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Annabelle Revak is a composer, music director, arranger, and pianist. Cabaret: Antithesis (The Understudy); Keeper of the Keys (Davenport’s), TSCS (The Understudy). Arrangements/Orchestrations: Take Me (Strawdog Theatre); Wife Material (Underscore Theatre); Make Me Bad (Columbia College Chicago). MD: The Last Five Years (JPAC), The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (asst., Underscore Theatre); The Incredible 6,000-ft. Ladder, Something Blue, The Bone Harp (CMTF 2019); High Fidelity (Columbia College Chicago). BA in Music Composition & BA in Musical Theatre at CCC.

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Whitney Rhodes (Artistic Director) recently made her way to the Windy City (Go Cubs Go!) by way of Nebraska, Iowa, New York, and Minneapolis. A graduate of Drake University with degrees in Acting and Advertising, she has enjoyed wearing many hats as a performer, producer, director, educator, writer and arts administrator. Her decade in Minneapolis began as the Manager of Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Education program championing young artists across the state and establishing Spotlight as a national model in non-competitive high school awards programs. As a fierce advocate of the value and impact of storytelling, she grew her leadership chops as the Development Manager and eventual Chief Operating Officer of Mixed Blood Theatre. She was proud to have directed and produced the swan song of the Ivey Awards (the Twin Cities celebration of theater) alongside the team of Arts ink, Inc. In addition to her work on the Iveys, as the Director of Strategic Operations at Arts Ink, she worked closely with the CEO to develop marketing and organizational strategy for performing arts organizations in the Twin Cities area. As an artist, she is the Book writer of For Tonight, a musical that has seen development at NYMF, Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, New York Theatre Barn and most recently its World Premiere at the Queensbury Theatre in Houston, Texas in February of 2019. Her favorite onstage credits as an actor 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.

Artistic Director

Whitney Rhodes

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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.

Board President

Dan Desmond

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Isaac 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, he has already grown so much and is excited to be there as it continues to grow. Having worked with several theater companies throughout the Chicagoland area he feels Underscore Theatre 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.

Producing Artistic Director

Isaac Loomer

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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.

Executive Director

Rachel Elise Johnson

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Sophia Sinsheimer is a Chicago-based director, actor, playwright, and intimacy director originally from Berkeley, CA. She received her BA in June of 2018 from Northwestern University, with majors in Theatre and Gender and Sexuality Studies. At Northwestern, Sophia participated in over 25 student and department productions, directing six plays, three of which were world premieres. An alum of the Writer's Theatre internship program, Sophia is delighted to bring her passion for arts administration and casting to Underscore!

Casting Director

Sophia Sinsheimer

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