2nd Story: Storytellers: C

Jaime Calder

Jaime Calder has, at one time or another been an arts instructor for a paraplegic youth group; half-pipe designer for a skateboarding cat; purveyor of vibrating goods for sexually adventurous adults, and reporter of interactive shark tanks and hip-hop theater. She is an avid crocheter, an above-average cook, and one time Ira Glass called her hair “neat”. She is presently a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, pursuing an MFA in debt.

Emily Campbell

Guest Director // Emily Campbell is currently in the second year of the MFA Directing program at Northwestern University. She is delighted to work with 2nd Story! Emily moved to Chicago from New York, but has roots in Metro-Detroit. It is deeply gratifying to collaborate with artists in her new city. Past productions: The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? and Top Girls (Northwestern), The Book of Liz (Equinox Theatre), Vinegar Tom, Catch-86, and Life X 3 (Patchwork Theatre Initiative), Yellowface A.D. (Public Theatre), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf A.D. (Kennedy Center), Well Asst. to Lisa Kron (Broadway). Welcome to the living art! Thanks for coming!

Jasmin Cardenas

As a writer, performer, and producer Jasmin Cardenas created and toured Niña Buena? a one woman show that explores her Colombian roots and first-generation American status. As an actress, choreographer, and teaching artist she has had the good fortune of working with The Goodman, Lifeline, Adventure Stage Chicago, Silk Road Theater Project, Pegasus Players, Aguijon, Teatro Luna, Chicago Childrens Theatre, Teatro Vista, and Collaboraction (where she is an Artistic Associate). Jasmin is a member of the Chicago Storytelling Guild and a board member of the Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, a nonprofit organization that promotes critical thinking and social justice.

Amy Carle

Amy is an actor who likes to write a little bit. As an actor, she’s worked all over Chicago and all over the country. As a writer she’s had one story in two places—at the very first 2nd Story gathering, and a reprise of that same story in No Place Like Home at Steppenwolf. If you want to read any more of her work, you’ll have to offer to dog-sit. Then you can tear through her apartment & find her journals, which all begin (and occasionally end) with the same very enticing/damning phrase, “So, I met this great guy tonight!"

Megan Carney

Megan Carney is a director, writer, and educator most interested in the places where performance and public dialogue meet. She is an Associate with About Face Theatre where she co-founded the Youth Theatre and most recently co-directed STUPID KIDS with Bonnie Metzgar. Current projects include THE WALLS with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and PITTSBURGH PROJECT REMIX staged in an old pump house in Homestead, PA. Megan has taught for the Urban Studies Program of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Roosevelt, U of C, Rhodes, and The Goodman. She writes about arts and civic engagement and holds an MFA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech.

CP Chang

Grants Management // CP Chang is a writer who has put down temporary roots again, after several years of the nomadic lifestyle. He received his MFA in Fiction Writing from Columbia College Chicago. His writing has appeared in Hair Trigger, Upstairs at Duroc, Artisan, the anthology My Angels and Demons at War, on Nerve.com, and on wordriot.org. He writes a political column for the monthly newspaper Evanston Sentinel and can sometimes be heard reading as a part of the Kate the Great's reading series and the RUI: Reading Under the Influence reading series.

Stephanie Chavara

Stephanie Chavara likes making sure art happens. This is what brought her to the 2nd Story internship program. She loves dancing, puppets,writing, and directing, but she is primarily an actress/adventuress. She completed her BFA at NYU and did the acting thing there and started a theatre company in Brooklyn. She came to Chicago via an intercultural theatre program in Bulgaria. Having now finished her MFA at DePaul, she is discovering the splendor of Chicago’s cultural scene. She has worked with Adventure Stage, Dog + Pony Theatre Company, and Timeline Theatre, and serves on the Associate Board at Links Hall.

Carrie Chantler

Carrie Chantler is a founding member of the Serendipity Theatre Collective and is proud to be a part of 2nd Story 2007. Carrie appeared in the first production of Serendipity's acclaimed production of fellow founding member Courtney Shaughnessy's fun-filled romp BEING 11 and served as Producer for the second production of the same show. Carrie also serves as the Secretary on the Serendipity Theatre Collective Board of Directors. Many thanks to Megan and Amanda for their skillful leadership and boundless creative input. GO TEAM!

Mica Cole

Mica Cole is a writer, actress, and goddess from the Southside of Chicago. Since graduating from the Theatre School at DePaul University, she has become the founder/ co-founder of many things. She is co-founder of The POEACTRY PROJECT, an urban creative writing initiative for young women, co-founder of CursedWithWords Theatre Company, and co-founder of her daughter, Mia Ruth. She has been a teaching artist for seven years and has taught in collaboration with Free Street Programs, Columbia College, and the Chicago Park District—none of which she founded/ co-founded. She does, however, plan to found/ co-found many other organizations/ institutions/ lives in the near future in hopes of someday having a more impressive bio. She is the Director of Education at Writers’ Theatre.

Dina Connolly

Dina Connolly is really happy to return to 2nd Story! Dina has been a member of The Neo-Futurists since 2003. She has also performed for The Pavement Group, The Gift Theatre, The Journeymen, Griffin Theatre, Theater Oobleck, and Improv Olympic. Dina is currently working on finishing graduate school and planning her wedding. Wish her luck!

Brian Costello

Brian Costello is the author of the novel The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs. His work has appeared in the Chicago Reader, the2ndhand, New City, and other publications. He is an adjunct professor of Fiction Writing at Columbia College. For nearly six years, he has been the host of The Brian Costello Show with Brian Costello, a live talk show performed at the Empty Bottle nightclub in the Ukranian Village. Costello loves pizza, so hook him up, brah. Thanks.

Kevin Crispin

Kevin Crispin is originally from Monticello, IL. After graduating from Southern Illinois University many years ago, Kevin travelled the entire country as an actor and technician before settling in Chicago. In general, Kevin wishes he were reading a book. His favorite author is David Foster Wallace; you should check him out. Kevin is excited to be performing with 2nd Story and is thankful to everyone there for allowing him to tell this, just one of his many stories

Dana Cruz

Guest Director // Dana Cruz has worked with a number of really great companies around the Chicago area. Her favorites are Teatro Luna, Adventure Stage Chicago, Strawdog Theater, The Neofuturists, The Goodman Theater, Walkabout Theater and Chicago Dramatists. She is an ensemble member with Teatro Luna and in addition to collaborating on TL porjects "Jarred", "Solo Tu", "Sex-oh!", "Maria Chronicles" and "Generic Latina" she recently directed SEX-oh! The Remix at the 16th Street theater in Berwyn. She would like to thank the ladies of Teatro Luna for urging her to take this opportunity and Amanda for offering! She thanks Tom, Lyra and Simone for their inspiration. She wants to dedicate her work on this show to all those who have written and contributed their true or imagined stories to 2nd Story. Mil Gracias y Buen Provecho.