Mudlark administrative STAFF
Get to know the Mudlark Theater Administrative Staff
Allison Cochrane she/her (Education Director) is thrilled to live the dream by combining her love for comedy, education & theater-making with Mudlark! Allison's creativity & comedic flair shine through as she designs & implements engaging educational programs that empower young minds to explore their imaginations & express themselves freely. Her approach to education is hands-on, interactive, & always infused with humor, making learning an adventure that students eagerly anticipate. As Summer Camp Director, Allison crafts unforgettable experiences beyond traditional theater camps. Her dedication to creating a supportive space where every child feels valued & inspired to take creative risks sets her programs apart. Allison regularly performs all around Chicago at The Annoyance Theater, Second City Chicago, iO (Improv Olympics), The Bughouse, Logan Square Improv, & The Color Club. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, she is a southern gal turned city girl. Education- Columbia College Chicago BA in Theater with a concentration in Comedy Writing & Performance.
Ian Frank he/him (Executive Director) is an award-winning arts and education leader with two decades of experience as a producer and theatre artist. Most recently, he was the Managing Director of Commonwealth Theatre Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Before that, Ian spent fifteen years working in the Chicago theatre community, including as the Associate Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company where he directed Frankenstein (Jeff Awards- Best Production, Best Director). In Chicago, he has also worked at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Raven, Redtwist, LiveWire, Actors' Equity Association, and at DePaul University, where he earned his MFA in Directing. Regionally, he's worked at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Repertory, The Kennedy Center, Lexington Children's Theatre, The University of South Carolina, and Centre College, where earned his BA in Theatre. Originally from Cincinnati, Ian has a long history of working with students, including nine summers as a faculty member at the prestigious Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program where he taught classes including Global Cinema, The Art of the Remix, and Intro to Moral Psychology. Ian composes music and his stage adaptation of The Call of the Wild was recently performed at the University of Montana.
Emiley Kiser she/her (Education Coordinator) is an actor, director and theater educator working in Chicago since 2019. She spent several years working in New York City and the regional theater scene before moving to Chicago to be part of the inaugural graduate acting cohort at Northwestern University. She's been teaching with Mudlark since 2022 and can be seen around the city as an actor and improviser at different theater companies. Her recent acting credits include Trying (Peninsula Players) and Dance Nation (Northwestern University). She is a proud member of Actors Equity and delighted to be a part of the Mudlark crew. Learn more on emileykiseractor.com!
Rebecca Rose Schilsky she/her (Artistic Producer) is a child at heart. She loves to get curious and explore, to question and question further, and to seek joy in everything she does. These descriptions could also paint you a picture of who she is as Mudlark's Artistic Producer! Originally from New York, Rebecca is a Chicago-based Director, Production Manager, & Educator! She has Directed for Mudlark Theater, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble, Whiskey Radio Hour, & First Kiss Theatre, and Production Managed for Jackalope Theatre, The New Coordinates, & The Moulin Rouge! Tour, and was Second City's Camp Lead. Her theatrical passions include creating brave spaces both onstage and backstage– as well as generating productions that entertain and educate audiences of ages 0-101! Education: Skidmore College– Bachelor of Science in Theater (Honors). www.rebeccabackstage.com
Avery Ford he/him (Education Coordinator) is an actor, improviser, and theatre educator originally from Houston, Texas. He attended Howard University and Colby College where he graduated with a BA in Acting Techniques and a B.Ed in Education. Since moving to Chicago in 2023 he has been a teaching artist with Congo Square Theater, Filament Theatre, Northlight Theatre, and a monologue coach for the August Wilson Monologue Competition. Recent performance credits include Fences (National Players), Much Ado About Nothing (National Players), Ripcord (Oil Lamp Theater), Improvised DCOM (iO Theater), and Keystone Deconstruction (iO Theater).
Brad Gunter he/him (Finance & Operations Director) attended Ball State University (BA in Theatre/German) and Middlebury College (MA in German) and studied in Germany at Mainz and Berlin. He has over a decade of experience in Chicago-area theatre as an administrator. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of TUTA Theatre and is also a Company Member. He is a director of the storefront theatre and voice-over recordings and an occasional translator of plays. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two young sons.
Sarah Kinn she/her (Marketing & Engagement Manager) is a theater-maker, teaching artist, and content creator whose love for youth theater and all things creative have brought her to the perfect place. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Sarah’s performing & arts education career began with First Stage. She has since worked on projects with Chicago Children’s Theater, Improv Playhouse, Once Upon Our Time Capsule, and Pride Arts. She is excited to share all of the magic that Mudlark has to offer with the Evanston community and beyond. Sarah received a BA in Theater (Acting concentration) and Marketing from Columbia College Chicago.
Christina Lepri-Stringer she/her (Artistic Director) is a teaching artist, playwright, and arts administrator with over a decade of experience in theatre and arts education. She most recently served as the Director of Education and Community Engagement at Northlight Theatre. Prior to that, Christina worked with Mudlark first as Education Director and then as Managing Director for seven years. She has previously taught with American Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Chicago Humanities Festival, and Boston Children's Theatre. As a playwright and director at Mudlark, she has created over 10 full-length plays, including Lot 47, The Tale of Mariad Tylwyth, 3:35 pm, Scared, Pinocchio, The Enchanted Castle, The Nutcracker, Little Women, and Poe, among others.
Aiyanna Wade she/her (Box Office & Patron Services Manager) is a performer, teaching artist, and dungeon master extraordinaire from Chicago, IL. With decades of experience under her belt from leading to performing, she feels most at home in the theater. Aiyanna’s background includes running Tabletop Roleplaying Games, graduating from the Second City Conservatory Program, and holding a B.A. in Theater & Dance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Mudlark Teaching Artists Cohort
Mudlark Theater’s Teaching Artist Cohort is a vibrant community of Chicagoland area teaching artists, deeply invested in co-learning and making art with young artists through our classes, camps, and residencies. Mudlark endeavors to build a community that our Teaching Artists can consider a safe and affirming artistic home.
