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MATTHEW D. CARNEY (Director) is the newly appointed Artistic Director for Drury Lane. His journey at the theatre began in June of 2013. Over the last 13 years, he has served as the Associate Artistic Director, Casting Director (over 70 productions), Costume Designer, and Company Manager. Drury Lane Directing/Assistant Directing Credits include: A Christmas Carol, The 39 Steps, Steel Magnolias, Shrek, and Joseph…Dreamcoat. Proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and The Casting Society of America (CSA). Much love and gratitude to mom, dad, the Hammily, and Ryan.
JANE LANIER (Director) is so happy to be back at Drury Lane! She last Directed and Choreographed A CHORUS LINE, and previously choreographed CHICAGO (Jeff Award Nomination) and MAMMA MIA. Other recent credits include- Choreography: SPRING AWAKENING: Elon University, THE CHER SHOW: Ogunquit Playhouse and The Gateway Playhouse, EMMA and KING’S SPEECH: CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE. Director/Choreographer: PAJAMA GAME, A CHORUS LINE, ANYTHING GOES, CABARET, ELEGIES: FOR ANGELS, PUNKS, AND RAGING QUEENS, and HAIR: CCPA. Choreography: GUYS AND DOLLS: Broadway (Associate Choreographer), KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN: Musical Theatre Guild, LITTLE FISH: The Blank Theatre Co, WILD PARTY: The Blank Theatre Co (LA Weekly and Beverly Garland Awards, Ovation and NAACP Award Nominations), RING OF FIRE: La Mirada, Fullerton, AR Rep, and Denver Center, JOHNNY GUITAR: both Off-Broadway at The Century Theatre & at La Mirada, SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ and PIPPIN (Associate Choreographer): Fifth Ave Theatre Seattle, KISS ME KATE: Musical Theatre West, NIGHTINGALE: Vineyard Theatre NYC, the workshop of BIG ROSEMARY written and directed by Blake Edwards, and the short films NOT YOUR TIME starring Jason Alexander and SPELLS starring John Glover. Directing credits include, BAD DOG: by Jennifer Hoppe-House, starring Valerie Harper, Anne Ramsay, and Jennie Garth, THE CONEX: by Dan Fruedenburger, JUKEBOX, SOPHISTICATED BROADWAY, and SPIDERMAN TURN OFF THE DARK: Young Playwrights Festival – The Blank Theatre Co., SMELL OF THE KILL: Interact Theatre Co, OUT OF MY MIND: by Steven Kane, staged readings of HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, THE
SWAN, YESTERDAY QUICKSAND: Interact Theatre Co. and the independent short film TOUCH.
KENNY INGRAM (Choreographer)
E. FAYE BUTLER (Director) Excited to return to Drury Lane last seen in Chicago! as Mama Morton for which she received the Jeff Award. Supporting Actress Musical. Her career spans over 40 years performing and directing both musicals and plays nationally, internationally. After years of standing in front of the footlights she now enjoys passing forward all the pearls of wisdom given to her during her fruitful acting career. Directing credits include: One Mo’ Time Anacostia Playhouse, Marie and Rosetta Northlight Theatre which will transfer to Milwaukee Rep. (Fall 24’), The Wiz Fulton Theatre, The Color Purple Maine State Music Theatre, (Best Direction) BroadwayWorld, and Vickie Award, Goods Artemisia Theatre (nomination Best Direction Stream) BroadwayWorld, Ain’t Misbehavin Portland Stage, Beyond The Door Tender Touch productions (Fall24’), Ain’t Misbehavin Michigan Ensemble Theatre, Five Guys Named Moe Beverly Arts Center. E. Faye cultivates new works and directs solo performances, cabarets, staged readings. Recipient of nine Jeff, two Helen Hayes, Barrymore, After Dark, three Black Theatre Alliance, Ovation, R.A.M.I., Sarah Siddons, Excellence in Arts, Kathy, Rosetta LeNoire, Guy Atkins, Heller & Hover, two Black Excellence, E.P.I.C. awards. Accommodations Lunt-Fontanne Fellow, inducted into Women in The Arts Museum in Washington D.C., RPS Fine Arts Hall of Fine, Chicagoan of the Year, NewCity Stage Player. For upcoming projects www.e-fayebutler.com
CHUCK MEAD (Music Director) is best known as a founding member of the three time Grammy nominated, CMA Award winning 90’s country group BR5-49. He has also released four critically acclaimed solo albums, appeared on the Grand Ole Opry over 200 times, produced numerous records including an all-star tribute to Johnny Cash, written hundreds of songs, and toured the world extensively. Chuck was part of the original creative team acting as Music Director/Supervisor for the Chicago, Broadway, West End, Las Vegas, and National Tour productions of the Tony Award winning show “Million Dollar Quartet.” He was the Music Supervisor/Producer for the CMT television adaptation of MDQ, “Sun Records” as well as the Music Supervisor/Producer for the acclaimed film “Neon Highway” starring Beau Bridges in which he also made his acting debut. Chuck is a member of SAG/AFTRA, AFM, is currently developing new theater pieces and constantly on the honky tonk road.
LAUREN NICHOLS (Scenic Design) is a designer and model-maker native to Chicago. Credits include Dhaba on Devon and Hot Wing King (Writers); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, True West (Paramount); and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Milwaukee Rep). Other credits include designs for Olney Theatre, Court, Steppenwolf, Kentucky Opera, Village Theatre, Marriott, Remy Bumppo, Rivendell, Lifeline, Steep, Jackalope, Harper College, Shattered Globe, Renaissance Theaterworks, The Gift, Firebrand, Raven, and BoHo. In 2025, she received a Jeff award for her work with Teatro Vista. She is currently in her fifth year as an adjunct professor at The Theatre School-DePaul. MFA Northwestern. Member USA829. laurenangeldesigns.com
RACHEL BOYLAN (Costume Designer) is excited to be bopping back to Drury Lane for Buddy! Previous design credits include: The 39 Steps, Grease, Elf, and Forever Plaid. Other local credits include: Jersey Boys, Young Frankenstein, Pippin, Avenue Q, Mary Poppins, Shear Madness, I Left my Heart (Mercury Theater Chicago), Cinderella (Marriott Theatre), Anything Goes (Porchlight Music Theatre), and many more. In an industry where we all must wear many hats (pun intended) Rachel also works as the costume director at Chicago Opera Theater and as a costume design assistant/associate for many theaters around town. Please check out her work at rachelboylan.com. Rachel is a proud member of USA 829.
LEE FISKNESS (Lighting Design) returns to Drury Lane for his 19th show: recently Nunsense, Always Patsy Cline, DaVinci Code, Ain’t Misbehavin, Guy and Dolls. Chicago: Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Victory Gardens, The Marriott Theatre, The Court Theatre, Writers Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Lightscape (Chicago Botanical Garden). Regionally: The Old Globe, Alliance Theatre, Kennedy Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Mark Taper Forum, Cincinnati Playhouse, Milwaukee Repertory, Emerson Colonial Theatre, Merrimack Theatre, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Two River Theatre. Opera: Chicago Lyric, San Jose, Dallas, Portland, Kentucky, Colorado, Florentine. International: Jurassic World Exhibition (China), Marriage of Figaro (Japan), Movement Stories (Abu Dhabi). He has worked on the lighting teams for TV shows including: The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Rosie Show, The Steve Harvey Show, Fox Sports, Chicago Bears Network. Lee was the Lighting Director at The Santa Fe Opera where he worked for 18 seasons. www.leefiskness.com.
LELAND PLUMRIDGE (Sound Design)
EMILY SANTIAGO (Wig Design) is proud to be back at Drury Lane again! Previously having designed Guys & Dolls, Cinderella, and assisting on Always… Patsy Cline. This summer she has been a part of the wig team running Iceboy! at The Goodman. Recently she was the Supervisor Head of Wigs, Makeup and Prosthetics for the Second National Tour of Mrs.Doubtfire. Other favorite productions include Carmen, Magic Flute, Jenufa, Champion, and Aida from her many years as a Principal Wig and Makeup Artist at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is a member of IATSE476. Much love to her chihuahua Nutella.
CASSY SCHILLO (Properties Design) is thrilled to be with the Drury Lane family and honored to be a recipient of the 2019 Jeff award in Artistic Specialization for Properties design. Drury Lane credits include Nunsense, Father of the Bride, On Your Feet!, Sister Act, Dial M for Murder, Always Patsy Cline, The Da Vinci Code, Beautiful, The Little Mermaid, The Audience, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, Ring of Fire, The 39 Steps, Grease, A Chorus Line, Elf the Musical, Murder on the Orient Express, Steel Magnolias, R&H The King and I, Evita, Holiday Inn, Forever Plaid, An American in Paris, Mary Poppins, The Color Purple, And Then There Were None, Matilda, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, South Pacific, Joseph…, 42nd Street, Rock of Ages, The Gin Game, Chicago, Saturday Night Fever, Crazy for You, & Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Jeff Nominated for DL’s Deathtrap as well as First Folio’s Salvage and All Childish Things. BFA from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and training at Tisch School of the Arts. Founding member of To the Point, a theatrical combat troupe that specializes in sword fighting & storytelling. Gratitude and love to Rodion and my family for their eternal support.
J.C. CLEMENTZ (Casting Director) Director of Casting and Artistic Operations at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Broadway: Bug, Purpose, Little Bear Ridge Road, The Minutes, Linda Vista, Pass Over. Steppenwolf highlights include the world premieres of Downstate (also at National Theatre, UK, and Playwrights Horizons, Artios Award) and King James (also at Center Theatre Group and Manhattan Theatre Club). JC is also a theatre director and a proud member of SDC and the Casting Society. jcclementz.com
RITA VREELAND (Production Stage Manager) is delighted to return to Drury Lane after stage managing On Your Feet, The Little Mermaid, and several seasons of A Christmas Carol. Other favorites include productions at Rivendell Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Raven Theatre, Porchlight, Mercury Theatre, Northlight, Theatre at the Center, three years of The Polar Express Train Ride, the original Victory Gardens, and The Galway International Arts festival in Galway, Ireland. Rita has been a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association since 2001. Thank you for supporting live theatre!
ANDREA ENGER (Assistant Stage Manager) is delighted to be working with Drury Lane again after previously working on various productions such as Sister Act, Always… Patsy Cline, The Little Mermaid, and A Christmas Carol. Based in Chicago, some select credits include: Anything Goes, Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, Rent, and Spring Awakening at Porchlight Music Theatre, The Prodigal Daughter at Raven Theatre, Southern Gothic at Windy City Playhouse, and This Bitter Earth at About Face Theatre. Andrea holds a BA in theatre from Columbia College Chicago.
