Meet our Theater Staff!
Andrea S. Collins (Makeup Instructor & Photographer)
Andrea graduated from the University of Illinois, Chicago with a bachelor's degree in fine arts with a concentration in photography and film. For more than a decade Andrea worked in video production. Her career ranged from video editing and graphic arts at a publishing house, to documentary camera work, to video production. Her love of teaching and community art started from working as the lead training coordinator for Chicago’s public access station and continued as the television production supervisor at a Chicago Public High School, where she organized their first ever film festival. In 2011, she began work as the makeup specialist for Summer on Broadway camp and since then has worked at Devonshire with every age group as a theater instructor, camp specialist, camp director and preschool assistant teacher. Things came full circle when Andrea was able to use her skills as a photographer for both the Devonshire Playhouse and for the Devonshire dance program.
Allison Grabarczyk (Theatre Instructor)
Allison originally hails from Toledo Ohio where she began dancing at the age of three.She was a competitive dancer for 14 years and graduated with her B.S. in Dance Performance from Illinois State University in 2011. Allison has been teaching dance in the Midwest for almost 20 years, sharing her love of the performing arts with students and audiences of all ages. In 2016, she helped to open Top Note Performing Arts Academy where she is currently on staff as head choreographer and assistant stage manager. She is a certified Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD), Rhythm Works (RWID), Right At School, and Virtus educator with her focus on creating trauma informed classrooms that integrate SEL framework as a major part of the curriculum.
Rebecca Goldberg (Music Director)
Since she could talk, Becca has been involved in any music, dance or theater experience she could find. Devonshire allowed her to pursue those experiences both as a student and as an instructor. She has musically directed and choregraphed for, as well as taught theatre classes. Becca holds a BME in Music Education from the University of Illinois. Highlights of her professional career include six years of high school music instruction, private vocal and piano coaching and working on over 50 shows at Devonshire. Her vast experience of the arts and education has helped develop her creative, motivated and lively teaching style. As an educator for over 10 years, Becca teaches her students to have deep respect for the arts, themselves and each other and is passionate about inspiring a new generation of artists to never stop creating!
Eileen Hand (Theatre Director/Instructor)
Eileen has been working for Devonshire for more than ten years. She directs adult Playhouse productions, teaches acting classes and is a voice teacher. During the day she is the Artistic Director for Thin Ice Ensemble Theater, a local youth theater organization for homeschool kids which is now under the umbrella of the Skokie Park District. After receiving her degree in music performance from University of Illinois CU, Eileen worked professionally in and around the Chicago area acting and singing.She has been directing and teaching for the past 20 years.
Robin Horwitz (Theatre & Facility Supervisor)
Robin has worked for 35 years in the arts administrative field while also acting professionally in Off-Broadway performances and regional theatre, films, and commercials. She maintains her Certification as a Parks and Recreation Executive and has developed a national award winning improv program for teens while also being an experienced director, stage manager and drama therapist. Robin can be seen teaching, house managing, producing, coordinating show marketing and periodically singing and acting.
Doug Komandt (Music Director)
Doug is thrilled to be working with the fabulous actors at Devonshire to bring live theatre to you. He has been playing the piano for almost 30 years, and has been involved in theatre since he was a child, both from on the stage and from behind the piano. Doug has been involved with Devonshire since moving to Chicago in 2022. He grew up in Pennsylvania, and holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Penn State University, and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin. By day, Doug works in sales and marketing for a medical device company.
Dahlia Meynardie (Technical Theatre Assistant)
A native of the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Dahlia has been involved with the theater since she was 9-years-old. She spent most of her childhood after that performing at various local theaters on the coast before coming to Chicago to study theatre and english literature at Northwestern University. Since finding her way to Devonshire, she has been involved in a number of productions and worked as a performance leader for Summer on Broadway seniors. She also works as a substitute teacher for Evanston-Skokie School District 65.
Cydney Moody (Choreographer, Instructor & Stage Manager)
This is Cydney’s second year at the Devonshire Cultural Center. She served as choreographer for the adult Devonshire Playhouse production and stage manages for Young Performers while also teaching in movement in theatre classes. She also serves as an instructor with the Devonshire Theatre Arts Academy as she adds the elements dance and theatrical movement to all class levels from ages 3 to adult. She is a professional actress in Chicago with Stewart Talent. Some acting credits include: The Wolves—Goodman Theatre, Downstate—Steppenwolf Theatre, a supporting role in Chicago Med—NBC, and Somebody Somewhere—HBO. She has done many plays around the Chicago area. Cydney enjoys assisting in the Devonshire Preschool and is also a Personal Pet Sitter and an Art Model for Oakton Community College.
Michelle Nano (Theatre Instructor)
Michelle is an early childhood and theatre teacher. She graduated with a BA at Northeastern Illinois University. For about ten years she has been teaching classes at the Devonshire Cultural Center. She has also instructed at Weber Leisure Center and performed readings for Storybook Corner at the Exploritorium. In addition to teaching, she has a great love for music vocally. She has performed at various community plays and concerts. She has also performed at the Skokie Public Library for The Village on the Green Summer Concert events. With Michelle’s passion for music and combination with her early childhood experience this class will offer a fun and creative introduction for your future little performer.
Evans Poulos (Technical Theatre Director)
Evans has been involved with technical theatre at the Skokie Park District for years, initially as a Carpenter but gradually adding sound, lights, and other theatre technology skills to his repertoire. Trained as an Electrician, and having a working knowledge of public address sound reinforcement dating back to the 1980s. Evans teaches technical theatre to students in apprentice classes and summer camps. Projects of note, include a working murder set for Sweeney Todd, (long live the Sweeney chair!) Evans enjoys the collaborative aspect of theater at Devonshire Playhouse and has participated in at least 45 main stage shows and 30 Camp shows in addition to innumerable class showcases, dance performances and other special events. The playhouse is a vibrant and busy place which puts on over 20 different events each year on its stage.When not working on a show, he might be found acting in one or supporting his wonderful wife Gayle, in her various thespian activities as an actress, director, and educator, or his fantastic children, Dora, technical theater major at Case Western Reserve University and Joanna, theater major at Suffolk University.
Jennifer Russell (Stage Manager & Props Designer)
Jennifer is pleased to work with both adults in Playhouse productions as well as Teen Performers. Her 20-year career as a stage manager, production manager, and house manager includes working on tour, in summer stock, dinner theatre and in many Chicago area theatres, including the Royal George and Steppenwolf Theatres. At Devonshire she has stage managed Pippin, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Follies, The Sounds of Hope, and Les Miserables as well as lent her artistic and organizational abilities to several other productions.
Tyler Skafgaard (Theatre Director/Instructor)
Tyler is a graduate of North Park University, holding a BA in Conflict Transformation with a focus in Theatre and Performance. Through studying and working with Theatre of Witness and Theatre of the Oppressed, he has experienced the importance of using theatre as a way to empathize the real accounts of individual people and promote healing. Tyler for the last five years has worked throughout Chicago as a director, actor, and teacher. Tyler directs Teen Performers and select productions with Thin Ice Ensemble Theater. He teaches Broadway Bound and Spotlights-Comedy/Drama. Tyler also serves as the resident stage combat choreographer/instructor for various productions and classes.
Gayle Starr (Theatre Director/Instructor/Specialist)
Gayle has been doing theater since she was five and told her preschool teacher that she would not talk to her unless she was called by her proper name… Cinderella. Gayle graduated from Northwestern University with a major in performance studies and went on to receive her Masters of Fine Arts in Theater for Youth from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation, she taught for the Young Actors Program through the Organic Theater and did curriculum development for Imagination theater, before working as a Drama Therapist for the Institute for Therapy Through the Arts. Gayle is currently a licensed clinical school social worker during the day in addition to teaching with Devonshire Theatre Arts Academy and directing at The Devonshire Playhouse. Gayle acts in shows and her favorite roles include: Sarah (Company), Olive (Female Odd Couple) and the Earl of Richmond (Richard III). Favorite shows she has directed are: Little Women, Secret Garden and Our Town. Gayle considers her greatest achievement to be raising her amazing daughters Dora and Joanna and enjoying life with her cute if sometimes grumpy husband Evans. She loves working with both the kids and adults in the Devonshire community.
Amy Torf (Prop Designer)
Amy is delighted to be bringing props at Devonshire to life! She loves to combine engineering and theatre to create props that engage both the audience and actors. She holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics. When she’s not backstage or on stage, Amy is a 6th-12th STEM teacher and the executive director of Noggin Builders, a nonprofit that provides free STEM education to children in low income areas.
Jay Torrens (Theatre Musical Director)
Jay has completed four years of study at Millikin University where he is pursuing a degree in Vocal Music Education. There he has performed in Millikin's flagship touring Choral and Vocal Jazz Ensembles "University Choir" and "One Voice" as well as Millikin's Opera Theatre. Jay has experience working and acting in community and regional theatre and also is an instructor for other musical theatre classes at Devonshire.
Timothy Wolf (Theatre Musical Director)
Timothy has been performing since third grade in Royal Oak, Michigan, when he spearheaded, wrote and acted in various segments of an elementary school revue. Although a classically trained pianist, he decided theatre was more his forte than piano, and he earned a BFA in theatre (Acting) from Wayne State University, also collecting separate bachelor of arts degrees in mathematics, and in philosophy. While still in his home state of Michigan, he was a busy working actor. Here in Chicagoland, he has worked with various theatre/performance companies, including Devonshire, Light Opera Works, MadKap Productions, The Caroling Party, Music Theater Works, and Vito's Vault. He loves working with the very talented young people of the Thin Ice Ensemble Theatre, where he has been music director since 2016. Timothy lives in Skokie with his wife, Lisa, and his son, Jack.
Cheryl Yenter (Theatre Instructor & Stage Manager)
Cheryl has been involved in theater and music and education for many years. Cheryl received her music education degree from the College of St. Teresa, and an Education degree from Winona State University. She has taught vocal music and produced concerts and performances by young people of all ages. She has sung in and managed various choral groups. Cheryl homeschooled her two children and continues to teach writing and literature classes. She is also an avid English country dancer as well as a 4H Leader. Cheryl has been with Thin Ice Ensemble Theater first as a parent volunteer and then staff member since 2012. Watching young people bring their characters to life on stage continues to bring great satisfaction. She is happy to be a part in making theatrical magic.