Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble

Ensemble

Ellyzabeth Adler is Founder and Executive Director of CDE. She holds a Masters of Arts in Directing and Movement from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BFA in Performing Arts from Roosevelt University. She has worked as a performer and teacher for various theatres, outreach programs and organizations, including Eclipse Theatre, ProsArts and The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. Adler has also worked as an independent choreographer creating modern dance theatre pieces for various theatre productions and has created six evening length works including adaptations and originals: T.S Eliot’s Death Dream Kingdom, The Wasteland, The Yellow Wallpaper, Chicago Stories and This Is Not A Pipe.

Amanda Eaton is very excited to be a part of such a great company. She earned her BA in Theatre and Minor in Dance from The University of Maine in Orono. She is an ensemble member with Imagination Theatre and a guest artist with Erasing the Distance. Amanda first started with Danztheatre as a woman in the wallpaper in The Yellow Wallpaper. She has also worked with Strawdog Theatre, BoHo, Quest Theatre company and has done many improv shows in Donny's Skybox at Second City. She is happy to be spending her time teaching kids about the theatre!

Morgan Christiansen received a BFA in acting from Columbia College Chicago. She has had the opportunity to help create powerful pieces through directing and performing with CDE. Morgan has performed in The Yellow Wallpaper, This is Not a Pipe, Unraveling Bill and in the company’s Full Circle Festivals and Voices Projects. She has also performed with the Easy Street Players in various productions, such as Debbie Does Dallas The Musical, SIN and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. Other works include The Skriker with The Gray Zelda Theater Company and Gladiators Live with the Bailiwick Theater.

Jack Ryan was born in Chicago. He is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In addition to performing with CDE, Jack is also an ensemble member of Imagination Theater. Most recently Jack was “Timmy” in The Subject Was Roses at the Illinois Theatre Center. Other plays include Our Town, Dr. Atomic, An Inspector Calls, Candida, Annie Get Your Gun, A Midsummer’s Light Dream and others. Jack Ryan has also worked as an after school arts instructor with “Open Book.”

Henry Del Cid graduated from NIU in May 2008 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting. He recently studied at the Moscow Art Theatre in Russia and has had training in Russian theatre, acting, directing, ballet, movement, and singing. He resides in Chicago and is currently a ensemble member at Imagination Theatre as well as working at Northwestern and UIC. His acting credits include parts in Tracers, Midsummer Night's Dream, Disciples, West Side Story, Les Miserables, and Time to Burn. Heteaches several classes and workshopsat the N.I.U.and at The Acting Studio.

Dani Bryant studied Drama at NC School of the Arts and Actor Training at The Hartt School of Music. While in Chicago Dani has worked with Grey Zelda Theatre (The Skriker), Adventure Stage Chicago(Holes), Apple Tree Theatre (Quick and Dirty). Dani's one woman show, 'Binge', premiered at the University of Chicago's Incubation Series last summer and has since been seen at Around the Coyote and Fringe Binge. Dani is also the Managing Director of Cabaret Vagabond, whose European approach to the variety show fosters a community of Chicago artists who come together every other month to make some fierce art and get down.

Carlos Rogelio Diaz is privileged to perform throughout the Chicagoland area with various educational theater troupes. He is a member of Aguijon Theater, performing Spanish language plays, a member of Infamous Commonwealth Theater, and performs theater for young audiences with various groups when given the opportunity. He has a BA in performance from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jean Parisi is an artist, performer, director and clown. She has developed arts-integrated curricula, conducted visual and performing arts residencies including extensive work with special populations, and provided professional development since 1976. Parisi has performed extensively in the Chicago area: with the Pros Arts Ensemble on school stages and neighborhood parks, in Italy with the Italian American Theater, and on "TV Pros," a children’s series on CAN TV. Parisi has an MFA in Performance and a BFA in Sculpture.

Jennifer Guglielmi has been teaching dance through CDE's Kid's Project since Fall 2007 at the Children's School of Oak Park and St. Peter's in Skokie. She believes in teaching students important movement skills while also fostering individuality and creativity in class activities. Jennifer also teaches at East Bank Club, ARCC Ballet and Old Town School of Folk Music. Her own dance credits in Chicago include working with RTG Dance, Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, Open House Dance and Dim Sum Dance.