Sarah Ruhl (Playwright, she/her) is an award-winning American playwright, author, essayist, and professor. Her plays include The Oldest Boy, Dear Elizabeth, Stage Kiss, In the Next Room, or the vibrator play (Pulitzer Prize finalist, 2010); The Clean House (Pulitzer Prize finalist, 2005; Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, 2004); Passion Play (Pen American Award, Fourth Freedom Forum Playwriting Award from the Kennedy Center); Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play); Melancholy Play; Demeter in the City (nine NAACP Image Award nominations); Scenes From Court Life; How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday; Eurydice; Orlando; and Late: a cowboy song. Her plays have been produced on Broadway and across the country as well as internationally, and translated into fourteen languages. Originally from Chicago, Ms. Ruhl received her M.F.A. from Brown University, where she studied with Paula Vogel. She is the recipient of a Helen Merrill Emerging Playwrights Award, a Whiting Writers’ Award, a PEN Center Award for mid-career playwrights, a Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award, and a Lilly award. She is a member of 13P and New Dramatists and won the MacArthur Fellowship in 2006. She teaches at Yale School of Drama and lives in Brooklyn with her family. (Official Headshot by Greg Constanzo)

Polly Noonan (Director, she/her) is an actor and director, best known for her acting work originating roles in the plays of Sarah Ruhl. An Evanston native, Polly trained with Byrne and Joyce Piven at the Piven Theatre Workshop and is a proud alumni member of the Piven Young People’s Company. She has performed locally with the New Criminals, at Piven, the Goodman, and Steppenwolf; and regionally at Woolly Mammoth and Arena Stage in D. C. and at the Women’s Project and Lincoln Center in New York City. As a director, she helmed the premiere of Carrie Luft’s Goodbye Stranger at Steppenwolf, directed the Chicago premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical, at Piven Theatre Workshop, and assistant directed the premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Letters from Max at Signature Theatre in New York. At the Poetry Foundation, she directed the reading of Sarah Ruhl’s Dear Elizabeth. She attended Vassar and the Art Institute and has an MFA in directing from Brooklyn College. Also look for Polly in unexpected places, like the Lemonheads album cover and video of It’s a Shame About Ray and at the end of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Jack Magaw** (Scenic Designer) returns to Shattered Globe having previously designed scenery for London Road and Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday among others. Recent Chicago and regional credits include East Texas Hot Links (Court Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof (Drury Lane Theatre), the world premiere of Relentless (TimeLine Theatre and Goodman Theatre), Nina Simone: Four Women (South Coast Rep), Mary’s Wedding and I and You (Peninsula Players), Waitress (Cape Playhouse), Tick Tick Boom (Bucks County Playhouse), the world premiere of How to Break (Village Theatre) and Porgy and Bess (Musical Theatre Heritage). Jack is an Adjunct Professor of Design at The Theatre School at DePaul University and resides in Chicago. www.jackmagaw.com

Jessie Gowens (Costume Designer, she/her) is a Chicago Costume Designer and Wardrobe Supervisor. She has been working as the Resident Wardrobe Supervisor at DePaul University’s Theater School and designing around the city for the last six years. Most recently she worked on Three Sisters, and Network at Invictus Theatre. One of her favorite works was A View From The Bridge, at Shattered Globe Theatre. Most notable was her work on The Crucible at Invictus Theatre and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde with Idle Muse Theater, where her costume designs were Non-Equity Jeff Award Nominated. Other design work includes Skunk and Badger, and Extra Yarn at Lifeline Theatre.

Christine Binder** (Lighting Designer, she/her) is a Chicago-based lighting designer who has worked in theatre, opera, and dance for over 30 years. In theatre, she has designed lighting for Writer’s Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, The Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Geva Theatre Company among many others.  She is an Artistic Associate with the Lookingglass Theatre Company.  Her opera designs include work with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theatre, San Francisco Opera, Tulsa Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, New York City Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival in Japan, and Teatro dell ‘Opera di Roma.  She has been nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award several times as well as the Suzy Bass award in Atlanta, and is the recipient of the Dora Award for Best Lighting Design for the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Eugene Onegin. She is the Head of Lighting Design for The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Mariah Bennett (Props Designer, she/her) is a Texas native with a BFA from University of North Texas and a Masters of Design from Rhode Island School of Design. She gave up her life as an architect to pursue her current career in the realm of film and theater. As a properties designer, she's had the pleasure of working with Chicago Opera, Definition Theater,  Haven Chicago, Congo Square, Filament Theater, Third Rail, APTP,  Refracted Theater, The Gift, Gilbert & Sullivan, and Northlight Theater. 

Andre Pluess** (Sound Designer, he/him) Broadway credits include Good Night Oscar (Belasco), The Minutes (Cort/Studio 54); 33 Variations (Eugene O’Neill Theatre); I Am My Own Wife (Lyceum Theatre) and Metamorphoses (Circle in the Square). Off-Broadway credits include The Clean House (Lincoln Center); Milk Like Sugar and BFE (Playwrights Horizons). Regional credits include multiple productions with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Yale Repertory, Arena Stage, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Court Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Williamstown Theatre Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, The Huntington and South Coast Repertory.  Based in Chicago, he is an ensemble member of Lookingglass Theatre Company.

Eva Breneman (Dialect Coach, she/her) Eva Breneman (Dialect Coach) is delighted to be back at Shattered Globe. Previous SGT credits include Five Mile Lake, The Heat of the Night, and Orpheus Descending. CHICAGO: Primary Trust, Toni Stone (Goodman); Dear Elizabeth (Remy Bumppo); The Last Match (Writers Theatre); Fen (Court Theatre); Murder on the Orient Express (Drury Lane); The Chinese Lady (Timeline); Songs for Nobodies (Northlight). BROADWAY: Airline Highway (Samuel Friedman Theatre). OFF-BROADWAY: Boswell. (59E59). REGIONAL: The Chinese Lady (Denver Center); Ten Seasons at American Repertory Theater; Dial M for Murder, Much Ado About Nothing (Milwaukee Repertory Theater); Love’s Labour’s Lost (Actor’s Theatre of Louisville); Around The World In 80 Days (Center Stage/Kansas City Repertory Theatre). TOUR: The Woman in Black, Mamma Mia! (National Tour/Las Vegas). EDUCATION: MA, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama; BFA, NYU. Ms. Breneman is an associate artist at TimeLine Theatre Company.

Gaby Labotka (Intimacy & Fight Director, she/they/anything respectful) is a Puerto Rican-American, multi-disciplinary artist who works as an actor, director, intimacy director, fight director, playwright, and choreographer across the country. This is her third production with Shattered Globe having served as the Intimacy and Fight Director for both A View from the Bridge and This Wide Night. They are a fierce advocate for respect, empathy, representation, inclusion, and safety in the theatre, and they are dedicated to making art that reflects those values. Selected Recent Credits include: Directors Haven 7: Skyflint (Part 1) (Haven Chicago, Director); Mothers (The Gift, Intimacy & Violence Director); Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon (Lookingglass, Intimacy Director); The Writer, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (Steep Theatre, Intimacy & Fight Director); Revenge Song (Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Assistant Director & Assistant Fight Director); La Ruta (Steppenwolf, Fight Director); and  Paradise Square (Broadway, Intimacy Director). Training: Intimacy Directors & Coordinators, Society of American Fight Directors, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), Pig Iron Advanced Performer Training, Illinois State University (BA, Acting and Directing with Exceptional Merit in the Arts). www.gabylabotka.com  @theatre_warrior

Tina M. Jach*+ (Production Stage Manager, she/her) is excited to be returning as an ensemble member of Shattered Globe Theatre. Her SGT credits include: London Road, Stew, Rasheeda Speaking, This Wide Night, Sheepdog; Be Here Now; Crime And Punishment; How to Use a Knife and Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday; Other Chicago credits include Four Places (Den Theatre); The Father (Remy Bumppo Theatre); Fade (Teatro Vista & Victory Gardens Theater), Hand To God, The Gospel of Lovingkindness, Eurydice, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Anna in the Tropics, and Knock me a Kiss (Highlights at Victory Gardens Theater), Confessions of a P. I. M. P. (Grippo Stage Company, Inc.), Race (Goodman Theatre).  Ms. Jach holds an MFA in Stage Management from Rutgers University and is a proud member of AEA.

Julie Jachym* (Production Manager she/they) is a Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, and Production Manager based in Chicago. Julie has worked with many theatres in the Chicagoland area, including Steppenwolf Theatre, Teatro Vista, Definition Theatre, Writers Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Congo Square Theatre, Filament Theatre, Steep Theatre, American Blues Theater, The Goodman Theatre, UIC Theatre, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Sideshow Theater Company, and others. They received their BA in Theatre at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In her spare time, Julie likes taking care of her plants, reading books, and hanging out with her cat, Marinara. Julie is a Definition Theatre Ensemble Member and is currently working with Teatro Vista as their resident Production Consultant and Coordinator and is the resident Production Manager at Artemisia Theatre.

Mack Finklea (Asst. Stage Manager) is a stage manager and director who has been based in Chicago since 2020 after graduating with a BFA in Directing from the Webster Conservatory for Theatre Arts. Some recent stage management credits include The Polar Express (Rail Events Inc.), Toddler Hiking Club (Kerfuffle), The Tempest, Dracula, Heroes of the Fourth Turning, Lyle Lyle Crocodile (Wirtz Center), Not Not Not Not Not Enough Oxygen (Haven Chicago) and Arabia, Arabia! (The Plagiarists). https://www.pcrf.net/

Anika Splettstoeszer(Costume Assistant) is a Chicago-based Costume Designer. She is currently in her final year as a Costume Design BFA at DePaul University’s Theatre School. Most recently she has worked on IS GOD IS, with The Healy Theatre. Additionally, she has assisted on productions of A WRINKLE IN TIME, and GOOD GRIEF at the Theatre School, and Network with Invictus Theatre Company. Other design work includes costume coordination for NITTI'S SUPPER CLUB at Harry Caray's.

David Moreland (Technical Director, he/him)It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Ronald Hale (Asst. Technical Director, he/him)It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Trenton Jones (Scenic Charge, he/him/his) is a Scenic Designer and Artist based in Chicago, IL. DESIGN: When All of This is Over (Glass Apple Theatre), NHSI Summer Theater Arts Program. CHARGE ARTIST: Natasha, Piere, and the Great Comet of 1812, The Hot Wing King, Eurydice, A Distinct Society, Once (Writers Theatre), Holiday Spirits (Theater Wit), Andy Warhol’s Tomato (Buffalo Theater Ensemble). He has also worked on immersive theatre projects such as A Drama in Roger’s Park (Young Krones) and Port of Entry (Albany Park Theatre Project). He received his BFA in Scene Design from DePaul University in 2021. TrentonJonesDesign.com

Ellie Fey (Lead Electrician, she/her) is a 23-year-old lighting designer and electrician. She graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University in 2023 with a BFA in lighting design. Ellie’s design credits include Fizz and Ginger (Chicago Fringe Opera), The Cottage (Citadel Theatre), Prelude to a Kiss (Theater Above the Law), Sentinels (CPA Theatricals), and Witch (The Artistic Home), for which she received a Non-Equity Jeff Award nomination. You can check out her portfolio at www.elliemfeydesigns.com. 

Sandy Shinner+ (Producing Artistic Director, she/her) joined Shattered Globe Theatre in October 2013 as the theatre’s first Producing Artistic Director. Her SGT directing credits include Deborah Zoe Laufer’s Be Here Now, Will Snider’s How to Use a Knife, Scott McPherson’s Marvin’s Room, and Sally Nemeth’s Mill Fire. The former Associate Artistic Director of Victory Gardens Theater, she created the nationally known IGNITION! Festival, served as co-director of the Access Project, and, with former Artistic Director Dennis Zacek and former Managing Director Marcelle McVay, accepted the 2001 Regional Theater Tony Award on behalf of Victory Gardens. She has directed over 85 plays at theaters including Victory Gardens, Remy Bumppo, American Blues, the University of Virginia, Actors Theater of Louisville’s Humana Festival, Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory of New Work, New York’s 78th Street Theater Lab, and the Sacramento Theater Company, among others. Her production of Trying by Joanna McClelland Glass transferred to New York, and her direction was nominated for the Joe A. Callaway Award. Shinner received the 2013 Kathryn V. Lamkey Spirit Award from the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of Actors’ Equity Association for her commitment to diversity and non-traditional casting. She has been recognized as one of “50 Top Players” by Newcity and a “Chicagoan of the Year” by the Chicago Tribune. She is an adjunct professor at DePaul’s Theatre School, and an Ambassador for the National New Play Network.

AmBer D. Montgomery+ (Associate Artistic Director, she/her) is an emerging director, educator and multi-disciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. She has created a career centered around amplifying the voices of Chicago youth and creating work that stands on the legacy of black theater makers before her. Originally trained as an actor, her transition to directing in Chicago has including her associate and assistant directing credits for many major productions including School Girls or the African Mean Girls Play (Goodman Theatre), Sheepdog (Shattered Globe Theatre), LINDIWE (Steppenwolf Theatre), Too Heavy for Your Pocket (TimeLine Theatre), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Writers Theatre), Measure for Measure (American Players Theater) and First Love is the Revolution (Steep Theatre). Her other director’s credits include: *upcoming: Snow Queen (The House Theater), Countess Dracula (Otherworld Theater) and hippolytos (Story Theater New Play Festival). She was awarded 2020 FAIR Assistantship at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2018 Fellowship at Steppenwolf Theater in their Department of Education/SYA and an internship at Penumbra Theater’s Summer Institute: Pedagogies for Social Change. She has attended training programs at the Globe Theater in London and LISPA (Now Arthaus Berlin). Amber holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program.

Lesley Swanson (General Manager, she/her) brings over 12 years of experience in Arts Management and Arts Education. Swanson has planned and executed productions in the non-profit sector for television, theater, and orchestra. She has also directed schools of dance, drama, and music. Swanson earned a MM in flute performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and a BM from Grand Valley State University. She owns a private studio in the City of Chicago where she teaches flute students of all ages. Active in Chicago’s new music scene, her dynamic flute playing can be heard with the Chicago Composers Orchestra. Swanson has proven herself to be a powerful advocate for women’s rights. As an arts leader, she is committed to continuing education. She recently completed Enrich Chicago’s training Building a Culture of Anti-Racism.

Nate Santana*+^ (Artistic Producer, he/him) Nate joined Shattered Globe as an Ensemble Member in 2018. For three years, he taught and directed the Protege Program at SGT as well as produced and oversaw the inaugural Global Playwriting Series (GPS), which received over 150 submissions in its first year. Theatre credits include: Marvin’s Room (Shattered Globe Theatre); Ironbound (Raven Theatre) The Thanksgiving Play (Steppenwolf); Legend of Georgia McBride, Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley (Northlight); Frankenstein, Sense and Sensibility (Indiana Repertory Theatre); SS! Romeo and Juliet, SS! Twelfth Night (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Balm in Gilead, Golden Boy (Griffin Theatre); The Abuelas, White Tie Ball, Momma’s Boyz (Teatro Vista); The Rainmaker (BoHo Theatre); References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (Phoenix Theatre Indianapolis) What Happened When, Slipping (the side project). Television credits include Chicago Med, Chicago PD, Suits, and The Exorcist. Nate is also an Ensemble Member with Teatro Vista. He studied at the School at Steppenwolf, The Moscow Art Theatre, and received his BA from Valparaiso University.

Julia Farrell Diefenbach (Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, she/her) is the Director of Marketing and Community Engagement for Shattered Globe Theatre and the Managing and Marketing Director for Artemisia Theatre, Chicago's Feminist Theatre. She previously served as the Director of Marketing and Social Media for Haven Chicago and as the Associate Artistic Director of The Halogen Company, an award-winning immersive theatre company in Los Angeles. A graduate of Columbia College of Chicago with a degree in directing and a minor in stage combat, Julia has collaborated with numerous Chicago theatres, including Victory Gardens, Collaboraction, Broken Nose Theatre, Citadel Theatre, and Firebrand Theatre. Certified as an Intimacy Captain by the ICC, she also freelances as a director and dramaturg, bringing her expertise to a variety of theatrical projects. juliafarrell.net