Paul Stroili is an actor, writer and director. A Resident Artist at Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan, his stage credits include Lifespan of a Fact, Doll’s House Part 2, God of Carnage, Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Souffle (for which he received a Wilde Award for best supporting actor) as well as more than fifty other plays.
Television credits include “Empire,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “Undercover Bridesmaid” along with “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Brother’s Keeper,” “Getting Personal,” and “The Untouchables,” as well as the films Wake, The Beating, Gratitude, Cold Justice, The Wrong Profile and The Real Whatever. Paul was nominated for an Ovation Award for Best Solo Performance for his autobiographical show Straight Up with a Twist, which enjoyed over nine years on tour, including a twice-extended Off Broadway run. His play A Jukebox for the Algonquin will enjoy its World Premiere at the Purple Rose Theatre in July of 2023. His latest work, Last Call at the Aardvark is now available through Next Stage Press. His screenplay for the film The Beating was added to the curriculum at Columbia College in their course of study in short filmmaking. He has written for Los Angeles Magazine and the LA Stage Alliance.
Kevin Theis has been an actor, writer and director in Chicago for over thirty years. His acting credits include productions at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Repertory, Peninsula Players and the Next Theatre, among others. Kevin is an ensemble member with the Irish Theatre of Chicago and an Artistic Associate with the Oak Park Festival Theatre.
As a director, Kevin has been thrice nominated for Jeff Awards, including his own adaptation and direction of Thomas Heywood’s The Fair Maid of the West, The Mandrake for greasy joan & co. and Jeeves and the Mating Season for City Lit. He has also directed for the Irish Theatre, Lifeline, Oak Park Festival and the Timber Lake Playhouse, among others.
He has two published plays, the aforementioned Fair Maid and the Sherlock Holmes classic The Sign of the Four, co-written with Shanghai Low Theatricals. He has written two books, Confessions of a Transylvanian with Ron Fox and his own Invading Nirvana. Kevin has appeared on the television programs “Chicago Fire,” “Betrayal,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Empire” and has narrated over 300 audiobooks.
Eric Zudak (Producer) is the Sr. Director, Enterprise Accounts with the application development company Trifecta Clinical, where he directs business strategy for accounts including fortune 500 as well as smaller focused Pharmaceutical companies.
Eric holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Evansville. His career with Trifecta has spanned the past 16 years, his background in the arts has informed his approach to problem solving and relationship development.
Prior to Trifecta, Eric worked at Walt Disney Imagineering supporting attraction development for Tokyo Disney Seas, California Adventure and Euro Disneyland Park. Eric also worked at ABC Television and numerous capacities for independent productions and events.
Eric founded the College Town Film Festival, which produced 6 festivals in partnership with Penn State University and Ohio University between 2013 and 2017.
As a producer Eric was Executive Producer of Karaoke Man (2012) and Killing Diaz (2020) as well as short films The Beating (2015) Buckeye (2017) and the stage production In Walked Monk at the Hudson Guild in Hollywood in 1999.
As a performer Eric’s last role was in the TV pilot 26 miles in 2008. Prior to that Eric starred in Lost on the Bohemian Road (1995) and was an Artist in Residence at the Griffin Theatre in Chicago (1992-1994) appearing in Brilliant Traces, Loving Little Egypt and The Night Hank Williams Died among other plays. Eric also appeared behind the bar at Butch McGuire’s on Division street and the Red Lion Pub in Lincoln Park where he received his real education.
After relocating to Los Angeles, Eric appeared on stage in Riding the Dolphin and In Walked Monk, and perhaps his favorite role as Eamon in the short film Locked Up Down Shorty’s.
Joe Larkin (Technical Director) Joseph Larkin studied technical theater and theater design in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the University of Connecticut. He has been working in theater and live performance for over 40 years. Joe has been involved in dozens of productions at the high school, community, university and regional theater levels. His set and lighting designs have been celebrated by audiences and in media reviews. Backstage, Joe has extensive experience in all areas of technical theater, including set construction, painting, lighting, audio and rigging.