The Producers

Katrina Bergstrom started The 24 Hour Project in February of 2003 by contacting her closest playwright, director and actor friends in Chicago to form a group of people who were interested in helping Chicago’s theatre world collaborate.  Originally from Boston, Katrina moved to Chicago in 2001 from New York City.  In addition to producing the project, Katrina has worked in Chicago with UT/PR in ’Dentity Crisis, Bailiwick Director’s Festival in Miss the Bus and Fifteen Minutes and Defiant Theatre in Fortinbras.  Her New York Credits include, Noises Off and Animal Fair at Gallery Players, National Theatre’s tour of The Little Prince, Playwrights’ Horizon in Linda Her, and Black Box in The Bacchae and Escape from Happiness. Her Paris credits include, Walk and Talk Productions in Speed the Plow and Les Amandiers de Nanterre in Le Jeu de l’Amour et du Hazard.  Katrina earned her BA in French and BFA in Theatre at NYU, Tisch School of the Arts and also studied theatre at The Universite of Paris. Katrina spends her daytime hours at Marsh, Inc. as an Environmental insurance broker and Knowledge Manager.

James Bailey is a recent transplant to Chicago. He has spent the last few years producing and directing theatre in Los Angeles. James has come to Chicago to help in bringing Chicago to the forefront of theatre and independent film production. Art is collaboration which makes James happy to be part of such a wonderful team with the 24 hour project, who is giving artists the opportunity to express themselves and introduce their skills to prominent members of the community. Thank you for your patronage and enjoy the show.

Cherie Dikelsky is happy to return to the full-time comfort of her apartment after having spent the better part of 2 years in a car/truck/van on a tour, or on the side of the road waiting for the car/truck/van to be fixed.  Cherie finds immeasurable reward in working with children; she has worked with over 2000 children as a volunteer, teacher, actor and director both independently and with national theater companies, Child's Play Touring Theater and Missoula Children's Theater Company.  She hopes to continue her work with kids in her next professional undertaking.  Cherie earned her BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she trained at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting and in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.  Cherie thanks her family and her chums for their undying support and encouragement.

Jason Kae returns to The 24 Hour Project for the second time as a director after directing Sean Miller's play With Kisses Like a Beetles Album for project #2. Jason has also participated in the project as a writer in project # 1 and has acted as producer and casting director for project #5 as well as the project you will see this evening. He has directed several new plays around town for new works festivals with such theater's as Bailiwick and Boxer Rebellion and directed the world premier of Spike Kunetz's play Ms. Cockadoodledoo & The Little Guy for the Martin De Maat New Works Festival this past fall. On stage Jason has been seen working with Writers' Theatre, Northlight, Chicago Shakespeare, and Defiant Theatre Company. Jason earned his B.F.A. in Acting from Millikin University.

This marks Brandy McClendon's third time writing for The 24 Hour Project. Previous projects yielded her plays St. Louis of Perpetual Hope (Project 1) and Possibilities (Project 5). A graduate of Southern Methodist University with a BFA in Theatre-Playwrighting, Brandy's full length play Jerusalem Syndrome received a reading at The Mckinney Ave Contemporary as well as a workshop production. Her piece Labor for a Souvenir was performed at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland at the Trinity New Plays Festival. On stage, Brandy has worked regionally with Utah Shakespearean Festival, Madison Repertory, Hope Summer Repertory, Cleveland Play House, Chicago Dramatists, and the Dallas Shakespeare Festival. She is the recipient of the Rosenfeld Award for Excellence in Playwriting and the Dallas/Fort Worth Critics' Award for Best Actress.

Ryan Smith obtained his M.A. in Theater Education from Emerson College in Boston and then relocated to Chicago. The 24 Hour Project thus far has been an evil laboratory for Ryan to hone his skills and help produce new works. He has been seen locally as “Witwoud” in Mom And Dad Productions’ The Way of the World and “Lawrence” in UT/PR’s For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls. Currently, he is directing Sean Ewert’s one-man show, Gary Stereo Raves On opening in March at Stage Left Theatre. When not on stage, Ryan works as a Mentor and Job Developer for Chicago area youth and enjoys spending time with his tap-dancing dog, Lotus.