Board Members



Lisa Dawn Foertsch
Artistic Director and Founder

 Lisa Dawn is an original founding member of PPT and has been acting/directing for local audiences through various theatres for over ten years. She received an Associates in Art from College of Dupage where she was nominated two years in a row to appear at the American College Theatre Festival (Irene-Ryan) acting competition. Since then she has studied at Acting Studio in Chicago with the brilliant Kurt Naebig, and has been dedicated to honoring life through live theatre with Players,Please Theatre from it's very beginning. At the 2009 PPT Awards, Lisa Dawn took home honors for Best Actress in a Scene and Best Director for her vision of PPT's "The Boys Next Door" which also won Best Show. She was last seen at PPT portraying Goldie Hawn in their version of Laugh-In and will be starring as Evelyn in PPT's Fall 2010 production of The Shape of Things by Neil Labute. Favorite roles include A Christmas Carol (The Ghost of Christmas Past), La Ronde(The actress), Alabama Rain (Rachel), Crimes of the Heart (Meg), Time Flies (May), As You Like It (Phoebe), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne), The Country Club (Soos), Steel Magnolias (Shelby), and as an ensemble member in the Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged). Lisa Dawn also portrayed Joan of Arc in Inspirare Theatre's premiere of Chernobyl's Fire and performed with Buffalo Theatre Ensemble in Blithe Spirit (Edith). Outside of theatrical life, Lisa Dawn has recorded several hip-hop tracks (including a bonus Christmas single and a song in honor of the infamous Mustache) and continues studying Energy Healing for her Advanced 500hr Yoga Teaching Certification through Prairie Yoga. Thanks to all my family and friends who bless me each day with their unique light, and for always encouraging mine.


A. Monnie Aleahmad
Art Director, Improv Coordinator,
and Web Site Design		 Previous theatre credits include eight student plays at the College of DuPage of which his favorites are the Glory of Living (Detective Burrows); Heroic Journeys, an original play created by cast and crew (Thor/Wind/Apollo/Minister/Ensemble); and The Laramie Project (Doc O’Connor/Father Roger/ensemble). Monnie also appeared in A Raisin in the Sun at Harper College (Asagai), Wheaton Drama’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Cheswick), Addison Community Theatre’s production of Juvie (Pinky/Coach), Players, Please Theatre’s W.A.S.P. (Father) and Baby With the Bath Water (John). He also directed Finger Food and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in with Players, Please Theatre. Monnie is also a comic book artist with Evil-Money Comics. Monnie was an ACTF/Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominee for his role in The Laramie Project.


Becky Crawford
Managing Director		 Becky is a proud member of the Players, Please Theatre Board. She has been performing for 10 years. She started acting while at the College of DuPage, where she was a recipient of the Chris Farley Memorial Scholarship. Becky received her Bachelors Degree in Theatre from Elmhurst College. While at Elmhurst, she received Irene Ryan nominations for her performances in both The Laramie Project and The Importance of Being Earnest. She has worked with various theatre companies in the West Suburban area as a performer and director. Becky has worked with Players, Please Theatre for several years. Credits include W.A.S.P (Mother), The Country Club (Froggy), Finger Food (Mona), Laugh-In (Ensemble), and Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Germaine) and Directed Boy Gets Girl. Becky has also taken a leap in to film. She has recently worked on the upcoming feature Murder For Pleasure as Casting Director, Second Assistant Director, and played the role of Victor's Mother. She is also excited to start work a new full-length feature film the spring called Julie's Smile written and directed by Eric Mattson.



Amanda Fisher
Property and Costume Director		 Amanda is a proud member of the board for Players, Please Theatre. She was last seen in Laugh-In as part of the ensemble. Other recent roles include: “The Problem” (Wife), Country Club (Pooker), Baby with the Bathwater (Angela and Susan) and Check, Please (Girl). She recently played Liz in Play Ball with Geneva Underground. Amanda loves analyzing characters for both acting and costume design purposes. Prior to working with PPT, Amanda acted and did make-up at North Central College and the College of DuPage. Currently, Amanda is working on her master's degree in mathematics at Roosevelt University.
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Phaedra Wells
Production Manager		 Phaedra Wells knows the stage inside and out, having experience in acting, directing, stage management, producing, and front of house management. While earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre in 2004, Phaedra had been nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Competion through American College Theatre Festival for her portrayal of Chick in Crimes of the Heart. She later went on to earn a Masters of Arts Management: Performing Arts Management degree from Columbia College in May of 2009 while holding a development internship with American Theater Company in Chicago. Phaedra first got involved with PPT by running lights for We Need to Talk and Laugh-In, as well as assisting with props for The Boys Next Door. When Phaedra is not contemplating her next theatrical move, she can be seen running the streets of Chicago as she trains to run the Chicago Marathon for Team World Vision, or training in the art of burlesque dancing at Studio L’Amour.
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Jim Bruner
 Jim has just returned to Illinois after a 30 year absence. Jim has a B.A. in Theatre from Eureka College, in addition to being a graduate from the School of Arts Management from N.C. State University. Jim has been a Director, Producer, and Actor for more years than he wants to admit he’s been on this planet. Jim also worked at Universal Studios Florida as an Actor, Stage Manager, and Performance Coach. Jim has served on Theatre Boards, Arts Council, started a theatre company as well as a School for the Performing Arts. He has produced and directed national award winning theatre in Georgia and Florida.
 
 

Players, Please Theatre Ensemble Members

Coming soon!!!
 
 

Founding Members

Lisa Dawn Foertsch, Andrea Iazzetto, Patrick Newson, Michael Pesola