2021 Chicago Cast
Ann Delaney (she/her)
Ann Delaney (Emma Thompson and Others) is thrilled to be living her rom-com parody dreams! Some theater credits include: Phoebe D’Ysquith in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Porchlight Musical Theatre), Penny Pingleton in Hairspray (Skylight Music Theater), Hannah in Newsies (Paramount Theater), Mary Lou in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (American Blues Theater), Rita in White Christmas (Theater at the Center). TV credits include Chicago Fire (NBC). Ann is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Jake Elkins (he/him)
Jake Elkins (Colin Firth and Others) is thrilled to be a part of Love Actually? at the Apollo! Other Chicago credits include Grease (Marriott Theatre), Wizard of Oz, Mary Stuart (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Machinal, and Birds of a Feather (Greenhouse Theater). Jake would like to thank all his friends and family, most notably his Mom and Dad for helping him become the best person he can be. Jake studied Musical Theatre at North Central College and is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Ryan Foreman (he/him)
Ryan Foreman (Peter and Others) is thrilled to be making his Apollo Theatre debut! Favorite Credits include: u/s Forever Plaid (Drury Lane), Spring Awakening (Broadway Across Borders), Life Now (National Theatre DC), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and The Flick (Northwestern University). Ryan graduated with a degree in Theatre, and Musical Theatre from Northwestern University. He would love to thank his agents at Big Mouth Talent and Manager David at McGuffin Management.
Dan Plehal (he/him)
Dan Plehal (Hugh Grant and Others) is an actor, director, acrobat, and part-time Prime Minister, thrilled to be joining the cast of Love, Actually! Chicago performance credits include The Doppelgänger (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Tempest, The Comedy of Errors, Romeo & Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Lookingglass Theatre). Dan has created movement/circus for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), A Wrinkle in Time and Thumbelina (LifeLine Theatre), Urinetown (Bohemian Theatre Ensemble), and The Zombie Life (Firehouse Theatre, Richmond). Regional performance credits include Joseph…Dreamcoat (Devon Theatre); I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Forest Fable (Walnut Street Theatre). TV credits include 61st Street, Lovecraft Country, Chicago Fire, and The Mysteries of Laura. Dan creates and performs with Aura CuriAtlas Physical Theatre, where he is a founder and Co-Artistic Director.
Amanda Walker (she/her)
Amanda Walker (Keira Knightley and Others) is stoked to be making her Chicago theatre debut with the Love Actually? team at the Apollo! Past regional credits include: Mary (Vanities the Musical), Darlene (Honky Tonk Angels), Sophie (Mamma Mia), Pauline (Saturday Night Fever), Amanda (Women in Jeopardy), and others. Thanks to Amanda's family, friends and Jeffrey for their love and support! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Christopher Wayland (he/him)
Christopher Wayland (Liam Neeson and Others) is thrilled to be a part of this holiday miracle! In the Chicago area, he has worked at Marriott Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, First Folio Theatre, 16th Street Theater, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Raven Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Teatro Vista, Haven, Story Theatre, and is an ensemble member of Stage Left Theatre. Regionally, he has worked at TheatreWorks, Spotlighters Theatre, Fells Point Corner Theatre, and Baltimore Shakespeare Factory. His television credits include: The Chi (Showtime), neXt (Fox), Chicago Med (NBC), and APB (Fox). Christopher received an MFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University and is represented by Gray Talent Group.
Daryn Alexus (she/her)
Born and raised in Washington D.C., Daryn Alexus (Understudy) began her acting career in local theaters and school plays within her hometown. Moving to Chicago in 2008 to study music and theater at Columbia College Chicago lead her to further developing herself as an actress, eventually signing with premier talent agencies in the city. She has since made co-star appearances in several primetime television shows such as Chicago Med, Empire, Next, and The Chi, as well as a variety of commercials with household brands such as Adidas, State Farm, McDonald’s, and many more. Daryn has also made a name for herself in her solo music career touring the U.S., Italy, and the Middle East, as well as sharing stages with artists such as the late Biz Marquee and Kendrick Lamar.
Our Crew
BOB AND TOBLY McSMITH (Writers) are best friends who have created too many parody musicals over the last 15 years including: FRIENDS! The Musical Parody (New York, Las Vegas, US and UK tour); The Office! An Unauthorized Musical Parody (New York and US Tour); Bayside! The Saved by the Bell Musical (NYTimes Critics Pick), Katdashians! The Musical, 90210! The Parody Musical! (New York and Chicago); Showgirls! The Musical Parody (New York, San Francisco); Full House! The Musical Parody (starring Perez Hilton), Love Actually! The Unauthorized Parody Musical (New York, upcoming US tour), and The Office! A Murder Mystery Parody: Who is the Scranton Strangler? They are hard at work on their next musical: Sopranos: On Ice! A Figure Skating Parody.
BASIL WINTERBOTTOM (he/him, Music & Orchestrations) is a British composer and orchestrator from Yorkshire, England. He discovered his love for the stage ‘treading the boards’ as Nanki-Poo and made his first critical success with the rip-roaring period comedy Mother, Where’s the Goose? After a successful tenure writing musical theatre in New York he returned to the UK, where he lives with his wife and pet ferret, Rat Boy Slim.
TIM DRUCKER (he/him, Director) is thrilled to be working with the McSmiths again. Directing credits include the recent North American tour of Friends! the Musical Parody and the long running off-Broadway comedy Sex Tips... as well as the North American tour and the current Vegas production at the Paris. He co-wrote the Off-Broadway musicals Gigantic (Vineyard Theater, licensed through Stage Rights); previously as Fat Camp (Off-Broadway at the ATA produced by Dodger Theatricals; Playhouse in the Square, Cleveland; and NYMF 2009); Spidermusical, and Perez Hilton Saves the Universe (NY Fringe Best Musical and encore run at the Barrow Street Theater). For all the fun: www.timdrucker.com
BROOKE ENGEN (she/her, Choreographer). Choreographer of the Marvel series “Runaways” (Hulu), “Hart of Dixie” (CW), and the musical film Sing For Your Supper. Associate Choreographer for “Hairspray Live” (NBC). Assistant Choreographer: For The Record: BAZ in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Garry Marshall Theatre), Sleepless in Seattle (Pasadena Playhouse), “Code Black” (CBS), and RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle Of The Seasons Tour. National Commercial for Men’s Warehouse, Groundling’s Garbage Pail Kids. Associate Director of Ringling Brothers circus Legends.
JOSHUA WARNER (he/his, Scenic Designer) FRIENDS! The Musical Parody (Off-Broadway + North American Tour); The Boys From Syracuse (Theater Row); The Dark Star from Harlem (La Mama); SUDS (Lincoln Center Education); Theater for the New City; NYMF; St. Luke's. International: Victor's Imagination (Shenzen, China). Numerous designs for film, tv, events. @joshuawarnerdesign
BRANDON BARUCH (he/his, Lighting Designer) is an award-winning light designer who specializes in design for theater, opera, dance, and immersive performance. His work has been seen Off-Broadway and around New York as well as in Chicago, Los Angeles Poland, Regionally, and throughout California. www.brandonbaruch.com
MATTHEW FISCHER (he/his, Sound Designer) is a Los Angeles based Production Manager with Right Angle Entertainment. This is his second design with RAE, including the original sound design for The Office! A Musical Parody (NYC and Tour) which introduced him to the Right Angle Family. Thanks to Charlie!
DUSTIN CROSS (he/his, Costume Designer): Off Broadway (Select): The Office (NY, National Tour) Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation, Spamilton ( New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, LA, London, National Tour), The Glass Menagerie , A Midsummer Nights Dream, Cougar The Musical, The Other Josh Cohen, Forbidden Broadway : Comes Out Swinging Regional (Select): The Little Mermaid, Kinky Boots, The Witches of Eastwick, Billy Elliot, Cinderella, Sister Act, Grumpy Old Men, The Little Mermaid, Noises Off, From Here to Eternity, Heartbreak Hotel, West Side Story, Hello Dolly, The Christmas Rose (Carnegie Hall) Prince of Egypt, The NY Knicks Dancers and The NY JETS Drumline Film: Celtic Heart (PBS) ,Buttons (starring Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury) Enjoy! www.dustincrossdesigns.com.
CONOR DONNELLY (he/his, Wig Designer)
ETHAN ANDERSEN (he/his, Music Director) is a New York based music director, pianist, and composer-lyricist. Select credits: Saturday Night Fever national tour, Mean Girls (Broadway), BCEFA’s Easter Bonnet, Elon University’s Music Theatre program. Proud member of the Local 802 AFM, BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, ASCAP, and Dramatists Guild. ethan-andersen.com
Dawn Kusinski (General Manager)
RIGHT ANGLE ENTERTAINMENT (Producer) specializes in the production, marketing, management and distribution of live theatrical, digital and concert events. RAE’s proud roster includes: America's Got Talent Live!, The Price is Right LIVE!, The Masked Singer National Tour, The Simon and Garfunkel Story, The Office! An Unauthorized Musical Parody (Off Broadway and National Tour), FRIENDS! A Musical Parody (Off-Broadway and National Tour), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (National Tour and Grand Old Opry), Together Live with Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle, Sasha Velour’s Smoke & Mirrors Tour, among many others.
Special Thanks
To Our Musicians & Mixing/Mastering Team:
Alice Siddle, Jay Taylor, Sam Evans & Michael Smith