COMPASS CREATIVE DRAMATICS

Twenty Questions with Social Media Manager, Macy Hernandez

2/21/2020

Welcome to our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Here, team members from administrators to designers to teachers answer questions about themselves. Have a question you want us to add to the list? Leave a comment!

About Macy

Macy Hernandez began her time with Compass in 2016 as the Education Apprentice, then transferred into the Camp Coordinator role (2017-18). She has also been Compass' workshop educator for the Waukegan Park District. She has not yet played a character from a Compass play, but would love to play The Queen in Peas and Harmony, which happens to be Macy's favorite Compass play! The show is based off of the beloved story, Princess and the Pea, which is a tale she used to read growing up. She says, "Compass’ version of the story is hilarious. All of the characters are laugh out loud funny in their own way. The Queen and The Peas are my favorite characters because they remind me of the dynamic I have with my preschool class! There’s also a cute dance party that the Peas have in the show and I giggle every time it happens; It’s so cute!".

Macy posing with Compass campers (Summer 2016)

#1 You’re stranded on a deserted island, but you have food and water. What are three things you’d want to have with you?

A blanket because I’m always cold. Plus, you can use the blanket for a variety of things like a bed, a fort, a pillow, you can create a bag out of it, and more! It’s just so useful.
My dog, Biggie. He’d be great company to have.
My bag of toiletries. I need and love to be clean!

#2 What teams did you belong to when you were growing up?

I was a very busy little girl. I was involved with community theaters like Fox Valley Theatre Company and Children’s Theatre of Elgin. I also used to be a figure skater. I skated from the ages of 6-15. If you let me borrow some ice skates, I could probably show you some cool tricks! In high school, I was on the Speech and Drama Team. I performed in many acting events; Humorous and Dramatic Duet Acting, Prose Reading, and Impromptu Speaking. I was also heavily involved in my school's drama department.

Macy performing as Charlotte in South Elgin High School's 2008 production of Charlotte's Web

#3 Soup or salad?

That’s tough because I love both any time of the year, but I’m more likely to have soups in the winter and salads in the summer! However, I can’t eat either without a side of warm bread.

#4 Cake or pie?

Pie. There’s some sentiment to that dessert. In college, my friends and I would go to a restaurant called The Village Inn (located mostly in the Quad City area). We’d specifically go on Wednesdays because they offer free pie on those days. Eating pie always reminds me of the good memories I had with my college friends!

#5 Top five favorite snacks:

(In no particular order)

Veggies and Hummus
Watermelon
Honeycrisp apples and peanut butter (or cookie butter)
Tortilla chips and guacamole
Goldfish

#6 What’s the practical skill in your life that you’re most proud of?

I can assemble furniture! Thank you to my college stagecraft class for teaching me how to use power tools and how to build stuff!

#7 What’s something you do to relax?

My go-to for relaxation is being under a warm blanket as I catch up on a TV show or a movie.
I also love working out and moving my body, whether that’s completing an at home workout, dancing, going for a run or a walk, or even stretching. Moving my body helps me destress and loosen up!

#8 What’s your favorite kind of cookie? How do you prefer to eat it?

Oatmeal chocolate chip is my favorite cookie! I prefer to eat it when it’s warm, crispy around the edges and perfectly gooey in the middle. Pair it with a warm cup of your favorite tea and it’s a winning combination.

#9 Describe your favorite mug.

It's a large white mug painted blue on the inside. The mug reads "Goal for today: Keep the tiny humans alive". As a preschool teacher, this quote fits well with my daily life.

#10 Why do you live in Chicago?

My parents immigrated to the U.S before I was born and we’ve stayed in the Chicagoland area ever since. I currently live in the Chicago suburbs, but I love where I’m at because I can do activities in the city AND the suburbs. There’s so much to do in Chicagoland. If food is your thing you can eat at so many great restaurants. If art is your thing, there are tons of places to see a show or visit a museum. If sports are your thing, we’re home to some of the greatest teams in the history of sports (GO BULLS!). And these are just a few of my favorite things. I’ve lived here for 28 years and there’s still plenty I have yet to explore! Honestly, no other city can compare. Chicago will ALWAYS be home.

#11 If you were going to live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be and why would you live there?

I’ve always wanted to live in California because the sun is always shining and the warm weather is nice. There’s also so many things to do and explore when you’re on the West Coast like the beach, going on a hike, visiting theme parks, restaurants, and more. My favorite place to be in California is the Griffith Observatory. I love how it overlooks Los Angeles while also allowing you to stargaze (my favorite activity). More importantly, I just love the vibe that the West Coast gives. It’s a state full of carefree, enthusiastic, goal-driven, hardworking, life-loving people.

#12 If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

I have a couple alternative careers in mind. One, I think I’d be a chef. I love the feeling you get when someone eats the food you’ve created and they rave about how delicious it tasted. Two, I'd love to be a hair stylist. I've always been told I was good at hair and I think I'd enjoy helping others feel confident about themselves after they leave a salon.

#13 What do you love about being an artist?

I’d like to think artists have a special super power. I love that we have the ability to find beauty in anything. I think having an artistic eye allows you to see the world in a different way. What’s even more beautiful is that we can take the art that we make and bring all kinds of people together.

Macy's dog, Biggie after a long walk in the park.

Macy's orange tabby cat, Memphis, caught yawning after being awaken from a nap!

#14 Tell us about your pet or your future pet.

I have two pets, Biggie and Memphis. Biggie is a 6 year old Maltipoo (Maltese & Poodle mix) who is happiest when he’s surrounded by people. Memphis is an orange tabby cat (we’re unsure of his age) who loves to eat, sleep, and knock things over with his paws.

Biggie came into my life in 2017. My cousin got him as a puppy when they lived in California. They eventually moved back to Chicago and realized they weren't able to take care of him. Instead of giving him to a shelter, I took Biggie in and the rest is history.

Memphis came into our lives in 2016. Funny story, my brother was living in Chicago at the time. He was getting in his car after work. He opened his car door and in jumps this orange cat. The cat sat in the back seat and refused to leave. My brother took him in the shelter to see if he had an owner. He didn’t. So, we adopted Memphis and he’s been with us ever since!

#15 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings attached?

First, I would cry happy tears. Then I’d:

Pay off all of my debt
Buy my childhood home
Travel the world with my friends and family
Buy multiple homes in multiple cities
Go shopping to expand my clothing collection

#16 Tell us about your favorite non-artist job.

I used to work for American Eagle Outfitters. While most dislike working in retail, I actually enjoyed my retail experience. Each day was different than the last. One day I could be selling jeans, the next day I could be running the cash registers, and the next I could be creating visually appealing merchandise displays. I enjoyed the fast-paced work environment. What I loved most about this job was that I loved being able to style customers and bring out confidence in them they didn’t know they had! The discounts for the clothes weren’t half bad either :)

Macy showing off a favorite outfit she styled together from American Eagle Outfitters (2014).

#17 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?

Washing the dishes. I grew up only washing dishes with my hands because my parents have always told me:

Using a dishwasher wastes water
A dishwasher doesn’t clean your dishes as well as by hand

They are from the Philippines so culturally it’s just common to wash by hand and this is a custom I just naturally picked up. Anyway, washing dishes by hand makes my hands really dry and I also hate the feeling of putting my hands in dirty dishwater. Yuck.

(fun fact: My first time using a dishwasher was in 2018. It was amazing and fast, but it just didn’t feel right to use. Ha! )

#18 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?

I love performance day (Friday)! It’s a day where all the things we’ve been working on are being put together. I love being able to see how much the students have grown since the beginning of the process and showcasing their hard work to their number one fans!

#19 What’s your favorite kids’ movie?

The Princess Diaries. I will never get tired of this movie! Or anything by Disney, honestly!

#20 What’s your biggest moment of 2019?

Biggest moment of 2019 was starting my own theatre company in the Chicago suburbs! I am a Co-Founder of The Hourglass Collective. The Hourglass Collective is a theatrical organization devoted to forging diverse onstage opportunities for minority voices by way of non-traditional casting and producing works spanning various genres. We strive to create a unique space where the often overlooked can entertain, inspire, and empower the members of our community.

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Our Home is Your Home: Offering 20 Free Spots in Our Summer Performance Program to Affected Emerald City Theatre Camp Families

2/14/2020

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Students performing in a Compass production of The Wizard of Oz

Back in January, the Chicago community lost a vital force in the Theatre for Young Audiences and Theatre Education communities. We’re still reeling from the news of Emerald City Children’s Theatre closing its doors. When the news first was announced Compass posted an open letter on our blog sharing how heartbroken we were, but also how grateful we continue to be for Emerald City’s performers, teaching artists, and staff, for paving the way for children to discover theatre. But we couldn’t shake a certain feeling...isn’t there something, anything, more we could be doing?

Reflecting on all Emerald City Children’s Theatre did to enrich the Chicago community made us think: local children’s theatres can hope to help to fill the enormous shoes they’ve left behind - but how? How can we show that we are in their corner, that we care about the continuation of top-notch educational programs, and to show those families they are not alone? That safe spaces to grow and learn are still accessible? How to ensure the loss of Emerald City doesn’t have to be just a loss, but an opportunity for others of us in the community to meet the needs of those students and families and allow that ripple to continue to radiate through children’s theatres across the city?

We feel we have a social responsibility to help in some way beyond well-wishing. We want to commit ourselves to easing the transition for the families who have been enjoying Emerald City’s educational programs for years on end. I asked our team to put our heads together. We took stock of our resources, and made a bold decision.

Compass Co-Founder, Cathlyn, teaching Compass students a scene

Compass is dedicating 20 free spots in our summer performance camps this year across our two sessions at St. James Lutheran School (Lincoln Park) and Pritzker Elementary (Wicker Park/Bucktown) to the families who had already registered for ECT 2020 camps. These spots have not been sponsored, grant-funded, or otherwise underwritten. However, I realized this fiscal commitment to waive fees for up to 20 spots could help clear the some of the barriers families are now facing as they are seeking alternative programming options.

If those 20 spots become filled and there are more families needing spots who reach out, we’ve made a further commitment to offer an unlimited number of 50% discounts to others who may also have registered for ECT 2020 Camps. Lastly, we’ve decided to extend this 50% discount to previous ETC campers who may not have yet registered for 2020 camps but who’ll be affected that ETC is no longer able to provide programming to them.

All we need is a receipt that reflects previous registration to ECT. From there, once registration for our summer camp session has been completed, they’ll be on their way to a week-long program culminating in a full-fledged performance once completing, acting alongside two professional Chicago actors! Although this is a difficult time, we are excited to connect with new young actors and keep their love of theatre thriving!

While we will be doing our part by offering free programming to some of the Chicago families affected by the Emerald City closure, we acknowledge we can’t fill the entire gap left behind. Compass Creative Dramatics does not offer professional Theatre for Young Audiences like Emerald City did, our entire focus is on educational programming. Because our primary focus is touring our programming across the country, we don’t offer an entire summer of classes in Chicago as Emerald City families are used to, but we do have a couple of weeks to offer. And we don’t have a venue of our own, but we are proud to partner with local schools that can fully accommodate our program. While we know we can’t meet every need, we are willing, able, and proud to be able to give away this programming to those young ones who need a new artistic home this summer.

Compass students expressing the joy in friendship during their time at our performance camp.

I personally know how important having a community, a clan to call your own and how theatre can be that for many people. As a child who never thrived in athletics, had an inclination towards the creative, and was blessed with the gift of gab (while certainly not requirement to be a successful theatre artist) I didn’t find my community and feel like I understood my place in the world until I joined drama club in my school.

The cornerstone of the Compass teaching philosophy is teaching by example and so it is my hope that we’ve made a decision that allows us to support the community that has done so much for us and for me personally and inspires that type of community support to continue ripple out from here.

-Cassandra and the whole Compass team

The Details of How to Join Us This Summer:

We invite new students to come stretch their creativity and bravery muscles with us this summer at our two performance camps of our latest superhero adaptation, Cinderella (Saves the World!). Details about these camps can be found on our Chicago Camp page here.

For former Emerald City Families interested in Compass Creative Dramatics this summer can email camps@ccdramatics.com with a copy of their receipt for 2020 Camps to receive a coupon code for a free dedicated spot (for the first 20 students) or a copy of their receipt from previous participation in 2018 or 2019 to receive a 50% coupon code.

Please give our program coordinator 48 hours time to respond to these requests. Once you’ve received your code, you’ll have 72 hours to complete registration before the code expires and the spot becomes available for another student.

For folks interested in Compass camps who are not former ETC students, there’s still time to take advantage of our early bird rates and register for our Chicago camps before February 28th, when early bird ends!

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Twenty Questions with Finance Manager, Jill Matel

2/7/2020

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About Jill

Jill and Sonia being silly at the Compass office! They are wearing the kitten costumes from Cinderella (Saves the World!).

Jill has played many roles at Compass. She has played The Queen of Hearts, The Jester King, Major Oak, Dr. Hypothesis, and Liam the Lackey. Her favorite Compass play is Alice in Wonderland because she played a fun character, The Queen of Hearts!

Jill's Twenty Questions

The music group, "New Kids on the Block". L-R: Joe McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood, Jonathan Knight and Jordan Knight in 1989. Photograph: Andre Csillag/Rex Shutterstock

#1 What was your favorite music group in middle school?

New Kids on the Block

#2 Villain or hero?

Villain

#3 Morning person or nightowl?

Nightowl

#4 What’s a piece of advice someone gave to you, that’s stuck with you?

Do what you love and the money will follow.

#5 What’s a book that’s stuck with you?

The Time Traveler’s Wife

#6 Top five favorite snacks:

Movie Theater Popcorn
Merkts Cheese on Pretzel Thins
Yasso Greek Yogurt Frozen Bars
Haribo Twin Snakes
Microwaved Apples with Cinnamon Sugar

#7 What’s something you do to relax?

I like to cross stitch and knit.

#8 Describe a teacher you looked up to as a child.

His name is Mr Burnacki. He could teach history as if telling a story. He was a retired swimmer and the only male teacher I had until High School.

#9 What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago in the winter?

I love shoveling and curling up by the fire after.

#10 Why do you live in Chicago?

I am obsessed with the history here. I wish I could go back to the 1920s and experience what it was like. Walking around the older buildings is magical.

#11 If you were going to live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be and why would you live there?

I would love to live in London. When I traveled around Europe in High School it always seemed so sophisticated. Also the theater there is awesome!

The London skyline.

#12 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings?

I would buy a building that would act as a meeting/networking/performance/rehearsal space for actors.

#13 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?

I would forever avoid cleaning the bathroom.

#14 What’s a moment that you felt proud of the work you do at Compass?

I was able to convince a very nervous child to stick with the program. By the end of the week, not only had she enjoyed the week visibly but she was so grateful she took my advice.

(This is one of the many reasons why you're awesome, Jill! Thank you for all that you do on the administrative team and the difference you make with your students!)

#15 What are the best three things about you?

I am loyal, hard working and scrappy.

#16 How do you like to spend a rainy day?

Reading a book or watching horror movies!

#17 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?

I love Tuesdays. It is great to see the kids get excited about their roles.

#18 What’s your favorite holiday? How do you celebrate it?

Christmas is my favorite! I start watching movies, listening to music and prepping for the season on November 1st (don’t judge). I do wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving to decorate but I am in the spirit as soon as Halloween is over. There is a tree and lights all over my home. The Nutcracker MUST be seen. Other must dos are: Christkindlemart, Zoo Lights, Macy’s Windows, Egg Nog (sometimes made from scratch), Breakfast with Santa and my Nieces, Trees at the Museum of Science and Industry and lots and lots of Lifetime/Netflix/Hallmark movies.

Please note: Halloween is a close second. I love to dress up and handout candy on the Boulevard.

#19 Tell us all of the towns you’ve lived in.

Greenfield, WI
Charleroi, Belgium
Lake Forest, IL
Chicago, IL
Riverside, IL
Milwaukee, WI

#20 What's the practical skill in your life that you're most proud of?

I can mend, sew, and do alterations!

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Twenty Questions with Office Manager, Audie Deinlein

1/31/2020

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About Audie

In addition to being the current Office Manager, Audie Deinlein has also been a touring educator with Compass, playing Bagheera the Panther in The Jungle Book. Her favorite Compass Creative Dramatics play is Cinderella because she loves that theatre can include science! "I am a big proponent of STEAM in school systems and am excited by the next generation of kids, specifically womxn, to be involved in all aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math!," Audie says.

Audie's Twenty Questions

#1 What would be the title of your autobiography?

Positively Unsure: A story of self-acceptance in a confusing world

#2 Soup or salad?

Soup

#3 Morning person or nightowl?

Morning person, for sure

#4 Suggest a musical that kids should check out:

Come From Away*

*Parental Advisory from Compass: This musical contains adult language! It is the true story of a small town of heroes on September 11th, 2001, and it's full of great lessons of community and humanity.

#5 What’s a piece of advice someone gave to you, that’s stuck with you?

You have to take care of yourself before you can care for someone else.

#6 Top five favorite snacks:

Currently, in no particular order:

Mushroom edamame spring rolls from Trader Joe’s
Honeycrisp apples
Crackers and cheese
Trail mix with cranberries and chocolate
Ants on a log

#7 What’s the practical skill in your life that you’re most proud of?

I am not perfect at it, but I am able to mend and hem most of my own clothing. I have also fully sewn a pair of pants and a dress for myself that I still wear!

#8 What’s something you do to relax?

If I’m really stressed out I will lay on my acupuncture mat with my salt lamp and essential oil diffuser on!

#9 What’s your favorite kind of cookie? How do you prefer to eat it?

I love oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! When I bake them, I eat them when they’re still warm but I break them in half and eat it from the inside out.

#10 Describe your favorite mug.

My favorite mug is a tall off-white ceramic mug with a giraffe that is wearing a flower crown and colorful scarf!

#11 If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

A family/marital counselor or a workout instructor!

#12 What do you love about being an artist?

Titling yourself an artist is like saying you are a human being. Artists are so multifaceted and I believe that everyone is an artist in their own way. I focus on musicals but I also express my art in writing, baking, organizing, and so many other mediums. To me, I love being an artist because it’s the most beautiful lense to live life through.

#13 What does your morning routine look like?

It depends on the day. Some days I have to be up by 4:45 AM, some days I’m not up until 8:00 AM! The days where I have more time I typically wake up an hour or so before I need to leave the house, feed my cat, make coffee, and listen to some calm music while I put on makeup or pick out my outfit. Then I pack my bag for the day, pour my coffee in a to-go mug, tell my cat I love her and that I’ll be home later, and head out for the day!

#14 Tell us about your pet or your future pet.

TRIXIE! Trixie is my beautiful cat, she is a 3.5 year old diluted calico. Kylie (my partner) and I adopted Trixie right when we moved to Chicago and we can’t imagine our lives without her. She is the perfect amount of cuddles and independence.

Trixie snugglin' with her momma Audie!

#15 Describe your dream vacation.

My dream vacation destination would be somewhere with mountains and great hiking trails but still has water to swim!

#16 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?

Hand-washing dishes! I moved into an apartment that has a dishwasher, and let me tell you, it’s a HUGE game changer!

#17 How do you like to spend a rainy day?

I like to curl up with my cat and a hot cup of coffee with the window open enough to hear the rain. Usually, I will end up putting on a romantic comedy too!

#18 What’s your biggest moment of 2019?

I quit my first full-time job to pursue my passions!

(YOU GO, GIRL!)

#19 Why do you live in Chicago?

I live in Chicago because the opportunities are endless. Regardless of where my next passion takes me, I know I can cultivate it in this city.

#20 Tell us about your role model.

My role model is definitely my mom. She is one of the strongest, most outspoken women I know. She taught me to speak my mind, stand up for myself, and not care too much of what other people think. I’m still working on that last one, though :)

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Twenty Questions with Programs Coordinator, Johanna Jackson-Whitman

1/24/2020

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About Johanna

Johanna in costume as Auntie Em in Compass' The Wizard of Oz

Johanna has been in many Compass productions. She played Ember in Peter Pan, Glinda/Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz, Valentin in The Jumping Jacks and the Beanstalk. We asked her what her favorite Compass play is and why. She said, "Peter Pan is my favorite because of the significance it has played in my life and my history with Compass. I played Tiger Lily when I was a kid and I love getting to “revisit” her by playing Ember in the Compass version. I also love teaching kids the adorable dance moves to the crocodiles’ song!".

Johanna (Valentin) teaching the Lackeys in Portland for The Jumping Jacks and the Beanstalk

Johanna's Twenty Questions

#1 What was your favorite music group in middle school?

The Backstreet Boys! They were my favorite then and remain my favorite now!

Click here to jam out to one of Johanna's many favorite Backstreet Boys tunes!

#2 Soup or salad?

Salad!

#3 Villain or hero?

Villain!

#4 Cake or pie?

Pie!

#5 Morning person or night owl?

Nightowl!

#6 Suggest a musical that kids should check out:

Oklahoma! The musical that started all musicals! It is an absolute classic and a blast to perform in. Plus, there’s square dancing!

#7 What’s a book that’s stuck with you?

Anne of Green Gables! She’s smart, imaginative, humble, loyal and outgoing. She loves her friends and family with fiery passion. I wanted to grow up to be a writer who lived by a “lake of shining waters” because of Anne. I still try to emulate her as an adult!

#8 Top five favorite snacks:

5. Tortilla or Pretzel chips and dips (salsa, hummus, guacamole)!
4. Almonds!
3. Broccoli florets!
2. Ice Cream!
1. Anything with chocolate!

Wyatt (Compass' Artistic Director) and Johanna enjoying treats from their favorite drive in restaurant in West Union, Iowa.

#9 What’s something you do to relax?

Bubble baths and books!

#10 Describe your favorite mug.

My favorite mug is the one that has coffee in it!

#11 What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago in the winter?
Christkindlmarket! It is so cozy and magical!

#12 Why do you live in Chicago?

I visited Chicago a few times as a kid and fell in love! I always knew I wanted to move here as an adult and eventually I did! It has the hustle and bustle of a big city, but still feels like a community. The theatre scene is plentiful, but also close knit. It is quickly becoming home for me.

#13 Tell us about your pet or your future pet. Share a photo, if you have one!

Puck is a large orange and white cat! He loves people, talking (meowing), crinkly items, cuddling, and bedtime! He has also been known to hop into a bubble bath with me from time to time. He’ll gladly jump through your arms for a treat! Here’s a picture of Puck!

Puck is looking mighty cute!

#14 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?

Laundry! It’s never-ending!

#15 Tell us three things you remember about kindergarten.

1. My teacher was very sweet, energetic, and imaginative!
2. Sitting on the colorful rug for story time!
3. Music class was fun! The music teacher would use a fancy device made of wire to draw perfect lines on the chalkboard and create a “staff.”

#16 How do you like to spend a rainy day?

If I’m feeling indoors-y, I like to light a candle, snuggle under a blanket and read a book. If I am feeling outdoorsy, I like to put on my rain boots, go for a walk, listen to music, and splash in puddles!

#17 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?

I love Fridays! Costume fittings and makeup is so much fun! Watching the show finally come together, sharing our hard work with an audience, and the look of pride on each student’s face after the performance is truly magical.

#18 What’s your favorite kids’ movie?

The Princess Diaries! It’s my feel good movie and I know all the lines!

#19 What’s something about you that some people might consider a weakness, but is really a strength?

I can be a very emotional person. I have found, over time, that this just means I care a great deal and empathize with others’ feelings. There is great strength in vulnerability.

#20 Tell us all of the towns you’ve lived in.

Oh, boy. This is a long one:
Winfield, KS
Ft. Wayne, IN
St.Louis, MO
Texhoma, OK
Liberal, KS
Greeley, CO
Casper, WY
Tulsa, OK
Cisco, TX
Stevens Point, WI
Brownville, NE
Madison, WI
Chicago, IL

(That's a long and impressive list, Johanna. Do YOU have a longer one? Let us know in the comments. We'd love to read them!)

BONUS Question! What is your 2020 New Year Resolution?

1. To write at least one play and submit it to a theatre or festival.
2. Take a dance class! I would particularly like to get back into tap or ballet.
3. Learn guitar to accompany myself while singing.

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Twenty Questions with Assistant Education Director, Sydney Ray

1/17/2020

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Welcome to our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Here, team members from administrators to designers to teachers answer questions about themselves. Have a question you want us to add to the list? Leave a comment!

About Sydney

Sydney posing as Lyle with her fellow Lackeys at Compass's adult fundraiser production of "The Jumping Jacks and the Beanstalk."

Before joining the Compass administrative team, Sydney has played a number of roles in numerous Compass Creative Dramatics plays such as Lyle the Lackey, Coppertwist the Sprite, Princess Rose, and Kerry the Grandfolk. Sydney's favorite Compass play is Jumping Jacks and the Beanstalk. She absolutely adores Mr. O and the dancing cows! She loves the timing and the humor of the whole show.

Sydney's Twenty Questions

#1 What teams did you belong to when you were growing up?

I was a kid that didn’t stick to a whole lot of activities when I was growing up. I had a year of ballet, a few years of softball. In Junior High I played Volleyball and Basketball for my school, but there were so few girls that if I didn’t play it would be extra difficult for there to be a team. I played the flute from probably 4th grade until Senior year in High School, where I played in the Symphonic Band, did Flag Corp in Marching band, was in choir and swing choir. High School is where my love of theatre started to flourish.

#2 Soup or salad?
I definitely eat more salads than I do soups. I love all of the toppings you can throw on there and make it interesting or to fit your mood.

#3 Villain or hero?
Villains are far more interesting to watch and analyze. Some of my favorite characters are villains - I love all of the quirky, strange villains on “Gotham”, but Batman is my favorite comic book-turned cartoon/movie/TV Show. I’ll watch nearly any Batman-themed entertainment through.

#4 Morning person or nightowl?
Is midmorning to mid afternoon person an option? I love sleep, so whenever possible, I’ll get between 8 - 10 hours. I enjoy being awake when the sun is up.

#5 Mountains or beaches?

I didn’t initially come to Chicago for the incredible lake views or skyline, but I’ve really come to love them. Being from Lincoln, NE, which is very flat and very landlocked, having water nearby has been really lovely. So at the moment, I’m going to choose beaches.

#6 Suggest a straight play that kids should check out:

I just saw “Dog Man: The Musical”. (Cheating her a bit since it's a musical and not a straight play!) I listened to the music and it’s super fun, although sometimes a little strange. I’ve never read the books, and I am thinking that maybe I need to.

#7 What’s a piece of advice someone gave to you, that’s stuck with you?

My Great Aunt Bernie told me told catch my dreams and don’t let them go while looking out a car window about to take off, I can still see her face and her body language in the moment she told me that.

#8 What’s a book that’s stuck with you?
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I remember the delight of reading this story. I also love Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

#9 Top five favorite snacks:

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups from Trader Joe’s
Baby Tomatoes
Trail Mix
Pretzels
Chicken in a Biscuit Crackers

#10 Describe your favorite mug.
I have a few. One is painted by my grandmother on my dad’s side that I newly acquired at this past Christmas from my mom. Another is a rather small mug that has a picture of a geometric rooster on the side of it that I imagine was used by my grandpa on my mom’s side. Another is a dark blue mug with Mt. Rushmore on either side from a vacation my family took. My favorite travel mug is one that my brother Jack gave me with the Wonder Woman symbol on the side. I also have a dream that I will repurpose all of my broken mugs as succulent planters. This dream, though within reach, has yet to come to fruition.

#11 If you were going to live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be and why would you live there?

I would probably be in Lincoln, NE because that’s where most of my family lives.

#12 What’s your favorite fairytale? Why?
My favorite adaptation of the Cinderella story is an Algonquin Indian folklore called The Rough-Face Girl. I loved the pictures, the focus on internal beauty and the perception of the world that the young girl in the story has.

#13 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings?

I would travel a lot and eat all at all of the very best restaurants.

#14 Tell us about your favorite non-artist job.
I was the Cane’s Love Coordinator at Raising Cane’s in Lincoln, NE where I got to show appreciation for the staff and figure out reasons to celebrate at work. It was a super enjoyable gig just trying to add more fun and cheer into a restaurant that really cared about it’s employees, and my managers were super awesome to work with.

#15 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?

If my bathroom could be magically clean 100% of the time, that would be awesome.

#16 How do you like to spend a rainy day?

I enjoy spending rainy days being indoors, either reading, doing yoga, singing or sleeping.

#17 What’s your favorite holiday? How do you celebrate it?

I love Halloween. I love seeing everyone’s costumes, and I loved taking my younger siblings trick-or-treating. I grew up in Nebraska where cinnamon rolls and chili are a thing, and we always had this as a meal on Halloween.

#18 What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a country singer, backup singer or a nurse.

#19 What’s your favorite kids’ movie?

My favorite movies with kids in them are “Adventures in Babysitting” and “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead”. As for movies whose primary audience is children, my current favorites are the Toy Story series, Tarzan and Frozen II. My favorite movies as a child included Pooh’s Grand Adventure, Barney’s Great Adventure and The Adventures of Scamper the Penguin. I’m literally just realizing that all of my favorite movies as a kid had “adventure” in the title.

#20 What’s your biggest moment of 2019?

My biggest moment of 2019 is shared with my now husband - we got married in July!

Sydney and her husband on their wedding day. Aww! ❤️

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Twenty Questions with Education Director, A.J. Morrison

1/10/2020

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Welcome to our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Here, team members from administrators to designers to teachers answer questions about themselves. Have a question you want us to add to the list? Leave a comment!

About A.J.

Before joining the Compass team as Education Director, A.J. has toured with us as Scruffy in Beauty and the Beast. His favorite Compass play is Cinderella, but really enjoys the music in Jungle Book. A.J. is familiarizing himself with most of the Compass plays.

A.J. and his tour partner, Kelsey, on tour for Compass Creative Dramatics' "Beauty and the Beast".

#1 What's the best gift someone gave you when you were a kid?

Charlie McCarthy ventriloquist doll replica for Christmas in 5th grade. I did not ask for it, but I had become enthralled by the “Night of the Living Dummie” books in the Goosbumps series by RL Stine. My dad took note and I ended up with the doll on Christmas morning. This led to my first endeavor into performing as well as writing. I spent hours at the public library with stacks of joke books finding ways to work jokes into routines that I would perform for my classmates. I was lucky to have a teacher who gave me 5-10 minutes out of his schedule to perform.

#2 What was your favorite music group in middle school?
Sugar Ray

#3 What teams did you belong to when you were growing up?
I was a competitive distance runner for Cross Country and Track. I also was involved in Drama Club, Speech/Forensics Team (competitive speaking and acting), Choir, Band, Student Council.

#4 Soup or salad?

Salad. Shaken, not tossed.

#5 Villain or hero?
Villain. Heros are so commonly one dimentional.

#6 Cake or pie?
Rich, dense, dark, choclatey cake, please.

#7 Mountains or beaches?
Mountains if I have to choose. But can they be oceanside mountains in Costa Rica, please?

#8 Top five favorite snacks:

Oreos, Mr. Goodbar, Puppy Chow, Brownies, Chocolatechip Cookies

#9 What’s the practical skill in your life that you’re most proud of?
I keep a meticulous personal budget. I geek out over budgeting best practices.

#10 What’s something you do to relax?
Tap dance.

#11 If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

A carpenter or some other vocational/trade work. I enjoy creative work and designing and building useful, beautiful things is quite enjoyable for me.

#12 Tell us about your pet or your future pet. Share a photo, if you have one!

They used to be my pets, but we still visit from time to time. Meet Fig (grey) and Marcel (orange). Siblings adopted from a foster/adoption agency in Indianpolis called ReTails. Fig was always sassy and silly. Marcel was my best bud and always made sure I was well groomed (see other photo)

Look at these fur babies! □

This photo is adorably "PURR-fect"!

#13 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings?
Start a theatre company whose sole core mission was performing for young audiences. Idianapolis would be a good candidate as far as location goes.

#14 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?
Ironing. No matter how long you take… there is always going to be a wrinkle. 😡

#15 Tell us three things you remember about kindergarten.

The rainbow napmat my mom made me for naptime.
Taking naps on my rinbow napmat.
The generic nursery-rhyme/song record the teacher would play every day durring naptime.

#16 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?
Wednesday. It is the first day the full cast is on stage together. I love the student castmembers’ faces light up as they hear the jokes for the first time and start puting together the flow of the show.

#17 What’s a product or service that you love so much, you would happily be their spokesperson? What’s so great about it?
You Need A Budget (or just YNAB, for busy people). In fact, I have genuinly considered trying to work for them in the past. It is a simple tool that does exactly what I need without being bogged down by dozens of fancy features. Ask me about it sometime, I’m happy to tell you more. :-)

#18 What’s your favorite kids’ movie?
Hook! I think the acting is just great. Especially the kids.
A Goofy Movie is high on my list as well.

#19 What’s something about you that some people might consider a weakness, but is really a strength?
I often get cought up thinking about the process and details of many things which can cause otherwise simple tasks take me a long time to complete.

#20 Tell us all of the towns you’ve lived in.
Salt Lake City, UT
Perry, IA
Carbon Hill, IL
Mazon, IL
Wabash, IN
Indianapolis, IN
Chicago, IL

Keep an eye out for more from our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Questions vary a bit each interview, so if you have a question you want us to add to the list, leave a comment!

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A Love Letter to Emerald City Children's Theatre

1/4/2020

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Emerald City Children’s Theatre is the largest theatre arts education program in Chicago. And two weeks ago, they announced they will be closing their doors at the end of January.

We’re heartbroken.

We’re heartbroken for the Chicago Public Schools students and teachers who will miss out on Emerald City’s “One Fund,” the organization’s literacy program.

We’re heartbroken for the families and children who won’t get to experience the beautiful productions they might have seen at Emerald City.

Emerald City Children's Theatre's final production, "Corduroy," closes tomorrow. || Photo: Austin D. Oie

We’re heartbroken for the teaching artists, performers, and administrators who have thought of Emerald City Children’s Theatre as an artistic home throughout its 24 years in operation.

We’re also grateful.

We’re grateful to the founders, to all of the administrators from 1996 up to 2020, to the performers and to the teaching artists and to every member of the Emerald City Children’s Theatre family that brightened a child’s day, opened a child’s eyes, or paved a child’s path.

We’re so grateful to Emerald City for the work they’ve done, the attitudes they’ve shaped, and the future they’ve made possible for children and for children’s theatre.

Through their Chicago theatre camps, productions, classes, and community engagement programs, Emerald City Children’s Theatre serves over 60,000 students every. single. year. The loss of this organization is a great one. It’s a loss that will continue to ripple through students, parents, teachers, teaching artists, performers, administrators, and community members long after the doors close.

Emerald City was founded by Karen and Alyn Cardarelli in 1996, the same year I performed in my first community theatre production at Theatre for Young Audiences in Sheboygan, WI. I was ten years old. I had no idea that “Theatre for Young Audiences” was a whole movement, not just the name of our local children’s theatre. I had no idea that in Chicago, two amazing people had just birthed a company that would help to shape my life and my career.

Even before Cassandra and I moved to Chicago in 2010, Emerald City was on both of our lists of teams we’d love to be part of. They had a reputation for producing great theatre that respected the intelligent minds and artistic hearts of children. Their cleanly-designed, brightly-colored, and lively-patterned sets, props, and costumes demonstrated a high production value. Their attention to artistic detail showed that their team cared about the experience of their young audiences just as much as Steppenwolf, The Goodman, and Lookingglass did their adult counterparts.

In 2013, Emerald City Children’s Theatre made national headlines when under the Artistic Direction of Ernie Nolan they opened the first Theatre for the Very Young (TVY) venue in the United States. The short, “creative play” performances given in the new “Little Theatre” allowed kids ages 0-4 to experience the magic of theatre free from the restraints of a traditional play in a traditional theatre setting—no hushing or staying trapped in a seat necessary. The creation of this special space is just one example of how Emerald City Children’s Theatre has forged the way for theatre arts education in Chicago and across the United States.

The Little Theatre, as pictured in the 2013 American Theatre write-up. || Photo: Nate Estenson

As Cassandra and I have built Compass Creative Dramatics and developed our summer theatre camp programming, we’ve been fortunate to do so within the Chicago children’s theatre community--a community that would not be as vibrant or as well-rounded without the last 24 years of Emerald City’s cornerstone organization. We’ve trained teaching artists who have gone to work with Emerald City as well as the other way around, and we’ve worked as performers and administrators alongside members of the Emerald City administration over the nearly ten years we’ve lived in Chicago.

In fact, the very first staged reading I was part of when I moved here back in 2010 was directed by Jacqueline Stone, who at the time was the Emerald City Children’s Theatre Education Director.

Two years later, Jacque directed Cassandra and Chad Bay (Compass Creative Dramatics Art Director) in a production at 20% Theatre Chicago.

She went on to become Emerald City’s Artistic Director in February 2016.

Jacqueline Stone with her Associate Artistic Director Jamal Howard || Photo: Austin D. Oie

Cassandra and I are hurting for the Emerald City administrative team. We know what it is to pour your heart and your energy (and, honestly, sometimes your tears) into an organization, and we can imagine the devastation of closing your doors. Of knowing that it is children who are being left behind.

We know how life-altering children’s theatre work can be. Participating in children’s theatre as a preteen and a teenager gave me my “safe space.” And during our time offering theatre camps at Compass Creative Dramatics, we’ve been approached by so many students and parents who share their struggles and their gratitude for this programming.

As co-founders ourselves, we feel especially for Karen and Alyn Cardarelli, whose dedication and determination brought Emerald City Children’s Theatre to life. Without their vision and determination, Emerald City could not have grown to serve so many students across the 24 years they have been producing plays, hosting theatre camps, and teaching classes in Chicago.

Emerald City’s winter theatre camp finished up yesterday. Their final production, Corduroy, closes tomorrow, Sunday, January 5th. Our hearts are with the Emerald City team today and over the next few weeks as they wrap up the great work they’ve accomplished.

To the Emerald City team, both past and present: thank you. Thank you for your bravery, your tenacity, and your dedication. Thank you for your warmth and for the growth you’ve enabled in the Chicago children’s theatre community.

We will do our best to work together with the other Chicago children’s theatres to fill the enormous shoes you’ve left behind.

Because the work you did, and the people you served, and the greatness you achieved—they matter.

Thank you for everything.

- Cathlyn, Cassandra, and the whole Compass family

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Twenty Questions with Artistic Director Wyatt Kent

1/3/2020

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Welcome to our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Here, team members from administrators to designers to teachers answer questions about themselves. Have a question you want us to add to the list? Leave a comment!

About Wyatt

Before joining the administrative team as Artistic Director, Wyatt Kent toured with us as Uncle Henry and The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Orvendellis in The Jumping Jacks & The Beanstalk, and Starkey the Pirate in Peter Pan. He's delighted by the dancing cows in The Jumping Jacks & The Beanstalk (really, who wouldn't be?!) and says that right now, Jacks is probably his favorite Compass play.

Wyatt and his tour partner Jill with whale skeletons at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, MA!

Wyatt's Twenty Questions

#1 What kinds of teams did you belong to when you were growing up?
I was trotted along in a number of youth sport leagues when I was elementary aged (soccer, basketball, baseball) but none of it really stuck. By the time I was out of high school I wished it had. I really enjoy recreational team sports, it turns out! In high school I did lots of non-athletic activities but being a part of the speech team was my biggest priority. "Duo" (basically a two-person, 10-minute play) and poetry were my main events.

#2 Soup or salad?
At home, soup. In a restaurant, usually salad.

#3 What's one play that kids should check out:
Where Have All The Lightning Bugs Gone? by Louis E. Catron. It was a play that my mom introduced me to when I was young, I think she did it in high school. It is a one act play that for some reason stuck with me for a long time.

#4 Top five favorite snacks:
Cheez-its
Chips and fresh guacamole
Potato chips of all sorts
A really good apple
Snack stick from Gene’s Sausage Shop

#5 Villain or hero?
As much as I want to be cool and say villain, hero.

#6 What’s something you do to relax?
I enjoy playing board games! (and enjoy figuring out the rules to board games almost as much . . .)

#7 What’s your favorite kind of cookie? How do you prefer to eat it?
If I had to choose one, ginger snaps. Just eat them!

#8 What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago in the winter?
Complain about "dibs" with friends.
. . .
No, in seriousness I love walking around busy areas during the holiday season. I enjoy the hustle and bustle (as long as I’m not trying to actually accomplish something) as well as the lights of the city. Chicago at night can be really special.

#9 Why do you live in Chicago?
The theatre is the short answer! The longer answer is: I like being within a day’s drive of my family and I think Chicago is a comfortable place to live. I love exploring and I have yet to run out of new things to see and experience.

#10 Tell us about your pet.
Perry the Rescue Terrier! He’s a darling dog full of personality that my girlfriend got as a senior dog from PAWS. It’s been great to watch him grow less and less fearful as he has had a stable environment over the last year. He even likes to play with other dogs now!

Oh my goodness, y'all. Look at Perry.

#11 What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars, no strings?
I’d like to design out a dream theatre space and use the money to establish a resident company.*

*Usually, theatre companies hire different artists for each show they do. They might work with the same actor, designer, or other artist a bunch of times over the years, but they hire the artists for one show at a time, or a couple of shows at a time. Usually. With a resident company, the theatre uses (mostly) the same artists throughout all of their shows. That doesn't necessarily mean that there are parts for all of the resident actors in every show, but usually the shows get picked specifically for certain members of the resident acting company. Resident companies used to be pretty popular, but they're expensive to maintain, so they're pretty rare now.

#12 What’s the household chore that you would avoid forever if you could?
Taking out the trash is fine. You know what I hate doing? Putting a new trash bag in after you take the old one out. I have no idea why, I just don’t like it.

#13 How do you like to spend a rainy day?
Avoiding getting wet. I hate having wet feet and no matter what, I always feel unprepared for it. A rainy day where I have nothing to do and nowhere to go is great, but they never seem to get scheduled that way.

#14 Morning person or nightowl?
Night, but for certain kind of projects I’ve found sleeping on it and resolving things in the morning to work well for me.

#15 What’s your favorite day of the week when you are teaching a performance residency?
I really like Tuesdays. They are frenetic but structured, everyone gets to be introduced to what their piece of the play is going to look like, and I love getting to know all the actors again in the context of their character groups.

Wyatt and his tour partner Cathlyn practice their game faces for the Dock Spiders minor league baseball game they attended in Fon Du Lac, WI

#16 What’s your favorite holiday? How do you celebrate it?
I like New Year’s Eve. I haven’t always done the best job of it, but I like to try to either be in a new place or do some sort of new event to ring in the New Year. I think it is fun to be a part of the celebration in a new city. People are in a good mood, and the next day is usually sleepy and relaxed.

#17 What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was young I wanted to be a teacher! I really enjoyed school and told my teachers that I wanted to work in the school when I grew up.

#18 Cake or pie?
Pie!

#19 What’s your favorite kids’ movie?
The Iron Giant. Does that count as a kids’ movie? (note: we think so!) It’s just a beautiful movie with an incredibly heartfelt message. I cry pretty much every time.

#20 Tell us all of the towns you’ve lived in.
Orlando, FL; Auburn, NE; Scottsbluff, NE; Ogallala, NE; Columbus, NE; Lincoln, NE; Tempe, AZ; and Chicago, IL.

Keep an eye out for more from our TWENTY QUESTIONS series. Questions vary a bit each interview, so if you have a question you want us to add to the list, leave a comment!

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Introducing The Barbara Kenyon Creativity & Bravery Scholarship

12/20/2019

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This year, for my birthday, I want to introduce you to someone.

Donate to the Barbara Kenyon Scholarship Here

My penpal sent this to me.

From the time I was old enough to write a letter, I had a dedicated penpal.

She. was. the. coolest.

She lived in San Diego, right near the ocean. She loved animals and science. She had beautiful, loopy cursive writing that was hard to read and made me squint and it danced with phrases like “your good newsy note,” “a wreath and my little tree,” and the shortened “tho’.”

She was my Great Aunt Barbara.

Aunt Barbara and I exchanged letters a few times a year. I sent her school photos and she sent me newspaper clippings about the pandas at The San Diego Zoo. When I began doing theatre in sixth grade, she started sending me clippings about acting, too: children’s theatre productions, the local professional theatre scene, and the struggles of union actors in the small San Diego market.

In the late 2000’s my Aunt Marji gave Great Aunt Barbara an “email machine,” but mostly Barbara and I continued to write.

One of Aunt Barbara's letters, remembering the birthday skis in her loopy cursive writing.

In her letters, she always told me how proud she was of the work I was doing in theatre and made sure I knew she enjoyed hearing from me. “I’ve just reread your letters from June on,” she wrote one December, “You write great letters!”

She never missed sending me a birthday card, always with a long “newsy” note, and often including a memory of my birthday in the early 1990s that we spent together. “I’ll always remember the year I was in Sheboygan for the big event, and you were getting your first skis. You had to get out and try them on right that moment. Such fun!”

Cathlyn opens her skis. That's Auntie Barbara over on the right.

In the letter that accompanied my 2010 birthday card, she noted that there would be a total lunar eclipse on my birthday—"quite a celebration!”

She was quite a lady.

When Aunt Barbara passed away in 2012, her generosity enabled me to begin Compass Creative Dramatics with Cassandra. Barbara's legacy has allowed us to serve thousands of children across the United States.

Aunt Barbara would have been so proud of the work we’ve accomplished. She valued education—she received her bachelor’s degree in 1939 when only 3 women out of 100 graduated from college, and she went on to get a teaching certificate, too.

She worked in Washington, DC throughout World War II. Later, after she had returned to California, she worked with two different school districts and then with underserved teens, assisting them with job placement. When that program ended in 1971, she again turned her attention to serving children: this time, by organizing an outpatient clinic for kids with serious diseases.

She was a fantastic lady.

During her lifetime, she changed the world around her. I like to think that through her gift to me after her death, she continues to do so.

To that end, I’m honored to announce our official new scholarship:

The Barbara Kenyon Creativity & Bravery Scholarship

Throughout our time with Compass Creative Dramatics, we've made it a personal mission to not let any child's family finances get in the way of participating in theatre camp. Every summer, kids in Bedford, IN, Sheboygan County, WI, and Chicago attend camp for free because that's important to me and Cassandra. We want all kids to have the opportunity to stretch their creativity and bravery muscles through theatre if they want to.

Auntie Barbara would have wanted it that way, too.

I hope you’ll help support my Aunt Barbara’s dedication to children and education by making a pledge to help a child attend theatre camp.

Click here for donation details

$300 sends a child to camp for a week

$60 covers one day of a child's theatre camp

$20 sponsors their camp t-shirt, and

Any amount makes a difference

As I move on from Compass Creative Dramatics this month, my heart is warmed knowing that Aunt Barbara and I will both remain a part of the Compass family, continuing to stretch kids' creativity and bravery muscles, even from a distance.

Thank you.

With so much love for all of our Compass family, including you--

Donate now

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