History
When co-founders Cassandra and Cathlyn began Compass Creative Dramatics in the summer of 2012, they did so with the goal of providing programming that was accessible and affordable, allowing organizations and families to provide arts enrichment to their students despite funding cuts for activities across the board - and particularly, for programs in the arts.
Compass Creative Dramatics entered its first season of programming in June 2013, offering a week of summer camp in four locations. Cathlyn and Cassandra were dedicated not only to providing this programming in Chicago, but also to bringing theatre experiences back to the places where they had grown and learned as young actors. They therefore settled on offering two weeks of camp in the Chicago area and one week in each of their hometowns: Bedford, Indiana (Cassandra), and Sheboygan, Wisconsin (Cathlyn).
Since beginning with four weeks of summer camps in three states in 2013, Compass Creative Dramatics has grown to offer dozens of theatre experience across the country each year, from Florida to Kentucky to Michigan to Texas to Maine and the states in between. We are so pleased to be able to share our passion for education and for theatre with families and organizations across the United States.
Compass Creative Dramatics entered its first season of programming in June 2013, offering a week of summer camp in four locations. Cathlyn and Cassandra were dedicated not only to providing this programming in Chicago, but also to bringing theatre experiences back to the places where they had grown and learned as young actors. They therefore settled on offering two weeks of camp in the Chicago area and one week in each of their hometowns: Bedford, Indiana (Cassandra), and Sheboygan, Wisconsin (Cathlyn).
Since beginning with four weeks of summer camps in three states in 2013, Compass Creative Dramatics has grown to offer dozens of theatre experience across the country each year, from Florida to Kentucky to Michigan to Texas to Maine and the states in between. We are so pleased to be able to share our passion for education and for theatre with families and organizations across the United States.
Mission
Compass Creative Dramatics partners with school and community organizations to offer quirky, engaging theatre programming designed to provide arts enrichment and cultivate personal growth and character. We strive to provide these organizations an opportunity to enhance their current theatre education and life skills training as well as provide arts programming within schools and organizations with limited arts resources.
We encourage students to take creative risks and trust without self-judgment, stretching their creativity and bravery "muscles" as they develop social skills like teamwork, respect, and empathy through their exploration of theatre.
We encourage students to take creative risks and trust without self-judgment, stretching their creativity and bravery "muscles" as they develop social skills like teamwork, respect, and empathy through their exploration of theatre.
Core Administrative Team
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Cassandra Quinn
Co-Founder Executive Director She/her/hers (what's this?) Cassandra is a co-founder of Compass Creative Dramatics. Originally from Bedford, IN, she graduated from Huntington University with a BA in Theatre Performance and Sociology. Chicago credits include Space Wars: the Panto! at Piccolo Theatre, Devour with 20% Theatre and As You Like It with Spectralia Theatre. She has served as an actor, director, and educator for numerous educational theatres including Montana Shakespeare in the Schools, GreatWorks Touring Theatre Company, Imagination Theater, and CLIMB Theatre. Cassandra is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Theatre for Young Audience Division of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Theatre Association and is a proud member of International Performing Arts for Youth. www.cassandraquinn.com |
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Wyatt Kent
Artistic Director He/him/his (what's this?) Originally from Nebraska, Wyatt is a graduate of Arizona State University earning a Masters of Fine Arts in Directing. Past directing credits include Romeo, Juliet, et al. with The Chicago Fringe Festival, The Wild Party with Front/Slash, Julius Caesar with The Babes with Blades and assisting on Münsterspiel with The Plagiarists. Other experience includes working as a director, teacher, and actor with theatres across the country including Southwest Shakespeare Company, Stray Cat Theatre, American Blues Theatre Company, DogEar Productions, and others. Wyatt is a producer with Red Theater Chicago and a company member of The Conspirators. |
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A.J. Morrison
Education Director He/him/his (what's this?) Originally from Indiana, A.J. attended Anderson University where he performed in productions ranging from 18th century opera to 21st century theatre while pursuing a degree in music education. For nearly a decade, he has worked as an educator and performer teaching workshops, classes, and camps for music, acting, and musical theatre for various organizations including two years teaching music full-time with Indianapolis Public Schools and three years performing and writing educational programming for The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Now based in Chicago, A.J. looks forward to continuing his journey as Education Director with Compass Creative Dramatics. |
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Sydney Ray
Associate Education Director She/her/hers (what's this?) Sydney has been working in the Windy City since 2011 as an actor, educator and singer. She previously taught for five years with E.D.G.E. Theatre Company on their Constellation Projects, which gives musical theatre and acting opportunities to actors from marginalized and differently-abled communities. She is currently a Teacher’s Assistant with Chicago Public Schools, which puts her BFA in Musical Theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University into a surprising amount of good use. Learn more about her Chicago theatre adventures at sydneyray.wix/com/sydneyannray. |
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Jill Matel
Finance Manager She/her/her (what's this?) Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Jill has resided and worked in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years. She is an actor and Voice Over artist represented by Big Mouth Talent. Jill is also a company member with Great Works Theatre, a choreographer, teaching artist and yoga instructor in the city of Chicago and the Chicago suburbs. Check out her work at jillmatel.com. |
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Chad Bay
Art Director He/him/his (what's this?) Chad is a Chicago-based theatre artist, photographer and designer. As CCD's Art Director, Chad was instrumental in developing the company's brand and continues to help CCD grow with the artistic and administrative team. He is a self-taught photographer and graphic designer, constantly seeking out new partnerships which help him further his craft within Chicago's vibrant arts scene. He is an ensemble member with Midsommer Flight, an outdoor theatre committed to making Shakespeare’s plays readily available to audiences across Chicago. Since graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with a BA in Theatre Arts, he has produced and performed in plays in various storefronts, bars, classrooms and under the open sky. |
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Macy Hernandez
Social Media Manager She/her/hers (what's this?) Born and raised in the Chicagoland suburbs, Macy is an actor, early childhood educator, and teaching artist. She received her B.A. in Theatre Arts and Communication Studies at Augustana College ('13) and has continuously served the Quad City and Chicagoland theatre community as an actor, stage manager, designer, and teacher. In addition to being the social media manager at CCD, Macy is also the co-founder of her own company The Hourglass Collective. For more information on her company please visit www.hourglasscollective.com, and to discover more about Many visit www.macymariehernandez.com. |
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Audie Deinlein
Office Manager She/her/her (what's this?) Born and raised in Bloomington, IN, Audie stayed there to attend Indiana University for a degree in Musical Theatre. After graduating in 2018 she moved to Chicago to pursue art and education. Since Audie interned with CCD in the summer of 2017 she has choreographed 3 shows, toured, and become an administrator for this amazing team. As a theatre artist she has worked with Cardinal Stage Company, Indiana Festival Theatre, and Northbrook Park District focusing on TYA (theatre for young audiences). As an educator Audie has experience with infants all the way to adults, teaching dance and theatre to all ages! audiedeinlein.com |
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Johanna Jackson - Whitman
Programs Coordinator She/her/hers (what's this?) Johanna earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. She has been an active performer and educator with Music Theatre of Madison, Four Seasons Theatre, Brownville Village Theatre, Broadway at Panhandle, DalhArts, and other organizations across the country. In addition to the arts, Johanna is also passionate about community service and served with AmeriCorps for 2 years tutoring and mentoring children. |
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Sonia Goldberg
Sales & Marketing Coordinator She/her/hers (what's this?) Sonia is a proud Chicago native, and holds a BA in Theatre from the Jordan College of the Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis. She holds a certificate in classical acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) and has studied with the Moscow Art Theatre School. She toured with Compass as an Actor/Educator in Summer 2019, and is so happy to now be a part of the administrative team! Sonia is an artistic associate with PlayMakers Laboratory Theatre (formerly known as Barrel of Monkeys). She has had the pleasure of working with Chicago Children’s Theatre, About Face Youth Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Filament Theatre, Prop Thtr, Strawdog Theatre Company, Pride Films & Plays, GreatWorks, and Midsommer Flight. |
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Emma Noelle
Programs Associate She/her/hers (what's this?) Originally from Mundelein, IL, Emma Noelle has been working as an actress and teaching artist in the Chicagoland area for 2 years. She recently graduated cum laude in December 2018 from Florida Southern College Bachelor of Fine Arts. |
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Say hi to our SUPER TEAM! This picture was taken before rehearsals for our 2019 Fundraiser: Cinderella (Saves the World!) A.J.'s Superpower is invisibility, but luckily Wyatt was kind enough to hold his picture. Macy and Sonia are also not pictured as they were out on super-missions. You'll notice a couple of cameos from past Compass heroes, Andrew Clancey and Cathlyn Melvin!
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Artistic Director Emeritus
Cathlyn Melvin
Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus
She/her/hers (what's this?)
Cathlyn is a co-founder of Compass Creative Dramatics who served as Artistic Director from May 2012 through December 2019. She received her BA in Theatre Arts from UW-Parkside in Kenosha, WI with a focus in classical theatre and heightened language and worked in Milwaukee as an actor before relocating to Chicago in 2010.
While in Chicago, she discovered a passion for new work and adaptation, performing with storefront theatres around the city, including Chicago Dramatists, Lifeline Theatre, and Promethean Theatre Ensemble. She also served as an actor, puppeteer, talkback leader, adapter, director, and house manager for GreatWorks Theatre Company for seven years.
At Compass Creative Dramatics, Cathlyn wrote plays, music, social media posts, blogs, emails, sales copy, and almost all other written words. She hired and trained staff, developed curriculum and lesson plans, taught students from preschool on up, designed and built costumes and props, and perhaps most importantly, was in charge of feeding everyone at Compass events.
Cathlyn dreams of giving a TED talk and doing a sketch with The Muppets. She loves writing, baking, and cats and can be found documenting the cats in her life on instagram @borrowedcats.
Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus
She/her/hers (what's this?)
Cathlyn is a co-founder of Compass Creative Dramatics who served as Artistic Director from May 2012 through December 2019. She received her BA in Theatre Arts from UW-Parkside in Kenosha, WI with a focus in classical theatre and heightened language and worked in Milwaukee as an actor before relocating to Chicago in 2010.
While in Chicago, she discovered a passion for new work and adaptation, performing with storefront theatres around the city, including Chicago Dramatists, Lifeline Theatre, and Promethean Theatre Ensemble. She also served as an actor, puppeteer, talkback leader, adapter, director, and house manager for GreatWorks Theatre Company for seven years.
At Compass Creative Dramatics, Cathlyn wrote plays, music, social media posts, blogs, emails, sales copy, and almost all other written words. She hired and trained staff, developed curriculum and lesson plans, taught students from preschool on up, designed and built costumes and props, and perhaps most importantly, was in charge of feeding everyone at Compass events.
Cathlyn dreams of giving a TED talk and doing a sketch with The Muppets. She loves writing, baking, and cats and can be found documenting the cats in her life on instagram @borrowedcats.