Official Website of Mark Burrows, a Musical Theatre Composer and Lyricist, Playwright, and Costume Designer in the Chicago Metro Area.
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Staff
Claire Yearman, Director
Claire Yearman (She/Her) - is an actor, director, fight director, SAFD Certified Teacher, and intimacy choreographer. She is excited to be working with Mark again. Especially to help develop this new musical that he has created. Some of the local theatres she's worked at include: Oak Park Festival Theatre, Williams Street Repertory, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Chicago Dramatists, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Aston Rep, Parker Players, Songbird Theatre, Oil Lamp Theatre, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, Wheaton Drama, and Music on Stage.
Aaron Zimmerman, Music Director
Aaron is a pianist, music director, and writer centered in the western suburbs of Chicago. Recent music direction credits include Ragtime (Metropolis PAC), Disaster (BNT), Freaky Friday (BNT), Titanic (WDI), Ruthless (Citadel). His writing has appeared in various publications, including Metaphorisis Magazine and Story Hack. He is the composer and lyricist for the musicals Red and the Wolf, Heist?, and Prometheus and the Firestone. AaronZimmermanMusic.com
Martin Mahoney, Stage Manager
Martin is grateful for the opportunity to serve as the stage manager for this exciting, new musical. As a Resident Artist at Edge of the Wood Theatre since its inception in 2013, Martin has been the stage manager for The Belle of Amherst, Pride and Prejudice, The Book of Will, and Light Up The Sky. He has appeared onstage as an actor in numerous Edge productions, notably as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Captain Brice in Arcadia, Medvedenko in The Seagull, and as Durdles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Cast
Bill Chamberlain (Intendant/D'Aubrey)
Bill is excited to be working on this new musical. Previous credits include: Crowbar(Bill) with Artistic Home, Inherit the Wind (Reverend Brown) with Edge of the Wood Theater, Buried Child (Dodge) with Albright Community Theater, Three Sisters (Chebutykin) with Sandbox Collective, and The Man Who Came to Dinner (Sheridan Whiteside) with Saint Sebastian Players. Bill would like to thank his patient and supportive husband, Howard.
Karyn Louise Doerfler (Olympia)
Karyn is an accomplished actor with nearly 10 years of experience on Chicago-area stages. Some of her recent credits and favorite roles include Claire Ganz in Rumors (Galaxy Theater Company), Countess Lily in Anastasia (Natural Talent Productions), Chelsea in On Golden Pond (MadKap Productions), Sister Mary Hubert in Nunsense (Saint Sebastian Players), Rebecca Heminges in The Book of Will (SSP), Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein (Devonshire Playhouse), Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible (Devonshire), Karen Andre in Night of January 16th (Kirk Players), Truvy in Steel Magnolias (Galaxy), and Tanya in Mamma Mia! (Golden Ticket Productions). Follow Karyn (and her dog Mabel!) on Instagram @keldymae.
Sarah Donofrio (Louise, La Vigoreaux)
Sarah Donofrio is a Chicago based actor whose past regional credits include Much Ado About Nothing (South Dakota Shakespeare Festival), Fiddler on the Roof (Music Theater Works), Miss Nelson is Missing! (Roxy Regional Theatre) and Cecile, or the School for Fathers (Boulevard Theatre). Sarah graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre & Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A big thank you and lots of love to her family and friends for all their support. Website: SarahDonofrio.org.
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Zach Gibson (Louvois)
Zach (he/him) is excited to bring this new work to life! Favorite past roles: The D’Ysquith Family (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder; 2023 Lou Award Winner - Best Performer Lead Role), Barrett (Titanic the Musical), & Peter Shaw (Silent Sky) [Wheaton Drama]; Arbiter (Chess in Concert) [BrightSide Theatre]; Quasimodo (Hunchback of Notre Dame) [NTP]; & Woodsman (Red & The Wolf, 2025 Premiere) [Songbird Theatre]. Follow next projects at zachgib.weebly.com. Many thanks to Mark & team for the opportunity!
Brock Hayden (Ensemble)
Brock (He/Him) is ecstatic to be returning to Edge of the Wood, where he was most recently seen as Watch/Ensemble and Claudio (u/s) in Much Ado About Nothing, and to lend his voice to this new work. Previous musical credits include Wizard of Oz (Big Noise Theatre), The Addams Family (Uptown MT Highland Park), Young Frankenstein, and Clue: the Musical (Theatre 7). In addition to Acting, Brock also works as a Shakesepare Text Coach, Costumer, Props Artisan, and Director in the Chicagoland Area. For booking inquiries, reach out at brock.hayden.actor@gmail.com
Meaghan Hurley (Nanelle, La Fontanges, La Bosse)
Meaghan is happy to again join Mark Burrows on one of his exciting new works - she previously played Zuleika in the staged reading of his original musical The Earl and the American Girl. Other favorite past roles include Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and Lilli Vanessi in Kiss Me, Kate. Meaghan has also worked as a vocalist with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, local bands and vocal groups, and as a cantor for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Gerald Kelel (Louis)
Gerald is thrilled to be involved with the premiere of this exciting new work. He recently starred as Buddy in the Sondheim musical Follies at Rising Stars Theater and the titular role in Jekyll & Hyde at North Riverside Players. He has been involved with many local theater groups over the year, but this is his first foray with Edge of the Woods. He previously appeared in a staged concert of one of the composer's other works, Zuleika the Great. Other past roles include Jinx in Forever Plaid, Harold Hill in Music Man, Count Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music, and Gary Lejeune in Noises Off.
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Aimee Kleiman (La Voisin)
Aimee loves being a part of new work and is excited to help put "The Affair of the Poisons" on its feet after having been a part of the original vocal recordings. Most recently Aimee was seen at the Factory Theater playing Lizzie Le Prince in the world premiere of "The Curious Circumstances of Louis Le Prince." Other roles include Abby in "Conversations About an Empty Suit" (Three Brothers Theater), Jane Tate in "It Runs in the Family" (Citadel Theatre), Lee Green in The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (MadKap Productions), Edith Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank (Improv Playhouse), Rosse in MacBeth (Invictus Theatre), Bakers Wife in "Into the Woods" (Deerfield Family Theater), and Fiona Maclaren in "Brigadoon" (CenterStage). Thank you, Mark, for this amazing opportunity. Thank you Benji, Jonah, Elliott and Orly, for your neverending love and support.
Mary Margaret McCormack (Marie-Madeliene)
Mary Margaret is delighted back at Edge of the Wood since she may or may not have been a Murderer in Drood. Mary has collaborated with Mark on new projects since 2020 making recordings out of her closet. Recent credits include: Lizzie in Pride & Prejudice (Parker Players), Charlotte in Charlotte's Web (YPT), Mollie in The Mousetrap (Citadel), Sally Bowles in I Am A Camera (Porchlight), Pearl in the World Premiere of Night of the Hunter (City Lit), Mary Hatch in It’s a Wonderful Life (Oil Lamp), Nellie in Playboy of the Western World (City Lit). Mary is a classically trained soprano and studied theatre at Millikin University with a focus in vocal performance. She deeply thanks her family and friends for their love, support, and generosity. www.mccormackmarym.com
Peter Moeller (François)
Peter is ecstatique to join the cast of The Affair of the Poisons! Recent credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Righteous Brother), Red and the Wolf (Narrator), The Wedding Singer (Ensemble), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ensemble). When not acting on stage, Peter enjoys acting like he’s going to finish all of the crochet projects he has lined up.
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Logan Van Lerberghe (Ensemble)
Logan (he/they) is a Chicago-based actor and teacher with a Bachelor's in Theatre Teacher Education from Illinois State University. He is ecstatic to have a hand in presenting this new piece of theatre. Credits include Next to Normal (Scene Five Productions), Spring Awakening, Next to Normal and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (point2point productions), New Line (Theo Ubique), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oak Park Festival Theater) and the Trans Scribe Festival (performed at Steppenwolf). He also works as a teaching artist with Skyline Children’s Theater. Logan thanks his family, friends, and teachers for their never ending support. @kylo_gan
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Molly Will (Athénaïs)
Molly is thrilled to return to Edge of the Wood to work on this new project. She holds a BFA in Musical Theater from Millikin University and has since truly enjoyed finding a theatre home here at Edge. Her favorite roles include: Jane Bennet (PRIDE AND PREJUDICE), Rose (MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS), and Irene Livingston (LIGHT UP THE SKY). Molly would like to thank her parents for their endless support, as well as the whole Edge team for welcoming her back!