Kate McDuffie (she/her) is a career arts administrator, part-time classical singer, occasional actor and avid volunteer. Formerly a performing arts educator, Kate taught music and drama at Wolcott College Prep — a high school designed for bright students with learning differences — and directed her talented and amazing students in Antigone (Sophocles), Middletown (Eno), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Shakespeare), The Bear and The Proposal (Chekov) in addition to many performing arts showcases. She has been a proud facilitator with ABLE — Artists Breaking Limits and Expectations since 2019, currently serving on ABLE’s Program Advisory Council. Kate is also honored to serve on the Board of Directors at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company where she chairs the Engagement Committee. Kate is beyond elated to be collaborating with her loving husband and dearest partner of greatness Erik on this project, and is eternally grateful for this extraordinary team of individuals bringing this festival to life.
Producer/Power Plays Festival Artistic Director; GUY (Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?); Director (Protest)
Erik Schiller
Erik Schiller, a child of two biology professors, studied English Literature and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he also received his initial training as an actor and writer. He has since performed roles on stage and in independent film and television — favorite past roles include Dromio (the one from Syracuse) in Comedy of Errors (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), Don in It's All in the Timing (Yellow Rose Productions), and Zombie-who-gets-an-axe-to-the-face in Ghosts and Zombies (Akvavit Theatre). He is the author of two plays, "The Mediums" and "The Murder In Miller's Court". Other areas of interest include bioethics, environmentalism and sustainability, the life and times of Shakespeare, and the history of radical and revolutionary politics.
Iris Sowlat
Director (Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?)
Iris Sowlat is a Chicago-based director. She holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from University of Massachusetts Amherst (2024), where she directed Sarah Ruhl’s Orlando and Lauren Gunderson’s Emilie: La Marquise du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight. Most recently, she directed the Revolutionists for Violet Surprise Theatre, touring to 25 Chicagoland communities. In 2025, she directed Amy Crider’s Buddha’s Birthday (Lucid Theatre), The Book of Will for Triton College (as Adjunct Faculty), and Come Along for the Ride (Eco Logic). Additional Chicago directing credits include Romeo and Juliet (Accidental Shakespeare Company), Joan of Arc and Underworld Anthem (RhinoFest), The Days Are Shorter (PrideArts), ABCD (Piven Theatre), and Narratives of Achromatopsia and Turn That Thing Around (Chicago Fringe Festival), and three different sold-out fundraiser readings of Paula Kamen’s Jane: Abortion and the Underground. She has also worked with Northlight Theatre, About Face Theatre, American Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, Collaboraction, Broken Nose, Stage Left Theatre (former Artistic Associate), and many others. Iris is the Co-Artistic Director of Violet Surprise Theatre, founded with Allison Fradkin in 2019. In 2018, she was named one of Windy City Times’ “30 Under 30.” Find her on the web at www.IrisSowlat.com.
CREATIVE team
Sandia Coleman
VANEK (Protest)
With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.
Kris Derek Hechevarria
Teaching artist, Power hours
Kris Derek Hechevarria is a Cuban American teaching artist who was born and raised in Miami Florida. He moved to Chicago to volunteer with Pritzker College Prep through AmeriCorps’ Project YES. This experience led Hechevarria to receive his MA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2013 Hechevarria was invited to be the founding art teacher for Wolcott College Prep, an independent high school for college bound students with learning disabilities. There he developed a conceptual art curriculum that promoted critical thinking and material exploration. Hechevarria has developed programming for The Chicago Architecture Biennale, The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art: Chicago, National Museum of Mexican Art, National Veterans Art Museum, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, CAPE, Arquetopia and the Smart Museum. He is currently a lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Leo LaCamera
SAM (Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?)
Leo LaCamera is excited to be a part of this production. He's a regular performer in Comedy and Improv shows at the Newport and Annoyance theaters, but is always grateful for an opportunity to return to his theatrical roots. He would like to thank everyone involved in the production and you for coming to see it!
Sofia Matza
Stage Manager
Sofia Matza (she/her) is a Chicago-based theater artist. She graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a degree in Theatre Production and a minor in Communication. During her time there, she worked on productions including The Taming of the Shrew (Assistant Production Manager), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Costume Crew), and In the Next Room (Assistant Stage Manager). She is passionate about collaborative storytelling, and the behind-the-scenes work that brings productions to life, and is eager to continue growing in theater production.
Producer/Power Plays Festival Marketing + Communications Director; STANEK (Protest)