Actors Bios – Workshop Production

Actor Biographies of Urania Workshop Production at Hilton Asmus Contemporary in July 2014.  Meet the CastStarring Ellen Dunphy as Emilie & Nathan Ducker as Voltaire
Supporting Cast
Jeff Dolecek as Florent Claude, Matt Huston as Cideville and St. Lambert, Jesse Hutson as Clairaut and Gossip Man, August Lysy as Longchamps and Maupertuis, David Smith as Duc de Richelieu, Elise Soeder as Therese, Madame Denis and Gossip Lady 2, Katy Werlin as Gossip Lady 1 and Madame Graffigny, Andrea Young as Maguerite

Ellen Dunphy
Gabrielle Emilie le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise Du Châtelet, Emilie Du Châtelet

Ellen Dunphy is thrilled and honored to help bring Emelie’s story to life in this production. Previous credits include: The Sellout (Amazing Sammo Productions), The Three Musketeers (Theatre-Hikes), The Taming of the Shrew (Blunt Objects Theatre); The Hothouse and Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Pink Banana Theatre); In My Mind’s Eye and Medea (Fools for Tragedy); and Arcadia, The Imaginary Invalid, and Anatomy of Gray (Ripon College).

Nathan Ducker
Voltaire, lover and companion of Emilie

Nathan Ducker is elated to be a part of such a rich and immersive process as Urania. Equal thanks to both Jyl and Voltaire for bringing to life one of my favorite roles I have ever played. Other faves: Shakespeare’s r&j (Jeff nom 2012), Othello, Biloxi Blues, Taming of the Shrew, Cabaret, King Lear, Into the Woods, Kiss me, Kate and Tartuffe.

Jeff Dolecek
Florent-Claude, Marquis Du Châtelet-Lomont, husband of Emilie Du Châtelet

Jeff is very excited to help bring this history to life. Most recently Jeff was in Collaboraction’s Sketchbook. Previous to that he understudied several shows at Profiles Theatre (Bobby – In a Forest Dark and Deep; Carmichael – Behanding in Spokane; Joe Cooper – Killer Joe). Additionally, he was seen in Premiere Theatre & Performance’s production of Seven Doors.

David Smith
Louis Francois Armand Du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu, friend of Emilie and Florent Claude

David Edward Smith is thrilled to be a part of this production and the retelling of such an amazing woman’s story. Past credits include The Wizard of Oz (Compass Creative Dramatics), 12th Night, Antigone (The Framework), Bare: A Pop Opera (The Art Spot), Jesus Christ Superstar, Charlotte’s Web, 1776 (American Eagle Productions). “Never stop playing.”

Andrea Young
Marguerite-Thérèse Colbert de Croisey, friend of Emilie Du Châtelet

Andrea Young received her BFA in acting from Wright State University in Dayton, OH where she also worked with The Human Race Theatre Company in Rabbit Hole and Zoot Theatre Company in Hansel and Gretel and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Chicago credits include Emma (Dead Writer’s Theatre Collective), Macbeth (New Rock Productions), Six More Scary Tales (National Pastime Theatre), and student shows at The Second City Conservatory. Andrea can also be seen later this fall in Dead Writer’s House of Mirth as Gerty Farish, as well as Maria in Twelfth Night with Lefthand Productions.

Jesse Hutson
Alexis Claude de Clairaut, friend, mathematician and tutor to Emilie Du Châtelet
Gossips: Man

Jesse is thrilled to return to such a beautiful piece of theatre, after taking part in the original stage reading in January. A Florida native, Jesse has been performing and teaching across Chicago for two years. Recent credits include Cave Painting Theatre Company’s As You Like It, and The Rubenstein Kiss with Coriolis Theatre. Special thanks as always to Chep, Nika, and Alexis for their loving support.

Matt Huston

Katy Werlin
Gossips: Lady 1
Françoise De Graffigny, widow and guest of Emilie Du Châtelet

Katy is very excited to be making her Chicago theater debut in this production. Previous credits include Sunday in the Park with George, Comedy of Errors, and Titus Andronicus (Burning Coal Theatre Company), The Magic Flute and Scenes From Verdi Operas (UNC-CH Opera Workshop), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Hoof n’ Horn), and Alice in Wonderland (Company Carolina). She has a BA in dramatic arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MA in Visual Culture: Costume Studies from New York University.

Elise Soeder
Marie-Louise Denis, Voltaire’s niece
Thérèse, servant of Emilie Du Châtelet
Gossips: Lady 2

A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design and an alumna of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s apprenticeship, Elise has worked in short film, radio, and theatre since moving to Chicago. Her most recent credits include TITUS: Apokalypse (Bare Knuckle Productions) and using Romeo and Juliet (Chicspeare) as a teaching tool in area high schools.

August Lysy
Sébastian Longchamps, servant of Voltaire and lover of Thérèse
Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, explorer, tutor and mathematician to Emilie Du Châtelet

August is both excited and grateful to be working with such a talented group of artists to bring Jyl Bonaguro’s work to life on the stage. His previous acting credits include Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit and Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, both performed at Shimer College, a Great Books school here in Chicago. He also co-authored The Last Hand, performed this past fall at the Athenaeum Theatre, and he is a published poet who has been recognized by the Academy of American Poets. August is currently completing his final year at Shimer College and intends to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Humanities in the upcoming spring.