Cast Bios

AJ Carchi (The Collector) is 17, born, raised, and homeschooled in Chicago. AJ has previously performed at the Skokie Theater in On Golden Pond (Billy Ray Jr), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, (Christopher Boone U/S), and in Skokie Idol 2024-2026. AJ is proud to be able to solve a Rubik’s cube in 12.8 seconds.

Wyatt DeLair(Steve) is thrilled to be a part of A Streetcar Named Desire, taking on the role of Steve. A proud graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Wyatt DeLair has previously appeared as Peter in Stop Kiss, Crick in Late: A Cowboy Song, and Orsino in Twelfth Night. He is deeply grateful to his friends and family for their unwavering love and support—thank you for always cheering him on.

Neil Figuracion (Pablo) hails from City Terrace, CA and has lived in Chicago since 2013. Neil earned a degree in playwriting from the University of Calfiornia in Santa Barbara, and has spent decades playing on a variety of improv stages. Most recently, Neil played the part of Harry ""Jazzbo"" Heywood in a production of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, and also played the part of Martin in a reading of Paboreal at Circa Pintig. When not performing, Neil plays board games, roller skates, reads comics and is about to celebrate a 29th anniversary of swing dancing. Bluesky: @fad23.bsky.social YouTube: youtube.com/@fad23

Hailey Hance (Blanche) does hail from the sweltering South, but is now a Chicago-based actor ready to bring this Southern Gothic classic to life at Skokie Theatre! Hailey has been in Chicagoland productions such as The Kramer Project (Open Space Arts) and trip. to zero, contributing her voice, movement, and musicianship. Before moving to Chicago, Hailey attended Missouri State University, where they were in a number of productions such as Everybody (Everybody/Somebodies), Parliament Square (Mum), and Argonautika (Aphrodite & Others), to name a few. When they’re not onstage, Hailey can be found behind the scenes at Chicago Shakespeare Theater covering for their Hair, Makeup, and Wardrobe teams. Hailey is honored to be sharing Blanche’s story and would like to thank all the strong but soft Southern women in her life, including but not limited to: her mama, her sister, and all her grandmas. She’d also like to thank her wonderful partner Mitchell for always supporting her and always bringing her low blood sugar snacks. Enjoy the show, y’all!

Kimmy Higginbotham (Eunice) is an actress, artist, and designer who was born and raised in Good Hope, WV. She received her BA from Fairmont State University in WV before attending The Conservatory of Stella Adler in NYC and The Conservatory at Act One Studios in Chicago. She went on receive her MFA in European Devised Performance Practice through Columbia College's study abroad program in Berlin. She loves creating art in all forms, camping, board games, sports, the wild and wonderful outdoors of WV, 4-H, dancing with no talent whatsoever, singing with little more talent than that, her cat Penny, and all things nerdy. She is in constant appreciation, gratitude, and inspired awe for all of the wonderful teachers, friends, and family members who have supported her. She would like to give thanks to The One True Actor, Niel Patrick Harris, through whom all roles are possible.

Nathaniel Kohlmeier he/him (Stanley) is overjoyed to be making his Skokie Theatre debut. Recent Credits include: Petrofsky (Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter) - Jeff Nominated for Best Ensemble, Palamon (The Two Noble Kinsmen), Ensemble / Mozart u/s (Amadeus), Teddy (Arsenic and Old Lace), Keith (Love/Sick). Originally from hilly Southern Indiana, he is an IU alum (Go Hoosiers!), a Hudson Holland scholar, and a proud grandchild of an immigrant. He is blessed with constant gratitude and admiration for his loving family, friends, and partner. nathanielkohlmeier.com.

Elyna Mellen (Stella) couldn’t be more grateful to be tackling this gorgeous play as her first show with MadKap Productions. Recent Chicago credits include Jean Fordham in August: Osage County at Wheaton Drama (Which won the 2025 Lou Award for Best Play) and Cleomenes in A Winter’s Tale with the Shakespeare Project of Chicago. She is back in the city after completing her BFA in Acting from Brigham Young University in Utah, and working multiple seasons at the Utah Shakespeare Festival as education assistant and an understudy (Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, and The Winter’s Tale). She sends love to her family, partner, and sweet cat Marco! Follow her work on Instagram at @elyna.mellen or at elynamellen.com.

Denis Vorobyev (Mitch) is so ecstatic to return to Skokie Theatre to do a show such as Streetcar. He is extremely grateful for the opportunity, and is in awe of his fellow cast mates talents to bring this production to life. His previous performances include but not limited to Hunchback in Concert (Hemmens), Dead Man's Cell Phone (Skokie Theatre), Rent (Stage Coach Players), Spring Awakening (Steel Beam), Tick, Tick...Boom (Home Creative). He likes to thank his Friends and Family for their support and love, and would like to thank everyone for coming out to see this incredible piece of theatre. Just don't forget to hold on to the railing for this bumpy ride.

Staff Biographies

WENDY KAPLAN (Producer) is a founding member of MadKap Productions and the owner of the Skokie Theatre, and has produced every show since the inaugural Clutter: The True Story of the Colyer Brothers Who Never Threw Anything Out; including the national tour of Side Effects May Include, which raised money in support of Shaking with Laughter and the Michael J. Fox Foundation, through this seasons’ South Pacific. A former “Broadway Brat, ” she began her career as a gopher on Broadway for such productions as Lost in the Stars and the Leonard Bernstein Mass. Locally, Wendy was the Managing Director of Stage Two Theatre Company, and produced for Citadel Theater, NorthShore Theater of Wilmette and Footlighters in Des Plaines. Wendy strives to create a communal family of theatre lovers, both on the stage and off.

WAYNE MELL (Director) is a founding member of MadKap Productions. He has a directing career that has spanned multiple decades and has been a resident director here in Skokie for the past 12 years. He has directed musicals (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Chorus Line, 1776, etc.) comedies (Neil Simon's Rumors, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Beyond Therapy, etc.) dramas (On Golden Pond, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Marjorie Prime, Oleanna, etc.) and original works (Falling For Make Believe, The Wind Phone, Corpus Delectai, and more). He has a degree in theatre from Northern Illinois University, where he was awarded a talented student scholarship, and has also studied at the Victory Gardens and the Second City. He has enjoyed a multi-faceted career in theatre which has also included acting, set design, lighting design, costume design, and every front-of-house job there is. He would like to thank you, the audience, for keeping live entertainment a reality in our community, and his family for always keeping a light on for him at home.

Laine Rogers (she/her) is a Chicago-based theatre artist with a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University. As an assistant director, stage manager, dramaturg, and costume designer, Laine has previously worked with MadKap Productions (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Boy Gets Girl), Raven Theatre (Private Lives), Piven Theatre Workshop (Singularities & Safety Pins), PrideArts (Christmas Karol: A Holiday Intervention Cabaret), The Concert Opera of Greater Chicago (L’Italiana in Algeri), and Actors Training Center (A Midsummer Night's Dream). Currently the Studio Coordinator at Actors Training Center in Wilmette, Laine has served in arts administration roles across Chicagoland including Marketing & PR Coordinator, Social Media Manager, House Manager, and Production Photographer. She spends her free time making art, reading, and writing - or hanging out with her lucky black cat. 

CHRISTA RETKA (Intimacy Director) is a Chicago based stage director and intimacy director, and she is so excited to be making her Skokie directing debut! She received her BA in Theatre Directing and Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her recent credits include: intimacy director for Pippin, Hair, Romeo and Bernadette (MadKap Productions), At the Table (Oakton College), Tick, Tick…BOOM!, The Bridges of Madison County, Talley's Folly, (Dunes Summer Theatre) Grease, Xanadu, The Addams Family (Metropolis Performing Arts Center). She would like to give her friends and family a special thanks for all their support. To view more of her work, visit her website at www.christaretka.com.

BRIAN PLOCHARCZYK (Violence Design) has been staging violence on stage and screen since 2005. He spent 10 years choreographing fights and violence for Stage Left Theatre, and has designed for Metropolis, First Folio, City Lit, Blank, Profiles, Oakton College, Hope College, Bolingbrook High School, The Performers School, and more. His fight design was recently featured in the resurrection of Fight Night! at Factory Theatre. Brian has also designed violence for the films, Christian, GrayBeard, And A Violent Flammable World. When not pursuing his Violence design, Brian is an actor and adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago(voiceover), The Acting Studio Chicago(Voiceover and On Camera), and teaches Shotokan karate as well. Check out www.brianplo.com for more info.

BRIAN WASSERMAN (Set Designer) is a Chicago based scenic designer. He is thankful for this opportunity to work with Madkap theatre. When he isn’t designing shows he can be found building or painting for other theatre companies. BFA: Lindenwood University. To look at more of his work visit www.brianwassermandesign.com.

PAT HENDERSON (Lighting Designer) is a Director and Technical/ Lighting Designer for professional theatres throughout Chicago. Most recently Pat directed PIPPIN and SOUTH PACIFIC at Skokie Theatre for MadKap Productions, AN ACT OF GOD for Williams Streep Rep and STEEL MAGNOLIAS for Steel Beam Theatre. Pat has directed and designed 50+ productions during the past 7 years. Pat recently taught Performing Arts at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School and previously taught, directed and designed for Trinity High School.

ELIJAH McTIERNAN (Stage Manager) is an actor/musician based in Chicago, who appeared on the Skokie stage in Forever Plaid (Sparky) and the Chicagoland premiere of Romeo and Bernadette (Dino). Elijah performed in the Greater Boston theatre scene with companies such as Reagle Music Theatre, Firehouse Center for the Arts, NEMPAC Opera Project, and The Company Theater. Credits include Something Rotten! (Nigel), next to normal (Henry), Into the Woods (Jack), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), Little Women (John Brooke) Stupid F***king Bird (Conrad), and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Christopher). A multi-instrumentalist, You can catch Elijah playing on Navy Pier over the summer at Harry Caray’s Tavern as part of the acoustic duo Lake and Luke, along with their wonderful partner Elise!