ALEX COLES PEREZ (he/him) makes his Victory Gardens Theatre debut. Other Chicago credits include: The Leopard Play: or sad songs for lost boys (Steep Theatre Company, Jeff Award for Best Ensemble in an Equity Production); CROPT (Jackalope Theatre Company); and Native Gardens (Williams Street Repertory). Regional credits include: The River Bride (Arizona Theatre Company); Twelfth Night (Arizona Repertory Theatre, Mac Award nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy), and The Merchant of Venice (Arizona Repertory Theatre). Television credits include: Somebody Somewhere (HBO). Alec is represented by DDO Artists Agency.
Archives: Team Members
Alexis J. Roston
ALEXIS J. ROSTON (she/her) is an Actress, director and playwright. She earned acclaim for her mesmerizing portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, including Chicago’s Jeff, Black Theater Alliance and Black Excellence Awards. Other credits nationwide include starring in Don’t Make Me Over— A Tribute to Dionne Warwick (Jeff Award Nomination, Black Theater Alliance Award Nomination), Mary Poppins (Mrs. Banks), Porgy and Bess (Bess), Ragtime (Sarah), Sister Act (Deloris), For Colored Girls… (Lady in Orange), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Charlaine), Shrek: The Musical (Dragon), The Wiz (Addaperle), The Piano Lesson (Grace), Crowns (Jeanette), Company (Sarah), Godspell (Joanne), Smokey Joe’s Café (Brenda), Jesus Christ Superstar, The Color Purple, Hair, Hairspray, She the People with Second City Chicago and the world premiere of The Secret of My Success. Concerts include First Lady of Song: Alexis J Roston Sings Ella Fitzgerald. Roston served as director and playwright of A Nativity Story: More Than A Miracle. Television: Chicago PD, Chicago Code and The Chi. She holds a BFA in musical theatre from Howard University. She is a proud member of AEA and Congo Square Theatre Company and represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
J. Tyler Whitmer
J Tyler Whitmer (he/him) makes his Victory Gardens Theatre debut! Most recently seen in Kinky Boots at The Paramount Theatre. Other Chicago Credits: Lyric Opera Chicago, Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire, Mercury Theater. Regional: Guthrie Theatre, Mason Street Warehouse and has performed with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Kansas City Pops. J Tyler also flips houses with his boyfriend Nathan. @homecoming.us
Teddy Gales
TEDDY GALES (he/him) is making his Victory Gardens Theater Debut. Chicago credits include: Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum (Metropolis Performing Arts Center). Touring credits include: The SpongeBob Musical (First National Tour). Television credits include: Chicago Fire (NBC). www.teddygales.com. Sketch comedy work can be found on Instagram teddyg_comedy and tiktok teddygales.
Sara Sevigny
SARA SEVIGNY (she/her) is making her Victory Gardens debut. Other Chicago credits include: My Fair Lady (Lyric Opera), Secret of My Success, Mamma Mia (Paramount), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Shakes) ASSASSINS (Porchlight – Jeff Award). TV/Film credits include: The Big Leap (FOX), Corri and Sara are Famous (YouTube), Chicago Fire (NBC), EMPIRE (FOX), The Gabriels (Pilot-FOX), Hot Date (PopTv), South Side (HBOMax), Rogers Park (Critic’s Pick New York Times, 100% Rotten Tomatoes/Amazon Prime) and Cold War (Amazon). Sara teaches On-Camera at Actors Training Center. www.sarasevigy.com
Jos N. Banks
JOS N. BANKS (he/they) is a multi-award winning Visual/ Performing Arts Artist, Costume Designer, Stylist & Teaching Artist. Tours: International – Kinky Boots (Lola), North American / Canadian – Hair (Hud), The Color Purple (Harpo). Regional: Ms. Blakk for President (Steppenwolf), Songs for a New World (Farmers Alley Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (Paramount Theatre), The Color Purple, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Drury Lane Theatre), The Scottsboro Boys (Porchlight Music Theatre). Film: Ocean in The Chi, Dr. Greg Martinson in Work In Progress & Rise Against’ music video “Make It Stop” (Lead). Deemed WINNER of StageScene LA’s “Scenie” Award for “Break Out Performance in a Touring Production” as Lola in Kinky Boots in 2018 & nominated Best Costume Designer for the 2012, 2016/17 & 2019 BTAA (Black Theater Alliance Awards). Jos has his very own Master Class, entitled “#BeFEARLESS” which he has instructed nationally. Representation: Paonessa Talent Agency. www.FearlessJos.com // Follow Me: @JosNBanks
Yuchi Chiu
YUCHI CHIU (he/him) is excited to make his return to Sideshow Theatre! Sideshow credits include: A Heap See. Other Chicago credits include: exercise your demons (Victory Gardens Theater), It’s a Wonderful Life (American Blues Theatre), How We Navigate Space (Strawdog Theatre), The Miscellany (The Passage Theatre), and Baked! The Musical (Underscore Theatre). Film credits include: BJ’s Mobile Gift Shop (Sundance Film Festival). Yuchi is a graduate of and teacher at Black Box Acting Studio and is proudly represented by DDO Artists Agency.
Edmund O’Brien
EDMUND O’BRIEN (he/him) began improvising and writing sketch comedy at the University of Chicago. He has been a Teaching Artist with Changing Worlds, Lookingglass Theatre, Mudlark Theater, Northlight Theatre, The Second City, and Storycatchers Theatre where he received the IDJJ 2016 Volunteer of the Year Award for his work with incarcerated youth writing and performing musicals. Edmund and his wife Dana perform as Sheila’s Sister, and co-founded KidProv Chicago where they teach improv at Chase Park (and now online). He has also taught at The University Club of Chicago and The Center for Life and Learning. Edmund’s writing credits range from You Don’t Know Jack to MTV’s Undressed. Somewhere in repeats you can still hear him as the announcer for Street Smarts.
Cortez L. Johnson
CORTEZ L. JOHNSON (he/him) makes his Victory Gardens Theater debut understudying the role of Stephen in Queen of the Night. His theater credits include Porchlight, Lookingglass, Chicago Opera Theater, and The Mercury Theater of Chicago.
Victor Musoni
VICTOR MUSONI (he/him) is an actor based in Chicago. Select Theater credits include 1919 and Columbinus
(Steppenwolf); America V2.1, Are you Ready to Smash White Things, No child (Definition Theatre Company) La Havana Madrid (The Den Theater); Luck of the Irish, The Q Brother’s Rome Sweet Rome (UIC); Fun Harmless War Machine (The New Coordinates); PYG: Or the Misedumacation of Dorian Belle, Blood at the Root (Jackalope); The Toilet, How We Got On (Haven Theatre). TV/Film credits include 61st Street, WHOLE, Chicago Med, 6×9. Web Series/Music Video credits include Brujos, Young Lost Love, Sinner. Endless love to Mom, Ama, and loved ones for holding it down always and forever. Victor is represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.