Mikayla Brown

I was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, and am a bona fide Cajun (a fact I am obnoxiously proud of). I have had a thoroughly wonderful life. I received an English degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2004, with a minor in theatre. There is not space to expound on the plethora of work I did in Lafayette, but I assure you, it was monumental, important, and shaped me profoundly. I moved to Chicago in the fall of 2004 where I stumbled upon a Tantalus audition notice for "actors interested in apocalyptic myth" or some such thing, and I was hooked. I have performed in the Tantalus productions Ragnarok, Slide, and The Strange Dreams of Nobody in Particular. I look forward to continuing my work with Tantalus, which will inevitably contain expanding the horizons of what I am capable of, and breaking down complexes I hardly knew I had. I will be brave! This much I promise you. Aside from acting, I also enjoy writing, directing, dancing, singing, and stand-up comedy. I have an adventurous spirit when it comes to the arts, though sadly, I cannot draw.

Glen Cullen

I grew up traveling up and down the eastern seaboard, performing with my parents in our family variety show (singing, juggling, magic, etc.). Performing from an early age I always wanted to grow up an actor. Then in junior year of high school, I got suckered into directing a show and fell in love with it. I then spent four years at Bradley University getting a bachelors in theatre and philosophy, followed by a year at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU where I picked up an MA in performance studies. Once I moved to Chicago in the fall of 2001, I began producing/directing shows here, often under the Tantalus name. Three years and a fair number of projects later, it became evident that it did not make sense to keep working show to show as I had been and that it was time to commit to the long term life of a real company. Since then, I am proud to have worked in some capacity or other on all the Tantalus projects in the last few years and I’m really excited to see where we will go in the years to come. Perhaps you’ll go there with us.

Alexandra Herryman

My theatre training started at a very young age with a big trunk of dress-up clothes and a group of good-natured moms and dads who showed up time after time with their lawn chairs to encourage their children’s make believe. Many years later, as I was earning my BA in English and Theatre at St. Bonaventure University, I became conscious of the career of theater, which differed from both the make-believe of youth and the extra-curricular nature of the college’s theatre group. I realized I could make a living at this game I enjoyed so much, and that living has been my pursuit ever since. My professional training was three summers at the Chautauqua Theatre Company, where I was first introduced to stage management (and promptly fell in love). I moved to Chicago as a professional stage manager in 2004, and have worked with Porchlight Music Theatre, the Open Door Ensemble at Northlight, and of course, Tantalus. Currently I serve as the resident production and operations manager of Silk Road Theatre Project and aspire to earn a masters degree and join Actors Equity.

Jennifer LaTurner

I grew up in Austin, TX and love the fact that I’m a native Texan. Most of my childhood and early adult life has been spent dancing. After many years of training in too many various places to list, I joined the Louisville Ballet in 2000 and spent the next four years as a professional ballet dancer. In 2004 I moved to Chicago, a city that I love except for the months of November through April, and decided to change professions. I spend the vast majority of my time playing a pirate with the Pier Players, Navy Pier’s in house entertainment group. Is there really anything better than being a pirate? I think not. I can also be found around town playing with various theater groups and children’s theater companies. Most recently I was seen in Tantalus Theatre’s Toy Chest & can’t wait to do more exciting, thought provoking, intellectual theater. Let’s see, what else? I love to read, being outside, Snoopy, psychology, criminology, drawing, Rocky Horror Show and spending as much time as possible with my wonderful husband Robby & our three cats. And as always, I’m looking forward to letting the adventure continue.

Joanna P. Lind

I'm one of those people with theatre, music, and art bred into me, so I couldn't help but become a professional and a triple-threat, starting as a little girl of five. I graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Theatre, and it was there that I began to explore alternatives to the traditional operas, musicals, and ballets I grew up performing. Currently, I'd consider myself an actress, singer, songwriter, piano/keyboard and guitar player, recording artist, and general creator of magical proportions. My other passions and interests include writing, dancing, storytelling, performance art, Shakespeare, visual art, stage combat, lighting and sound, and social-political righteousness. You can click on "Our Past" to see all the projects I've done with Tantalus. I'm also a member of the Tantaband, and I have my own arsenal of original music over 80 songs strong. A proud Chicago native (go Cubs!), I'm extremely lucky to have found a true home doing what I love. Oh, as the Marketing Director, I'm all about Tantal-us and our work, so feel free to contact me if you would like to help in any capacity. Thanks to my supportive network of family and friends and you for reading about me!

Parrish Morgan

Parrish was last seen in TTG's The Strange Dreams of Nobody in Particular, and last summer's The Pizza Box Project featured at the Abbie Hoffman and Around the Coyote Festivals. He was also stage manager for the Griffith Theatre's Jeff award-winning Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging. Parrish is an M.F.A (directing) candidate from the University of Memphis, and has a B.S. in Theatre from Bradley University. His background in the theatre arts ranges from performance to direction, and stage management. Directing credits include Pearl Cleage's Flyin' West, Amiri Baraka's Dutchman, and The Meeting by Jeff Stetson. Acting credits include The Kentucky Cycle (Franklin), Sweeney Todd (ensemble), and To Kill a Mockingbird (Reverend Sykes). Stage Management credits include The All Night Strut and A Brief History of White Music with Memphis Black Repertory. In addition to his performance and administrative work with TTG, Parrish continues to collaborate as writer and actor with local indie film, and television projects.

Erin Rigik

As a child Erin wanted to be a novelist, newspaper writer/editor, actor, circus performer, world traveler and teacher. This is the part where I'm supposed to say 'and then she grew up and came to her senses,' but alas, Erin is still wading through the list. A native of Chicago, she is a graduate of Bradley University where she majored in theatre performance and minored in journalism and creative writing. After graduation, Erin ran away to Florida to play in the sunshine, teach theatre at a summer camp and get a two-week crash course in high flying trapeze. Finally concluding that it was too hot at the top of a Florida circus tent, Erin embarked on a two-year stint as an English teacher in Japan and traveled around Asia; volunteering with untouchables in India, building houses in Bangladesh and riding elephants in Thailand, to name a few. These days she is elated to be back home in Chicago (go White Sox), pursuing a writing/editing career by day and doing theatre by night. Recent acting credits include Roxanne in the TTG created Cyrano's Devotion at Around the Coyote and Looptopia; Thomasina in Arcadia at Stage Center Theatre; and Jean in Stage Door with Thymely Theatre Co. Stage Management credits include ASM for Romeo and Juliet at Illinois Shakespeare Festival; and SM for Annie, Plaza Suite and Born Yesterday at Theatre L'Homme Dieu in Alexandria, Minnesota. Erin loves travel, climbing, writing, adventures, thunderstorms, snowboarding (or trying to), coffee, red wine and running.

Tiffini Sarver

Tiffini Sarver is excited to be a new company member with Tantalus.  She last designed for the company on Dreadful Penny's Exquisite Horrors and The Strange Dreams of Nobody in Particular and was involved in Slide and The Pizza Box Project.  She is a graduate of Bradley University where she has costume and makeup design, acted, directed and stage managed.  Since moving to Chicago she has been working as a costume designer and technician and running wardrobe.  She has designed for Quest Ensemble, Black Sheep Production, Echo Theatre Co., among others and has worked with Remy Bumppo, Silk Road, Court Theatre and Milwaukee Rep.

Members on Hiatus:

Apollo Mark Weaver, Lindsey Noel Whiting, Jessica Pribble, and Jessica Mondres

Photos of Mikayla, Glen, Joanna, and Parrish by Fernando Herranz, Alexandra and Jennifer by David Byrd, and Tiffini by Brantley Harris.

Adrienne Guldin (Chairperson)

As a native Chicagoan with very liberal parents, I grew up loving the theatre. I discovered that I have no talent for acting and thus turned to other modes of performance. Having put aside my dreams of being the first woman to play the accordion on the moon, I now focus my energies on freelance stage management with the occasional foray into fire dancing. By day I can be found wearing a suit and serving Corporate America. In my limited spare time I bake, knit, read and watch British soap operas.

Glen Cullen (Vice Chairperson)

See bio in company section.

Jackie Aicher (Secretary)

Jackie Aicher was one of the founding members of Tantalus Theatre Group, has worked on several of their early productions, and now serves on the board of directors as secretary. Jackie has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Northwestern University and a Master's in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. She currently works as the Business & Operations Manager at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company.

Parrish Morgan (Treasurer)

See bio in company section.

Carol Jean Carlson

Carol is currently managing director of Scrap Mettle SOUL, a community performance group headquartered in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, which has as its mission “transforming community through the arts.” She has been affiliated with the group as a volunteer since shortly after its inception in 1994. During that time she served as administrator, facilitator, and grant writer. Carol is very active in the Uptown community and was a director with the Uptown Chicago Commission for many years. She is on the board of the Uptown Historical Society and secretary of the Margate Park Advisory Council. Carol is a writer and editor and past president of the Society of Midland Authors (founded 1915). She is currently on their board of directors and manages their annual literary competition. She is also an associate fellow and was on the international Board of Directors for the Society for Technical Communication. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the University of Chicago.