TRAP DOOR THEATRE PRESENTS

Katarzyna Wińska (she/her) (Director) was born in Warsaw, capital of communist Poland in 1953. Since 1977, she has had M.A. in applied linguistics at the Warsaw University and is the wife of Tomasz Wiński, who produces her mixed- media poetry and is the discoverer and curator of all the natural spaces she has applied in her work. Since 1995 (in democratic Poland), she has been conceiving and directing two independent, non-profit, non-permanent-stage theater troupes’ performances: Teatr Opera Buffa with people with schizophrenia, organizing voyages to insanity and back. For example, to Edinburgh and Elsinore with performances of Hamlet; Kinoteatr Bluboks with amateurs and professional actors performing adapted plays or those written by herself. She has published two glamour extravaganza magazines with reviews of 25 years of writing, filming, and performing 

John Kahara (The Illusionist) has been an ensemble with Trap Door since 2002. Some credits include Nana, Katzelmacher, Minna, The Unconquered, Beholder, The Swan, Chaste, Horses at The Window and The word progress on my Mother’s lips doesn’t ring true. With Trap Door, John performed at The New York Fringe Fest (The Crazy Locomotive) and toured France with Me Too, I am Catherine DeNueve. He has played twice at the International Theatre Festival of Sibiu (Romania). He travelled to Zakopane, Poland with the cast of John Doe, performing at the thirtieth anniversary of the Teatr Witkacy. John also co-directed The Swan and assistant directed Eva Peron, 12 Ophelias and Cookie Play.  John has appeared in three pieces created by visual artist Catherine Sullivan (Ice Floes, the Chittendens and Triangle of Need) shown at Tate Modern, The Walker, The Whitney, Session and The Pompidou. Around Chicago, John has also worked with Steep Theater and The Hypocrites. He sits deep in gratitude for having the opportunity to work with this talented and insightful director, cast and crew; and wishes to express all love and thanks to Justino Garcia, who makes everything, even the unknown, make sense.

Michael Mejia (they/them) (The Runner) is excited to be part of  Trap Door Theatre’s new virtual project. They most recently direct ALAS. Michael studied acting and music performance at Indiana University before coming to Chicago. Michael is the company manager for Trap Door Theatre, where they are also a proud ensemble member. Their actor credits include The White Plague Father, Love and Information, The Killer Architect, The Old Woman Broods Waiter, Monsieur Deon is a Woman Wilkes/Beaumarchais at Trap Door Theatre; Proxy Doug at Underscore Theatre; Kingdom Alexander at Broken Nose Theatre; Little Shop of Horrors; Audrey II at Stoughton Village Players; Hair Hud at Harper Ensemble Theatre. Mejia is also a musician who writes and plays guitar and piano. They would like to thank Trap Door Theatre for allowing them to take this journey.