Cast
Sahar El Dika | MARY – Sahar (she/her) is a Chicago-based actor and writer. She is thrilled to be making her Red Theater debut! Other readings and productions include MODERN WOMEN and NEST (The Story Theatre); CRUSHED (The Understudy); HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN (Steep); MODERN WOMEN and LAYALINA (Goodman Theatre); DOUG and PRETTY SHAHID (Jackalope Theatre Company); MOSQUE4MOSQUE (Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Scout); VENUS IN FUR (Circle Theatre; U/S) and MOSQUE ALERT (Silk Road Rising). Television and film credits include CHICAGO FIRE; EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK; CHRISTMAS WITH FELICITY; MONUMENTS; GOOD YEARS; and HAPPY HOUR. She is represented by DDO Artists Agency.
Marielle Issa | MIRYAM – (she/her) Chicago credits: THE BAND’s VISIT (Writers Theatre), THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA (Marriott Theatre), HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF (Victory Gardens Theater). Other regional: THE BAND’S VISIT (TheatreSquared), LITTLE WOMEN (Quintessence Theatre), THE TEMPEST (Quintessence Theatre). Thank you to Tina, Katherine, and the team. More at marielleissa.com.
Dinah Berkeley | MARIAN – Dinah (they/them) has been a theatre and trouble maker since the 1990s. Their work has been witnessed from California to Scotland, NYC to El Bolsón in venues such as The American Conservatory Theatre, the streets of Edinburgh, St. Ann's Warehouse, Ars Nova, HERE Arts Center, El Fesitval De Payaso, Improv Olympic, The Understudy, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Zoom! And many a living room. They have a deep passion for the absurd, dark comedies, and Queer stories. With extensive experience in new play development, their work stems from the soils in which they were planted: ensemble devising, clown, mime, drag, and several other physical theatre techniques. They co-directed short film SALTY which won Best U.S. Short Film of 2022 at the Seattle Film Festival. Favorite recent role is Ronald Regan as a Demon as a Drag Queen in Katherine Gwynn's EVERYTHING DEVOURED. As an educator, they've work with Northlight and Writer's Theatres, as well as with the grad and undergrad programs at University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, and as of 2025 North Central College. You can read their plays on New Play Exchange.
Ari Meixner | GAVRI’EL – Ari (he/they) is an actor, educator, and Midwesterner. Previous credits include MOTHER OF (Once and Future Festival), UNTIL THE SUN DIES (Jackalope - Living Newspaper Festival), VERBÖTEN (House), QUEEN OF THE MIST (Firebrand), 1776 (Porchlight), and SPRING AWAKENING (Blank). Ari currently works in Community Engagement at The Joffrey Ballet, helping to bring dance education into Chicago Public Schools. Thanks to Katherine and Tina for inviting them back to tell this story.