Playwright Joe Shetina (they/them/theirs, he/him/his) is a Chicago-based writer and dramatist. Their writing has failed in some of the industry’s finest competitions, having been cited in the top 15% for the Academy Nicholl Fellowship and awarded semi-finalist status at the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. As playwright, their work has been read, staged, and workshopped with Nothing Without a Company, Chicago Dramatists, and at Northwestern University. They hold a very expensive BA in sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an even more expensive MFA in Writing for the Screen + Stage from Northwestern University.
“I like Problem House because I wrote it. Writing it made me laugh. It also allowed me to dip some of my anxieties about carving out a career in the arts and carving out a life at the same time into a fun horror comedy coating.”
Director Rauly Luna was raised in Wildomar, CA then honed his strange outlook on life at San Diego State University while earning a BA in Theatre. Since moving to Chicago in 2013 he has worked with DB Comedy, Black Lives, Black Words, The National American Presents: The Sipping Hour, Nothing Without a Company, The Curious Theatre Branch, and is also a founding member of El Bear. His latest works include The 84th Annual Willoughby Telethon: A Pro Union Story in a Time of Corporate Despair (2022/2023) and The Willoughby House (2024). He last worked with NWAC at last year's 24 Hour Play Festival and is so excited to be working with them again!
“Since reading the first version of the script I've been enthralled by the story Joe Shetina wanted to tell, it's fun, spooky, and devastating! I love new works, and Joe has created such afull world for us to play in, I'm so honored to be a part of this reading, and can't wait for folks to see it!”
Actor / Cherokee Collier
Cherokee received a BFA in Acting and graduated in 2020 from Arcadia University in PA. They have not had a chance to do theater since. Having lived in Chicago for almost three years, they graduated from DePaul University in May receiving an MA in Writing & Publishing. In their free time, they’re either binge reading the next Horror sensation or playing with their 2 kitties Pippy & Muna.
”I am so excited to work on this project! Problem House is everything you could want in a Dark Comedy. As someone that loves the Horror genre, the character of Deena is a great way to filter the emotions being hidden or battled through a lecture type of exposition. And makes the haunting that much creepier.”
Actor / Jerry Downey
Jerry is originally from Texas, where he graduated from TCU with a BFA in Acting. His most recent credits include Louis in Don't Talk to the Actors and Simon in Exit, Pursued by a Bear, both at Circle Theatre. Other favorite roles include Robert in Boeing Boeing, Rick in The Nerd, Ellard in The Foreigner, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof and Kenny in Laughter on the 23rd Floor. He's thrilled to be working with NWAC on this exciting new work.
“Horror is so rarely done on stage - it remains a much more common cinematic genre. I love Problem House for that very reason. It's getting a spooky, horrific haunted house story told live and in-person, and what's more fun than that?”
Actor / Sterling Werfal
Sterling grew up acting in school and community theater productions in their hometown, Shreveport, Louisiana playing such roles as Chris in All My Sons and Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees. After graduating high school, Sterling took a 10 year hiatus from acting but is thrilled to be returning to the stage in Problem House, written by their husband, Joe Shetina. Sterling would like to thank Jennie and Josh at Acting Studio Chicago for helping them find their voice as an actor again.
“I love Problem House because it explores the dangers of blind ambition in fresh, funny ways. Watching Deena sacrifice her relationships and her own wellbeing to feed her drive to sell the "problem house" can be funny, frustrating, and heartbreaking at the same time. It's a roller coaster I've loved going on.”
Actor / Jasmine Shakir
Jasmine Shakir is THRILLED to be making her debut, performing in her first ever production! She obtained a Criminology/Criminal Justice degree (while double minoring) from the University of Iowa in 2020. She now trains at Acting Studio Chicago and The Second City in pursuit of beginning her acting career. She has an INTERESTING DAYJOB working for a fun organization.
“Love for Problem House: I like “Problem House” because it finds humor in a situation that many of us can relate to—how far we’re willing to go to achieve our dreams. The play cleverly examines the tension between ambition and the sacrifices we make along the way. It forces us to ask difficult questions: What would you prioritize over your dreams, and what are you truly willing to give up? Its humor softens the intensity of these questions, making the exploration of ambition both thought-provoking and entertaining.”
Bailey Neill
Bailey is a California transplant, The ACADEMY at Black Box graduate, cat Mother, and proud company member of El Bear. Favorite recent projects include ARCANA: The Fool's Errand with the Front Porch Oracles as part of Steppenwolf's LookOut Series,The 84th Annual Willoughby Telethon: A Pro Union Story in a Time of Corporate Despair, and The Walnut Creek Decapitation, both new works from El Bear. She's so excited to get to be a part of this new work with Nothing Without a Company! She is represented by NV Talent.
“What I like about Problem House: I love a horror story being told live on stage. And I love a protagonist you may not always be rooting for.”