The 8th Dwarf
Cast
Amanda Elana de la Fuente
Amanda Elena de la Fuente [she/her] (Actor 4) is thrilled to be working with Ghostlight Ensemble in The 8th Dwarf! A Chicago-based Spanish-American artist, Amanda Elena is a recent graduate from Northwestern University with a bachelor of science in theatre, dance and TYA. A multifaceted creator in performance and choreography, she also works as a dance teacher with Synapse Arts. Chicago credits: Duck Duck Grey Goose reading (Hope - Independent Productions Initiative), The Sporting Life (u/s Dot/Mikayla - The Factory Theater). NU credits: As It Is in Heaven (Rachel/US Izzy/Dance Captain), The Great Sea Serpent (Seal/Hel), Water by the Spoonful (Yaz), Antigone (Boy/Lion/Chorus/Dance Captain). Choreographer credits: Alice By Heart, Frida Libre, and two separate productions of Antigone. Amanda Elena is thankful to her family, friends and cats for their love and support.
Yuni Mora
Yuni Mora [she/her] (Actor 1) is thrilled to be making her Ghostlight debut! She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, where she studied theatre, U.S. history and Latine studies. Some of her favorite credits include: In To America (Griffin Theatre Company), Sunday on the Rocks and John Proctor is the Villain (Northwestern). Thank you to friends, family, and her two cats for their love and endless snuggles.
Sydney Ray
Sydney Ray [she/her] (Actor 2) is delighted to be back with Ghostlight Ensemble Theater in their Nightlight series for another fairytale adventure! Sydney is an actor and educator based in Chicago. Local theatre credits include: Into the Woods, Spoon River Anthology (E.D.G.E. Theatre), The Princess Without Pots (Ghostlight Ensemble Theater), The Wild Party (Music for Theatre Chicago) and Ruddigore (Savoyaires). She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and recently graduated with her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago. Big thanks to all her friends and family for their continuous love and support.
Drake St. Pierre
Drake St. Pierre [he/him/his] (Actor 3) is a Chicago based actor, improviser, and writer, and he’s excited to be part of his first production with Ghostlight Ensemble. He performs improv with his team Conflict of Interest around Chicago, and also writes and performs sketch comedy with his team Open Tabs. Some of his previous works include playing in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Greatworks Touring Theatre), How to Transcend a Happy Marriage (Redtwist Theatre), and Peter Pan (Chicago Kid’s Company).
Production Crew
Olivia Sieck
Olivia Sieck (Playwright) is a Chicago-based actor and writer with a background in classical theatre, improv and on-camera work. Olivia is so excited to bring back The Eighth Dwarf to Chicago. It premiered over 10 years ago at Three Brothers Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois. She has also written for Corn Productions, BYOT Theatre, Kingdom Theatre, DePaul University and Funny or Die. She has performed extensively with To Drink or Not to Drink in multiple Shakespearean productions and has appeared on Empire as well as in independent film and web series. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Kansas State University. She liked to thank her family for the love and support.
Anna Bundy
Anna Bundy [any pronouns] (Stage Manager) is a stage-manager, arts educator and appreciator of all things children's theatre! Recent local stage management credits include: Mrs Claus and Alice in Wonderland (Chicago Kids Company), and Murder in the Cathedral (City Lit Theater). Anna also worked on several productions with Dandylyon Drama (Seattle) as a stage manager, director and music director.
Maria Burnham
Maria Burnham [she/her] (Producer) is a Greek-American writer, director and producer; occasional actor and stage manager; and a founding member of Ghostlight Ensemble. She is also originated the idea for Nightlight and has worked on every single production since it began with her play The Princess Without Pots in 2018. She believes young audiences deserve complex and meaningful storytelling and that they understand more than we give them credit for. Special thanks to her stepson, Logan, who once told her she needed to put more jokes in her plays for kids. She’s still working on it.
John Gleason Teske
John Gleason Teske [he/him](Director) is delighted to be working with Ghostlight Ensemble again, having directed previously for their Make/Believe Nightlight short play festival, as well as the Happy Hour short play and Live Movie reading series. Other local and regional directing credits include 906 Theatre (Echoes Festival), Unrehearsed Shakespeare (As You Like It), Primary Colours Theatre (Waiting for Godot) and E.D.G.E. of Orion theater (A Klingon Christmas, A Steampunk Christmas Carol). John has also been fortunate to work with Underscore Theatre, Redmoon Theater, First Stage Children's Theater, Theatre X, Fine Print Theater, Primary Colours Theatre, Shakes Not Stirred and more as a performer, designer, producer, assistant director and raconteur. Much love to his wife, and to the Chicago theater community who stand up for what's right and kind even when it's scary.
Kasey Wolfgang
Kasey Wolfgang (Costume Designer) is a Chicago-based costume designer. Her recent Chicago design work includes Incognito and The Unseen with Tin Drum Theater, The Mark with Babes with Blades and Company with Skokie Theater. Previously she was based out of the DMV area where she designed Peter and The Starcatcher at Firehouse Theatre, Something Rotten! at Dogwood Dell and Snow Maiden at Synetic Theater. She also assisted on the world premiere musical Senior Class at Olney Theatre and the Helen Hayes Award Winning production of The Nance at 1st Stage.