Geoff joined Writers Theatre in November 2007 as Director of Finance & Administration. As CFO, he oversees the fiscal health and strategic financial planning of the organization, working closely with the Finance and Investment Committees of the Board to ensure long-term sustainability. During his tenure, the Writers’ operating budget has doubled, the size of the staff increased by a third, and an office building, state-of-the-art performing arts center and scene shop have opened to serve the award-winning theatre operations. Geoff’s career spans more than 30 years as a producer and administrator in Chicago-area theatres. Prior to his work at Writers Theatre, he served as Business Manager at Chicago Shakespeare Theater for seven seasons. A founding member and Producing Director of Naked Eye Theatre Company, Geoff guided all nine of its critically acclaimed productions—garnering a Kennedy Center Award for New American Plays, a Joseph Jefferson Award, and an After Dark Award. His professional journey began at the Goodman Theatre, where he spent three seasons learning the business side of nonprofit theatre as assistant to the Business Manager. Since then, Geoff has become a trusted consultant for start-up theatres and nonprofit organizations, offering guidance on sustainable business practices and the realities of producing professional theatre in Chicago. A proud graduate of Northwestern University, Geoff lives in Chicago with his wife, Jeanne, and their two sons, Harry and Casey. When he’s not in the theatre, you can find him cheering in the stands at Wrigley Field, swimming in Lake Michigan, or chasing down live music in what he proudly calls the most vibrant cultural arts city on the planet.

Kelly Helgeson joined Writers Theatre in August 2022 where she serves as General Manager providing leadership support in key areas of the theatre's operations. Prior to WT, Kelly spent seven years at the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for Performing Arts at Northwestern University as Associate Managing Director.

Mattie Voorheis has been a proud member of the Writers Theatre administrative team since 2019. In addition to her background in nonprofit finance, Mattie has enjoyed over a decade of experience in stage management and live event production, supporting programming with Theatre Communications Group, Chicago Humanities Festival, Milwaukee Film, Seattle Children's Theatre, and others. She is a graduate of Smith College and the Northwestern University MSLCE program.

Maylene Peña, PHR (MAY-leen PE-nyuh), is a proud Latina and a Chicago native who grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, and has over 15 years of experience with working with people. Her focus is on attracting, building, and sustaining relationships in her circle. Maylene prides herself on her ability to connect with individuals on many levels and aid them in the realization of their goals and aspirations.

As the Vice President and Senior Consultant, with The Walker Thomas Group, Maylene specializes in being a service provider for the Latinx community by helping ordinary people, small businesses, and property owners to organize and educate themselves for the future. As a People Operations Consultant, she is able to empower her clients using the best tools available, to catapult them into becoming the best version of themselves.

Over the years Maylene has worked in various industries as a subject matter expert in the field of Human Resources, Operations, Process Improvement, Training & Development, Organizational Design, and Facility Management. Maylene is certified as an OSHA Trainer, a PHR and is also certified as an Instructor through the ACA (Association of Credit and Collection Professionals).

Maylene is a mother and a wife and is passionate about social justice and  is happy to marry her love for people and her need to see them excel and finally live their customized version of the “American dream”. When she is not busy helping others, she is most likely to be found soaking in the sun, or spending the day outdoors simply enjoying nature.

Hey there! I'm Pat, a proud Chicagoan with a deep-rooted passion for both technology and the performing arts. Over the past decade, I've had the exciting opportunity to innovate across various industries, including Technology, Art, Entertainment, and Crypto. I thrive on problem-solving and love crafting exceptional experiences. My expertise lies in IT operations, product development, and brand management and strategy. Let's connect and create something amazing together!

As Manager of Executive Operations and Board Affairs, Chris oversees strategic initiatives that support organizational leadership and advance Writers Theatre’s fundraising and governance efforts. Since joining the company in 2023, he has played a key role in strengthening engagement among staff, major donors, and the Board of Trustees, while managing day-to-day executive operations. He is also co-founder of the Writers Theatre LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group.

Prior to joining Writers Theatre, Chris managed press relations and social media at Cathy Taylor Public Relations, collaborating with esteemed clients such as A Red Orchid Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, The Second City, Northlight Theatre, and Writers Theatre. He previously served as Director of Media Relations for The Journal of Business Venturing at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Chris is proud to be a member of the Chicago theatre community and is passionate about fostering collaboration, access, and joy both on and off the stage.

Annie Lyonswright received her Bachelor's Degrees in Vocal Performance and Communications from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Lyonswright has been a dedicated fundraiser in the Chicago nonprofit space for the last 10 years, in positions at The Joffrey Ballet as their Director of Annual Giving as well as the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, as their Associate Director of Board Governance and Engagement. She has deep experience leading annual fund campaigns, board strategy and groundbreaking events at some of Chicago's most world renowned institutions. She is a passionate fundraising leader focused on collaborating with a diverse range of partners to ensure the promotion of exceptional organizations and their missions.

Prior to joining the Development Team at Writers Theatre, Phil Smith was the Producing Director at Lookingglass Theatre Company with over three decades of dedicated service. He was in integral part of raising 25M+ in campaign support for the company both for the initial buildout at the Water Tower Water Works and in recent years, raising funds for the company’s productions, new works and education department. This also included creative work designing and coproducing its notable fundraisers and special events. Phil is also an ensemble member at Lookingglass, having served as its Artistic Director in the 1990’s and its casting director for over 20 years. He is passionate about providing rich and layered experiences that support and illuminate brand and mission to all levels of stakeholders. Smith finds joy in matching people to cause and in creating vivid experiences that resonate, inspire, bring joy and charge.

Elizabeth Rentfro earned her MFA and MLitt in Shakespeare Performance through the American Shakespeare Center at Mary Baldwin University and holds a BA in English from the University of Texas at Austin. She has spent the last decade working at the intersection of arts and higher education, with extensive experience in strategic financial planning, donor stewardship, and development operations. Prior to joining Writers Theatre, she held a key administrative role at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering, where she led strategic efforts in funding management, donor stewardship, admissions, and student support.

In addition to her work in advancement, Elizabeth is a proud AEA member and working actor, deeply connected to Chicago’s vibrant theatre community. She is committed to strengthening arts organizations through thoughtful stewardship and operational excellence.

Shay has been an integral part of the WT Staff since October 2021, starting in the Box Office and Front of House before stepping into the role of Box Office Manager from December 2022 to December 2024. Now serving as the Advancement Coordinator, Shay plays a key role in supporting our fundraising efforts and ensuring smooth financial and organizational operations. They’ve also embraced grant writing and have become more visible on the front lines, adding even more strength to the exceptional team they’re a part of. Outside of work, Shay thrives in the world of freelance theatre, enjoys cooking up new recipes, and can often be found relaxing with their cats and a cup of coffee. A proud graduate of SUNY Fredonia, Shay holds a BA in Theatre and a BS in Women & Gender Studies.

Katherine Stein received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Lawrence University in Appleton WI. Katherine joins Writers Theatre from the McGaw YMCA where she served as the Donor Relations and Events Manager. Katherine brings a deep love of the arts to her role at WT, as well as a donor-centric approach to fundraising and events. In her free time, Katherine loves to read, get outside, and be with her community.

Previously a Specialist and Volunteer Champion at Apple Inc., where Phillip had the opportunity to organize volunteer events with local nonprofit organizations and manage monetary donations. Other professional experience includes equity research and financial analysis, as well as commodities and equity trading. Phillip has volunteered in several capacities over the course of his education and career and is passionate about community and culture.

Stanton Long is the Creative Design Manager here at Writers Theatre. He has been a part of the Chicago theatre community since 2005, first as an actor, but soon found a new love in content creation and creative campaign management. Stanton originally joined the company in 2016, and has been one of the leading forces behind WT's visual identity. Outside of WT, he has worked as an art director for Free Street Theatre, Congo Square Theatre and Broadway in Chicago. He's also an award-winning filmmaker and previously directed the Emmy-nominated "One-man a Christmas Carol" here at WT.

Mary Alex joined the Writers marketing team in 2023, with over a decade of arts marketing experience. Prior to working at Writers, she was the Associate Director of Marketing at Goodman Theatre, where she created and implemented marketing campaigns for season subscription sales, as well as single ticket efforts for the 400-seat Owen theatre. She has also worked with a variety of arts and entertainment organizations including Lookingglass Theatre Company, Blue Man Group, Giordano Dance, EXPO Chicago, and many more. Mary Alex is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she studied Communications, Public Relations, and Theater. She lives in the Western suburbs with her husband and two children.

Laya Lee Tate is a strategic communications and media professional with more than five years of experience across nonprofit arts, film and community-driven organizations. Born and raised in Chicago, she is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Passionate about acting as a conduit between artists and audiences, Laya specializes in crafting digital experiences through web strategy and narrative strategy that centers powerful stories and inspires meaningful connection.

Outside of marketing, Laya is a writer, designer, DJ and music/arts writer. In 2024, she was awarded the Emerging Critics Grant from Rotten Tomatoes and the Chicago Film Critics Association, was selected as an OTV Fellow for their cohort of Intersectional Global Storytellers and was a winner in OTV's 2024 Pitch, Please! pitch competition. Her work has been presented in Chicago and Berlin.

Cathy has been working with leading performing arts organizations since moving to Chicago in 1999 and opened CTPR in March 2007. She has a background in arts administration, arts marketing and theater and has a reputation as an expert communications specialist and media relations professional for the city’s best theaters.

Cathy spent more than five years at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as publicist and, ultimately, publicity and communications director. She was vice president of The Silverman Group for two years. Prior to moving to Chicago, Cathy worked at Indiana University, Bloomington, as director of audience development for the Department of Theatre and Drama and was responsible for all marketing, public relations and communications activities for the department’s three theatres, academic programs and alumni newsletter. She also spent time at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Education Department where she worked with Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis on the first-ever Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition.

Cathy holds a B.A. in Theatre from The College of Wooster and an M.A. in Arts Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington. She is a former board member and cultural committee co-chair of the Chicago Chapter of the Indiana University Alumni Association and a founding board member of the IU Outdoor Adventure Alumni Association. She shares her Lincoln Square office with Kelsey, Samara and a rescue dog named Mattie.

From the start—when shows debuted in the back of a bookstore filled with folding chairs—we’ve helped Writers Theatre tell its story.

By creating a brand voice that resonates across all communication, we connected WT with audiences and helped it to grow into “America’s No. 1 theatre company” (The WSJ) with a $34 million state-of-the-art facility by Studio Gang Architects.

Miranda is a type one diabetic, Chicago-based theatre artist. Miranda studied at Gordon College, specializing in Theatre, Psychology and Management and received her Master’s from Adelphi University in Educational Theatre Production Management. She has worked at Skyline Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Proboscis Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Kerfuffle Productions, and been a part of a number of New Works projects. They are passionate about developing new works, supporting young artists, creating safe spaces for artists of all abilities and provoking empathy.

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Kelly is a graduate of Lake Forest College with a degree in Theatre. She has worked in various Stage Management related positions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Northlight Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. Before coming to Writers, she was the Production Coordinator at Lookingglass Theatre Company.

Amanda graduated from Wright State University in 2010 with a focus in theatre design and technology. Shortly after she moved to Chicago and began freelancing, and in 2016 she joined Writers Theatre full time as the Audio & Video Supervisor. Amanda was audio engineer for Parade, Trevor, Into the Woods, and Once. In 2017 she welcomed her son, Thaddeus.

Growing up in Takoma Park, Maryland, Raphael found an early passion for theatre, beginning with a role as a Fairy in Midsummer Nights Dream at 11 years old. Going to college at Northwestern University, where he graduated with a double BA in Theatre and History, he discovered a love of lighting technology and the artistry it can provide, as well as the incredible Chicago Theatre community. He has worked with many local companies including Chicago Shakes, Court Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Childrens Theatre, and the Chicago International Puppet Festival.

A native of Michigan, Darcy is a graduate of the School of Arts of Letters at Michigan State University with a degree in Theatre. She has over 20 years of experience in the area of costumes as a manager, designer, design assistant, cutter/draper, and stitcher. She has freelanced in various costume support roles at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Kansas City Rep, Griffin Theatre, Windy City Playhouse, and Strawdog Theatre Company. Her designs have been seen throughout the years at the Purple Rose Theatre, Music Theatre Works, as well as countless storefront productions. Darcy was the Costume Supervisor at Arizona Theatre Company for 4 seasons before her Midwestern roots called her back to Chicago, where she assumed the same position at Northlight Theatre, before joining the Writers Theatre Production team full time in 2021.