STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Allan Chambers was the Artistic Director and Director of Tenant Services at Theatre Building Chicago. For 20 years, he served in many capacities for TBC including actor, casting director, dramaturg, artistic director, and workshop director.

Allan oversaw theatre company client services and directed the musical program for TBC. Each summer, Chambers scheduled eight musicals and cast up to 90 actors for the TBC Stages Festival of New Musicals. He is a past president of the Illinois Theatre Association, a founding and former board member of Chicago Alliance for Playwrights, Member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatres and artistic consultant for Creative Musical Theatre, an honors class dedicated to the development of new music theatre voices at Valparaiso High School.

Allan has served as an adjunct instructor and guest artist at Ohio Northern University, Loyola University Chicago, Robert Morris College, North Park University, and Millikin University and has worked in various capacities with the Goodman Theatre, Music/Theatre Workshop, Our Town Productions, Prologue Theatre, American DreamWorks, Different Drummer Theatre, Bailiwick Repertory, The Western Stage, Cabrillo Stage, Bigfork Playhouse and North Shore Music Theatre. M.F.A., musical theatre, San Diego State University. B.S., theatre acting/directing, University of Idaho.

Jeff DeLong is a Chicago native with over twenty years of experience in marketing, promotions and sponsorship in Denver and New York City. A graduate of Chicago's Columbia College he has worked as Director of Marketing for Theatre Building Chicago, Promotions/Sponsorship Manager at the Museum of Science and Industry, Director of Consumer Promotions and Marketing for the cable TV channel WE:TV, and Territory Manager of Sales and Marketing for American Movie Classics.

Through his consulting firm Idea Man, he has worked for HGTV, The Museum of Broadcast Communications, Karma Loop TV, The Foundation for Emerging Artistic Talent (E.A.T.) at Thalia Hall in Chicago's Pilsen Art's District and several local theater companies here in Chicago.

Scott Kauffman received his Bachelor's degree in Fine Art from Michigan State University in 1992. He then moved to Chicago and worked for Morningstar, Inc. as Manager of Quality Assurance for Morningstar.com. While working full-time, he completed his Master's degree from DePaul University in E-Commerce Technology.

Scott is currently working for Arc Worldwide, a division of advertising giant Leo Burnett.Through his side company, Skyline Webworks, he helps nonprofit companies and other organizations develop compelling website solutions.

While new to the theater business, Jerry Kennedy is no stranger to the Athenaeum, having spent 10 years as its landlord while serving as the Business Manager for St. Alphonsus Parish, the property owners. He retired from that position in 2009, but was asked to return to help with the business side of running the theater when it was decided that new management was needed in early 2011.

He is a CPA and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. The bulk of his business career was spent with Stone Container Corporation, a multibillion-dollar international manufacturer of paper and paper products, where he rose to the position of Director of Internal Audit.

Joan Mazzonelli is also Producer for Midwest New Musicals at Light Opera Works and Managing Director for ShPIeL-Performing Identity. She is Vice President of Griffin Theatre board and a member of the City Lit Theater board.

Joan also serves on the Artistic and Technical Team of the Joseph Jefferson Committee. Previously in Chicago, she was Executive Director at Theatre Building Chicago. She is past President of Child's Play Touring Theatre, past Vice President of the Chicago Dance and Music Alliance, past Treasurer of the League of Chicago Theatres, past Secretary of the Illinois Theatre Association and past board member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre.

In NYC, she was Managing Director of On Stage, Children!, Tour Director of the National Shakespeare Company and co-Founder/Executive Director of the Opera Shop at the Vineyard Theatre.

A long time ago she was a corporate credit officer at Chemical Bank; now Joan is a member of the Dramatists Guild. B.A., Fine Arts, Fordham University, NYC.

Lauren Girard is one of the partners and founders of Bread & Roses Productions. She and Joshua Paul Weckesser started Bread & Roses to help create a "one-stop shop" for the dance and theatre community for their technical needs and are thrilled to be apart of the Atheanaeum Theatre Production team. Lauren has also had the pleasure of working with Inaside Chicago Dance, Dansz Loop, Be the Groove, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and Dance Chicago among others. While primarily a production and stage manager, Lauren always pitches in when necessary. She feels that the most important thing is to help make the art happen as efficiently as possible and to do so with a positive attitude. While she doesn't make much art herself these days she loves being able to help others make theirs.

Joshua Paul Weckesser comes from a primarly lighting background, however has extended experience as a production manager, stage manager and project director. Josh founded Bread & Roses Productions with Lauren Girard in 2010 to provide excellent technical service at a competative price for shows of all sizes. However, it was years before that when Josh fell in love with the Athenaeum. Bringing over a decade of experience in theatre production he is excited to help breathe life back into this beautiful old house.

John Schmitz is the founder of Dance Chicago (now in its 17th season) and it's producer, Emergence Dance Theatre. John has been producing inventive dance events for 27 years, promoting alliances and collaborations between artists and dance organizations both nationally and internationally. He was a member of the Chicago Community Trust's Dance Advisory Committee, one of Chicago Tribune's "Chicagoans of the Year" (1995), a Ruth Page Award recipient for "Outstanding Contribution to the Dance Community" (1998), and a recipient of "The Columbia College Arts Entrepreneurship of the Year Award" (2006).

A professional dancer, lighting designer, media and film artist, he has performed nationally and internationally. Projects include the Dance Chicago Choreography Project, the International Exchange Program, the Best of Dance Chicago (Illinois) and Stars of Dance Chicago (International). John holds a Master of Arts Degree in public administration and philosophy and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and economics from Northern Illinois University. John believes dance can drive emotional transformation - non-verbal, with dramatic power.