Dan Desmond

Board President

Dan Desmond (Board president) is an electrical engineer working in product research & development at Rogers Park-based S&C Electric Company. For over 5 years, he's been developing technologies and products that improve the resiliency and adaptability of the electrical power grid. Since March of 2014, Dan has been a member of the Underscore Theatre Company Board of Directors, and has been serving as Board President since January of 2017. A four-year member of the Northwestern University Marching Band (trumpet), and a veteran of his high school's scintillating productions of (among others) Guys & Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Dan and founding member Brendan Siegfried have been close friends since the seventh grade. Dan is dedicated to setting intelligent and achievable goals for growth of the business, while as President ensures that all of the Board's efforts are hyper-focused on the company's mission. Dan lives in Chicago and is an avid Northwestern sports fan, urban cyclist, and golfer.

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Whitney Rhodes

Artistic Director

Whitney Rhodes (Artistic Director) came to the Chicago by way of Nebraska, Io- wa, New York, and Minneapolis. A graduate of Drake with degrees in Acting and Advertising, she is a per- former, producer, director, educator, writer and administrator. Offstage highlights include the Chief Operating Officer of Mixed Blood Theatre, Man- ager of Hennepin Theatre Trust's Spotlight Program and Director of Strategic Operations of Arts ink. She wrote the book of For Tonight, a mu- sical that was developed at NYMF, Goodspeed, New York Theatre Barn and recently its premiere at the Queensbury in Houston. Her favorite roles include: She Loves Me (Amalia), DalekoArts; The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Jewel), Old Log Theatre; The Full Monty (Joanie), Theater Latté Da; Ragtime (Ensemble), Park Square Theatre.

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Rachel Elise Johnson

Executive Director

Rachel Elise Johnson (Executive Director) is an actor, director, and singer. In her time with Underscore she has co-directed Carrie 2: The Rage with Isaac Loomer and assistant directed My Name is Annie King with Alex Higgen-Houser. As Executive Director for Underscore, Rachel acts as the Festival Manager for the Chicago Musical Theater Festival and co-producer of the Tiny Storefront Concerts. In her time in Chicago she acted in several plays and musicals throughout the Chicago-land area, including her roles as the Sour Kangaroo in Suessical (Big Noise Theater Company) and Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Dessert (JPAC). Rachel lives in Chicago, actively dances with The Luna Troop, and is a math professor at Harry S Truman College and DePaul University.

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Isaac Loomer

Producing Artistic Director

Isaac Loomer (Producing Artistic Director) has been a proud member of Underscore Theatre for a few years now. Originally from Minnesota he got his degree in theater performance. During his time With the company has already grown so much and he’s excited to be there as it continues to grow. Having worked with several theater companies throughout the Chicagoland area he feels Underscore theater company not only fills an important role in the tapestry of Chicago theater but is also one of the most fun and collaborative places to work.

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Solana Oliver

Company Manager

Solana Oliver (Company Manager) is fairly new to the Chicago Theatre scene. She is an emerging director, producer, and Arts administrator with experience and knowledge in almost all aspects of the theatre world - a proud jack of all trades. She is currently earning a BFA in Theatre Management at The Theatre School at DePaul University, with minors in both Business Administration, and Management. She has been a part of ZACH Theatre in her hometown of Austin, TX as well as Moxie Theatre in San Diego, CA. Her love of new works and musical theatre led her to Underscore Theatre Company to be a part of the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival and she has been in love with the company ever since.

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Sophia Sinsheimer

Casting Director

Sophia is a director, playwright, and intimacy director from Berkeley, CA. She received her B.A. from Northwestern University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with majors in theatre and Gender & Sexuality Studies. Sophia regularly directs the Tiny Storefront Concert Series with Underscore Theatre. She also directed Adventurers for the 2020 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, and has assistant-directed at Big Noise Theatre, Chicago Fringe Opera, and Lookingglass Theatre. Outside of theatre, Sophia can be found running a small marketing and digital media business, taking pictures of interesting flowers, going on long walks, and cosplaying anime characters for her 50K followers on TikTok.

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Ray Gaytan

Finance Manager

Raymond Gaytan (Finance Manager) is a native of Toledo, Ohio and recently made his way to Chicago to embark on a new chapter in life. Raymond has spent the past 13 years working in various corporate accounting and finance roles and is excited to bring his numbers expertise, passion for the arts, and self-acclaimed meme/gif game to the Underscore team. In addition to his career pursuits, Raymond has spent several years volunteering his time to advocate for LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace, including garnering corporate executive support to publicly endorse the Equality Act; implementing LGBTQ-inclusive policies to secure a perfect score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for five consecutive years; coordinating inclusion training with LGBTQ+ community partners; and producing a storytelling video series that highlighted the experiences of LGBTQ+ people, their parents, and allies. In his free time, Raymond enjoys perfecting his baking skills, reading anything related to legal history and social justice, and exploring the city with his 10-year-old yorkiepoo, Jonah.

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Allison Heinz

Literary Manager

Allison is thrilled to be joining Underscore Theatre Company for their 2019/2020 season! She graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in Musical Theatre and Communications Studies. Since graduating, she worked as a touring actor, director, educator, and sound designer in Florida, Mississippi and all over the New England area. She eventually settled into Chicago where she has had the pleasure to direct for the 2018 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, 2nd Story, Pride Films and Plays, and 20% Theatre Company. Outside of theatre, she is a certified pilates instructor and an avid baker!

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Katy Campbell

Marketing Director

Katy Campbell (Marketing Director) is a Chicago actor, singer and combatant. She came to Underscore after taking part in the staged reading of Notes & Letters at CMTF 4 and hasn’t left since. She’s been recently seen on the stage as New Girl in The Facts of Life: Satan’s School for Girls (Hell in a Handbag), Geraldine in The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (Underscore), Melpomene in Xanadu, Rose in Caroline, or Change and Daisy in Make Me Bad (Columbia College Chicago). In her free time, she runs, bikes, reads and daydreams about the mountains she grew up with in Colorado.

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David Marden

Audience Services Manager

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Alex-Higgin-Houser

Outreach Director

Alex Higgin-Houser (Outreach Director) is a playwright, lyricist, and director. Working with his frequent collaborators David Kornfeld, Laura Stratford, and Brendan Siegfried, Alex has written 6 full-length musicals, including Haymarket (2016 Jeff Award Nomination for Best New Musical), The 57th National Mathlete Sum-it (2017 official NYMF selection, published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide in 2018), Grounds: a Fresh-Brewed Musical (2017 Actors Training Company workshop, 2010 midwest tour), Spa Fire: The Children of the 1% (Abbiefest official selection, commissioned by Ex-Pat Theatricals), Pr0ne (Underscore world-premiere 2013, CMTF workshop production 2015), and Liberal Arts: The Musical (Underscore world-premiere 2012, collegiate premiere 2009). As co-Artistic Director for Underscore, Alex co-founded the Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, and has produced or co-produced 65 new musicals. Alex lives in Chicago with his wife Francesca, their dog Ragueneau, and their cats Portia, Balthazar, and d'Artagnan.

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Aaron Roberts

Literary Intern

Aaron Jamieson Roberts is a Director and Writer who is thrilled to join Understudy’s Literary department. Aaron recently moved to Chicago after running away to the circus (twice) serving as Director in Residence for Circus Culture in Ithaca NY. Outside of that ring, Aaron has worked with regional theaters developing radically local theatre with a global outlook. A longtime devotee of the musical theatre tradition, his previous directing credits include: Titanic, Company, Can Can, Assassins, and Pippin.

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