The Ensemble
Rebecca Butler (Company Stage Manager/Producer): Is proud to be a part of Chicago dell’Arte. She moved to Chicago in 2007 to pursue her career as a freelance director and stage manager after earning both her BA and MA in Theatre Directing from Kansas State University. Working at various Chicago area theatres in various capacities, she eventually found herself stage managing A Hampstead Hooligan in King Arthur’s Court for Chicago dell'Arte and wishing every production could be as much fun.
Nick Freed(Performer/Artistic Director): Originally from Missouri, a statement he is proud to make. After graduating from the prestigious Truman State University in 2007, Nick moved to Rhode Island for 8 months where he worked as a time traveling tour guide at the Astor Beechwood Mansion. After leaving the east, Nick made the sudden and rash decision to move to Chicago in the spring of 2008. Since arriving in Chicago he has worked with wonderful companies on wonderful shows including NachtKabarett with Painted Lady Productions, Dracula at The Building Stage, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with Filament Theater Ensemble, as well as A Commedia Christmas Carol and Murder, Murder, Murder with his beloved Chicago dell'Arte. Nick would like to thank his friends and most importantly his family for their completely undying support of his vast dreams.
Noël Huntzinger (Resident Costume Designer) hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma and is pleased to be contributing her Sooner knowledge to the innovative Chicago dell'Arte. Noël keeps it real behind the scenes as a costume designer, milliner, and crafts person. Favorite design credits include: Much Ado About Nothing (Chicago dell'Arte), The Man Who Came to Dinner (The University of Oklahoma), and Ready: A New Musical (The Student Theatre Initiative). Noël has enjoyed assistant designing with the brilliant Aaron Patrick Turner on many shows, but her favorites will always be those at Trinity Shakespeare Festival.Noël wants to thank her family for their love and all the theatre artists who ever believed in her.
Derek Jarvis (Performer/Managing Director): Derek Jarvis is thrilled to be a part of Chicago dell'Arte where at long last his pomposity and perchance for posing can finally be utilized. Hailing from Perrysburg, Ohio and a graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program, Derek also spent a summer studying in Oxford, England with the British American Dramatic Academy. Some of his favorite past roles include Polonius in Hamlet and Lollio in The Changeling. Derek is also a member of Promethean Theatre Ensemble and is the creative mind behind Sockspeare presents King John. Derek thanks his friends and family for all of the support and love over the years.
Nicole Keating (ensemble) joined the effervescent and hilarious Chicago dell’Arte team after playing Margaret in 2010’s Much Ado About Nothing. She’s originally from Skokie, IL, which a high school salutatorian once dubbed “A City of Dreams”. Though Skokie is actually a village, Nicole can’t argue with the “of dreams” part since she has many. Nicole has already achieved some of her dreams: marrying Henry VIII (as Kathryn Howard in Six Dead Queens and an Inflatable Henry!), being part of a legend (as Scarlet in Robin Hood), and having magical powers (as Zabrina in The Creator). When she’s not acting, you can find her reading as much scifi/fantasy as she can get her hands on, showing off her sexy burlesque moves, and watching SVU marathons. She is also an Artistic Associate with Piccolo Theatre in Evanston, IL and a graduate of Northwestern University. Many thanks to her family, friends, and the irreplaceable DK for all their love, laughter, and enduring support.
Christopher "Tito" Theis-Lotito (ensemble) is a recent transplant to Chicago all the way from the sunny beaches of Florida. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from The University of West Florida. Chicago credits include Letters from Cuba with Halcyon Theatre, Spring Chicken: The Best of Gayco! with GayCo! Productions, as well as Much Ado About Nothing and A Christmas Carl with Chicago dell'Arte. Other theatrical credits include Once on this Island (Papa Ge), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Lefou), Kiss Me Kate, She Loves Me, Man of La Mancha(Sancho), Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, and As You like It. Principle member of Florida based improv group IMPROVable Cause and Artistic Associate of GayCo! Production
Associate Members
Ryan Musil: Ryan is a company member for Piccolo Theatre After College Ryan desired to explore the realm of physical theatre and Commedia dell’Arte. He studied at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy, working with theatre professionals from all over Europe. After Italy, Ryan moved to Chicago and began working professionally, including working at the Piccolo Theatre on Sinbad the Sailor, Lust, Lies & Marriage, and Vaudeville and Vixens, Twelfth Night and with Chicago dell’Arte on A Commedia Christmas Carol. Ryan would like to thank Chicago dell’Arte for the great opportunities and his family and friends for all their love and support.
Jessica Record: Hails from Jones Creek, TX. Fueled by a near-obsession with Fosse choreography and movement in general, she earned her BFA in Theatre Performance with an emphasis in musical theatre and BBA in Finance from TCU. Since then, Jessica has been living in Chicago working with various companies including BackStage Theatre Company (How I Learned to Drive), Lyric Opera of Chicago (The Abduction from the Seraglio), and of course Chicago dell’Arte (A Commedia Christmas Carol, Dante’s Inferno , and A Hampstead Hooligan in King Arthur’s Court). Jessica has several choreography credits under her belt and has designed costumes for both Christmas Carol and Hooligan. She is currently serving on the company’s Board of Directors.
Ned Record: moved to Chicago in the summer of 2006. Born in Fort Worth, TX, Ned lived there until completing his BFA in acting from TCU. He then moved to London, England for 2 years to continue his studies. In London, Ned received his Masters Degree in Classical Acting from Central School of Speech and Drama under the tutelage of Rob Clare and Robert Lindsey. While he was there, Ned also had the chance to play Hector in Troilus and Cressida (dir. by Giles Block of the Globe theater) and study voice under Cicely Berry. His voice can be heard on several anime cartoons played on the Adult Swim portion of the Cartoon Network. Past favorite roles include Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (Embassy Theater, UK) and Renfield in Dracula (The Building Stage). Ned is a member of Actors Equity, and co-founded of Chicago dell'Arte.
Sam Wootten: moved to Chicago in 2005 and moved to Alabama in 2009. Heading northward from the more refined southerly latitudes of Marietta, GA has worked out fairly well for Sam. He has gotten married to a beautiful woman, studied and performed commedia dell’arte in Italy, Sam holds an MFA in Acting from Indiana University, a BA in Theatre from UGA, and a Certificate from the XXth Stage Internazionale di Commedia Dell’Arte. Sam co-founded of Chicago dell'Arte.
