Conceived & Written by
Charlotte Markle
Devised by the Proboscis Ensemble
with vital creative / dialogue contributions made by
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
This piece is a love letter to Dante’s Inferno and to classic clowning.
The seed of this piece had its inception a decade ago in a devised theatre class in my final semester at Lewis & Clark College. I knew I wanted to make something inspired by Inferno for my final project, while my friend wanted to make something with clowning, and we decided, “Why not both?”
Why Dante?
I first read Inferno, the first third of Dante Alighieri’s Divina Commedia, in high school and was immediately obsessed. Not only are his dark and detailed descriptions of Hell totally engrossing, but I was so struck by the audacity he had to put himself at the center of the story. Somehow we are to believe that he is special enough to get a personal tour of the afterlife? Just because he was having a midlife crisis? I was struck by the struggle between Dante the writer and Dante the character. Dante the character meets people in Hell that he greatly empathizes with, that he is even shocked to find there. But who put them there? He did! Again, the audacity…
The theological, philosophical, political, and literary themes of Inferno are fascinating and have been the inspiration for many artists and storytellers before now. However, I was always fascinated by why Dante felt compelled to write this poem, why he needed to send himself on an expedition through the torments of the afterlife. Why lay out his own vision of morality like this? At some point in life we all confront our own ideas of right and wrong, both those we inherited and those we formed ourselves. Though few of us turn it into an epic poem, we all grapple with our notions of judgement, of our own sins and the perceived sins of others. For me Dante’s personal journey and motivations have always been the most compelling part of the Inferno. For this project, I also took inspiration from his other best known work, La Vita Nuova, to flesh out the details of his relationship to his muse, Beatrice Portinari, who is a central figure in the Divine Comedy.
Why Clowning?
My dad went to clown college. Yes, literally. Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College. And I was subsequently raised on the art of clowns—from Charlie Chaplin to Bill Irwin, from Bugs Bunny to the Marx Brothers, and from Cirque du Soleil to Teatro ZinZanni.
The Clown is an innocent interloper, the audience’s conduit to the most absurd, the most fantastical, and the most poignant of what life has to offer. The Clown is a mirror to human nature from its most glorious to its most grotesque. To me, that is who Dante is for us on this journey through Hell: the wide-eyed, wondering observer, traveling to all the places that we aren’t willing or able to go ourselves. Dante’s telling of Inferno is scary, dark, poignant, beautiful, gross, and often undeniably funny. Not to mention full of bodily fluids and functions. It felt like ripe territory for clowning.
I hope you enjoy this piece as much as we enjoyed making it.
PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR
PRODUCER
PRODUCTION MANAGER
STAGE MANAGER
LIGHTING DESIGN
COSTUME DESIGN
ASM/WARDROBE
SET DESIGN /PROPS
SOUND/ORIGINAL MUSIC
MARKETING
SOCIAL MEDIA
CLOWN COACH & CONSULTANT
Charlotte Markle
Ashlea Woodley
Alivia Arizaga
Faith Locke
Piper Kirchhofer
Maddy Shows
Danny Mahr
Henry Wilkinson
Sathapat “Pat” Sangsuwan
Kimberly Logan
Liv Rose
Jeff Mills
DIRECTOR’S SPECIAL THANKS
First and foremost, thank you to the cast and production team for being so willing to go on this wild romp with me and for elevating it beyond what I had imagined. Many of the best words and moments in this piece come from the creative genius of the cast. Thank you also to everyone who helped with the workshops and readings leading up to this production. Thank you to the friends and family who supported it.
Thank you to Ashlea, Jeff, and all of Proboscis for believing in me and this project.
Thank you to the teachers and collaborators who helped form the seed of this idea all those years ago—in particular, Kristin, Chelsea, and Emily.
Thank you, Dad, for being my first clown teacher.
CAST
DANTE
Michael Dias
he/him
Michael Dias is a Chicago-based actor, teacher, and fight choreographer. He is a proud, core company member of Proboscis Theatre and he teaches mask performance at DePaul University and stage combat at College of DuPage. Recent acting credits include: Philoctetes (Odysseus) and Queens of Infinite Space (Prince Christian) with Proboscis Theatre, Wolves (Wolf) with Redtwist Theatre, Sense & Sensibility (Col. Brandon) with Northern Stage, And Neither Have I Wings to Fly (Freddie) with First Folio.
MALAPUZZA
Caroline Hendricks
she/her
Caroline is a Core Member of Proboscis and thrilled to make her company debut as Malapuzza. Prior to Infernal, Caroline received her BFA Acting/Digital Cinema Minor from DePaul and completed the Conservatory Program at The Second City. Credits include Chicago Fire (S13Ep19), Room Six (feature), Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, A Bridgerton Experience, and commercials for Brach’s, Kraft-Heinz, etc.
She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and represented by Stewart Talent. Website: caroline-hendricks.com. Instagram: @carolinehen_
MALACODA
Gregory J. Fields
he/him
Gregory is a multidisciplinary artist born & raised in Los Angeles who is committed to storytelling through an absurdist and naturalistic lens. He completed his undergraduate studies at The Theatre School at DePaul University with a BFA in Acting and Screenwriting.
VOICE OF HELL
Kerry Walsh
she/her
Kerry Walsh has worked in theater, experimental/ multimedia, as a dancer, new music performer, improvisational artist, and in opera. She has also appeared in film and tv and lent her spoken voice to a wide range of projects from documentaries to commercials. Kerry spent years as a session singer and flutist and now works as an energy/sound healer. She has received degrees and diplomas from UNCSA, Juilliard, USC, and the Hochschule der Kunste Berlin on a Fulbright scholarship.
BEATRICE / IF
Tia Pinson
she/they
Tia Pinson is delighted to find herself floating through hell as Beatrice/IF. A teaching artist with a BFA in Music Theatre, she wishes to experience and spread light, love and compassion through community, art and storytelling. She continues to search for ways to encourage herself & others to find their creativity. Tia is an ensemble member with Proboscis Theatre and Trapdoor Theatre. She dedicates her movement to her Mama.
Credits include: Nana, Bowie in Warsaw, Joan and the Fire, The Martyrdom of Peter O’Hey (Trapdoor Theatre); Cloudman, The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles (Filament Theatre); House of Circe, The Queens of Infinite Space (Proboscis Theatre Company).
VIRGIL
Nick Trengove
he/him
Nick Trengove is a Chicago-based actor, director, writer, and voice-over artist. He performed most recently as Jan in Native Son at Lifeline Theater. Nick holds an MFA from The Theater School at DePaul University. When he’s not performing, you can find him riding his bike along the Lakeshore Trail, in the recording studio narrating audiobooks, or planning his next session of Dungeons and Dragons. He’d like to thank Proboscis Theater for one hell of a time working on this production. Learn more about what’s coming up for Nick at www.nicktrengove.com and Instagram: @nick.trengove.
ENSEMBLE / US
Chloe Rodriques
she/her
Chloe Rodriques is a passionate actor and mover from the California Bay Area. She recently received her BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul, where she performed in Hedda Gabler (Hedda), Small Mouth Sounds (Joan), and Witch (Elizabeth Sawyer). In addition, she has acted in the world premiere of two bilingual plays, Las Wavys and Go Dog Go/ Ve Perro Ve, at the Chicago Children’s Theatre. In the past, Chloe has understudied and assisted with Proboscis productions, and she is overjoyed to officially join the family.
MALATESTA
Grainne Ortlieb
she/her
Grainne Ortlieb is from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. She received her BFA in acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Upon graduating, Grainne worked for First Floor Theater in the production Sugar in Our Wounds (Isabel), an independent film By The Grace of… (Lizzie), and Chicago Med. During the pandemic, Grainne joined April Cleveland and fellow classmates in Santa Fe to create the Exodus Ensemble. Grainne has worked as an understudy for Fen at Court Theatre and most recently for A Lie of The Mind at Raven Theatre.
PRODUCTION CREW
Charlotte Markle
Writer/Director
she/her
Charlotte is originally from San Francisco, California, where she was raised by a clown and a stage manager. She works in Chicago as a an actor, accent/dialect coach, teacher and casual musician. Charlotte is a Core Company Member of Proboscis Theatre Company and most recently performed in their production of Tempest. This is her first time directing for Proboscis! She is an adjunct faculty member at The Theatre School at DePaul University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Charlotte received her Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from the Theatre School at DePaul University and is certified teacher of Knight Thompson Speechwork. She has also studied with the Second City Training Center and the Institute for Contemporary Performance. Charlotte received her undergraduate degree in theatre from Lewis & Clark College in Portland Oregon, where the seed concept for Infernal was born in a devised theatre class many years ago!
Ashlea Woodley
Producer
she/her
Ashlea Woodley is an actor, advocate, and devising artist who hails from Campbellsport, Wisconsin. Regional credits include Anne/Woman U/S in The Father at Remy Bumppo (dir. Kay Martinovich), Lady Capulet in Romeo and
Juliet with Jacaranda Collective at The Den Theater (dir. Sam Bianchini), Constantine in The Seagull at Cooperative Performance (dir. Don Russell), and Inger in Number the Stars at GreatWorks Theatre Company (dir. Matt
O’Brien). She is the co-Artistic Director at Proboscis Theater. She holds her MFA from The Theatre School at DePaul. As a teaching artist, she has worked for various organizations throughout the Midwest, including First
Stage in Milwaukee, where she helped design and implement curriculum for Next Steps, a program designed for children on the autism spectrum. Most recently, she worked as a curriculum consultant and developer for Chicago
Children’s Theatre’s Red Kite program and as an artist advocate for Arts of Life.
ashleawoodley.com.
Alivia Arizaga
Production Manager
she/her
Alivia Arizaga is really happy to be working with Proboscis Theater Co. She is a theater manager that is fueled by a passion for creativity, storytelling, and leadership. She has recently worked on Evanston Salt Costs Climbing (First
Floor Theater), Fool For Love, Little Bear Ridge Road (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Milo Imagines the World (Chicago Children’s Theater), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Madison Ballet).
Piper Kirchhofer
Lighting Designer
she/her
Piper is a Jeff Award nominated lighting designer. Previous work includes- We Are Proud to Present… at Theatre Y, Wolves and The Great Kahn at Redtwist Theatre, Tick, Tick… BOOM! at BoHo Theatre, Beauty Queen of Leenane and Macbeth at Three Crows Theatre, Hurricane Diane at Theatre Wit, 8-Track and Once Upon a Mattress, at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. She is also an IATSE lighting technician touring with productions such as Bluey’s Big Play, the first national tour of Company, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, and The Choir of Man European tour. You can see her work currently running at Redtwist Theatre’s production of Titus Andronicus and Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus. You can find more of her previous work and find more upcoming projects at piperlighting.com.
Maddy Shows
Costume Designer
she/her
Madeleine Shows is a designer and craftsperson based in Chicago. Recent credits include costume construction work on Circus Quixote and Iraq, But Funny at Lookingglass Theatre Company, assistant design on At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen at The Story and assistant design on Coronation at Refracted Theatre Company. She is a lay-medievalist and an expert in the esoteric. Hire her to design your next cult’s ceremonial robes. www.mshowsdesign.com
Danny Mahr
ASM/Wardrobe
he/they
Danny Mahr is a transmasc theatre maker based in Chicago. He is a recent graduate of New York University’s Playwrights Horizons Theatre School. He recently originated the role of “Two” in Interior by Susan Ferrera (dir. Jessi Hill) and performed as “Mum” in NYU Steinhardt’s production of A Monster Calls (dir. David Montgomery). Danny is passionate about living life with candor and hopes our show inspires you to do the same.
Henry Wilkinson
Set Design/Props
he/him
Henry Wilkinson is excited to be working with Proboscis Theatre for the first time on this adaptation of Dante’s classic tale. With degrees in architecture and scenic design, he’s been designing and building shows for the past decade. Recently he’s worked with Forest Theatre Company, North Lawndale’s Theatre Y, Pale Horse Playhouse for their opening season, and Porchlight Music Theatre downtown.
Sathapat “Pat” Sangsuwan
Sound Design/
Music Composer
he/him
Sathapat Sangsuwan loves music and has been captivated by the charm of sound since childhood, enjoying playing both guitar and piano. He is a music producer, composer, arranger, and musician with extensive experience in composing music for commercials, orchestrating and recording for orchestras, creating music for stage performances, and producing songs for artists in Thailand. Since moving to Chicago he has been exploring new experiences and creating music from a fresh perspective in this exciting new chapter of his life. More information you can find at www.ssathapat.com
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
This project is partially supported by a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and The Saints
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Jeff Mills and Ashlea Woodley
BOARD MEMBERS
Arlyne Chin
Leora Krause
Jeff Mills
Kevin Wlekinski
SPECIAL THANKS
Bramble Arts Loft
Babes With Blades Theatre Company YourBizBra.com
Filament Theatre
MPACCT
Greatworks Theatre