Dames at Sea at Citadel Theatre

Melody is absolutely thrilled to be back on the Citadel Stage! She was last seen here in The Cottage, where she played the role of Dierdre. Melody is a Chicago-based singer, actress, and dancer. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre with an Emphasis in Dance, from The Chicago College of Performing Arts. Some performance highlights include Drury Lane Theatre: A Chorus Line (Judy Turner); Mercury Theatre: Young Frankenstein (Swing); Metropolis PAC: 9 to 5 (Ensemble & U/S Roz), Cabaret (KitKat Fritzie); Music Theater Works: The Producers (Featured Ensemble); AlphaBet Soup Productions: Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), James and the Giant Peach (James), Alice in Wonderland (Cheshire Cat). Melody is proudly represented by Shirley Hamilton Talent.

Elizabeth Bushell couldn’t be more excited to return to Citadel where she most recently performed as Sylvia in The Cottage. Elizabeth is a Wilmette-based actor and graduate of The Academy at Black Box Acting. Other theatre credits include Eleanor in Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish, Snow White in Snow White: An Original Musical, and Chipper in Junior Claus (Citadel Theatre); Fantine u/s and wigmaker / ensemble in Les Miserables (ILA in Italy); Katherine Blake u/s in Freaky Friday (Big Noise Theatre) and female swing in A Chorus Line (MadKap Productions). In addition to performing, Elizabeth serves as Executive Producer with The Beautiful City Project and works as an independent finance & strategy consultant. So much gratitude to this wonderful cast and team, and to her loving husband, Joe (Hennesey)! Elizabeth is represented by Dream Team Talent.

Ciara is elated to make her Citadel Theatre Debut in Dames at Sea! Her most recent credits include Cinderella and The Addams Family at Metropolis, "Poopsie" in The Pajama Game (CCPA), "JT/Host" in Team Charlie Brown (Valleyfair) and Swelltones (Cedar Point). She has her BFA in Musical Theater Dance from Roosevelt University. Ciara would love to thank her family, friends, and roommates for their endless love and support.

Beck Hokanson (he/him) is so excited to be performing with Citadel for the first time! He is a recent graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts (BFA Musical Theatre ‘24) and the Second City conservatory. Theatre: Cinderella (Metropolis PAC), Carousel (Music Theatre Works), American Psycho (Kokandy Productions/Jeff Award Best Musical); Mamma Mia! (BrightSide Theatre); My Way or the My Way (The Second City); The Who’s Tommy (El Camino CFA); Bat Boy, Merrily We Roll Along, 42nd Street (CCPA). Film: Sapphire Kingshit (post-prod.), Pacific Smoking Club (Bass Demon Productions), Butterflies (Chapman University) beckhokanson.com @beckhokanson

Peter Kattner III is excited to perform in his second production at Citadel Theatre, Dames at Sea!  Previous credits include Cinderella…Really?! (Prince Fry) performed with Citadel Theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip Tolentino), and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Neville Landless) both performed with Saint Sebastian Players, Aztec Human Sacrifice (Ensemble) performed at City Lit Theater and Ends (Frank Glober) performed with DavJasFran Entertainment. Other credits include One Thousand Words (A New Musical) and Love Affairs and Wedding Bells (A New Musical) both performed at Theater Wit. Peter would like to thank Ellen and everyone on the Citadel Theatre production team for the opportunity to be a part of Dames at Sea!

Joe Bushell is delighted to work at Citadel Theatre once again (Prince Fledermaus in Snow White and Grumpo in Junior Claus) with this incredibly talented Dames at Sea team. His recent theatre credits include The Outsider (Buffalo Theatre Ensemble), Bill W. and Dr. Bob (Theatre 68), The Wizards (Free Street Theater), It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Oil Lamp Theater) and Airport Time at The Yellow Rose Theatre – where he doubles as an ensemble member and playwright. Some of Joe’s TV and film credits include FOX’s The Big Leap, Domesticated Animals and Zero Mile Mark. Much love to his lovely wife (and castmate) Elizabeth!!

Recent credits include Anything Goes (Jeff Nomination); Porchlight Music Theatre, What Will Happen to All That Beauty; Contemporary American Theatre Festival, The Music Man; Goodman Theatre, Judgment Day, The Comedy of Errors; Chicago Shakespeare, Every Brilliant Thing; Farmer’s Alley, Arsenic and Old Lace; Court Theatre, The Elephant Man, Native Gardens; Williams Street Rep, The Producers; Music Theatre Works and productions at Drury Lane, Royal George and Marriott Theatre. Off-Broadway credits include Lamb’s Theatre and regional work at The Kennedy Center. Television credits include Chicago Fire, multiple appearances on Chicago Med, American Greed, PBS Chicago Stories and Twisted Little Lies as well as numerous ‘exasperated dad’ commercials. In his life as celebrity chef, Steve was the season one winner of Next Food Network Star, co-host of Food Network’s Party Line With The Hearty Boys and co-author of “Talk With Your Mouth Full” and “The New Old Bar.”

Maya Paletta (Ensemble, u/s Ruby) is thrilled to be making her Chicago theatre debut with Citadel! This past spring she graduated with her BFA in Acting, minor in Dance from Northern Illinois University. Favorite NIU credits include She Kills Monsters (Agnes Evans) and Big Love (Olympia). Most recently Maya has been working as a Trainee with Water Street Dance MKE under the direction of Morgan Williams. There she had works set on her by Kate Alava and Shanira Delgado. This past summer she also danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in their Create Intensive where she had works set on her by Cyrie Topete, Krista Ellensohn, Gianna Burright, and Alexander Anderson. She has also done summer intensives with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre performing works by Nicole Clarke-Springer, Gary Abbott, Kevin Iega Jeffs, and Tracey Franklin. Thanks to her family, friends, and all who support the arts! Instagram @mayapapaya5678

Catherine Athenson is so happy to be back at Citadel after previously appearing as The Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooge and the Ghostly Spirits, and Squirrelle in Elephant and Piggie: We Are In a Play! Other favorite Chicagoland credits include Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street (Music on Stage), South Pacific (Skokie Theatre), Ring of Fire (Williams Street Repertory), and Picnic (Harper Theatre Ensemble). She is a proud WashU and Northwestern graduate, company member of Comedy Dance Chicago, and is represented by 10MGMT. Many thanks to family and friends for their unwavering love and support. For Jesse and Helen, always. 

Kate Drury is thrilled beyond measure to be making her Citadel debut in Dames at Sea! Some past favorite credits include Celia and u/s Rosalind in As You Like It (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), Woman #3 in The World Goes 'Round (Canterbury Summer Theatre), and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (NIU). She is a proud graduate of Northern Illinois University. She would like to give all love to her friends and family and all glory to God!

Eilish Morse-O’Rourke (she/her) is thrilled to make her Citadel debut with Dames at Sea! She’s from Pittsburgh but is currently based in Chicago, where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Columbia College Chicago. Recent credits include: The Confession (Blue Gate Theatre), London Road (Shattered Globe Theatre), and a dancer at Kennywood Park (RWS Entertainment Group). She extends her gratitude to her loved ones for their constant support.