We were over the moon to celebrate our team with portraits by the one and only Joe Mazza at Brave Lux, Inc. It was a wild night - complete with a tornado warning and a 45 minute break as we sheltered down to hide from an intense storm. But, Joe is ALSO a force of nature, and he captured some truly beautiful images of our staff that showcase the energy and personality of each member of our team. We're excited to share our new staff photos and introduce you to all the people who make A.B.L.E.'s programs possible.
Meet our Creative Associates!
Lucas, Matt, Sam, Andrew, Colleen, and Rachel are veteran ensemble members who are employed to co-lead workshops and outreach programs and present professional development trainings. They also support administrative projects throughout the year, such as creating visual aids, assembling scripts and class materials, and writing communications for donors. Creative Associates get to share their knowledge about theatre and performing, while also building transferable job skills like communication, leadership, adaptability, and collaboration. Creative Associates are paid competitive wages for sharing their time and talents with us. This group has a combined total of 62 years of performing experience - we have a lot to learn from them!
Colleen Altman (she/her)
Colleen is a founding ensemble member with A.B.L.E.. She has appeared in a wide range of stage and screen roles with A.B.L.E. as well as @specialgiftstheatre . Colleen particularly enjoys big dramatic roles, and anything that involves singing. She describes herself as honest, forgiving, and famous. She most enjoys coming to A.B.L.E. to play games, write stories, and be a serious performer. In her spare time, Colleen is also a Global Ambassador for @specialolympics and an intern for @gigisplayhousechicago. One of her favorite dance party songs is the Glee Cast’s version of “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Rachel Buchanan (she/her)
Rachel is a founding ensemble member and has been part of A.B.L.E. since the very beginning. Some of her favorite roles have been Tabitha Link in The Spy Who Knew Me, the Thunderbird in The Forms of Things Unknown: The Quest for the Dragon’s Eye, and Viola in Twelfth Night. Rachel describes herself as supportive, funny, and enthusiastic. She loves teaching others and sharing her favorite parts of ABLE: playing with different characters, creating stories, and having fun. Dance party is the best part of every rehearsal, and Rachel loves to dance to Motown classics.
Andrew Kosnik (he/him)
Andrew is a founding ensemble member of A.B.L.E. and has performed in several projects with us over the years. Some of his favorite roles include Romeo in Romeo & Juliet Remix and Gordy Burmer in The Curse of the Tempest Jewel. He describes himself as creative, hard working, and talkative. Andrew loves coming to A.B.L.E. to work on his art, play different games, and be with friends. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys painting and going to the gym. He loves to dance to any of the songs from “Grease.”
Matt La Chapelle (he/him)
Matt joined A.B.L.E. in 2018, making his first appearance in The ABLE-tational Variety Show. He particularly enjoys devising original characters and writing his own stories to share with an audience. Matt describes himself as an actor, dancer, and “all about A.B.L.E.!” He enjoys coming to A.B.L.E. to work as a team, be a leader, and explore different emotions and characters. In his spare time, Matt enjoys writing, watching movies, and auditioning for professional roles. He recently wrapped filming for the pilot "I Didn’t Mean to Go Mental". One of Matt’s favorite dance party songs is “Johnny B Goode”
Lucas Miezal (he/him)
Lucas joined A.B.L.E. in 2012 at just 13 years old. He has grown up on our stages and continues to wow in performances, including his recent favorite role as Brontes the Phoenix in The Forms of Things Unknown: The Journey to the Triolympic Games. Lucas describes himself as social, friendly, and active. Lucas enjoys coming to A.B.L.E. to play games like Pass the Clap, learn new stories, and make friends. Outside of A.B.L.E., Lucas is an accomplished gymnast, with too many gold medals to count! He can also speak fluent Polish and someday dreams of being an EMT or police officer so he can protect and help others. One of Lucas’ favorite dance party songs is “Sugar” by Maroon 5.
Sam Radinsky (he/him)
Sam is a founding ensemble member and has been with A.B.L.E. since our programs first began at GiGi’s Playhouse. Sam particularly enjoys exploring classical roles like Puck, Caliban, and Cyrano. He describes himself as brave, artistic, and friendly. Sam loves coming to A.B.L.E.to learn to support others, use his imagination, and feel seen and heard. Sam is a motivated self-advocate and is interested in learning more about Disability Justice. In addition to being a Creative Associate, he has also served on A.B.L.E.’s Program Advisory Council. In his spare time, Sam enjoys teaching yoga and helping others. One of Sam’s favorite dance party songs is “My Shot” from the musical Hamilton.
More from our photo shoot with Joe Mazza
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