directors
Kyle Hamman
THE WHO AND THE WHAT:
(Episodes: The Dominant Boob, The Topic Is… and Natural Bunnies) is the owner/operator of KBH Media, a boutique multi-media production company that specializes in visual storytelling. His work has led him to work collaboratively with corporations (Target, Precor, Metropolitan Capital, YPO) as well as non-profit and arts organizations (Northwestern University, NPR, Actors Equity Association, Leica Historical Society). Since 2012, Hamman has worked with WBEZ and The Moth which has allowed him to form relationships with various artists and hosts including Brian Babylon (Panelist-Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me), Jill Hopkins (Host-Morning Amp, Vocalo), Jacoby Cochran (Performer, Storyteller, Professor), Stephanie Douglas (Growing Home) and Fawzia Mirza (Writer-The Red Line, Producer, Actor-Signature Move), whom he documented on the day of the historic Women’s March in Chicago in January of 2017.
Hamman has been involved in Chicago theatre as an actor, designer, director and producer for over 20 years. Hamman has been a member of the ensemble at Strawdog Theatre Company since 2000 and has been nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Directing, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Hamman has worked with numerous other theatres in Chicago including Steppenwolf, Writers Theatre, Timeline, Northlight, Porchlight, Lifeline, Mary-Arrchie, The Factory, CollaborAction, Teatro Vista, Barrel of Monkeys, Noble Fool, Serendipity, Theatre Seven, WildClaw and Windy City Playhouse.
THE WHYTHO:
Kyle wound up on this project somewhat by accident and has happily been leading a charge of missteps on purpose ever since. His eagerness to discover has lead him to continually encourage "All of It" as his motto for CSAF. It was Kyle who reminded us that we are multi-disciplinary artists, and should reflect that in our series using as many mediums as possible. His giddy reaction to ideas that are "too out there" is enough to convince us that nowhere is too out there. It's all here. All of It.
Lili-Anne Brown
THE WHO AND THE WHAT:
(Episode: Bar Jumper) A native Chicagoan, Brown works as a director, actor and educator, and has performed in, directed and produced many award-winning shows, both local and regional. She is the former Artistic Director of Bailiwick Chicago, where she focused programming on Chicago-premiere musicals and new play development with resident playwrights. Recent credits include The Color Purple (Drury Lane Theatre) and Put Your House in Order (La Jolla Playhouse). Other directing credits include School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Goodman Theatre); P.Y.G. or The Misedumacation of Dorian Belle; Ike Holter’s Lottery Day (Goodman Theatre); Caroline, or Change (Firebrand Theatre); The Wolf at the End of the Block (16th Street Theatre); The Wiz (Kokandy Productions); Xanadu (American Theatre Company) and many others. Brown is a member of SDC, SAG-AFTRA and a graduate of Northwestern University. Lili-Anne is represented by WME.
THE WHYTHO:
Corri and Sara have admired Lil's work and straightforward brilliance for literal decades, and they roped her into this project when she inserted herself into their brainstorm. When planning an audio serial comedy script called, "Butterscotch and Bangs" about a detective agency in the 80s, it was Lil who told them they were missing a character: hers. Thus, "Butterscotch, Bangs, and Brown Sugar" was born (coming soon to your earballs). They find as many opportunities to work with Lil (and her whip-crack comedic timing and picture-perfect vision for imperfect people and situations) as they possibly can. She's a big deal for a reason.
Antoine McKay
THE WHO AND THE WHAT:
(Episode: You Have A Lot To Say About Cher) Antoine McKay has been around the Chicago film block a time or two. Most recently, Antoine was seen in South Side, Seasons 1 and 2. Antoine was also in Chicago’s hit series, Empire, as well as Sense8, Patriot, and his own pilot, Written Off. Antoine has also been seen in the films The Weatherman, He Sends Rain, and Rogers Park.
THE WHYTHO:
Antoine played Sara's husband in "Rogers Park" and they worked together for almost two years on their roles. He is a beaming welcome of positivity and creative energy and has one of the best laughs you've ever heard. Plus, that dude has 19 children* and it's amazing he has time for anything, let alone the successful career he does. Someone get this man a chair.
*ok, 5
Jessie Fisher
THE WHO AND THE WHAT:
(Episode: Everybody’s Got A Thing) Jessie Fisher has just returned home to Chicago after starring in Once and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. One half of the incredible variety duo Erik & Jessie, her Chicago credits include stints at Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and her Jeff-Award winning turn with the Hypocrites as the Emcee in Cabaret. She has also appeared on Boss, Chicago P.D., Chicago Justice and is the co-creator and director of the upcoming digital series The Force.
THE WHYTHO:
First off, Corri and Sara are superfans of Jessie Fisher. She is a vibrant storyteller and has an incredible eye for fun in the everyday. As an artist, she has the innate ability to bring people together just by asking. We subscribe to that vision, and Jessie celebrates this most brilliantly with the variety show she curates with her husband, Erik Hellman. Erik & Jessie & Everyone You Know, which just had performances at Steppenwolf Theatre, with a sold-out two-night run.