Cast
Delia Kropp | RHONDA – Delia (she/her) has been acting professionally for over 40 years, making history in 2016 as the first transgender actress to portray Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf in Doug Wright's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play I Am My Own Wife. Other recent Chicago plays include Raggedy And, and the musical The Civility of Albert Cashier by Jay Paul Deratany. Donning her director's cap, she has staged new works for Pride Films and Plays, and About Face Theatre. Television credits include the Showtime Series Work in Progress and the Chicago One Series Chicago Med. Delia won a Best Actress Award from the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival for her starring work in the film Landlocked (2021). In real life, Delia is a proud advocate-speaker for trans persons and performing artists. In 2018, she was awarded the Leppen Leadership Award for services to the LGBT community.
Rio Soliz Ragazzone | CORBIN – Rio (he/him) is a Chicago based chicano actor, singer, and musician and is stoked to be making his Red Theater debut! Chicago credits include Ironbound (u/s, Raven Theatre Company) Mary's Wedding, Almost, Maine (Oil Lamp Theatre), Babel (Redtwist Theatre), The Writer, Mosquitoes (u/s, Steep Theatre Company), Much Ado About Nothing (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Taming of the Shrew, You Can't Take It With You (u/s, OPFT); In the Canyon, Among the Dead (Jackalope Theatre Company) as well as festivals and workshops with Bramble, Trap Door, First Floor, A Short Leap Theatre, and The Understudy’s Freshly Brewed Series. Rio holds his Bachelors in Theatre Arts from New Mexico State University and is represented by Shirley Hamilton Inc. All his work is dedicated to his mother, Sarita Soliz Ragazzone.
Jordan Tannous | LEX – Jo (they/them) is ecstatic to be making their Red Theater debut with this new work! CHICAGO: World premiere of Neighborhood Watch (Jackalope Theater); Eurydice (Snails on a Bike); The Band’s Visit (Writers Theatre); World premiere of Mesmerized! (Chicago Children’s Theatre); Festival of Unfinished Work (Bramble Theatre Company); Developmental workshops of Grape Leaves (Avalanche Theater) and landscape (Theatre L'Acadie). REGIONAL: West Side Story (AD Players); The Hard Problem (Main Street Theatre); Panto Hansel and Gretel (Stages); Aida (Houston Grand Opera). Endless love to family and friends for their endless support! Love ya, mean it <3 Education: BFA Baylor University. @jordan.tannous
Josh Razavi | MARC – Josh (he/him) is excited to be back onstage with Red Theater! A member of Red’s Artistic Cohort, previous credits include Hamlet (Gravedigger) and Vinegar Tom (Jack). Recent Chicago credits include Macbeth (Invictus) and Wise Guys (Factory). He’s worked with Chicago theaters such as: Lifeline, Steppenwolf, About Face, Jackalope, First Folio, and Silk Road Rising, et al. Also an improv/sketch comedian, he’s performed at The Second City, iO, The Annoyance, and Comedysportz, as well as being the producer and puppet builder for FLEECED! Puppet Improv, currently performing at iO Chicago. TV credits: Chicago Fire, Chicago Justice, Chicago Med, Empire. Represented by Stewart Talent. @JoshRzv @get.fleeced
Harper Levander | GRIFFEY – Harper (any/all) is thrilled to be joining Red Theater in The Pilon. This marks their second Chicago storefront production, following their debut in TGIM with The Yellow Rose Theatre. They’ve performed in numerous productions with Evanston Children’s Theater (ECT) — where their love for the stage began — including roles such as Evan in Thirteen, Patrick in SpongeBob the Musical, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, God in Spamalot, Crutchie in Newsies, and Shakespeare in Something Rotten. A freshman at Evanston Township High School, Harper also enjoys playwriting and spending time with friends. They are deeply grateful to their ECT community for fostering their passion for theater.
Kailen Lee | RHONDA (u/s) – Kailen (they/she) is delighted for the opportunity to work with Red Theater for their first Chicago production. A 20+ year veteran of high school teaching, they are used to working in front of a crowd and are excited to once again perform on a theatrical stage. Previous stage credits include The Music of Erich Zann (Erich Zann) and The Seven (Lasthenes), both with the New Orleans-based Theatre Louisiane. Much love to their fiancé Kit for all their support and for always leaving the back door light on, and to Pickle and Pork Chop for their love and for tolerating many microwaved dinners.
RJ Cecott | Corbin (u/s) – RJ (he/him) is ecstatic to be back with Red Theater, where he was last seen in Hamlet (Laertes u/s; perf.). An award-winning actor, RJ received his Bachelor of Science in Acting at Illinois State University. Notable roles: columbinus (Eric Harris), The 25th … Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear), Romeo & Juliet (Romeo), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Satan), Angels in America (Prior), Evil Dead: The Musical (Ash), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Nick), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Stanley), Little Shop of Horrors (Orin Scrivello [u/s Seymour]), This is Our Youth (Dennis), Spring Awakening (Moritz), Heathers: The Musical (JD) and Noises Off! (Garry/Roger). You can see more at rjcecott.com or @rjcecott_actor
Elijah Cox | LEX (u/s) – Elijah (he/him) is an actor, writer, and teacher originally from Ypsilanti, MI. Acting credits in Chicago include Ionéu (Athenaeum Center), The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me (Three Crows), Valhalla (The Plagiarists), and Zürich (Steep, u/s), among others. His short play Admittance was published by Southeastern Missouri State Press in 2022 and can be found on the New Play Exchange. Elijah is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and a company member with PlayMakers Laboratory.
Ryan Finn | MARC (u/s) – Ryan (he/him) is excited to be working with Red Theater for the first time! He is a NorCal native who has performed with various improv troupes around town after taking classes at The Second City, iO, and The Annoyance. Other credits include The Front Page, nOrmal (Saint Sebastian Players) and Better (Bartleby Productions). Is a proud graduate of The Black Box Academy and is represented by 10MGMT and Talent X Alexander.
Silas Smith | GRIFFEY (u/s) – Silas (he/him) is excited to perform in his first professional production here in Chicago! Previously, he performed in Chicagoland high school productions including I Am Frankenstein (The Creature), Clue (Wadsworth), Urinetown (Tiny Tom), and Metamorphoses (Phaeton, Silenus, Eros). He also worked as an assistant director on a high school production of Candide, and is a committed volunteer at Evanston Children’s Theater, a city-funded program that he has been participating in for over 9 years.