Ella). In addition to being an Ensemble member with Otherworld Theater, Mary­Kate is an Artistic Associate with Trap Door Theatre and Accidental Shakespeare Company. She is also a performer with The Murder Mystery Company and holds a Master's degree from the Birmingham School of Acting, UK.

Dylan Schaefer is a Chicago based actor, improvisor, writer, and producer. He holds a B.A. in acting from Columbia College Chicago and is a graduate of The Second City: Comedy Studies program. He's thrilled to be joining the Otherworld Theatre acting ensemble although he is a new addition to the ensemble, Dylan has been with Otherworld since the very beginning as a member of the board. A lifelong science fiction fan, he is proud to serve as Director of Development for the only science fiction and fantasy theatre in Chicago! Dylan looks forward to working with this wonderful ensemble to continue to grow the company and further Otherworld's mission. Dylan was most recently seen playing the role of Roderigo in Otherworld's production of Queen Amarantha this past June and is looking forward to appearing in Otherworld's winter production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Brendan Stallings is a Chicago­based Actor, Comedian, and Writer originally from Oklahoma City, OK. He moved to Chicago after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a BFA in Theatre Performance. Since his Midwest arrival, Brendan has graduated the ComedySportz improv training program, written and produced his own sketch shows, worked with over a dozen theaters, and stage managed over a hundred shows. Brendan recently made his stage debut with Otherworld this past June as Adrian in Queen Amarantha and will play Ned in the upcoming show Gone Dark. Other credits include Anthony/Baby Poet in Utopia from the Paragon Play Festival, the Vulcan Narrator and Marli' in two productions of Commedia Beauregard's Klingon Christmas Carol and Sherlock Holmes in Theatre­Hikes' Hound of the Baskervilles. With his deep roots and interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy, he is very happy to have found a home with Otherworld and looks forward to helping it continue to become one of the most fun and exciting theater companies in the country.

Grace Gimpel has been a proud member of Otherworld Theater company from the beginning! She is a Chicago Actor, Dancer and Director. She holds a BA in Musical Theater Performance from Columbia College Chicago. Most recently she was seen as Edra in Queen Amarantha. Previous roles in Otherworld productions include Clarissa in Fahrenheit 451, Nora in The Aurora Project, Tara (understudy) in Of Dice and Men as well as Sylla in our upcoming show, Gone Dark. She also recently directed and starred as Tina in the short play Transferring Kyle for Otherworld's first Paragon Play Festival. Grace cannot wait to get the whole world talking about Otherworld theater!

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