The Edge of Play

Ada is an imaginative 8-year-old girl who loves slides but gets really nervous around other kids. With help from her unique friend Mo, she learns that it’s OK to need a little extra help and support to do the things that scare you the most.

The Edge of Play is written by Janine Sobeck Knighton, directed by Eileen Tull and stars Christine Marie and Kaela Rosenbaum.


Biographies

Janine Sobeck Knighton

Janine Sobeck Knighton [she/her] (Playwright) is a storyteller who loves exploring new worlds with young audiences. Her play, Scaredy Kat Presents, was a winner of the 2020 Purple Crayon Players PLAYground Festival and is currently touring Connecticut with the Westport Country Playhouse. Other places her plays have been developed and/or produced include Plan B Theatre, Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University. She is the head writer/producer of two web series, An Open Letter to Isabella Beck and Backstage Bernie, both of which can be found on the JSK Stories YouTube Channel.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys helping other people develop their own stories through her work as a dramaturg as well as through her role as Associate Professor of playwriting and dramaturgy at Utah Valley University. She is inspired daily by what her young daughter teaches her about being true to herself.

Eileen tull

Eileen Tull (Director) is a theatremaker, poet, educator and one-woman-show person. Her work has been seen all over Chicago in theaters, bookstores, art galleries, bars and other non-traditional spaces with folks at Stage Left, Chicago Dramatists, Hobo Junction, Broken Nose, The Plagiarists and Violet Surprise, among others. Eileen is a creative arts instructor with the Chicago Park District. She's so happy to be back directing with the Make/Believe Festival. This fall, Eileen will be directing the world premiere of Household Spirits by Mia McCullough at Theater Wit. 

 

Christine Marie

Christine Marie [she, her] (Ada) is honored to return to the Chicago stage with Ghostlight. Chicago credits include:  48 Hour Shakespeare Festival 2023 (Possibilities Theater Company) Two Idiots In a Haunted House (Rhino Fest 2020) Co-producer YippieFest 2019-present, Cooking/Craft Segment Producer SMS 2020-present.

Kaela Rosenbaum

Kaela Rosenbaum (Mo) is an actor and comedian based in Chicago and New York City. Since graduating from Northwestern University last year, she has been performing around Chicago with her improv and sketch group, Skip Skip. Follow @skipskipcomedy on Instagram and tik tok! Thank you to everyone in the Make/Believe festival for making this wonderful event happen.